Sunday June 2, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

Cartoonist and teaching illustrator Joe Foo will discuss the creative process of building characters out of abstract forms and never setting limits on your creations. Joe is the creator of "Desmond's Comic". He also is working on a series of books and videos that will teach kids the joy of drawing.

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics and network with other cartoonists. Drawing supplies will be provided, so drop in.

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

Saturday June 8, 2013: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

It's International Yarn Bombing Day! Yarn bombing is a form of knit graffiti, and we need your help!

Using a knit-cam, an instructor will show you how to knit small pieces. Experienced knitters and crocheters are also welcome to stitch with us! When we're finished, we'll take the knitted pieces outside to yarn bomb the exterior of the Pittsfield Branch. We have the yarn; if you have size 8 or 10 needles, please bring them.

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

Saturday June 8, 2013: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Sensory loss is visible in the blind and the deaf, but what about people who lose their sense of smell?

Michelle Krell Kydd, editor of Glass Petal Smoke, spent time talking to congenital and acquired anosmics to get a better understanding of how the absence of the sense of smell has affected their lives. What she's learned will inspire you to pay attention to a sense that is closely linked to memory.

Learn how olfactory calisthenics, via Smell Mapping, can keep your smelling abilities and your mind in tip-top shape!

Saturday June 8, 2013: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Help complete the yarn bomb exhibit! We'll have supplies on hand for you to make fiber pieces that don't require knitting or crocheting, including pom-poms!

If you know how to knit or crochet, feel free to stitch with us! When we're finished, we'll head outside and hang our creations.

This event is for adults, teens and youth (grade K and up).

Tuesday June 11, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Whether you call them franks, wieners, or red hots, hot dogs are as American as apple pie, but how did these little links become icons of American culture?

Join hot dog scholar Bruce Kraig and photographer Patty Carroll for a fascinating and colorful look at the history, people, decor, and venues that make up hot dog culture and what it says about our country! Their 2012 book "Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture In America" will be on sale and the event includes a book signing as well as hot dog tastings from a local Ann Arbor venue!

In this fascinating book, world-renowned hot dog scholar Bruce Kraig investigates the history, people, decor, and venues that make up hot dog culture and what it says about our country. These humble sausages cross ethnic and regional boundaries and have provided the means for plucky entrepreneurs to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Hot dogs, and the ways we enjoy them, are part of the American dream.

Bruce Kraig has loved hot dogs since his first bite at Nathan's when he was 5 years old. Since then he has studied hot dogs, and for over 25 years, has been the leading authority on the culture of Hot Dogs. As the authority on the culture, lore and history of hot dogs, he has appeared often in national media, including documentaries by the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. As the leading expert on hot dogs, Kraig has appeared on ABC Nightline, Martha Stewart Radio, ABC National News and NPR's Talk of the Nation, and in the spring of 2009, CBS News, WGN and NBC News Chicago, as well as BBC News and Radio New Zealand-all about hot dogs.

Patty Carroll, currently Adjunct Full Professor of Photography at the School of The Art Institute Of Chicago and at Columbia College Chicago, is a distinguished photographic artist with a deep interest in American popular culture. She has published and exhibited widely on American cultural topics including Elvis Impersonators, American suburban lawns, and resorts at night, as well as hot dog stands. Her books include: "Living The Life: The World Of Elvis Tribute Artists," "Culture Is Everywhere" and her hot dog stand photos are included in "Changing Chicago."

Saturday June 15, 2013: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

The Ann Arbor Hacker-Makers of All Hands Active will show us how to use basic circuitry to create a musical instrument, the Atari Punk Circuit. The Circuit uses basic electronics and two knobs to allow people to create basic two-tone electronic sounds, kind of like the soundtracks of the first video games on the Atari video game console.

No need to know electronics to come to this event, that's why we're having it! Learn a bit about electricity, circuits, and have some fun trying out making different sounds. While you're at the Library, take a look at the Music Tools collection, too!

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

Monday June 17, 2013: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

Speak to your computer in a language it understands - Learn how to interact with a Linux machine from the command-line! In this class you will learn how to navigate the file system, create directories, edit files, write shell scripts, connect to other machines over the internet, and much more.

This class is a good (although not strictly necessary) preparation for the upcoming programming classes, including the Python classes and Web App classes. Participants will get the most out of this class if they have basic keyboard and mouse experience.

Saturday June 22, 2013: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.

Sunday June 23, 2013: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.

Monday June 24, 2013: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Washi tape is a decorative Japanese tape used in craft projects.

We have lots of colors and patterns of tape available for you to make greeting card images and other inspired crafts. Bring an item from home to decorate, if you'd like!

This event is for youth (grade 3 and up), teens and adults.

Tuesday June 25, 2013: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Make jewelry, key chains, pet tags, pins, clothing buttons - the sky's the limit!

Shrinky dinks shrink to approximately 1/3rd their original size and actually become 9 times thicker! In two magic minutes your creation gets smaller and smaller.

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

Thursday June 27, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Jennifer will share some tips to improve your game, then you can try your skill against other players!

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

Thursday July 18, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Looking to improve your game? Michigan's Junior chess champ Atulya Shetty will share some tips, then you can try your skill against other players!

Monday July 22, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Local crafter Beth Battey will show you how to use your hands, wool, soapy water and some patience to create your own felt ball! It can be a gift, a pet toy, a fun baby ball or ... you decide!

This event is for Grade K - adult.

Tuesday July 30, 2013: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

The Flying Aces Frisbee Team entertains with information, humor, athletic skills, amazing feats, tricks and just plain silliness! The show ends with an audience participation contest for autographed Flying Aces Frisbees.

This event is for Grade 3 to adult.

Tuesday July 30, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Local crafter Beth Battey demonstrates the basics of the art of Japanese paper folding and how to make animals and geometric shapes. Experienced paper folders are encouraged to join us to share your skills too!

This event is for Grade 4 - adult.

Thursday August 8, 2013: 9:00 am to 8:30 pm

It's the 8th Annual LEGO Contest, this year held at Kensington Court, 610 Hilton Blvd., near Briarwood Mall. Get complete rules and guidelines at aadl.org or any AADL location!

9 AM - 3 PM: Drop-off objects at Kensington Court 3-6 PM: Doors are closed for judging 6-8 PM: Doors are open to the public for viewing 8 - 8:30 PM: Awards Ceremony, with prizes in six categories: Preschool, Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12 & Adult.

All projects must go home with their creators that night.