Halloween Costume Swap!

Sat, 10/03/2015 - 11:45am by evelyn

Join us for a new sustainability program this year! From now until October 2nd, drop off your gently used, clean Halloween costumes to any library branch. Costumes for all ages and sizes are appreciated, as well as accessories!

Then, on October 3rd, come to the Downtown branch from 2:30-4:30 to pick out a new costume for this year! This is a wonderful chance to save money, clear your closet, and pick out something snazzy for this year. We'll also be doing a kids' craft!

Get in the spooky mood by checking out our great collection of Halloween items!

Dia De La Familia Latina

Thu, 10/01/2015 - 12:50pm by Beth Manuel

Join us Sunday, October 4th, 2:30-5pm at the downtown AADL, as we partner with the U of M Comprehensive Cancer Center to bring you Dia de la Familia Latina. This informational program - which takes place during National Hispanic Heritage Month - will include health information and resources from local community agencies and organizations, and aims to raise awareness of cancer and other health issues among Latinos. Refreshments and other fun activities will be provided including crafts, face painting, and the talented Magician Cesar Domico to perform for all!

It's Banned Books Week! Sept. 27 - Oct. 3

Sun, 09/27/2015 - 10:03am by badwolf

What is Banned Books Week, you may ask? It's an event put on by the American Library Association every year to celebrate the freedom to read! The ALA does not believe in censorship, and celebrating banned or challenged books draws attention to the harm potentially caused when access is restricted. If you haven't already, come check out our Banned Books Week display in the Downtown Youth Department and take a peek at the books we've chosen to highlight - some of them may surprise you!

What does it mean if a book is challenged or banned? Well, it simply means that someone doesn't like it! It could be a parent who doesn't agree with their child's assigned reading list for school, or a teacher who doesn't believe a particular title should be allowed in his/her district's curriculum. Books are challenged with the best intentions - to protect others, most commonly children, from difficult ideas and information. However, banning a book goes far beyond simply expressing a point of view or exercising beliefs. Removing material from a school's curriculum or the public library restricts the access of others who may not hold those same beliefs.

If you've had a chance to look at the display or check out the list of titles that are in it, you're probably wondering why some great books have been challenged or banned. Well, hold onto your hats and find some pearls to clutch, because we're about to tell you!

Here’s a list of the books in our display case in the same order in which you'll see them. Underneath each title are the reasons that were listed on formal complaints filed against them and basic summaries of the content that prompted these complaints.

- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

- promotes disobedience, too violent

- Katniss defies President Snow's authority, and there is a lot of bloodshed in the Hunger Games.

- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

- promotes witchcraft and Satanism

- Magic is a normal part of everyday life in Harry's world.

- Drama by Raina Telgemeier

- sexually explicit

- There is an openly gay character, and two boys kiss in the school play when one plays a female character and the other a male character.

- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

- anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence, depictions of bullying

- A Native American boy is sent to an all-white high school, where he faces racism and bullying.

- Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

- gambling, offensive language, political viewpoint, “politically, racially, and socially offensive,” “graphic depictions”

- The main character grows up in the middle of a war and witnesses violence and death, and since the book is a graphic novel, there are illustrations of these events.

- Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

- racism

- Native Americans are depicted as “terrible savages.”

- A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

- promotes violence, disrespect, and disobedience

- There are poems about disobeying parents, being selfish or lazy, and lying.

- King & King by Linda deHaan

- homosexuality, anti-family, undermines religious freedom, considered “pornography” for showing a family situation that is different from traditional marriage

- The prince wants to marry another prince instead of a princess.

- Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

- offensive language, violence, sexually explicit, implied nudity

- Captain Underpants flies around in just his underwear and a cape.

- Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

- socially offensive

- The police characters are pigs and are depicted as inept.

- The Rabbits’ Wedding by Garth Williams

- socially offensive

- A black rabbit wants to marry a white rabbit.

- Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

- promotes witchcraft

- Strega Nona is the loveable town witch to whom everyone turns in their time of need.

- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

- anti-family, homosexuality, political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, unsuited for age group, “promotes the homosexual agenda”

- Two male penguins are given an egg to raise together.

- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

- promotes/glorifies dangerous behavior (tantrums), child abuse

- Max throws a lot of tantrums and is “deprived” of food as punishment.

- Nappy Hair* by Carolivia Herron

- racially insensitive

- A little African-American girl's hair is described as "nappy" and "knotted up" by her family.

- Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman

- pro-homosexuality, anti-family, unsuitable for children

- The main character has two moms instead of a mom and a dad.

So there you have it! If you're feeling a little rebellious, go ahead and check these titles out. We won't tell.

*Are you looking for Nappy Hair in our catalog, but can't find it? Never fear! We only have one copy in the system, and since it's currently in the display case, it has to be marked as "unavailable." Check back in a few weeks!

Chuseok Dae, a Korean celebration!

Fri, 09/25/2015 - 3:22pm by Sunny29

The University of Michigan's Nam Center for Korean Studies proudly brings you the 5th annual Chuseok Thanksgiving Celebration! This free event includes Korean food tasting, arts & crafts, a story time by AADL's own Miss Rachel, and two kimchi workshops presented by The Brinery.

Events will be held at the UM School of Social Work building, 1080 S. University.

It's Easy Being Green: A Sustainable Living Expo / Sunday, September 27, 12:30-5:30 PM

Tue, 08/25/2015 - 3:57pm by erin

It's Easy Being Green is a day-long learning, local buying, and eating exposition celebrating living a life that’s better for the planet and not so hard on the wallet. From supporting efforts to reduce your carbon footprint to learning homesteading skills for living a more hands-on, DIY life, It's Easy Being Green has you covered!

Join us on SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, from 12:30-5:30 PM. The library is open from 12:00-6:00PM. FREE Parking on Sundays too!

The Expo features:

A Keynote presentation, "Plants, Pollinators, and Why They Matter," plus 11 learning sessions on a variety of topics including bike commuting, rain & container gardening, permaculture, fermentation, and more.

Over 20 vendors selling upcycled, recycled, handmade wares including jewelry, clothes, bath products, artwork, wool and other fibers. Plus vendors selling mushroom growing kits, outdoor animal keeping supplies, fermented products, and shrubs (drinking vinegars). Vendors include The Brinery, McClary Brothers Drinking Vinegars, Ann Arbor Seed Company, Happy Fuzzy Yarn, Divine Iguana, Lead Head Glass, among others.

Opportunities to chat with representatives from area organizations such as Recycle Ann Arbor, Project Grow, Ann Arbor Backyard Beekeepers, Sic Transit, Natural Area Preservation, Slow Food Huron Valley, Agrarian Adventure, Leslie Science & Nature Center, Ecology Center, and other green neighbors.

There will be three outdoor food vendors: The Shimmy Shack (vegetarian/vegan), and Mani Strada (the new venture from the Mani Osteria & Isalita purveyors) and Hello Ice Cream..

Learning Sessions Schedule:

12:30-1:15

Keynote: Plants, Pollinators, and Why They Matter with Joseph Tychonievich, Greensparrow Gardens

1:30-2:15

Family Bike Commuting with Michael Firn of Sic Transit Cycles
Container Gardening with Growing Hope

2:30-3:15

Rain Gardens with Jesse Tack of Abundant MI Permaculture and Whole Culture Repair
Mending Workshop with Karen LePage of Gentle Clothing
Bee Keeping with Jamie Berlin of Ypsi Melissa

3:30-4:15

Permaculture with the People’s Food Co-Op
Keeping Animals with Harnois Farms

4:30-5:15

Intro to Canning with Cynthia Hodges
Vermiculture with Starr Valley Farms
Fermentation 101 with The Brinery

Summer Game 2015 GAME OVER Gala!

