True Crimes of Ann Arbor

Wed, 06/11/2008 - 4:09pm by Caser

As crime dramas broadcast their final episodes of the season and channel surfing after 9pm proves fruitless, look no further than the Ann Arbor Police Department Online History Exhibit for murder mysteries that carry the added thrill of being true.

You can find this exhibit in our database collection, which can be accessed via the Research tab on this website. More than just a list of Ann Arbor marshals from the 1800s, the site also contains a history of some of the most notorious criminal cases in Ann Arbor history, including the 'Student Riot of 1908', 'The Murder of Officer Clifford Stang', 'The Co-ed Murders', and many others. Much of the history is written by Sergeant Michael Logghe, who published a book on the subject in 2002. The Library owns his book and the videorecording of his lecture at the Library in 2006 on DVD.

The Downtown library is also home to the Ann Arbor News on microfilm, where one can research the original news reports of these cases, and perhaps even be the first to write a screenplay based on these local events. Find these and other items on true crime here at the AADL.

It's Summer Reading Time

Wed, 06/11/2008 - 2:26pm by sherlonya

Are you ready for summer reading? We are! Register online or in person at any of our locations beginning Friday, June 13.

This year's theme is "Under Construction" and we have fun planned for all ages. Everyone is invited to come hear the exciting West African Sounds of Like Water Drum and Dance at the new Traverwood Branch, July 6, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Adults who really want to stick to the theme can learn about Creating A Green Home in a presentation; by Michael Klement of Architectural Resource, LLC; on green building strategies, July 30, 7:00-8:30 at the Malletts Creek Branch. Children are invited on July 19, 2:00-3:00, to the Pittsfield Branch, to make their own monster trucks by re-using common household items. Or participate in our summer contests! Teens, come get your game on high tech and no tech throughout the summer.

Whether you want to learn; play; hang out; or find new books, magazines, movies and music; you can do it at AADL this summer.

I, Matthew Henson (Polar Explorer) by Carole Boston

Fri, 06/06/2008 - 4:02pm by Tahira

Told as a first person recollection, I, Matthew Henson shows the courage and determination of the famed African-American explorer who was one of the first people to reach the North Pole.

Kid Bits - SUMMER Story Season STARTS !

Thu, 06/05/2008 - 5:21pm by ryanikoglu

Storytimes START the week of June 9!
Think GREEN for the first week @ Malletts Creek and Pittsfield.

Crictor and Lizard like to be green.
You can look forward to 8 weeks of Summer programs at
Downtown, Pittsfield, and Malletts Creek Branches for summer.

What IS a Blog?

Wed, 06/04/2008 - 9:56am by Beth Manuel

And why would you want to read one? For aadl.org readers it’s a great way to find out tidbits from pop culture, top selling DVD’s and cool stuff happening here. You can learn how to blog in one of our future computer classes. Look for a new schedule later this summer!

Fire destroys Delta Upsilon fraternity

Fri, 05/30/2008 - 12:48pm by amy

A Friday morning fire raced through the historic Delta Upsilon fraternity at 1331 Hill St. Read the story on mlive. The fraternity was designed in 1903 and restored more recently by U of M alumni who valued the house and its history. You can read about the building in Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor, MI, by Marjorie Reade and Susan Wineberg, and zoom in for a closer view through its accompanying image database. (The text and images are available to search and browse online; the book is also available for checkout.)

Fantasy author and former Ann Arborite Robert Asprin dies at 61

Thu, 05/29/2008 - 3:05pm by amy

Robert Asprin was reportedly reading a novel by British fantasy writer Terry Pratchett when he died in bed last week at the age of 61. Asprin, author of the Thieves' World and Myth Adventure series, and the 1990 bestseller , is said to have effectively invented the humor fantasy genre back in the 1970s. Local historian Wystan Stevens recalls: "Asprin wrote many of his books in longhand, on legal pads, while nursing cups of coffee at the Brown Jug on South University Avenue."

Read more about Asprin in wikipedia.
Asprin's obituary.

Get to Know Your New CD Genres

Fri, 05/23/2008 - 11:26am by Employee 37

The AADL is pleased to offer you a completely new way to search for music.

