Beyond Foreclosure: Facts, Steps and Solutions

Thursday December 4, 2008: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Being foreclosed or nearly foreclosed is a very stressful situation often causing feelings of loss, shame and embarrassment. This event will highlight many resources available to Washtenaw County residents. Because of a partnership between several community organizations, distressed homeowners may access services and resources to better understand their options and make the best financial and housing decisions for their future. The Housing Bureau for Seniors, the Washtenaw County Treasurer’s Office, Michigan State University Extension, and Eastern Michigan University’s Counseling Clinic, are offering this public education program as a service to the public.

Funding for these education services is made possible by grants from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the Washtenaw Urban County Human Services Funding. Call the Housing Bureau for Seniors at 998-9346 for more detailed information.

Playgroups

Monday December 8, 2008: 10:30 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This is a time for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups to gather and play. The Library will provide the space and a variety of toys.

Each playgroup includes 15 minutes of stories, rhymes and songs. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.

No older siblings, please.

Poet Josie Kearns Discusses Alphabet of the Ocean: How Markings on Shells May Have Inspired Ancient Written Language

Monday December 8, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Markings on seashells are so specific that they mimic ancient language shapes (cuneiform, Sanskrit, Arabic, runes) and may be where different cultures first got the idea to use them. Josie Kearns has researched some of these shell markings and will talk about this theory and her upcoming book of poetry, Alphabet of the Ocean.

Josie Kearns has published three books and has two books of poetry, "Alphabet of the Ocean" (March Street Press) and "The Theory of Everything" (Mayapple Press) forthcoming. She has won three Hopwood Awards and four Creative Artist Awards from the Michigan Council for the Arts (ArtServe), the Cowden Fellowship, and numerous writer-in-residencies at Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois. She currently teaches writing at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

aadl.org Session 1

Tuesday December 9, 2008: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: [Login to Register]

This class consists of two sessions. A roadmap to searching for materials, information, and events on aadl.org. Participants will discover a variety of hidden gems within the site including: the advantage of using My Account for placing holds, how to navigate the research tab, and how and why to tag items. Session two will be offered on Wednesday, December 10.

Register online or call 327.4560.

Preschool Storytimes

Tuesday December 9, 2008: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This storytime features stories and songs, for listeners age two and up, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

The Many Festivals of Mexico with Stephanie Schneiderman of Tia Stephanie Tours

Tuesday December 9, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Mexico - a country so close, yet whose customs are so different from ours; a country of multiple images and stereotypes that bears knowing first hand; a country and people that is much more than its beaches. Mexicans are especially known for their many colorful festivals and holiday celebrations.

Using many colorful photographs and anecdotes from past journeys, Stephanie will provide an introduction to fascinating festivals and traditions of Mexico. Tia Stephanie Tours designs and leads small group Cultural Journeys to Mexico, focusing on folk art, people and customs, pre-Hispanic civilizations, flora and fauna.

Preschool Storytimes

Wednesday December 10, 2008: 11:00 am to 11:30 am -- Downtown Library: Youth Story Corner

This storytime features stories and songs, for listeners age two and up, accompanied by an adult. Siblings are welcome.

Feasting On Books with Thomas C. Foster Author of 'How to Read Novels Like a Professor'

Wednesday December 10, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

In celebration of the season, Thomas C. Foster, author of "How To Read Literature Like A Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide To Reading Between The Lines," will offer his humorous and insightful remarks on the role of dining, parties, and community in books, poems, plays, and the arts. Literature provides us with myriad examples of eating, celebrating holidays, and gathering to enjoy friends and family. Those occasions, in books as well as in life, range from the dismal to the sublime.

This event will include a book signing and copies of Professor Foster's new book, "How to Read Novels Like a Professor: A Jaunty Exploration of the World’s Favorite Literary Form" will be for sale, courtesy of Shaman Drum Bookshop. Thomas Foster is a professor of English at the University of Michigan-Flint, where he teaches classic and contemporary fiction, drama and poetry, creative writing, and composition.

