Blog Post
Badge Drop #1: ONEderful News!
by SaraP
Wondering when and where we will release our first in several series of SG badges? WHERE have you been?! (Probably creating hundreds of L&L Codes.) The news is out: It’s Badge Drop Friday, folks!!!! And it’s dropping right here, right now! So SCRAP those plans for climbing TREES or staying COOL in the POOL! This is a FANTASTIC and PERRY large lineup of puzzles, puns, and ADVENTURE to be had!!!
Plus, SUPER good news! The Super Search puzzles you’ve come to love are still extremely tricky and still available as printable pdfs (AS IF we would ever make them easy!). BUT if you’re thinking “UGH! I hate tricky things and I hate writing utensils!” then you’ll be delighted to learn that Super Search puzzles are now also fully playable as digital puzzles on each badge page—complete with HINTS!! Surely that is MUSIC to even the most pencil-averse of listeners!
Extra news: Leaderboard standings will start updating on Monday! Perhaps your poolside daydream is to make it big on the leaderboard. Or maybe your dream is to be the CENTER of attention with just your besties! We’ve been TAKING COUNCIL with your daydreams and may or may not be able to TRANSFORM your experience. Either way, LEAGUES—basically private leaderboards—are coming in exactly one week!!!! So, start forming an ALLIANCE with your pals and maybe you can be the MANE CHARACTER in your (or somebody else’s) leaderboard League!!! We’ll have ALL the details next week!
Whatever you do, make sure you walk, run, hop, skip, drive, RIDE, just get yourself Downtown somehow this weekend for one of the biggest code BONANZAS of the game: A2CAF—this Saturday (10am-5pm) and Sunday (11am-5pm)!!! You won’t be BOARD, because you’ll be FINDING points and CATCHERing badges!
Badge Drop #1
Okay, all you little MEGAFANS, YOU NOSE THE DRILL! THANKS for PLAYING!
Blog Post
SUMMER GAME 2025: Let's GOOOO!!!
by SaraP
It’s GAAAAAAME DAAAAAAY!! No, not that game day! It’s the number one day of the SUMMER GAME, because it’s literally DAY NUMBER ONE!!! So bust out that #1 FAN foam finger that can surely be re-purposed for this game and scream “SUMMER GAME 2025 HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED!!!!!!!!” at the top of your lungs (we cannot guarantee your neighbors are okay with this).
Here at SG Headquarters, our FACEPAINT is ON, the COFFEE is MADE, at least one file cabinet is PLASTERED with SG STICKERS, our official summer POM POMS are SOMEWHERE, and we have ENTHUSIASM (and golf pencils) in SPADES. DO YOU???
Because RIGHT NOW you can:
-START with our GETTING STARTED BADGES! You can even read our GETTING STARTED page!
-GO to each AADL location and collect codes! Each branch has a BIG ‘OL BANNER CODE as well as some BRANCH EXPLORER codes within each library building. CAN YOU FIND THEM ALL??? Pick up a Summer Game Explorer’s Guide from any of the desks to help in your search!!
-PLAY our fresh new Scatterlog puzzles EVERY DAY!! Or the ACTUALLY ENDLESS Points-o-Matic!
-VISIT the AADL catalog to rate and review some things you like (or don’t like??). WE WANNA KNOW!
-READ books, watch movies, listen to music, or download something cool from the catalog! Be sure to LOG your items each day!!
-ATTEND events either in-person or online and find the CODES EVERYWHERE!
-CREATE your very own LAWN or LIBRARY CODE!! You know, the lawn signs in lawns and the super cute little code cards on super cute little Summer Game Stop poles??! THAT'S RIGHT—you've got the green light to DUST OFF last year's lawn sign (or stop by for new lawn or card supplies) and HAVE PUN coming up with your 2025 code! Register your code on your My Players page around the same time you put it out!
-BROWSE The Summer Game Shop NOW to prep for your future POINTS-SPENDING SPREE!
-CONSULT our BRAND-NEW list of IMPORTANT SUMMER GAME DATES as often as you like to stay at the top of your game!
-GET HYPED for absolutely no other reason besides the fact that SUMMER GAME SEASON HAS STARTED!!!!!
And COMING SOON:
-BADGE DROPS be dropping at NOON every FRIDAY of SG, starting…THIS FRIDAY of course! So, CLEAR THOSE CALENDARS, folks!!
-LEADERBOARD standings will begin updating Monday, June 16. In the meantime, SERENITY NOW!!!
-POINTS-O-MATIC is introducing a NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN mode on June 20th! You'll be points-o-matic-ing things LEFT and RIGHT faster than you can text 'K' to your parents (or your kids)!
-THE SUMMER GAME SHOP opens for orders on July 11! But you CAN view the prizes right now! If you want. You probably aren't even that into prizes.
-AND MORE!!!!!!!!! You'll be in a LEAGUE of your own, soon enough :D
Getting Started Badge Series
We know you’re PUMPED! We know you love a CHALLENGE! But if you get REALLY STUCK, fill out the form at ContactUs and describe your issue—you'll get PERSONALIZED HELP delivered right to your inbox where it belongs (not on the badge comment thread). We. Are. READY!!!
