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.

Lara Zielin's newest teen novel is Waiting Sky and tells the story of Jane McAllister, who decides to switch things up one summer and joins her brother chasing tornadoes, which gives her a fresh perspective, new options,and her first real romance. Lara is also the author of Donut Days a Texas Lone Star Reading List pick. Lara says "when I'm not reading or writing, you can find me running or working at the University of Michigan. Or obsessing about the Florida Keys, a place I love very much."

Ms. Zielin is also a Judge for this year's It's All Write short story writing contest for teens.

The panel of 11 judges will look at the finalists in three grade categories of 6-7-8 (Middle School), 9-10 (High School) and 11-12 (High School) and select the winners who are announced at an Awards Ceremony on May 11, with A. S. King as guest speaker.

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.

Wednesday May 29, 2013: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

T.J. Smith, of the local web design firm Boxcar Studio, presents a lecture and demonstration on do-it-yourself websites using third-party commercial and open source solutions, including WordPress and Squarespace. These sites make creating and maintaining a website very straightforward, even for the novice.

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).

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).

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.

Tuesday May 28, 2013: 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Join the Purple Rose Theatre Company for a concert reading of "Miles & Ellie" by Don Zolidis.

Miles and Ellie are two American teenagers in love when a youthful misunderstanding breaks them apart. Flash forward 20 years and a divorced and disenchanted Ellie has come home to lick her wounds. Is it possible to get a second chance at your first love?

Purple Rose Artistic Director Guy Sanville will lead an audience talk-back session after the reading. Come see the cast in action, then stay and offer your opinions. Purple Rose wants to know what YOU have to say about this new play!

Employees of the Ann Arbor District Library are signing up to participate in the 2013 Commuter Challenge. Have you signed up yet?? The Commuter Challenge is a fun, free commuting competition where you can win prizes for trying alternative commuting -- walking, biking, busing, carpooling, vanpooling, using the Park & Ride, telecommuting, or moped/motorcycling. For starters, every person who logs just one commute on the Commuter Challenge website during May will receive a coupon for free ice cream from Washtenaw Dairy! There are also lots of great ways for you to win additional prizes by logging commutes, submitting photos, and more. Interested? Get yourself to letsmakeamove.org and join in the fun.

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.