Maker Music for Teens and Adults: Atari Punk Circuit

Fri, 01/04/2013 - 6:48pm by OneillT

Friday January 4, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This Friday, January 4, we'll be making an electronic instrument out of commonly available pieces and parts.

For this Maker Music event, the Ann Arbor Hacker-Makers of All Hands Active will be teaching people how use basic circuitry to create their own musical instrument, the Atari Punk Circuit. What's that? An Atari Punk Circuit uses an assortment of basic electronics and two knobs to allow people to create basic two-tone electronic sounds, kind of like those that used to be the soundtrack to the first video games on the Atari video game console.

Do you need to know electronics to come to this event? No, that's why we're having it! Come learn a bit about electricity, circuits, and have some fun trying out making different sounds. After you're finished, take a look at our Music Tools collection, too!

This event is for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Drop-In Homework Help will resume on January 13th

Thu, 12/13/2012 - 4:15pm by schoenbaechlere

Tutoring sessions will resume on Sunday afternoons and Monday and Wednesday evenings on January 13. Homework Help will continue throughout the spring. Please read on for more details about homework help at AADL.

Looking for help with your homework? Look no further than AADL’s Downtown Library. The University of Michigan Chapter of Circle K is once again providing tutoring for students in grades K-12. Stop by the Youth Department Story Corner Mondays and Wednesdays between 4:00 and 8:00 pm and Sundays between 3:00 and 5:00 pm to take advantage of this great service!

AADL also provides access to Brainfuse, an online tutoring service. Live tutors are available from 2:00 -11:00 pm every day!

Science Fair Expo

Sat, 11/17/2012 - 12:07pm by Caser

Saturday, November 17 -- 12 - 2 pm -- Downtown "> Grades 6 - 12

It's Science Fair season! Students and parents are invited to hear Clague Middle School science teacher, Soon Morningstar, discuss the basics on planning and assembling a successful science fair project. Ms. Morningstar has been helping students create science projects for the Southeastern Michigan Science Fair for eleven years, and she has many helpful resources on her website.

After the presentation, try several of our hands-on science experiments, and be the first to test some of our new Science Tools including two types of microscopes!

Ask questions, get answers about Science Fair projects this Saturday at the Downtown library.

Can't make the event? Check out this list of Science Fair resources available at the AADL. Also see the Science Fair Adventure website and the Science Buddies website for great project ideas.

Magic Carpet Theatre Returns to AADL

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 2:27pm by kidlit

The Magic Carpet Theatre returns to AADL for another performance
highlighting classic children's stories.
See Dr. Seuss' popular Horton Hears a Who! and Verna Aardema's African tale Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
and others come to life as live performances.
They will be at the Downtown Library on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. The show will be in the multi-purpose room in the lower level.

Bring the whole family to this special event.

Miyabi: Japanese Traditional Music

Fri, 11/09/2012 - 3:59pm by iralax

Everyone is welcome at the Downtown Library to hear traditional Japanese music played by Miyabi on Saturday, Nov. 10, 1-2 pm. Miyabi has been together since 1997 and is comprised of koto players (Etsuko Aikawa, Yuko Asano, Harumi Omitsu), piano (Nobuko Kato) and flute (Satoko Fujiwara). The songs they will play are: Rokudan no Shirabe, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo, Aki no Kotonoha, Hanaikada, Red Dragonfly, El Condor Pasa and Sarashi fu Tegoto.

Film & Discussion: Berkeley in the Sixties

Thu, 10/25/2012 - 3:07pm by Bertha

The 1990 Oscar-nominated film, Berkeley in the Sixties (not rated) recaptures the exhilaration and turmoil of the student protests that shaped a generation and changed the course of America.

The film interweaves the memories of fifteen former student leaders - who grapple with the meaning of their actions - with thousands of historical clips and hundreds of interviews. Ronald Reagan,

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,Huey Newton, Allen Ginsberg, and the music of Jimi Hendrix, Joan Baez, and the Grateful Dead bring that tumultuous decade back to life.

This film directed by Mark Kitchell, received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Documentary in 1990.

A post-film discussion will include a panel of current student activists responding to the film. Cosponsored by the University of Michigan Community Scholars Program.

Thursday, October 25, 6-8:30 PM @ the Downtown AADL. Grade 9 - Adult.

Motor City Ghost Hunters

Wed, 10/24/2012 - 1:03pm by beesleya

Wednesday October 24 | 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm | Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room | Grade 6 - Adult

It's the week before Halloween! Paranormal investigators Motor City Ghost Hunters (MCGH) give a special presentation about paranormal investigations, technological advances, research, and some history of local hauntings.

They will present some of their best visual and audio evidence and share information on proper investigative techniques and available paranormal investigative equipment.

Based out of the metro-Detroit area, Motor City Ghost Hunters investigate throughout Michigan, as well as the country. Using scientific methods (and no cost to their clients), the team proves or disproves hauntings and sightings in residential and commercial buildings, as well as historical sites.

This event is for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Look here to learn more about ghosts and ghost hunters.

Street Dance Demo: Locking, Popping & Hip Hop with Jade Zuberi

Mon, 10/08/2012 - 10:09am by Bertha

Learn more about the street styles of Locking, Popping, House, Hip Hop, New Style, Robotics, Funk Skating,
Krump and B-boying!

Jade "Soul" Zuberi is here to present this demo and discussion! Jade, a 20-year-old all-stylist who specializes in these street dance styles, has won numerous street dance competitions in Ann Arbor, Detroit, New York and throughout the Midwest.

Jade seeks to raise a Street Dance Legacy through dedication, passion, determination and skill and by teaching others the elements and moves of Street Dance!

Happening at the Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room, Friday, October 12 | 7-8:30 PM | Grade 9 - Adult

Star Wars Reads Day is Saturday October 6!

Sat, 10/06/2012 - 10:31am by erin

Mark your calendars and break out your Star Wars finest as we celebrate Star Wars Reads Day.

This is a national event being celebrated in over 1200 libraries and bookstores all over the country! From 1:00 - 5:00 PM at the Downtown Library we have a full slate of Star Wars awesome planned.

To set the scene members of the MI 501st and the Rebel Legion will be here in full costume! With a costume contest @ 4:00 be sure to dress in your Star Wars finest and compete for gift cards!

And whether you dress up or not we will have a Photo Booth on site with Star Wars props so you can take pics of you, your friends & your family celebrating Star Wars! The pics are free to all attendees and in addition to taking home a photo strip the images will be loaded online too!

All day we'll have simple Star Wars crafts and puzzles for younger children set-up in the Youth Story Corner. In the Multi-Purpose Room we'll have more difficult paper crafts for older kids, teens and adults. At 1:30 PM we'll start the Star Wars Trivia Contest on the 4th Floor with cool prizes for the winners! We'll finish the day at 4:00 PM with a Star Wars Costume Contest in the Multi-Purpose room. The judges will determine who did it best and winners will take home Target Gift Cards.

Whether you love Luke, Darth Vader, Jaba or Boba Fett come celebrate reading, get your picture taken & maybe win some prizes!

This event is for ALL AGES!

Hands-On Science Fun!

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 1:44pm by Beth Manuel

Join us on Thursday, October 4th at 6:30 pm for this Hands On Science Workshop. Learn some science experiments and watch some cool demos based on traditional and new concepts in science and engineering. Explore the "fun" side of science and engineering. Presented by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association (PALMA) from the University of Michigan. Be sure to bring your curiosity and energy for a night guaranteed to make you interested in becoming a scientist or engineer!

This event is for Grades K - 8. Parents and caregivers are also welcome.