News and Reviews
Blog Post
Kid Bits - Never Cry Wolf
by ryanikoglu
The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a classic tale by Aesop. A fun thing to do is read different versions. FairyTales with new twists in the story are "Fractured FairyTales" and here are a few:
Betsy Who Cried Wolf is a graduate of Sheep Herding School and takes her job very seriously.
Dog Who Cried Wolf is bored at home and wants more excitement.
Beware Of The Storybook Wolves brings in more fairytale folks.
Wolf Who Cried Boy, and Wolf! Wolf!
Blog Post
New Additions to Ann Arbor Historical Signs Collection
by andrewjmac
The Ann Arbor Historical Signs Collection in pictureAnnArbor just got bigger. We've recently added over 100 new photos, bringing our portrait of 1970's Ann Arbor up to 570 images. These new additions include many businesses from Main, Maple, and East Liberty. We've also reorganized the collection to help you browse through all of the photos more easily. If you happen to want to look at a specific street or find a specific business, just enter those words into our Image Gallery Search at the bottom of any image gallery page and see what pops up.
Ann Arbor Historical Signs is a collection of photographs taken by the Ann Arbor Sign Inspector. Mostly taken in the 1970's, the collection gives a rich picture of the businesses and goings-on in Ann Arbor 35 years ago.
Blog Post
March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World by Christine King Farris
by Tahira
On August 28th 1963 over 250,000 people of all races, creeds and colors joined together for a common cause, to march for freedom and jobs. This historic event is known as the March on Washington. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s sister Christine King Farris, recounts the events of this day in March On! How my Brother Martin Changed the World, giving readers a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of one of America's most inspirational men.
Blog Post
Catalogue of the Ann Arbor High School, 1904-05
by amy
The full view (text and images) of hundreds of books on Ann Arbor history are now available through Google books, including Catalogue of the Ann Arbor High School, 1904-1905. The above photo, of the interior of the Ann Arbor Public Library, first appeared in the Ann Arbor High School catalogue of 1909-1910. Google also delivers a History of Michigan published in 1841, A History of St. Andrew's Church published in 1906, and The City of Ann Arbor, by the Ann Arbor Business Men's Association, published in 1887.
Blog Post
Scary Bits - But not Too Scary !
by ryanikoglu
October is ripe for harvesting spooky tales. For young kids, cautionary tales can work instead of "sca-a-ry" tales, since the endings come out GOOD. Try:
Precious and The Boo Hag by Patricia McKissack
The Gunniwolf by Wilhelmina Harper.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything by Linda Williams.
... or choose books with holiday icons such as:
I Spy A Pumpkin
Five Little Pumpkins
Los Gatos Black On Halloween
Blog Post
Kid Bits - "Family Movies"
by ryanikoglu
Parents Ask ... "Is there a list of 'Family Movies' that might include my 6 year old too?" Finding a list to match your values is always a trick, but these websites might help.
Kids First: The Coalition for Quality Children's Media where you can find reviews, age levels, and subject listings.
British Film Institute offers a Top 10 and Top 50 list.
For younger children, my all-time favorites are Babe; Pollyanna; E.T.; Mary Poppins; Fly Away Home; and Jungle Book.
Blog Post
As Good As Anybody by Richard Michelson
by Tahira
The story of Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Heschel’s lives intertwine in this book about two great men who fought for human rights. An excellent example of how justice is achieved through the mutual cooperation between people regardless of creed or color.
Blog Post
More History on the Streets
by Debbie G.
The Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit will be unveiling three new plaques that expand on the history of the German community on Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 5 p.m. outside Sweetwaters Cafe at Washington & Ashley. The contributions of Germans to Ann Arbor are fully developed in the many books and articles available through the Making of Ann Arbor.
Blog Post
Baby Bits - YUM ! YUM !
by ryanikoglu
Kitchens and Food are everyday life. Babies know food. Try these and carry-on about food!
Yum! Yum! a book of "food" Nursery Rhymes.
Check out these Song Discs and Sing along.
