Monday February 6, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Session 2 of this UMS Night School series will feature discussions of the January performances of "Einstein on the Beach" and The Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. The 60-minute introduction portion of this event will center on two upcoming UMS Renegade events:

The Tallis Scholars, scheduled to perform on February 16 at St. Francis Of Assisi Church, have established themselves as the leading exponents of Renaissance sacred music throughout the world.

Random Dance, appearing February 18 at the Power Center, is famous for incorporating animation, digital film, 3-D architecture, electronic sound, and virtual dancers into the live choreography.

This series is hosted by Prof. Mark Clague, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of Research at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

This Valentine's Day, you can send a card to patients at the Veterans Hospital and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital! Make or buy a Valentine's Day card, fill it out, and drop it off at any AADL location from February 5 - 11. You can specify which hospital or let AADL staff decide. We will make sure it arrives safely!

Please avoid glitter and leave the envelope unsealed. Because many of the patients at these hospitals are long term, please do not include any messages about getting well or feeling better.

Thank you for making this Valentine's Day a little better for children and veterans!

Thursday February 9, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This second in a series of four monthly discussions co-sponsored by the City of Ann Arbor, centers on "Land Use and Access" and includes discussion on infrastructure, transportation, built environment, public spaces, and land use.

Each of the four monthly sessions will examine past successes and challenges, discuss possible future priorities and feature a think tank of local stakeholders (UM faculty, representatives from community organizations, city commissioners, City of Ann Arbor staff and the public). The ensuing discussions will help guide the city's sustainability planning efforts.

Wednesday February 8, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

What is it like for partners when their family is all grown up? When the kids leave the nest? Changes of later life bring new challenges and opportunities to our relationships as we age together.

Join us, as we approach Valentine's Day, for a lecture exploring the differences in the post-parenting aging process for men vs. women with an emphasis on the relational aspects of adaptive aging. Sue Watts, LMSW, ACSW and Jeff Urist, Ph.D. will lead the session, which is co-sponsored by the UM Institute For Human Adjustment.

Tuesday February 7, 2012: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Planning for college can be stressful without the right tools and resources. College planners charge hefty fees with no promises, magazines publish arbitrary rankings, and Wall Street just says "save a bundle."

Local college counselor John Boshoven, named one of the "Counselors Who Change Lives" in 2010, leads this panel consisting of educators, a career counselor, and a financial planner - all parents with a track record of helping their own children successfully navigate the college experience. Join them for straight talk, no fee, valuable tips, a little humor, and the opportunity to get your college planning questions answered.

Traverwood Branch will be closed for necessary repairs and maintenance to the wood floors beginning on Monday, February 13. We plan to re-open the branch by February 23, but if things go well it will open sooner. The finishes used that adhere to standards that are in keeping with the sustainable principles used to build the building have not held up to the high traffic in that location. The floor needs to be sanded, repaired in some places, and recoated and sealed. We could simply throw all caution to the wind and finish the floor like a basketball court, but that seems shortsighted and unjustified. A product that meets our standards, and is proven to hold up well in high traffic areas will be applied. Annual maintenance on these wooden floors will always be required, but it is our hope that extensive work will not be required for years.

Library materials may be returned to the outside Traverwood drop boxes on Huron Parkway or to any other AADL location during this closure. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Unexpired holds will be moved from Traverwood to the Downtown Library after the Branch closes at 6 pm on Sunday, February 12. Unexpired holds that would have been available for pickup at Traverwood during the closure will instead be held for pickup Downtown. If you would like to pick up your holds at a different location, please contact us at www.aadl.org/contactus, call 327-4219 or come to the Traverwood service desk prior to Monday, February 13. We will be happy to assist you.

During the closure please check this website for the many storytimes, computer classes, ESL sessions and events at other AADL locations. Consider visiting the Downtown Library or one of our three other branches.

Thank you in advance for your patience. We again apologize for any inconvenience.

Josie

At this hands-on workshop you’ll get a chance to pull your own screen printed tea towel to take home. We’ll also get you caught up on all things related to printing up stylish towels. Hand printed tea towels are a great way to add a bit of whimsy to one’s kitchen, as they’re both colorful and creative!

We’ll also have linoleum blocks carved and ready for you to use to stamp a design onto a fat quarter of fabric. You can then do what you will with the fabric! You can use it in a plethora of handmade projects, including: A throw pillow, a bag, a placemat, for appliques, and more. It’s up to you. You’ll leave the workshop with a tea towel and a fat quarter, ready to add some sparkle to your abode.

To expand upon the joy of printing on fabric, here are some crafty books to get you going.

This DIY event is for grade 6 – Adult, and takes place at Pittsfield on Tuesday, February 7, from 7-8:30pm.