Well what are you waiting for???? GET GOING and THANKS FOR PLAYING!
Blog Post
Coming Soon: The Summer Game 2025!
by richretyi
It's almost time for SUMMER GAME 2025!
We're (pickle fairy) dusting everything off as we prepare for launch. But in the meantime, we have a few friends to keep you company. Stay tuned for summer fun STARTING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11—including but not limited to...
- The Reading Game!
- Badges, badges, badges!!
- Lawn & Library codes!!!
- Points, points, points!!!!
- Sneak peeks at The Summer Game Shop!!!!!
- Important Summer Game Dates!!!!!!
- More, more, more!!!!!!!!!
Thanks to our fantastic Summer Game artist Meg Lewis, who'll be stopping by AADL for an event this summer!
Not sure what the Summer Game is? Check out our Getting Started page to get a peek at what all the fuss is about.
Blog Post
A NEW RE-CODE!!
by ohheyitselle
Someone call the Guinness Book of World Records because we BROKE SOME re-CODES!!
(…like RECORDS but CODES…get it?)
EITHER WAY, what we here at SG headquarters are trying to say is that this SG was one for the RECORD BOOKS!!! SG 2023 made a splash as our biggest Summer Game at the time, but we didn’t expect the HUGE WAVE Summer Game 2024 would make!!!
Summer Game 2024 had 14,672 players!!!! That’s 2,043 MORE players than last year marking this summer RECORD BREAKING!!
Speaking of re-CODES, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that SG 2024 had a whopping 3,534 CODES in effect… BUT 2,149 of them were LAWN & LIBRARY CODES!! That’s right! YOU, the players, created a lot more codes than we did here at SG Headquarters!!! Turns out that Lawn & Library Code Stops were UNMATCHED this summer!! This may not be a surprise to you if you happened to see those little lawn signs popping up all over town like DANDELIONS!
But let’s not pretend that the 227 BADGES didn’t give those Lawn & Library codes a run for their money though… Badges were redeemed a whopping 394,194 times this summer which is ALSO our highest number yet (surprising NO ONE at this point!!)
But what do ALL THOSE 14,672 players do with ALL THOSE codes and badges???? EARN POINTS, of course!!!
Players earned a total of 390,158,384 POINTS which is a big enough number that some of us have to think about how to say it outloud… OR you can just say that’s a 35.1% INCREASE in points earned from last year!! ANOTHER RECORD (aren’t you glad we didn’t say re-code??)
Whew. All that record breaking can be exhausting and may leave you ready to cozy up to some winter weather and lie in wait until Summer Game 2025 starts on Wednesday, June 11, 2025!
BUT if you’re not quite ready to put your SG love in hibernation mode… Be sure to be on the lookout for BYTE CLUB!! You can sign up for more information HERE!!
Oh, and one more thing!
*drumroll please*
ONE BIG, RECORD BREAKING... THANK YOU FOR PLAYING!! There would be no SG without SGP (aka Summer Game Players)!!! Thank you all for making this the biggest Summer Game yet!!!!
Blog Post
Byte Club is For AADL Super Fans and Library People Like You!
by richretyi
Welcome to Byte Club! For AADL SUPER FANS and library people like you!
You love the Library and probably share your enthusiasm for AADL all the time. You play the Summer Game, you know how to freeze a request, you've been to our festivals and expos, and you get excited when our new brochures come out or you scan the Observer's calendar and circle all the Library events you're excited to attend.
You might have multiple AADL t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, totes, and maybe even a menagerie of tiny stuffed animals. You might already have a favorite library and favorite library memory. You might have been a patron for decades or maybe you're brand new to town and your relationship with the library is just beginning. Enthusiasm is all that’s needed for Byte Club!
Byte Club is a way to get closer to everything happening at the Library. A way to spread the word about how much you love your Library. Byte Club will also give you sneak peeks into upcoming AADL events, programming, and cool new things coming soon. Byte Club will help you connect deeper with the Library and like-minded Library people around town. We want to make sure everyone who loves the Library has a chance to be part of Byte Club.
Interested?
Click here to fill out a sign-up form to join the Byte Club mailing list and be one of the first to be part of this exciting new way to engage with your Library.
More details about Byte Club will be emailed to Byte Club members and announced on our website later in September.
Blog Post
Badge Drop #11: Sweet Endings
by ohheyitselle
HOLY CANNOLI!!! Summer Game is swiftly coming to a close…CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT?? The Summer Game ends at 11:59pm on Sunday, August 25th!!!
It’s always sad to see Summer Game go, but if you find yourself CRAVING to revisit Scatterlog, we’re planning on opening the Scatterlog Archives on Monday, August 26th! Oh, and be sure to clean your PLATE- er, LAWN CODE SIGN so you can keep it for next year!!
All that being said, we have one last SWEET TREAT for you all…
For those players out there who have spent all summer CINNAMON ROLL-ing to ALL AADL locations for those Building Codes and BEAR CLAW-ing your way through all your favorite badges series… it’s time for your DESSERT!!!
