Let's hunt some dinosaurs! PaleoJoe, the author the Dinosaur Detective Club books, will come to Ann Arbor next week to talk about real dinosaur hunts. He'll describe how dinosaurs lived and died and how fossils tell us everything we know about the great beasts. He will be at the Pittsfield Branch on Thursday, July 9th at 1:00 p.m. and at the Downtown Library at 7:00 p.m. the same day.

Dinosaur Detective Club books will be on sale at the events.

Stop by the Ann Arbor District Library’s tent from 2-8 pm on Friday, July 10th on Liberty St. between Fourth and Fifth Ave. to make a Rolling Sculpture out of goodies from the Scrap Box and meet Hillary Will, the fastest woman top fuel dragster driver in the world, who will also be speaking at the Downtown Library earlier in the week. The library is joining Main Street Area's Rolling Sculpture Car Show for the first time this year just for the pure fun of it! Use all your creativity to design a wild vehicle and you just might win a prize!

Last week we had the opportunity to talk with local historian, author and teacher, Grace Shackman, about how Ann Arbor has changed over the years. Throughout the discussion, Grace looks back at articles she's written; how she got her start writing about Ann Arbor history; the importance of preserving local landmarks; and her memories of early Ann Arbor art fairs. Over 130 of Grace's articles are featured in Ann Arbor Observer: Then & Now, a new website with full text searching and browsing access to articles on local history from the Ann Arbor Observer.

The July computer class schedule is available! July classes not offered in June:
Introduction to Google Documents - Introduction to Firefox Add-Ons - World Wide Web Tools - File Management - iPod Fever

Register online, call 734-327-4555 or visit any AADL location to register. See you in class!

The PL2 - Public Library Pokemon League Season starts again with PokeMondays! PokeMondays will be held at a different branch every week. We'll have Battle Revolution and Union Room Tournaments with prizes for the overall top finishers including a $30 gift card to Target for 1st place and a $15 gift card for 2nd place. Bring your Nintendo DS and copy of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl or Platinum and get ready to battle.

June 22 - July 27 1pm-5pm

Read more to see where the next PokeMonday is being held.

Summer reading time is here!

This year the theme for AADL’s summer reading program is Local Motion. All summer long we will offer a variety of programs around this theme including nature walks, jump roping, dancing, and rock climbing. Whether you’re hoping to learn more about health topics and being active or would like to participate as an audience member, there is something here for you.

All ages are invited to play the summer reading game (June 12-August 14). You can even register online. The youth game includes incentive stamps and prizes along the way to reading or listening to 10 books. Teens have many choices of activities to complete the game and become eligible for a prize drawing. Adults, yes, there is something for you too.

Join us at for our Summer Reading Kick-off concert at The Ark! Local act, Gemini, will get kids moving to rousing music from around the world. Families will have the opportunity to register for the summer reading program at this concert. We hope to see you there Tuesday, June 16, 6:30-8:30 PM.

The popular Lego Contest, Graffiti Art Contest and Manga Drawing Contest are back this year, and this year's details are available now.

At the end of the day, we hope you have fun this summer, and we want to be a part of that fun! We hope to see you this summer.

If it's summer it must be time for our annual Lego and Manga Contests! Use the summer to focus your creativity and maybe you will win! In order to enter either contest participants must read and follow the rules and guidelines. Children and teens aged preschool to 12th grade are invited to enter the 4th Annual Lego Contest. This year the Lego contest award ceremony will take place at Weber's Inn (3050 Jackson Ave) on Monday, August 10 @ 8:00 PM. For complete submission guidelines and the talent release form click here. Top finishers will receive gift certificates to Toys R Us, and we'll have medals for winners of the special categories!

It's our 3rd Annual Manga Drawing Contest for grades K-12. The award ceremony will be on Monday, July 27 @ 7:00 PM in the Downtown Youth Room. For complete submission guidelines and the talent release form click here. Top finishers will receive gift certificates for Wizzywig Collectibles!