Tue, 08/25/2015 - 2:40pm by erin

Monday August 31, 2015: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Downtown Library Lobby

Let's take the Summer Game out with a bang with a building-wide scavenger hunt, badge coloring, a free photo-booth and light refreshments to commemorate the 2015 summer game! Check out the new digs at the Downtown library and get a chance to meet other summer game players!

Kids Read Comics is This Weekend!

Wed, 06/17/2015 - 3:37pm by anned

Meet Faith Erin Hicks, Raina Telgemeier, Kean Soo, Tory Woollcott, and over 40 more of your favorite cartoonists at Kids Read Comics this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

More than just a convention, Kids Read Comics offers over 50 free workshops and demos where you can learn more about making comics from the pros. The events are happening at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch, 826 Michigan Robot Supply & Repair Store, The Ann Arbor Art Center, and The Vault of Midnight. You can check out the full schedule of events (and download a printable PDF) here.

Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21, 2015 AADL is hosting the seventh annual Kids Read Comics festival, featuring 50 of your favorite cartoonists from across the continent who have come to lead free hands-on workshops and games designed to boost your creativity!

Friday, June 19

The festival starts at the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Center on North Campus with a Pre-Conference for Librarians, Educators, and Cartoonists. Register here to attend a workshop on how to make your own comics workshop, a talk on the history of comics with acclaimed comics scholar Carol Tilley, a panel discussion on comics in the classroom moderated by Colby Sharp, and a tour of the University of Michigan's Video Game Library.

Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm we'll all converge on The Vault of Midnight at 219 South Main Street for a Comics Jam Party where cartoonists, parents, and kids will be invited to contribute to a giant drawing wall facing Main Street!

Saturday, June 20

The main event kicks off at 11:00 am in the Multi-Purpose Room at AADL's Downtown Branch. Special Guests Kean Soo and Tory Woollcott will lead a presentation on making graphic novels.
Artist Alley opens at noon on the 1st floor of the Downtown Library and runs until 6:00 pm and workshops will be happening throughout the day at the Library, the Ann Arbor Art Center, the Robot Supply & Repair Store, and the Vault of Midnight!

Sunday, June 21

Artist Alley opens at 12:30 pm and runs through 6:00 pm. Get ready for another fun filled day of workshops at the Library, the Ann Arbor Art Center, the Robot Supply & Repair Store, and the Vault of Midnight!

You can check out the full events list here

At the Art Table: She’s Like a Rainbow

Thu, 03/19/2015 - 1:32pm by manz

This month at the art center in the youth department downtown we’re making rainbows! This will help to spread spring cheer! What colors make up a rainbow? Why are they always the same color? Explore rainbows and ROYGBIV with art and make your own rainbow.

Here are a few books about rainbows to help get you in the mood.

Literature as Words and Art

Fri, 02/06/2015 - 11:41am by manz

Fictitious Dishes: An Album of Literature’s Most Memorable Meals by Dinah Fried features a photograph of a would-be meal depicting a novel, artfully laid out and photographed. It also features a quote from the book as well as a few bits of trivia about the novel or the food. This is done for many books, including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Road, The Namesake, A Wrinkle In Time, and A Confederacy of Dunces.

Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines by Samantha Hahn features beautiful watercolors of women from various classic novels, along with a quintessential quote from the woman. The titles featured include East of Eden, The Bell Jar, Crime and Punishment, Jane Eyre, and more.

Both books are part of the book display on the 1st floor downtown that includes gems found within AADL’s art book collection – and oh there are so many beautiful art books! Sometimes judging a book by its cover can be a wonderful thing.

At the Art Table: Shapescapes!

Thu, 02/05/2015 - 3:04pm by manz

At the art table in the downtown youth department we're featuring playable art! This time it's Shapescapes. Shapescapes are amazing, colorful and sturdy shapes that are interlocking. They can be put together in a myriad of ways to form a variety of neat sculptures! Children will enjoy putting them together, taking them apart, and creating something all new with the same pieces. Check it out and start shapescaping!