With our new CD genres you can now browse the CDs at all locations just as easily as at the music store. Whether you're into Country, Jazz, Chamber Music, or Rap, we've got you covered. For those of you who prefer to do your browsing virtually, and to see a list of all the new genres, check out our CD Browsing page. You can seek out old favorites, discover new ones, and place holds on them all from the comfort of your own computer.

Historic buildings on the go

Fri, 05/23/2008 - 10:44am by amy

A stroll through the Arboretum's lovely Peony Garden (which should bloom within the next couple weeks), will take you past the Reader Center on Washington Heights, formerly the Nathan Burnham house, built in 1837 and previously located at 947 Wall Street/940 Maiden Lane. More information on historic buildings around town (including another house that's moved from one location to another) can be found among the 200 images in AADL's Ann Arbor Architecture Archive. The archive includes text from the book Historic Buildings, Ann Arbor, MI, which is also available to check out or browse online.

Twelve Rounds to Glory (the story of Muhammad Ali) by Charles R. Smith

Thu, 05/22/2008 - 2:36pm by Tahira

Charles R. Smith chronicles the life of Muhammad Ali in this Coretta Scott King Honor Book. Smith's use of poetic verse splashed with Ali's own words give readers an inside look at one of America's most famous people. As a long time admirer of Muhammad Ali, I think this book is a knockout.

Library Closed For Memorial Day

Sun, 05/18/2008 - 3:50pm by TimG

All locations of the Ann Arbor District Library will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26.

Regular hours will resume Tuesday, May 27.

Nothing But Trouble (the story of Althea Gibson) by Sue Stauffacher

Thu, 05/15/2008 - 2:36pm by Tahira

Althea Gibson couldn't stay out of trouble. Her family said so, her teachers said so, even a policeman said so. Her life changed when Buddy Walker saw through her wild ways and set her on a path to become the first African American to win Wimbledon. Read about her exciting story in Nothing But Trouble (The story of Althea Gibson) by Sue Stauffacher.

Video of Grace Shackman discussing her book 'Ann Arbor Observed' now available

Wed, 05/14/2008 - 4:43pm by andrewjmac

One of the newest additions to our ever-growing collection of AADL Videos on Demand is an event from December 2006 featuring Grace Shackman discussing her book Ann Arbor Observed. This event, from our Sunday Edition Author Series, features Shackman discussing the process of becoming a writer for the Observer, reading excerpts from her book, and answering questions. Over twenty-five years, Shackman's articles on all aspects of Ann Arbor and its history became a highly popular feature of the Observer. Download a high-quality version of the video or an audio version you can put on your iPod or mp3 player from our AADL Videos on Demand collection.

Music in Ypsi

Sat, 05/10/2008 - 1:46pm by jaegerla

This summer's Ypsilanti Crossroads Music Festival will be kicking off again on June 6th! Be sure to check out the event and appreciate our neighboring city. It will take place at the intersection of Washington and Pearl Streets every Friday night this summer from 7-10 pm. In the meantime, check out our collection on Ypsilanti history, including Ypsilanti in the 20th Century, Ypsilanti: A History in Pictures, and Our Heritage: Down by the Depot in Ypsilanti.

Map of Washtenaw County Indian trails

Fri, 05/09/2008 - 4:19pm by amy

Click image for larger view. A key to trails and historical markers appears below the map image.

We recently spruced up the Making of Ann Arbor site with a new design and some additional content, including a map of Indian trails in Washtenaw County taken from the 1927 book The Indians of Washtenaw County, Michigan by W. B. Hinsdale. This map and others are available on the Making of Ann Arbor maps page. Additional maps and atlases of Washtenaw county are available through the Michigan County Histories and Atlases digitization project.

Summer Reading is "Under Construction"

Fri, 05/09/2008 - 12:51pm by ryanikoglu

Summer Reading is UNDER CONSTRUCTION so keep your "thinking machine" oiled. You'll need good equipment.
Librarians are visiting schools the month of May promoting Summer Reading.
We can NAIL DOWN some good books for 1st graders, like
Amelia Bedelia Under Construction;
You Read To Me And I'll Read To You: Short Scary Stories; or
Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie.
Just Ask!
Sign-Up BEGINS June 9, 2008 at the Library.

