Bring your Banjo!

Sun, 11/23/2008 - 9:43am by StoryLaura

In the mood for a spontaneous jamming session? Bring your acoustic folk instruments-guitar, banjo, tambourine, and don't forget your voice and join the fun at the Mallets Creek Branch this Sunday, November 23 for the Community Sing Along at 1:00 pm.

The planets align for Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads

Fri, 11/21/2008 - 11:42am by amy

You may already know the theme for the 2009 Reads, "The Universe: Yours to Discover," aligns with UM's 2009 winter theme semester, but did you know UM chose it to align with the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first astronomical observation through a telescope? UM is planning a galaxy of events, exhibits--even new classes!--and there will be many additional Reads programs.

In the meantime, read the book and brush up on your backyard stargazing with the latest edition of The Backyard Astronomer's Guide, or by attending one of the University Lowbrow Astronomer's open houses at Peach Mountain for a look through their 24-inch McMath telescope. Look for Mercury and Jupiter to align on December 31, just in time for the kick off.

Need a Centerpiece for Your Holiday Dinner?

Fri, 11/21/2008 - 10:03am by kidlit

[cover_image]0766023451[/cover_image]

Are you still looking for that perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner table? Bring the kids to the Pittsfield Branch on Wednesday, November 26 any time between 2 - 4 p.m. We will be making beautiful turkey centerpieces as well as napkin rings or placemats. Supplies (toilet paper rolls, construction paper, etc.) will be provided. For preschoolers through 3rd grade.

Calling All Cup Stackers

Fri, 11/21/2008 - 9:42am by lola

Maybe you’ve been practicing at school or you are a cup stacking fanatic at home. Either way, come to the library to practice your cup stacking skills and work on besting your greatest time at the 3-6-3 stack.

Meet at the Traverwood Branch on November 28 at 2 PM. We will start with some drills and move on to the tournament, ending by 3 PM. Prizes will be awarded to the top three fastest stackers in the light and heavy brackets. This tournament is for grades Kindergarten through 8th grade.

Come spend your weekend being LOUD at the library.

Thu, 11/20/2008 - 4:28pm by dubaym

The weekend after Thanksgiving we have three straight days of video game heaven. Friday - Revolution Hero, Saturday - AADL-GT, and Sunday PL2. Who would believe your library could be this much fun?

Friday Night | 11/28 | 6PM-8:30PM - REVOLUTION HERO - Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution
-Two all ages tournaments with prizes for the top three in each
-High Powered Sound systems, Cobalt Flux pads
Saturday | 11/29 | 12PM-5PM - AADL-GT - Gaming Tournament series (middle & high school students only)
-Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Double Dash
-Four tournaments with prizes and pizza for lunch.
Sunday Afternoon | 11/30 | 1PM-4PM - PL2 - Public Library Pokemon League
-Battle Revolution and Union Room Tournaments with prizes for the overall top three
-Bring your Nintendo DS and copy of Pokémon Diamond or Pearl and get ready to battle
-Open Play too!

Film - Traces of the Trade

Thu, 11/20/2008 - 7:44am by Bertha

This powerful film was an official selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Traces of the Trade was filmed by Katrina Browne, a first-time filmmaker who discovers after looking into her family history that her New England ancestors were the largest slave trading family in U.S. history. View clips here.

Thursday, November 20 | 6:30-8:30 PM | Downtown, 4th floor | Grade 9 - Adult

Help for tough times

Wed, 11/19/2008 - 10:09am by Maxine

The Washtenaw Area Council for Children is presenting a series of monthly lectures by local professionals titled, "Tough Times: Helping Children, Families, and Those Who Serve Them Through Economic Hard Times." The Council's mission is to provide educational services to those serving youth to prevent child abuse. On Thursday, November 20, local physician Bethany Mohr will speak on "Neglect: When Do You Intervene?" Lunch is also provided. The series is held at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District Bldg., 1819 S. Wagner Rd. $15 (students, $10) per lecture or $50 (students, $35) for the series. Reservations requested. 434-4215.

The Library has a number of books that may be helpful with this topic. One that's been published recently is Stolen Beauty: Healing the Scars of Child Abuse:One Woman's Story by Amy Madden, an ultimately hopeful story of her recovery from years of abuse by her stepfather.

National Gaming Day: THE AADL EPICENTER

Fri, 11/14/2008 - 3:12am by eli

This Saturday is the first-ever American Library Association's National Gaming Day @ Your Library. We'll be hosting a Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament, plus DDR and maybe a little Rock Band. AADL's tournament management software, gtsystem is the center of this event, and we'll be coordinating simultaneous events at over 100 libraries, including a 40+ library national brawl bracket, where the best players from around the country will square off online! Don't miss it, this Saturday 11/15 from 1 - 5 PM at our Malletts Creek Branch. Hope to see you there! A2 FTW.

Hands-On Science with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

Thu, 11/13/2008 - 7:32pm by erin

Join us on Tuesday, November 25 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. All kids (by age or at heart) are welcome! It's a night guaranteed to make you want to be a scientist or engineer. Presented by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association (PALMA) from the University of Michigan.

National Survivors of Suicide Day Teleconference at Malletts Creek

Thu, 11/13/2008 - 5:44pm by Stewart

November 22nd is National Survivors of Suicide Day and the 10th annual teleconference sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reaching over 170 sites across the country.

You can register to watch the conference on your computer at home or you can attend the teleconference at the Malletts Creek branch from 12 to 3 pm. Registration is not required for the teleconference at Malletts Creek. The 90 minute conference will broadcast from 1 to 2:30 pm EST.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Michigan ranks 36th in the nation in suicide rate (2005). Look here for more facts and figures about suicide. Look here to learn more about warning signs.