Classical Bells Holiday Concert

Saturday December 13, 2008: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Classical Bells’ primary instrument consists of 68 bronze and six aluminum English handbells, a range of more than six octaves. In some pieces the tonal coloring is enhanced by the mellow sound of a six octave set of handchimes. Enjoy this annual holiday concert -- always as delightful to watch as it is to hear!

Led by music director Darlene Ebersole, the auditioned ensemble consists of accomplished handbell musicians from the metropolitan Detroit area. Founded in 1983, the handbell artistry of the Classical Bells has received national attention as a result of five audio recordings, one acclaimed live concert video, and recordings of new handbell music for distribution by handbell music publishers. The group has appeared locally with the Macomb and Dearborn Symphony Orchestras, Lyric Chamber Ensemble, and Cantata Academy, as well as in many concert series.

Michigan Jazz Presented By 'Jazz Revisited' Radio Host Hazen Schumacher

Sunday December 14, 2008: 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Hazen Schumacher was producer and host of the radio program "Jazz Revisited" for 30 years. The program played on 150 stations of National Public Radio and is presently being distributed to radio stations around the world by the Hamburg (Germany) Jazz Museum.

Using pictures and recorded excerpts from the '30s to the '70s, Mr. Schumacher will present and discuss jazz versions of Michigan and University of Michigan related tunes and sign copies of his new book, "A Golden Age of Jazz Revisited," which will be for sale at the event. This fascinating book covers the period 1939-42 and includes two CDs with 49 different recordings from the period.

Revolution Hero for All Ages

Friday December 19, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Dance away on our Cobalt Flux DDR pads or play your heart out on Guitar Hero. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each tournament.

AADL-GT Super Smash Double Dash Grand Championships

Saturday December 20, 2008: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

The hottest tournament in town concludes with the Grand Championships – to be televised on CTN. The Grand Prizes will be awarded for Super Smash Brothers and Mario Kart Double Dash team and single player events. Visit the AXIS blog at axis.aadl.org for constant updates.

Didn’t qualify for the Grand Championships during the season? Come right at noon for the Wildcard Tournament and one last shot at making it into the big show!

PL2: Public Library Pokémon League

Sunday December 21, 2008: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Bring your Nintendo DS and copy of Pokémon Diamond or Pearl and join our Pokémon League. The top three finalists will be awarded prizes.

2nd Annual GT Awards and Grudge Banquet

Monday December 22, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Come for open play, People’s Choice Awards, Hall of Fame inductions and the end-of-season wrap-up. This event will include score-settling match-ups between the players you most want to see battle it out, and will also include token awards for distinctive achievements throughout the season. Refreshments will be served courtesy of Salsarita's Fresh Cantina.

Laughter Blast!

Saturday December 27, 2008: 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Come and laugh for no reason and discover all sorts of good reasons to laugh! This workshop, led by drama teacher Phil Walker and storyteller Badria Jazairi, both Laughter Yoga leaders and Fun Specialists, incorporates exercises based on laughter yoga, creative play and theater games.

Laughter Yoga is a technique that uses a blend of playful, empowering and simple laughter exercises. Laughter Yoga is done as a way to improve health, increase well-being and promote peace in the world through personal transformation.

Duct Tape Do-Over

Monday December 29, 2008: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

We'll have tape, tape, tape – from camouflage to the elusive plaid and everything in between – for you to get creative! Basic instruction will be provided (if needed), then you do the rest!

Silly Stories with Laura Pershin Raynor

Tuesday December 30, 2008: 10:00 am to 10:30 am -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Listen to tales filled with colorful characters and laugh with Laura!

Game On With The Vault!

Tuesday December 30, 2008: 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

We're teaming up with Vault of Midnight, Ann Arbor’s favorite comic and game store! Game experts from the Vault will spend the afternoon teaching and playing popular European-style family games. No experience is necessary. You bring the gang, we’ll bring the games!