Today: AADL Presents The 2013 German-American Gaming League International Championships!

Saturday May 18, 2013: 11:00 am to 2:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

AADL is teaming up with the U.S. State Department and Germany's Zukunftswerkstatt (Future Workshop) to present this special event, matching three of Ann Arbor's best gamers with three winners of the German Library Gaming League to pursue ultimate LIBRARY GAMING VICTORY!

Three German Teens, ages 13, 15, and 18, are traveling to the US to compete at this May 18 tournament at the Downtown Library. They won their trips to the US at the Finals.

Cheer on your hometown gamers or our visiting German friends in a madcap sequence of video game contests, from the familiar to the bizarre, with INTERNATIONAL GLORY on the line!

This event is for teens (grades 6 - 12).

Today: Made in Michigan Writers Mad Lib Poetry Workshop

Saturday May 18, 2013: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Hey! It's a one-of-a-kind Mad Lib Poetry Workshop with the poets of the Made In Michigan Writers Series.

Team up with a famous poet to create a one-of-a-kind poem. After the poems are completed, they will be read aloud, followed by a reading of original poetry by the Michigan poets.

Books from the Made in Michigan Writers Series will be for sale. The event includes a book signing.

This event is for adults and teens (grade 4 and up).

Parenting Lecture: Why It's OK Not to Share

Are you ready to rethink long-standing parenting practices? Author Heather Shumaker has defined 29 "renegade rules" for parenting young children, drawing on her own experience raising two young children as well as the work of child psychologists, educators, and neuroscientists.

Heather Shumaker is the author of It’s OK Not to Share…And Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids, which was named a Best Parenting Book of 2012 by Parents magazine, and is a northern Michigan bestseller. Salon.com called it "an insightful, sensible and compassionate book full of downright revolutionary ideas."

She is a speaker, journalist, blogger and advocate for free play and no homework for young children. She’s been featured on Fox & Friends TV, Huffington Post, New York Post, Parenting, Parents.com, USA Weekend, Wisconsin Public Radio and other media.

Join us at the Pittsfield Branch at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 21 for Heather Shumaker's talk, and be prepared to change your mind! This event includes a book signing, and copies of It’s OK Not to Share…And Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids will be available for purchase.

Chesstastic is Fantastic

Chess is happening at the Traverwood branch this Sunday, May 19, from 1 - 4 pm. Whether you have time for one rousing game or can stay for the full three hours,
you are welcome. Chess boards are provided. Also, check out materials here for the beginner or advanced player,
and everything in between.

The drop in sessions will start up again in the fall, but next month on June 27, we will have a program led by chess expert,
Jennifer Skidmore held at the Traverwood branch from 7-8:30pm, Grades 4 - Adult.

Winners of the 2013 AADL Teen Short Story Contest!

47 Finalists were honored on Saturday, May 11, from a pool of 335 submissions for this year's 21st Annual Teen Short Story Writing Contest.

A. S. King spoke to a packed house of teen writers, their families and friends. She delivered a motivational speech, sharing stories of her path as a writer, full of inspiration and wit.
Click here to see the slate of award winning judges.

Below are the top nine winners in each off the three grade categories:

Middle School:
1st Place - 'The Soles of Our Shoes' by Cynthia Jia
2nd Place - 'Beach Glass' by Sofia Kwok
3rd Place - 'The Invasion of Lizzy Burnell' by Mary Collins

High School 9th/10th:
1st Place - 'The Gourd Tree' by Marie Martelli
2nd Place - 'Prisoner's Dilemma' by Milo Davidson
3rd Place - 'Sunstep' by Steven Schulte

High School 11th/12th:
1st Place - 'Going Once' by Allison Light
2nd Place - 'Buoyancy' by Josie Benson
3rd Place - 'Breach' by Leah Awkward-Rich

Congratulations to all the writers, and we hope you continue to write many stories!

Author Richard Snow Discusses His New Book: I Invented The Modern Age: The Rise Of Henry Ford

Monday May 20, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Richard Snow, acclaimed popular historian and former editor-in-chief of American Heritage Magazine, will discuss Henry Ford and Snow's just-released new book "I Invented The Modern Age: The Rise Of Henry Ford," a meticulous and entertaining account of Ford, the Model-T, and the remaking of American industry in the early 20th century. This special event will also include a book signing and books will be for sale.

Yarn Bomb the Garden

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.

Ice Cream Bike: A Sneak Peek at Go! Ice Cream

Monday May 20, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Coming this summer, Go! Ice Cream will start a new mobile business biking adventure in and around Ypsilanti!

Learn a bit about proprietor, Rob Hess, and his adventurous variety of local, hand-made, exotic and unusual ice creams. Learn how to make your own fruit popsicles. You could start your own all-natural popsicle stand and become a frozen dessert mogul too!

Film: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective

Wednesday May 22, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

AADL joins the Performance Network Theatre for a special screening of the acclaimed documentary "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Historical Perspective". The film examines the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.- the subject for the Performance Network's May production of Katori Hall's new play "The Mountaintop".

In this award-winning documentary, writer/director Thomas Friedman takes a look Reverend King's ideas, actions, and influence on the fight to end racial segregation. Performance Network staff will be on hand to provide an introduction to "The Mountaintop," which is having its Michigan Premiere at the Network through June 2.

AADL-GT on the Road: All-Stars Battle Royale

Friday May 24, 2013: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Up to four players can battle each other using characters from various Sony franchises such as God of War, PaRappa the Rapper and Sly Cooper, as well as third-party franchises like BioShock!

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

Syndicate content