AADL at the Earth Day Festival this Sunday

Wed, 04/23/2014 - 9:59am by eapearce

Come visit the Ann Arbor District Library table at the 43rd Annual Ann Arbor Area Earth Day Festival this Sunday, April 27th from 12:00 to 4:00pm! Coordinated by the Environmental Education Network of Washtenaw and hosted at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, the Earth Day Festival is a fun-filled afternoon of exploration, activities and education for all ages. Over 40 local environmental, governmental and nonprofit organizations will have tables at the festival covering a wide range of topics including live animal demonstrations, sustainable agriculture, environmental quality testing and more. There will also be local food vendors at the festival.The AADL table will have a number of our science tools available for people to try out, including our portable digital microscope.

Admission to the festival is free, and the festival is a zero waste event. Lots of recycling bins will be available and patrons are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles. You can read more about the festival here

A Story Reminiscent of Mad Men

Fri, 04/18/2014 - 2:28pm by Beth Manuel

The Lost Chapters is the true story of a Madison Avenue advertising man who experienced the glamour and success of the industry's heyday while ultimately being destroyed by it. Author Lisa Anderson's (she goes by Lise, locally) attempt to unravel her father's story comes from the manuscript he left behind before his mysterious death in Tokyo decades ago. Join us as we hear readings from her book on Wednesday, April 23rd from 7:00-8:30 in the Multi-Purpose Room downtown. Anna Byberg, Program Coordinator of Dawn Farm, will speak about the alcohol addiction that ultimately took Dick Anderson's life and will answer questions. AADL has a robust collection of books on the subject of alcoholism and addiction. Read more about the author's fascinating quest on her website. Her book will be on sale & Lise will be available to sign them.

Described Video Service/DVS

Thu, 04/17/2014 - 2:46pm by Beth Manuel

AADL continues to grow its collection of films that have a Descriptive Video Service or DVS feature, which are more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. More films are being produced for children and adults that are Described Video Recordings for L-Card users to borrow. There are comedies, action, animation, horror and science fiction films available. Many can be sent by mail to WLBPD patrons as Free Matter for the Blind. If there's a member of your family who has been missing out on movies due to low-vision, look at our list of described videos that you can watch together!

Performance Network: Richard III Re-imagined

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 11:49am by annevm

Performance Network Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor will present a reimagined version of William Shakespeare's classic play Richard III from April 24 - June 1. From the PNT website: "... One of Shakespeare’s most famous histories gets an innovative ... treatment in this boldly re-imagined tale of power, treachery, seduction and fate. Performance Network Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch stars as Richard, the ruthless and conniving Plantagenet, whose ascent to power is littered with corpses. This revolutionary take on the age-old classic explores the themes and fate of gender, power, and government set in the distant yet ominous future." Ticket information is here. The theater is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 120 E. Huron Street.

52nd Ann Arbor Film Festival

Mon, 03/24/2014 - 12:39pm by manz

Are you ready to feast on films this week?! The 52nd annual Ann Arbor Film Festival takes place Tuesday, March 25- Sunday, March 30 at the Michigan Theater. As the longest running experimental film festival in the country, the film festival celebrates the best in experimental film making featuring a ton of amazing films, including feature lengths, documentaries and short films-- all kicking off with an opening night reception prior to the opening screening on Tuesday. Amazing! Check out the full schedule, get your tickets, and why not hit one of the afterparties to soak in the scene?

Check out the Ann Arbor Film Festival DVD Collection at AADL, featuring some films from past festivals.

Also check out the wonderful Ann Arbor Film Festival Archive featuring photos, interviews, posteres, articles, programs from the history of the fabulous film festival.

Controlled Burns in Ann Arbor's Natural Areas

Tue, 02/25/2014 - 7:17pm by prlhw

Tuesday Feb. 25th | Traverwood | 7:00-8:30 PM | adults and teens (grade 6 and up)

Forest fires are usually a bad thing -- when they aren't meant to happen! However, many Natural Area Preservation organizations around the country use a method called controlled burning to actually help the land. Prescribed or controlled burning is sometimes used in forest management, farming, or prairie restoration and stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest.