To Go Singing Through the World (the childhood of Pablo Neruda) by Deborah Kogan Ray

Wed, 05/07/2008 - 3:14pm by Tahira

Pablo Neruda's shyness renders him silent in a world of sights and sounds. When the principal of his school in Chile opens his mind to the world of literature, Pablo Neruda becomes one of the world's most distinguished poets and is awarded the Noble Prize in Literature. With lines of his poetry scattered throughout the text, Deborah Kogan Ray offers an enlightening look into the life of Pablo Neruda.

Kid Bits - Bears

Tue, 05/06/2008 - 12:50pm by ryanikoglu

Spring Storytimes ended with BEARS at Malletts Creek and Pittsfield Branches. You can find many versions of the Three Bears. Byron Barton's The Three Bears is perfect for littlest kids. Jan Brett's Goldilocks And The Three Bears has fabulous illustrations. Add action with Michael Rosen's We're Going On A Bear Hunt. If you also have kids in grade school you can continue the theme with the movie A Bear Named Winnie, the true story that inspired A.A. Milne's Winnie The Pooh.

Parent Bits - "ScreenTime" and Behavior

Mon, 04/28/2008 - 2:39pm by ryanikoglu

Parents struggle with creating healthy habits for children. One BIG issue these days is "Screen Time", homework, social behaviors, video games, computers, television, and how it all fits together. Perhaps these titles can help .... Taking Back Childhood and Grand Theft Childhood, or the following web site, and it's links.

David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family, presented research on the topic at the Public Library Association 2008 Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota in March 2008.

Henry's Freedom Box (a true story from the Underground Railroad) by Ellen Levine

Tue, 04/22/2008 - 4:51pm by Tahira

Henry's Freedom Box tells the amazing story of one of the most famous slaves to travel on the Underground Railroad. Henry "Box" Brown got his name because he traveled to freedom in mail crate. Ellen Levine's short poetic sentences tell the story with clarity and awe. While Kadir Nelson's use of water and oil color illustrations lends a photographic air of realism to the text. An excellent read for young readers.

Kid Bits - Going Places

Tue, 04/22/2008 - 10:14am by ryanikoglu

Got wheels? Let's GO !!
But Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus!.
In Mouse Tales "The Journey", Mouse sets out to visit Mother. And if you are very courageous, see what it's like to get In The Driver's Seat. These are the stories for Malletts Creek and Pittsfield Branch Storytimes this week.
Now pick out something by Richard Scarry like Richard Scarry's Cars And Trucks And Things That Go and study those pictures when you get home.

Kid Bits - Dragonology

Sun, 04/20/2008 - 2:45pm by ryanikoglu

Kids have asked for books about dragons. The pictures were the treasures! Look for The Book Of Dragons with illustrations by Michael Hague. Dr. Ernest Drake's dragonology : the complete book of dragons. If you like to draw, find Ralph Masiello's dragon drawing book and get out your colored pencils! For stories of girls who went up against dragons look for The Serpent Slayer: And Other Stories Of Strong Women with illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Col. John L. Burleigh was not "apocryphal."

Wed, 04/16/2008 - 3:27pm by amy

submitted by Wystan Stevens

While I was doing a Google search on John L. Burleigh, I noticed an item about him in the online pages of Stanley Wertheim's A Stephen Crane Encyclopedia (1997), where he is referenced (p. 43) as being "probably an apocryphal character invented by Elbert Hubbard." Nay, it is not so.

Col. John L. Burleigh got his law degree, and his start in politics, in my home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Early histories of this area contain references to his activities, especially as the founder in 1878 of a weekly newspaper, the Ann Arbor Democrat. Two years later, it was noted that Burleigh had sold out his interest in that publication to a business partner and left to seek opportunities in Chicago. From Chicago he evidently migrated to New York. The New York Times on January 9, 1895, posted a reference to him as an attorney practicing in NYC:

A Washtenaw County (Michigan) history notes that Burleigh had been an alderman in Brooklyn. Burleigh's death notice (no obit, alas) appeared in the NYT on May 10, 1909, a day after his demise. His death notice in the New York Tribune (again, no obit) stated that the funeral would be held on May 11 at the Church of the Redeemer, in Brooklyn.