"Biscuits In the Oven" with Raffi in Baby Beluga
"Teddy Bears Picnic" with Kevin Roth in Unbearable Bears or
"Pat-A-Cake" with Sharon, Lois and Bram in Mainly Mother Goose
Blog Post
I Can't Believe These People!
by local_girl
This week I managed to finagle my way into a very cool meeting at Skyline High School. The mission for the group was to figure out how to use the Downtown Ann Arbor Street Exhibit in the curriculum at the new high school. In the room were 11 community volunteers and five teachers from Skyline. Some of the teachers could only pop in for a moment because, well, they're teachers and if you know a teacher, then you know they are crazy busy.
Just so you know, most of the community volunteers who came are a) retired and b) former educators. Some of them have spent unspeakable hours conceiving of, raising money for, researching and promoting the Street Exhibit. They have rounded up over 60 Ann Arborites willing to donate their time to the cause of helping our kids make the connection between where we've been and where we are.
The energy in the room blew my mind. The teachers (Pam Jenkins totally rocks, by the way) were truly excited about figuring out how to make it work. The whole deal is not out of the standard high school playbook and everyone was totally into it. More on this later, but I can't believe these people. OK, I believe. I believe.
Blog Post
Barak Obama – Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes
by Tahira
Nikki Grimes paints a beautiful picture of the man who held on to his dream while finding his way in the world. This biographical portrait of Barak Obama shines the light of hope on all of us.
Blog Post
Ann Arbor YMCA celebrates 150 years
by amy
This Sunday, September 28, from 2-5 p.m. the Ann Arbor YMCA will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a parade, music and other special events. The above image, from the Making of Ann Arbor postcard collection, is of an earlier Ann Arbor YMCA building. More photographs and documents relating to the history of the Ann Arbor Y are on display at the Museum on Main Street until November 22.
Blog Post
Census Records Explained
by Debbie G.
Census records are an invaluable tool in genealogical research but they are a tool that presents challenges for both new and seasoned genies. The Geneaolgical Society of Washtenaw County will host a lecture by genealogical masterwonk Barb Snow on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1:30 p.m. at the St. Joseph Merch Education Center Auditorium. AADL has Census records on microfilm, remotely through Heritage Quest and online at the library through AncestryPlus.
Blog Post
Baby Bits - Farms
by ryanikoglu
We're doing Old MacDonald Had a Farm in PlayGroups this week. You can find the following books to carry on with the animals.
A Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker.
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins.
This is The Farmer by Nancy Tafuri.
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes.
Tractor Adventures in DVD.
Hard Hat Harry's Farm Equipment And Space Adventures in DVD.
Blog Post
Delivery Update
by choatec
The AADL delivery truck experienced mechanical problems Friday morning and is being repaired. Evening deliveries were made with a temporary truck. Due to safety and access concerns, the materials loaded on AADL's truck may be unavailable until the truck is repaired. AADL staff would be happy to check the shelves for items that are listed as 'available' in the catalog before you arrive in person to pick them up. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you and appreciate your patience in this matter.
Update: the truck has been repaired and the materials that were on the truck have reached their destinations.
Blog Post
Kid Bits - Presidential Election
by ryanikoglu
Election Day is coming Tuesday November 4, 2008. Kids can experience the election process and some voting history through these books.
Vote 4 Amelia;
Duck For President;
Papa's Mark;
With Courage And Cloth: Winning The Fight For A Woman's Right To Vote;
Vote! and
The Kid Who Ran For President
Blog Post
Book Finalists Chosen for Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads 2009
by iottJen
The theme of the 2009 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads program is The Universe: Yours to Discover. Three books have been chosen as finalists for the community read and are available at AADL. Request the books online or visit the display in the lobby of the Downtown Library.
The three book finalists are available in alternative formats for those who are unable to read or use printed materials due to a physical disability (blindness, macular degeneration, paralysis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, dyslexia, etc.). Please contact the Library of Michigan Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at 1-800-992-9012 for more information.
