Blog Post
The Supermoon Lunar Eclipse Is Coming!
by amy
Check out a library telescope or pair of binoculars for the rare supermoon lunar eclipse occurring on September 27. It won’t happen quite this way again until 2033, so this is your chance - provided Michigan weather cooperates, of course!
A “supermoon” is the point at which a full moon is closest to Earth and appears 14% bigger, and a lunar eclipse occurs when the moon falls into Earth’s shadow and looks reddish. Both events will happen concurrently on the evening of September 27, so get out after sunset and look up! Things start just after 9 pm, with the total eclipse occurring between 10:11 pm and 11:23 pm and ending around 12:30 am on September 28.
Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation is hosting a public hike and viewing of the eclipse, weather permitting, and telescopes will be set up at the Project Grow site about 100 yards south of the County Farm Park parking lot at 2210 Platt Rd.
Blog Post
AADL in the New York Times
by valerieclaires
This week, The Ann Arbor District Library and our tools collection were featured in the New York Times in an article about non-traditional library collections. Several libraries around the country, including AADL, are profiled, each with a unique collection to share. The article can be read on the New York Times website or on page A12 of the Tuesday, September 15 edition of the Times.
If you’d like to check out a tool, from a Spinning Wheel to a Telescope, or a Giant Checkers Set and a Thermal Camera, visit aadl.org/tools!
Blog Post
Today is a good day to place a hold on a telescope
by amy
Why? Because over the next two weeks Jupiter and Venus - both prominent in the western sky at dusk - will be moving closer and closer together until their conjunction, Tuesday, June 30, when they’ll be only .3 degrees apart and visible together in your field of view. This is the celestial highlight of early summer, folks, so place a hold today!
Blog Post
Michigan Activity Pass - Check Out Free Passes to Michigan Attractions
by Sara W
Looking for adventure? The Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) is newly expanded, offering free or discounted entry to attractions across the state.
Blog Post
Drop in for Valentine's Day die-cutting crafts now through February 20 at the Downtown Library!
by Employee 37
Visit the Downtown library anytime through February 20 to create your own Valentine's Day papercrafts. This is your chance to get your hands on the same die-cutting machines that you can borrow from our new Art Tools collection while making some cool decorations and cards that you get to take home!
Die-cutting works by placing the material to be cut, like paper, felt or craft metal on top of a die that contains safety foam and a razor sharp blade. You then run it through a roller press which gently presses the material to be cut down through the foam and onto the razor sharp blade, allowing you to produce some very intricate designs. We're supplying construction paper & glue, but If you want to get super fancy or make something in large quantities you are also welcome to bring in your own decorative paper and supplies. Hollander's is just a quick walk down 4th Ave!
Look for the Art Tools craft table near the first floor Information Desk at the Downtown library.
Blog Post
Grab a scope for tonight's asteroid fly-by!
by amy
Want to see a mountain-sized asteroid tonight from your own backyard? If so, your best bet is to fix a small telescope on something in its path and wait for it to fly past. In this case, look for the open cluster M44, known as the Beehive Cluster, in the constellation Cancer; it's about halfway between Jupiter and Pollux. The asteroid will be flying near it between about 12:45 and 1:00 a.m. tonight, January 27. Here are some observing tips.
So quick, run in and grab a scope (we have some handy right now at the Downtown branch) and set yourself up!
Blog Post
If you can find Orion, you can find Comet Lovejoy!
by amy
Comet Lovejoy is proving to be a bit more wonderful than expected. Sure, it’s cold out there, but if you know where to find the constellation Orion (in the southeast), you can locate Lovejoy pretty quickly before heading back inside. Comet Lovejoy is charting a course past Orion over the next couple weeks and getting higher in the sky. It's fairly bright and right now a magnetic storm may be in progress in the tail of the comet causing "plasma blobs" and "disconnection events" visible in amateur telescopes.
We have telescopes you can check out, but to see the comet you really only need a decent pair of binoculars, which we also happen to have on hand.
So run in and grab a telescope or a pair of binoculars so you're ready on the next clear night!
Blog Post
Drop-in For Wintry Art Tools Crafts At The Downtown Library
by Employee 37
Visit the Downtown library anytime through early January to create your own winter papercrafts. We're supplying the same die-cutting machines that you can borrow from our new Art Tools collection, along with every winter-themed die we could get our hands on including snowmen, penguins, snowflakes, ornaments, sleighs, greeting cards, paper villages, embossing folders & more.
Die-cutting works by placing the material to be cut or embossed, like paper, cardstock or craft metal on top of a die that contains safety foam and a blade, which you run through a roller press to cut or emboss your design. We're supplying scrap paper for you to try it out, but If you want to get super fancy or make something in large quantities then you're welcome to bring in your own decorative paper and supplies. Hollander's is just a quick walk down 4th Ave!
Look for the Art Tools craft table near the desk on the 1st floor at the Downtown library.
Blog Post
Checkout A Metal Detector Soon (Or Wait Until Spring)
by Employee 37
Did you know that the library lends out metal detectors? The Bounty Hunter Jr is a great beginner tool that is simple and easy to use, and can be adjusted to a length suitable for children and adults. We still have a few weeks before the ground freezes, so take this last chance to get outside and explore. You can place a request in the catalog or head Downtown today to grab one off the shelf. They checkout for 2 weeks and are shelved with our other Games.
Blog Post
Drop-in For Halloween Art Tools Crafts At The Downtown Library
by Employee 37
Visit the Downtown library anytime through October 31 to create your own Halloween papercrafts. We're supplying the same die-cutting machines that you can borrow from our new Art Tools collection, along with every Halloween themed die we could get our hands on including bats, owls, witches, cats, pumpkins, ghosts & more. Die-cutting works by placing the material to be cut, like paper, cardstock or craft metal on top of a die that contains safety foam and a blade, which you run through a roller press to cut or emboss your design. We're supplying scrap paper for you to try it out, but If you want to get super fancy or make something in large quantities then you're welcome to bring in your own decorative paper and supplies. Hollander's is just a quick walk down 4th Ave! Look for the Art Tools craft table near the desk on the 1st floor at the Downtown library.