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Blog Post

The Connector Workshop @ the AADL on June 18th

by prlhw

On June 18th the community of Ann Arbor is encouraged to join together at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library to discuss the lastest news about The Connector project.

The Connector project is "a developing plan for high-capacity transit in an arc from northeast to south Ann Arbor, connecting major destinations including downtown, University of Michigan campuses and medical center, and commercial areas."

Everyone is invited to attend the workshop and give insights, ask questions and provide feedback. The workshop will run from 4:30-8:00 pm will be broken into several portions:

4:30-5:30 pm Open House
5:30-6:00 pm Presentation
6:00-7:00 pm Breakout Groups—Connect The Connector
7:00-7:30 pm Presentation
7:30-8:00 pm Open House

"The open house portion of the workshop will feature displays on the various modes of travel under consideration and route options. Project staff and representatives from the organizations collaborating on the project will be available to further explain the displays, answer questions and record comments. The presentation will provide a brief overview of the project to date. The breakout groups will be an opportunity for the public to review segments of The Connector route and make specific comments and provide input on a variety of options."

For more information about the project please contact Chris White, TheRide/Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, 734-794-1850, cwhite@theride.org.

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Blog Post

LEGO Connection

by hillary dorwart

Sunday June 9, 2013: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Drop in and get connected with other LEGO-minded people! All LEGOs will be provided, so you can make things and make friends!

If desired, your LEGO creation will be photographed for AADL's LEGO Look Book before it's time to clean up. Get some early ideas for the AADL annual LEGO Contest on August 8!

This event is for grades K - 5, with an adult.

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Wednesday, May 29th Tutoring from 6:00-8:00 pm Only

by schoenbaechlere

Circle K Tutoring will be available on Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 pm only. Due to a last minute conflict, no tutors will be available from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Regular weekday tutoring sessions from 4:00 to 8:00 pm will resume on Monday, June 3rd. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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Blog Post

Yarn Bomb the Garden

by manz

Sunday, May 19 | 1:00-3:00pm | Downtown MPR | Grades 6th-Adult

Help us yarn bomb the garden at the downtown library! What is yarn bombing? It’s a form of knit graffiti and public art. We will be adding a coat of knitted color to our luscious outdoor garden.

At the program you’ll learn how to knit a small piece with our knit-cam and an instructor to help guide you. At the end of the program we'll use the pieces we created to yarn bomb the exterior garden by attaching them to trees and the like. We'd love your help with this art collaboration! The knitting instruction starts at 1pm, and it’s not an easy program to arrive late to if you plan to knit for the first time.

We highly encourage experienced knitters and crocheters to also join us. Or if you have a piece already made, bring it to the program and we’ll direct you to the garden yarn bomb zone!

We have a ton of yarn on hand, but ask that you bring size 8 or 9 needles if you have them.

For more info on yarn bombing see this great website, and check out the book Yarn bombing: The art of crochet and knit graffiti.

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Blog Post

Jim Gill Workshop for Anyone Who Has Young Children or Works with Young Children

by kidlit

What a rare opportunity for anyone who has small children in the family or teachers and caregivers who work with small children. Jim Gill is coming to Ann Arbor to give a workshop and a family concert.
The workshop will be at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the Downtown Library. The concert will follow at 7:00 p.m. At the workshop he will talk about how music plays such an important part in children's development. You will learn a lot but you'll also be entertained.
A Jim Gill family concert is fun for the whole family.
Don't miss these great events that are a part of our Children's Book Week celebration.

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Blog Post

Short Story Celebration for Grades 3-5 with Guest Speaker Shutta Crum - Monday, June 3

by Bertha

Shutta Crum writes books for kids and poetry for adults. She is also our guest speaker at the upcoming Short Story Celebration to honor all kids in Grades 3-5 who submitted a story for this year's debut short story contest. Shutta is also a storyteller, an energetic and humorous public speaker, and a librarian. In addition to her current twelve published books she has three more coming soon.