The finalists are:
Timothy Ferris, Seeing In The Dark: How Amateur Astonomers Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe. New York: Simon & Schuster, c2002.
Homer Hickam, Rocket Boys: A Memoir. New York: Delacorte Pres, 1998.
Dava Sobel, The Planets. New York: Viking, 2005.
A selection committee of community leaders, librarians, and students in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area will meet in October to choose the book that will be the focus for 2009.
Community members are encouraged to visit the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti website -aaypsireads.org - and blog about their favorite of the three finalists. Committee members will be reading the blogs.
Blog Post
Braaaiinninsss....
by articia
Fall is upon us and that means colder weather, cider mills, changing leaves, and Halloween! With the season of spooks nearing I thought it an appropriate time to warn you all about the upcoming invasion. That's right, on October 26th, 2008, Ann Arbor will be overrun by zombies!! No need to worry though as these zombies have better intentions and motives behind their staggering than the typical zombie. 10/26/08 is the 40th anniversary of Night of the Living Dead and World Zombie Day and to help celebrate people are asked to bring non-perishable food donations to the zombie walk. All donations for the Ann Arbor walk will be given to Ann Arbor’s food bank Food Gatherers.
The walk will start at Espresso Royale
More information and history on zombie walks is located here
More detailed information and updates about the Ann arbor Zombie walk can be found here on their myspace page
Also, check out some of our zombie materials at AADL
Blog Post
You Can Do It! by Tony Dungy
by Tahira
Linden's whole family knows what they want to do. His brother wants to be a football player, his sisters, a doctor and a nurse, even his father loves being a scientist. Linden's toothache and encouragement from his family to dream big and have faith help him find his special dream. Tony Dungy send a positive message to children of all ages to go for your dreams.
Blog Post
New Exhibit at the Argus Museum
by amy
Come and see what a bunch of talented photographers can do with a vintage Argus, once the largest-selling American-made 35mm camera, first produced here in Ann Arbor. The exhibit, "Vintage Argus: Contemporary Images," is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Area Crappy Camera Club (A3C3), the Argus Museum, and the Michigan Photographic Historical Society (MiPHS) and is located in the original Argus Building (home of the Argus Museum) at 535 W. William St. The exhibit runs through October 12 and is open to the public 9-5 p.m. weekdays. Opening reception is Friday, September 12, 6-9 p.m.
Blog Post
Tractors! Pulling! Heavy! Loads!
by Liberry Shortstack
Tractors: we see them hard at work in the fields; we try to pass them on country highways. But how fast can they really go and how much weight can they pull while burnin' rubber?
At the Michigan Tractor Pullers Association upcoming Tractor Pull you can find out! Three classes will definitely "pull their weight"--farm stock, classic, and antique. The sport of tractor pulling has something of a long history--the first tractor pulls date from the 1860s.
If you'd like to see for yourself what these motorized beasts of burden can do, then head to the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds on Sunday, September 28. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. According to the event listing on Arbor Web, admission is free.
Blog Post
Baby Bits - BOXES
by ryanikoglu
Pack up the babies, and grab the grandparents, 'cuz everyone comes....!! BABY PLAYGROUPS for 0-24 months begin this week. We'll do "Boxes" at Malletts Creek and Traverwood. You can check out more books with boxes as follows:
Birthday Box; Not A Box; Harry's Box; Big Brown Box. We will do Sitting In My Box during Playgroup.
Blog Post
Kid Bits - Dealing with Grief
by ryanikoglu
When families deal with grief and mourning, sometimes stories help work through the grief and bring out the good parts. Here are some "chapter book" recommends, which often can be found in audio version.
Ida B. in book. Ida B. in audio.
Garden Of Eve in book.
Each Little Bird That Sings in book. Each Little Bird That Sings in audio.
Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes in the Teen Collection.
Missing May in book.
Samir And Yonatan in book.
