Ann Arbor Public Schools Student Art

Now through May 25, 2008 -- Downtown Library: Multi-purpose Room Exhibit, Lower Level Display Cases, 3rd Floor Exhibit & Youth Wall Exhibit

Each year the Ann Arbor Public Schools come to the Ann Arbor District Library to showcase the work of the students in kindergarten through grade five. Both two- and three-dimensional art in many mediums fill the exhibit space throughout the Downtown Library. Visit this colorful exhibit and enjoy the creativity and developing talents of some of our community's youngest citizens.

2008 Ann Arbor Book Festival Opening Reception

Friday May 16, 2008: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

AADL and the Ann Arbor Book Festival invite you to join in the opening celebration of the 2008 Book Festival. This annual reception, held on the eve of the day-long Street Fair, is one of the highlights of the week-long Book Festival and is an excellent opportunity to meet many distinguished authors. This year’s reception will also feature classical, traditional and popular music by harpist Deborah Gabrion, and elegant refreshments.

Flickr: Share Your Digital Images

Tuesday May 20, 2008: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

Imagine sharing the photos from your last party with friends and family all over the world without spending a dime or forcing your relatives to create needless accounts. Flickr and other photo sharing sites allow users to create and share albums of photos in a simple, straightforward way. Flickr is also a great way to protect and preserve your photos to avoid tragic loss from water, fire damage, etc. Participants will create Flickr accounts and learn how to upload photos and create albums to share.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.

Author John Otterbacher Discusses His Struggle with Heart Disease, His Love of Sailing and His Award-Winning Book 'Sailing Grace'

Wednesday May 21, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

John Otterbacher presents his account of drowning in heart disease, fighting back to the surface, and sailing on. His story is chronicled in "Sailing Grace." Otterbacher has taught college, served as a State Representative and Senator, worked as a psychotherapist, and taken some long sails with his family, recently sailing across the ocean four times. He lives and writes in Michigan. The event includes a book signing, with books available for purchase.

"Sailing Grace" is a commentary on how love heals, dreams energize and trauma can be a wake-up call. This hard-edge story will resonate with anyone who has confronted profound adversity, be it coronary disease, cancer, or the heavy weather that unexpectedly blows through every life.

Finding Local Food and Bringing It Home for Dinner: Supporting Our Farms

Thursday May 22, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This panel discussion features exemplary local farmers and food experts who will discuss what they've learned about growing food, what they see for the future of food and why Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms are so important to the community. They will also highlight the creative ways in which local people in our community are buying, cooking and enjoying food that is produced close to home.

Panelists include Richard Andres and Deb Lentz (Tantre Farm); Kris Hirth (Old Pine Farm); Mary Wessel Walker (Community Farm Kitchen) and Victoria Bennett (a parent who found new ways to shop for food because of her son’s severe allergies). Cosponsored by Slow Foods Huron Valley

Healing Health Care in Michigan: Working Toward a Health Care System That Works

Tuesday May 27, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

As the number of un- and under-insured people in our state and our nation continue to grow, organizations and individuals are working to create solutions to the problems. The panelists in this discussion explain the dilemma that faces citizens, government organizations, and health care providers, and discuss possible solutions. The event is cosponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan.

Panelists include Dr. Richard Lichtenstein, UM School of Public Health, who will discuss health care policy; Kim Kratz, MA, MSW, Executive Director of Packard Clinic, speaking on the role of non-profit health care providers; Ellen Rabinowitz, Executive Director of the Washtenaw Health Plan; and Kelly Stupple, MSEd, Children's Health Insurance Advocate with Washtenaw County Health Plan.

Concert: Yellow Room Gang

Wednesday May 28, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Enjoy a lively concert by the celebrated Yellow Room Gang –- Jan Krist, David Tamulevich, Matt Watroba, Jim Bizer and Annie Capps. The Yellow Room Gang was formed in 2004 in the yellow living room of David Tamulevich's Ann Arbor home when eight award-winning Michigan songwriters/folk musicians got together to share dinner, conversation and the newest song they had in the works. Each writer found new and unexpected ways to explore beyond their previous personal boundaries. This workshop has now become a monthly event, and the Yellow Room Gang was born.

Understanding Alzheimer's

Thursday May 29, 2008: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Jennifer Wolfe Howard, MSW, of the Alzheimer’s Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, and Susan Pettis, Director of New Programs and Services for Evangelical Homes of Michigan, lead this workshop about Alzheimer's Disease. Learn how to recognize possible signs of Alzheimer’s; understand how Alzheimer’s is diagnosed; recognize the effects of Alzheimer’s on the brain; and gain access to community resources and chapter services. Cosponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of Michigan

As many as 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. The disease destroys brain cells, causing problems with memory, thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Today it is the seventh-leading cause of death in the U.S.

Excel Basics Part 1

Tuesday June 3, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

This class consists of two sessions. Learn the fundamentals of a worksheet and how it can work for you. Learn how to format a cell and add data. Find out what a worksheet is to a workbook. Part two will be offered Thursday, June 5.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.

Intermediate Excel Part I

Tuesday June 10, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

After a review of Excel's introductory concepts, dig a little deeper into complex formulas, absolute referencing and predictable features. Learn how Excel works for you. Part two will be offered Thursday, June 12.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.

Meet the Mac Part I

Monday June 16, 2008: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

Come join us in the new world of the iMac OS X Tiger. See how design and functionality are combined to create a computer that is easy and fun to use. Find out how the blue desktop can work for you. Come to understand the Dock and the Finder. Join us in our new Mac Lab on the third floor of the Downtown library. Part two will be offered June 18.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.

PowerPoint Basics Part 1

Tuesday June 17, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

This two-session class will cover the basic tools of the PowerPoint window and working with presentation slides. Using the Auto Content wizard and PowerPoint options, participants in the class will make a PowerPoint presentation. Part two will be offered on Thursday, June 19.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.

Microsoft Word for Mac Part 1

Monday June 23, 2008: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

In these two sessions participants will be introduced to the features offered in the Mac version of Microsoft Word. Participants will learn the Mac features through highlighting, cut and paste, and spell check. Part two will be offered Wednesday, June 25.

Please call 327-8367 to register.

Advanced PowerPoint Part I

Tuesday June 24, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required

This two-session class in Advanced PowerPoint, the participants will develop a web-based presentation to sell a product. The participants will work through the AutoContent Wizard's built-in content to sell the product. PowerPoint tools will be used to refine the presentation. Part two will be offered Thursday, June 26.

This class is available to Library cardholders at no charge (there is a fee of $10, payable before the start of each class, for non-cardholders).

Please call 327-8367 to register.