FEAST your eyes on this year’s COMPLETIONIST BADGES, d-ÉCLAIR yourself a COMPLETIONIST, and DONUT miss out on earning some extra points to spend in the Summer Game Shop before it closes on Monday, September 2 at 11:59pm!!
Be sure you save some SG room for the CHERRY ON TOP… the Game Over Gala is on SUNDAE (aka Sunday), August 25th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm!!
BADGE DROP #11
Thank you for always making our summer SWEETER, and as always, THANKS FOR PLAYING!!!!!
Blog Post
Badge Drop #10: Time for some TENder Loving Care!
by emjane
It’s been a BUSY SUMMER, and we bet you might need some TLC: SG Style!
Do you need to just veg on the couch? Let CHICKEN go to THE AIRPORT and travel vicariously! There are a lot of travel shows you can watch RIGHT FROM THE AADL CATALOG (and get some DOWNLOAD points while you’re at it!)
Or, if getting out into that BUSTLING world fills your battery, hop on the STREETCAR NAMED ANN ARBOR (or The Ride bus … for free with your library card on the weekend!) and take advantage of some of the LAST CHANCEs to get those Arbor Explorer Badges
If you need some retail therapy, hit up our Summer Game Shop to spend your points on all sorts of things to imPRESS FRIENDS and family.
Do whatever you need to do in this PUSH & PULL of summer’s end to feel like you, and know your Summer Game Team thinks you’re a PREFECT TEN!
Speaking of LAST CHANCEs ... August 25 is the LAST CHANCE to earn points for the 2024 Summer Game!!! This week is the last regular badge drop, though those COMPLETIONIST BADGES are still going to show their sweet little faces next Friday at noon!
Now, WILL YOU ACCEPT these BADGEs?
BADGE DROP #10
Thanks for playing!!
Blog Post
Badge Drop #9: Come on in, the water's NINE!
by emjane
The warmth of Summer Game has everyone feeling NINE and dandy, and the BARTON BUZZ about town is that SG is THE CURE FOR WHAT AILS YOU! (As long as what ails you is a need for FUN, PUNS, and CODES!)
We’re reaching the finish NINE for Lawn and Library codes, so be sure to make one by THIS SUNDAY, August 11, or DON’T GET UPSET if you missed your chance to PAINT THE TOWN with your witty, 12-character-or-less code!
Now is the perfect time to get ALL COURT UP on any badges you may have missed (those COMPLETIONIST TROPHIES are just around the corner!); even if you've still got a lot to go, that dream isn't too HIGH IN THE SKY, there's still plenty of game left!
Plus, we’re badged to the NINES today!
BADGE DROP #9
Thanks for playing! Y’all have put your SG Team on cloud NINE!
Blog Post
Badge Drop #8: G'day M-EIGHT!!!
by ohheyitselle
What’s up, PARTY PEOPLE??? Or should we say BONJOUR!!
It is AUGUST which means the two biggest events of the summer are fully underway!! Yes, of course we’re referring to the Summer Games (Olympic variety) and THE SUMMER GAME (AADL variety)!!!!! Both are EQUALLY important events…according to some person somewhere...maybe.
We have a few things to say to the Olympians and Summer Game Players out there:
Olympians…ROW YOUR BOATS down the Seine (or not).
SG Players…Search DOWN IN THE DEPTHS of the catalog for codes!!
Olympians…RING THE BELL in those climbing matches (is that how that works??!)
SG Players… FARE through BOOKS and FAIRY FAVORS
Olympians… have some GREAT SKATES in the new Skateboarding events (and also at the Summer Game Skate on August 23rd!)
Both Olympians and SG Players… LEGO AND SCORE SOME POINTS!! (and check out the LEGO CONTEST on Sunday, August 4th!!)
And remember… The LAST DAY to create Lawn & Library codes is August 11th!!!
BADGE DROP #8
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Thanks for playing and have a G'DAY!
Blog Post
Badge Drop #7: The Spectacular SEVEN
by emjane
Step aside, cowboys, we have a magnificent seven OF OUR OWN!
1. TOMORROW (Saturday, 7/27) is the SUMMER GAME SPECTACULAR! Join us from 1-4pm at Veterans Memorial Park for our annual SPECTACULAR SG celebration!
2. Are you READY FOR TAKEOFF??? You’ve got just TWO more weeks to make a Lawn or Library Code!
3. READING IS FUNDAMENTAL! More than 2000 of you have earned the Super Summer Reader Badge and earned MEGA POINTS!
4. We have AN Ann ARBor OF OUR OWN — and by that, we mean Bicentennial Blocks for you to BUILD your version of our lovely city! (Plus they have SEVEN codes on them. How on brand!)
5. We are HAVING A MALL shipping out tons and tons of prizes!! Haven’t picked out your four yet? Why not browse the Summer Game Shop!!
6. WHO WOULD WIN?? EVERYONE!!! We’re ALL a part of the RECORD-BREAKING number of Summer Game Players (and it's not even AUGUST YET!!!)
7. It’s time to SUPER SEARCH for more codes ‘cause more badges are dropping RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!
BADGE DROP #7
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Thanks for playing, and have a SPECTACULAR day!