Blog Post
Do You Own Property in a Local Historic District?
by amy
The Washtenaw County Department of Planning & Environment, The Washtenaw County Historic District Commission, and the Michigan Historic Preservation Network are offering a workshop titled Owning Property in Local Historic Districts: Benefits and Practice, featuring Kristine Kidorf, Owner of Kidorf Preservation Consulting. The workshop will cover the basics of local historic district commission processes, the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, and the 25% Michigan rehabilitation tax credit.
This workshop will be offered Saturday, September 6, 10:00am to 12:00pm at the Washtenaw County Library Learning Resource Center (LLRC), 4135 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48107. Please RSVP to: miltonpungm@ewashtenaw.org or (734) 222-6878.
Blog Post
Back to the New High School
by amy
As Ann Arbor marks the opening of its newest high school, take a look at this 101-year-old photograph of the then-new Ann Arbor High School in 1907. It was the pride of Ann Arbor, with its attached Carnegie library, but as fate would have it everything but the library facade was torn down last year to make room for the soon-to-be North Quad dormitory. An earlier image of an Ann Arbor high school is this 1859 engraving from the Making of Ann Arbor collection.
Blog Post
The Other Mozart (the life of the famous Chevalier de Saint-George) by Hugh Brewster
by Tahira
Born a slave Joseph Bolonge was renamed Joseph Bolonge, the Chevalier de Saint-George by his father and master. He was taken to France and taught to fence, play the violin and compose music. He overcame every obstacle, mingled with Marie Antoinette and Mozart. Hugh Brewster captures the life of a remarkable man in this historical account.
Blog Post
DVD Bits - Did You Enjoy Juno?
by ryanikoglu
Did you enjoy the creativity, quirkiness, and sympathetic situations of people in Juno,
even though you hope teen pregnancy doesn't happen in your family?
The TEEN book Weetzie Bat, tells a similarly flavored story that is every bit as quirky, poignant, humanly resolved and wonderful.
It's a tasty "snack" of a read that still offers hope and satisfaction after ten years in publication.
Blog Post
Traverwood Branch Closed Friday
by eli
We apologize for the inconvenience, but the Traverwood branch is closed for the rest of Friday 8/22 due to a sewage backup. The branch will reopen Saturday Morning at 9 AM. Thanks for your patience.
Blog Post
Mystery Bits - Need A New Lead?
by ryanikoglu
Do you like to watch mysteries on the telly?
Do you like your BBC?
You can read Wikipedia on LoveJoy.
You can get Lovejoy BBC episodes from the Library. Lovejoy is an antiques dealer whose scruples are not always the highest. Episodes are inspired by Jonathan Gash mystery titles such as The Gondola Scam.
BONUS: You get to see Ian McShane 20 years younger than his award winning character, Al Swearengen, in HBO's Deadwood. Read more on Ian McShane at imdb.com.
The Library also owns Deadwood, set during the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1870's.
Blog Post
True Confessions of an Ann Arbor Historian
by local_girl
History is boring. Local history is even worse. You must be a spectacular geek to be interested in, much less involved with, the local history scene.
Well, that might be true, but here I am anyway. I have loved this town for as long as I can remember and, like the people I love, I want to know Ann Arbor's whole story. That's all historians do. Fall in love with a place, person or era and find out all they can about it.
For example, what did Ann Arbor look like when she was a baby? How about as a teenager? I look at the book Historic buildings, Ann Arbor, Michigan, by Marjorie Reade and Susan Wineberg like an old family album. I study it and try to recognize something of the past in the town I know today. (FYI, if you click here you can look at this book online.)
I also like to hang around people who will tell me stories about when Ann Arbor was young. So imagine my delight when I heard that Kempf House is having a big ol' party in September. I imagine there will be plenty of folks there who would be more than willing to share a tale or two. There will also be food and beer so count me in!
See you there?
SEPTEMBERFEST
Date: Sun 7 Sep 2008
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Kempf House Museum Garden
Description: Beer and brats! Four flavors of beer from Arbor Brewing, brats on a bun with sauerkraut and mustard, hot pretzels baked specially by the ladies at Bethlehem Church, and ice cream and toppings from the Washtenaw Dairy - all for $40 ($30 for members)!
Contact: 734-994-4898