In 1877, Burleigh participated in ceremonies at the laying of the cornerstone of the Washtenaw County Courthouse in Ann Arbor (1881 History of Washtenaw County, p. 346).

Kid Bits - PIGGIES !

Tue, 04/15/2008 - 5:23pm by ryanikoglu

See the piggy? See the puddle? See the Piggy In The Puddle?
We'll do "Piggies" in Storytimes at Malletts Creek and Pittsfield Branches.
Once you know a traditional version of a folktale, revisions are fun.
Begin with traditional The Three Little Pigs by Paul Galdone; Try a revision of The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall;
And when you know the story, you can read ....
The wolf's point of view by Jon Scieszka in The True Story Of The 3 Little Pigs.

Stunning, sharp view of Lower Town

Fri, 04/11/2008 - 9:07am by amy

Click image for larger view.

Stunning, sharp view of Lower Town from across the river shows flooding in slaughterhouse area. Date unknown. From the Burton Historical collection.

Submitted by Wystan Stevens

PreK Bits - Stories From AFRICA

Tue, 04/08/2008 - 12:34pm by ryanikoglu

Storytime @ Malletts Creek and Pittsfield will feature stories from Africa this week. We did Rachel Isadora's new Princess And The Pea and Anansi And The Moss-Covered Rock.
Rabbit Ears: Anansi is a DVD production of Anansi stories based on the book illustrations and text. Rabbit Ears Productions publish, "stories read by well-known actors accompanied by music from top-notch groups".
Look for the Rabbit Ears DVDs in the Library collections.

Jean De Florette

Sun, 04/06/2008 - 3:40pm by french_film_grl

Jean De Florette is a wonderful French film. Making its debut in 1987, the film stars Gerard Depardieu and Daniel Auteuil. The beautiful setting for this movie is 1920's Provence, France.

Jean De Florette, the main character, is played by Depardieu. Jean makes his living as a tax collector in the city, until one day he inherits a plot of land in Provence. Only too happy to make a move to the country for a new beginning, he arrives in Provence with family in tow. He is joyously looking forward to working a garden and raising small livestock, all the while utilizing a wonderful fresh water spring that is located on the property.

Unknown to Jean De Florette, his "new" neighbors have long had their eyes on his newly inherited piece of heaven. They scheme against Jean and begin to make his life of farming unbearable. They are motivated by their belief that if they can discourage Jean enough, he will fold like a cheap card table, and sell his land to the first buyer. They block the natural spring, conceal its location from Jean, and sit back to see what happens.

I'll be the first to admit that a story about the tribulations of a rural farmer in 1920's France doesn't sound that interesting. However, that's not really what this film is all about. This film is an interesting study in human nature. Jean De Florette is a must see film for anyone interested in exploring the realm of French Film. This movie is as much a staple to French cinema, as baguettes are a staple to French cuisine.

The official FFG rating of this film is 8.

There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker

Fri, 04/04/2008 - 2:41pm by Tahira

Celebrate our connection to nature in There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker.

HomeWork Bits - Online Science Fair Sites

Fri, 04/04/2008 - 12:48pm by ryanikoglu

School Library Journal provides an "Online Science Fare" resource list for Science Fair season.
Here it is, and hope it HELPS !
Science Fair Project Resource Guide from the Internet Public Library.

Online (and Hands-on) Activities created by the San Francisco Exploratorium.

Science Fair Project Resource Guide created by Librarians, "a well-known classic among science fair veterans". And

ZOOMsci with simple experiments especially good for elementary students and teachers looking for in-class projects

New old photo of Winchell octagon turns up.

Thu, 04/03/2008 - 4:35pm by amy

Click image for larger view.

University of Michigan Professor Alexander Winchell's octagon house in Ann Arbor, 1904-06, built on the site where Hill Auditorium was later erected. From Early Detroit Images from the Burton Historical Collection.

The best-ever image of the lost landmark.

Submitted by Wystan Stevens