The Natural Area Preservation of Ann Arbor will visit the Traverwood branch of the AADL to further explain what controlled burns are and why they are used in natural areas. This event is for anyone interested in helping with the burns or those who just want to learn more about them.

To learn more about the forests of Michigan, check out these great books in the AADL collection:
- Trees of Michigan: field guide
- Roadside guide to Michigan plants, trees, and flowers: an ecological approach
- Trees of Michigan, including tall shrubs
- Trees of Michigan and the Upper Great Lakes
- Michigan trees: a guide to the trees of the Great Lakes Region

Huron Valley Ambulance is Recruiting for a Volunteer Team

Wed, 02/19/2014 - 7:13pm by schoenbaechlere

HVA is pleased to announce the formation of the Huron Valley Ambulance Volunteer Team. HVA is looking for citizens interested in training for a variety of volunteer positions. You can train to be a medical first responder at community events or to assist with community education/awareness programs and administrative tasks.

An Information Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 20 from 6 to 7:30 pm at Emergent Health Partners - 1200 State Circle, Ann Arbor. Meeting attendees will receive information about our volunteer teams - Medical First Responders, Community Relations and Administrative Support.

HVA will also be offering FREE training for medical first responders. The eight week training program starts on May 6. Classes meet on Tuesday/Thursday from 6 to 10:30 pm and three Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm. Upon completion, you may take the State exam to be certified as a Medical First Responder. Free training will also be provided for citizens interested in community education and administrative support volunteer positions.

Click here to register for the information meeting or call 734-477-6331 for more information.

Free Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research Symposium

Fri, 02/14/2014 - 12:47pm by schoenbaechlere

Are you interested in learning more about patient-centered health research and strategies for building partnerships with community-based health organizations? Do you participate in research and have in interest in sharing your findings with members of the community? The 2014 OPIS Symposium: Partnerships for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research welcomes all participants to the free symposium to engage in this worthwhile conversation about health in our community.

The symposium will take place on Wednesday, March 26th from 8:00 am - 3:45 pm in the Dining Hall of the North Campus Research Complex at the University of Michigan. The program is free, but registration is required. Follow this link to learn more about the Keynote Speakers and the Agenda.

Support for Adults with ADHD

Tue, 02/11/2014 - 4:30pm by Beth Manuel

Are you or a loved one affected with Adult Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder? If so, you may be interested in joining a local discussion group for information or support. This group meets from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the WISD Teaching and Learning Center each month. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 18th from 7:00-8:30 pm. The meeting will include resources, an opportunity to share experiences and ideas. The following week, February 25, the group hosts speaker Sally Palaian, Ph.D with a talk titled: "Shame Free Money Management for Individuals with AD/HD". For more information contact: AnnArborADDults@gmail.com.

Now Available Through AADL: 250+ Downloadable & Streaming Albums from Ghostly International & Spectral Sound

Mon, 02/03/2014 - 1:46pm by mariah

For over a dozen years, record label Ghostly International has made Ann Arbor its home. Haven't heard of them? The Ann's piece highlighting them as a "hidden gem" will help get you up to speed.

Founded in 1999 in a dorm room by a then-UM student, Sam Valenti IV, the label has grown steadily in scope and size. Beginning with talented locally-based artists such as Matthew Dear and Dabrye, the Ghostly crew has expanded over the last decade-plus to include illustrious alumni and around a dozen currently active artists, including Shigeto, ADULT., and Tycho. A spin-off/related label -- Spectral Sound -- also emerged, and 100+ of their albums are also included in this special AADL collection.

As its roster of musical artists has grown, Ghostly has also maintained a careful, deliberate approach to the visual elements of each release (and to the aesthetic of the label as a whole), evident by their attention to cover design and frequent partnerships with companies that are beyond the imagination (aim) of many more traditional labels.

AADL is thrilled to partner with Ghostly to offer DRM-free downloads and streaming of 150+ Ghostly and 100+ Spectral Sound albums to all AADL cardholders. All you need is to have an AADL library card. Then, login with your linked AADL online account, and all of these tracks are yours for the listening!