100 stories were turned in for this contest and all those 100 writers are invited to join in celebrating writing on Monday, June 3, at the Downtown library's multi-purpose room from 7-8pm. All writers will receive a certificate of participation and the top three writers from each grade will be announced.

If you are inspired to try your hand at writing a story, check here for some great writing resources for grades K-5.

"Love the writing, love the writing, love the writing . . . the rest will follow." Jane Yolen

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Make Mom Special!

by kidlit

Nothing says " I love you, Mom!" like cards and flowers made by their children's hands. Come to the Main Library on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. and we'll help
you do that. We'll be making cards and giant tissue paper flowers. This is for children preschool - Grade 5 but everyone is welcome. All supplies will be provided.

For materials on this May holiday, click here.

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Author A. S. King Discusses Her Work And Announces The Winners Of The 2013 Teen Short Story Contest

by Bertha

21 Years celebrating teen writers, with this year's contest bringing in 335 submissions, is a lot to celebrate. The Awards Ceremony, where Finalists are honored and winners are announced will take place on May 11, Saturday, from 2 - 3:30pm at the downtown library. Speaking to the teens and their families is award winning A. S. King whose book, Ask the Passengers just won the 2012 L.A. Times Book Prize.

One of my favorites is Everybody Sees the Ants, which was an Andre Norton Award finalist, a Cybils finalist, and a 2012 YALSA Top Ten book for young adults. Her 2010 YA novel, Please Ignore Vera Dietz was a 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book, an Edgar Award Nominee, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book for Teens 2010, a Junior Library Guild selection and a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Her interests are varied with experiences in farming, photography, and teaching adult literary, to name a few.
Reality Boy is due in Fall 2013 as well as two anthologies.

All finalists have been notified and the top three winners will receive $250 for 1st, $150 for 2nd Place, and $100 for 3rd Place in three grade categories. All finalists will receive certificates honoring their achievements. Stories were judged by an impressive team of authors for teens.

We applaud all the teen writers for their creativity and talent!

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Blog Post

No Circle K Homework Help sessions between April 22 and May 8

by schoenbaechlere

Due to U of M exams and the break between semesters, there will be a break in sessions for about 2 weeks.

Homework Help will go on temporary hiatus after the Monday, April 22nd session. It will then restart on Wednesday, May 8th and last through Wednesday, June 12th. There will be no session on Monday, May 27th, as the Library will be closed for Memorial Day.

As a reminder, Circle K Homework Help sessions take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 4:00-8:00 pm, and on Sunday afternoons from 3:00-5:00 pm. All sessions are held in the Downtown Youth Story Corner.

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

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Return Visit From the Detroit PuppetART Theater on Sunday, May 5th at 3pm

by cecile

If you missed them last time please join us at the Ann Arbor District Library's downtown location for a repeat performance of their wonderful production of Sleeping Beauty.

PuppetART’s production of Sleeping Beauty is a puppet ballet. The story is told through the movement of the puppets and wonderful classical music that accompanies the show.

Sleeping Beauty is a very old tale and it has been told many times in many ways. PuppetART’s version includes some new and interesting details. We all know that Sleeping Beauty has been cursed by a wicked fairy and is forced to sleep until she is awakened by a kiss from a Prince. Most versions focus upon the Princess’s story but this production sheds light on the story of the Prince as well. We find out how he knows of the sleeping Princess and why he feels destined to rescue her. You can relax and enjoy the show because this story, as all fairy tales, promises a very happy ending.

For all materials Sleeping Beauty available at the Ann Arbor District Library follow this link: Sleeping Beauty

The Detroit based theater, was founded in 1998 by a group of puppeteers and artists trained in the former Soviet Union. All members of the PuppetART troupe are masters of puppetry art theater. PuppetART offers a repertoire of eight productions, including one created for adult audiences. Performances feature hand, rod, shadow, floor tabletop and string or marionette puppets. All events at PuppetART combine a theater performance, a tour of the museum and a workshop in the studio. A visit to their downtown theater is a treat not to be missed!!

See you there!!!