Public Event
Washtenaw Reads Book Discussion: Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi
Tuesday January 30, 2018: 7:00pm to
8:00pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Grade 9 - Adult
Blog Post
The 2018 Washtenaw Reads Title Has Been Selected!
by valerieclaires
After much deliberation, the book for the 2018 Washtenaw Reads program has been selected. A panel of community members from Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Northfield Township, Saline and Ypsilanti voted on the winner from two finalist titles. Without further ado, this year's title is...
Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi.
Homegoing follows the parallel paths of two half sisters, born into different villages in 18th century Ghana, and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. The book has won many awards, including the PEN/ Hemingway Award, the NBCC’s John Leonard Award, New York Times Notable Book, Washington Post Notable Book and was named one of the best books of 2016 by NPR, Time, Oprah.com, Harper’s Bazaar, San Francisco Chronicle, Mother Jones, Esquire, Elle, Paste, Entertainment Weekly, the Skimm, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and BuzzFeed. One of the highlights of Washtenaw Reads each year is a visit from the author. Yaa Gyasi will appear in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00 pm at Rackham Auditorium in a program entitled "Homegoing: A Conversation with Yaa Gyasi" - The 2018 Institute for the Humanities Jill S. Harris Memorial Lecture." The event includes a book signing and copies of the book will be for sale. Washtenaw Reads is a community initiative to promote reading and civic dialogue through the shared experience of reading and discussing a common book. Copies of Homegoing can be found at AADL and in libraries and bookstores throughout Washtenaw County. Keep an eye on the Washtenaw Reads website, wread.org, for more information on upcoming events, as well as reading and discussion resources.
Blog Post
Restorative Justice & Returning Citizens
by Beth Manuel
Join us Monday, September 25, 2017: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm in the Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room
The American Friends Service Committee staff leads a panel discussion on restorative justice and mass incarceration which will include a videoed vignette of successful outcomes of advocacy & prison reform.
AFSC's Michigan Criminal Justice Program advocates for over 1,500 Michigan prisoners and their families each year, building an advocacy network throughout the state. The program encourages dialogue among prisoners and the general public, and works for humane reform of the criminal justice system, and for the rights of prisoners.
Blog Post
Dawn Farm's Education Series Continues...
by Beth Manuel
The public is invited to Dawn Farm’s free Educational Series. All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium, at 5305 Elliott Drive in Ypsilanti. You can also contact Dawn Farm at 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org. All are welcome to attend! Registration is not required. All programs are from 7:30 -9:00 PM.
On September 19, the topic, Addiction & Families, will be presented by Lynn Kleiman Malinoff, Ed.D. Substance addiction affects the entire family. Learn how each family member is affected and ways family members can cope with addiction.
On September 26, James Balmer, President of Dawn Farm, will present "Addiction 101: A primer on the dynamics of alcohol and other drug use, addiction as a brain disease and the process of recovery".
Blog Post
Audio Description Track on DVD!
by Beth Manuel
AADL continues to grow its collection of films that have a Descriptive Video Service or DVS feature. More films are being produced for children and adults that are Described Video Recordings for L Card users to borrow. When you look at this list, sort the items to show the newest DVDs first! Some DVDs are even available by mail to our WLBPD patrons as Free Matter for the Blind. If your vision isn't what it used to be, you may want to try watching a film with described narration. That way you don't have to ask other folks what's happening on the screen and can concentrate on the film.
Blog Post
Washtenaw County Preparedness Expo: September 2nd
by Beth Manuel
The American Red Cross of Washtenaw County has invited the community for a Family Preparedness Expo, where attendees can learn from local emergency management response agencies & non-profits about what to do before, during an after disaster strikes.
There will be fire extinguisher training, Hands-Only CPR, a disaster preparedness workshop and more.
Admission is free and open to the public: Saturday, September 2nd from 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. At the American Red Cross 4624 Packard Rd. Ann Arbor, 48108
Lectures & Panel Discussions
Electric Vehicles | City of Ann Arbor 2018 Sustainable Ann Arbor Forum
Thursday January 11, 2018: 7:00pm to
8:30pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Adults
Blog Post
Two Washtenaw Reads Finalists for 2018!
by valerieclaires
The two finalist titles for the 2018 edition of Washtenaw Reads have been selected!
The Screening Committee met through the summer to read and discuss some of the top fiction and non-fiction titles of the last few years and to narrow down to two titles for the final selection committee to read. Without further ado, the nominees are:
Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi (Alfred A. Knopf, 2016)
Homegoing follows the parallel paths of two half sisters from different tribal villages in Ghana and their descendants through eight generations: from the Gold Coast to the plantations of Mississippi, from the American Civil War to Jazz Age Harlem. Yaa Gyasi’s extraordinary novel illuminates slavery’s troubled legacy both for those who were taken and those who stayed—and shows how the memory of captivity has been inscribed on the soul of our nation.
Thank You for Your Service, by David FInkel (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013)
In Thank You for Your Service, Finkel follows a group of soldiers as they return home from the front lines in Baghdad and struggle to reintegrate—both into their family lives and into American society at large. He is with them in their most intimate, painful, and hopeful moments as they try to recover, and in doing so, he creates an indelible, essential portrait of what life after war is like—not just for these soldiers, but for their wives, widows, children, and friends, and for the professionals who are truly trying, and to a great degree failing, to undo the damage that has been done.
Both books are available at the library. You can leave your feedback about the two finalist titles on the Washtenaw Reads Finalist Page, and keep checking the WR site for the announcement of the selected read later this fall!
The Washtenaw Reads program is a community initiative to promote reading and civic dialogue through the shared experience of reading and discussing a common book. Participating libraries include Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Milan, Northfield Township, Saline, and Ypsilanti.
Blog Post
Community Conversations: The Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder/Opioid Crisis in Washtenaw County
by monkk
Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton, U.S. Congressman Tim Walberg and U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell invite you to attend a vital kick-off conversation with residents about the mental health/substance use disorder/opioid crisis affecting all of us across Washtenaw County. The conversation will take place on August 21, 2017, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Saline High School. Come together as a community to learn, provide input and discuss how to address this crisis which is devastating to many families. To register for this event click here, e-mail wyattk@ewashtenaw.org or call 734-973-4613.
Blog Post
AADL & TheRide Offer Free Ride Saturdays With Your Library Card
by TimG
AADL and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) are partnering this summer to provide Free Ride Saturdays during the AADL Summer Game!
Every Saturday from June 17 - August 26, library cardholders can ride any of TheRide local fixed-route buses for free. All you need to do is show the driver your library card when boarding the bus!
While riding, look for the AADL Summer Game code sign inside the bus and win 1,000 points to trade in for awesome Summer Game Shop prizes. Each bus has the same code inside the bus, so it's easy to find! When you see it, text the code to 4AADL (42235) or visit play.aadl.org to enter the code and get 1,000 points.
TheRide and AADL have created fun ways to get even more Summer Game prizes:
• Find the code featured on the outside of several buses for 500 points.
• Find the code hidden on TheRide.org on the MyAlerts Service page (which you can get to by clicking on "All Alerts" directly from the homepage) for 500 points.
Find all the codes to earn the Ride Master Badge and a 500 point bonus!
The AADL Summer Game is a great way to enjoy your summer and to ride TheRide for free! For more information on TheRide's routes and schedules, pick up a Ride Guide or visit TheRide.org.