Test time draws near again! LearningExpress Library can help you get ready. Join us in the Pittsfield Computer Training Center and take an e-practice test.

The University of Michigan is holding it's annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium. There are many events going on through out the months of January and February. Most of the events are free and open to the public. For more information please click here or call: 734-936-1055.

The library also holds many great books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and impact he made on our country. Check out About Martin Luther King Day or one of the many other great books the library has to offer.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, local authors Carol Gibson and Lola Jones will be presenting an introduction to the history of the African American community in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County at the Sunday, January 14 session of 'Sunday Edition' at the Downtown Library at 2:00 pm. Their presentation will be based on their new book Another Ann Arbor, a photographic survey of the history and contributions of African Americans. The program will include a selection of the images from the book. Additional information about the local African American community can be found at the Another Ann Arbor web site. The 'Sunday Edition Program' is free and open to all.

Make it a family event! Register to attend science workshops as a family and learn about the wonders of weather. Answer the questions: Why is weather different all over the world? What does thunder happen after lightning? How do meteorologists predict the weather? Call and register at the branch you would like to attend the workshop. Registration starts two weeks before the workshop and the program is for children ages 6-11.

Curious About Climate: Why Weather Works!
Pittsfield Wednesday, Jan. 24, 4-5 PM
Malletts Creek Saturday, Jan. 27, 10-11 AM
Northeast Saturday, Jan. 27, 2-3 PM

Stormy Surprises: When Weather Goes Wild!
Pittsfield Wednesday, Feb. 21, 4-5 PM
Malletts Creek Saturday, Feb. 24, 10-11 AM
Northeast Saturday, Feb. 24, 2-3 PM

Backyard Meteorology: Forecasting the Future
Pittsfield Wednesday, Mar. 28, 4-5 PM
Malletts Creek Saturday, Mar. 31, 10-11 AM
Northeast Saturday, Mar. 31, 2-3 PM

Bundle Up those Babies and Bring them to PlayGroups. We Sing and do HandPlays and Tell Stories. We also Play and meet other babies. The next PlayGroup Program Series begins in two weeks.

My improbable conversion to a Poke-Mom was foretold a decade ago, when both Pokemon and our son Michael were born. My conversion was completed the week after Christmas 2006, following full immersion in the music, color and magic of the four-day holiday Pokemon tournament led by Eli, a near god in the eyes of Poke-moms, dads and kids.

Eli was managing library technology, while acting as tournament commentator for crowds of kids and parents at the downtown library: “Rayquaza’s Hyper Beam attack was a powerful hit against Swampert . . . Ohhhhhh! Swampert fainted!” Eli’s dramatic, deep-voice Poke-narration sealed my status as a Poke-mom of Great Conviction. I wasn’t there for the whole tournament, but I definitely saw and heard enough to absorb the spirit. For my full report, click on read more below.

T-Shirt Pillow

Come to the Pittsfield branch on Thursday, January 4 from 2-3 PM to create your own t-shirt pillow. Bring an old t-shirt and make it into a stylish pillow to decorate your room for the New Year. We’ll provide the decorations. For age 8 and up.

One Piece

Who will be the first to find the Pirate King's lost treasure? Join us as we discuss the adventures of the Straw Hat Priates in Eiichiro Oda's One Piece Manga. We'll make our own pirate flag and come up with our pirate names. As always Pocky and other snacks and drinks will be provided! See you from 7:00-8:30 at the Downtown Library...

If you're thinking about starting a home-based business, you might wish to sign up for the 'Starting Your Home-Based Business: What You Need to Know' workshop being offered by the Washtenaw County office of the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center. The workshop will provide a step-by-step approach to planning, opening and growing a new home-based business. Call the MI-SBTDC office at (734)547-9170 to preregister [there is a small registration fee]. The program will be held at the MI-SBTDC office at 301 W. Michigan Avenue, Suite 101, Ypsilanti, on January 31, 2007 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In the meantime you can also prepare using some of the library's home-based business books.

Have you seen jewelry made from old computer parts? A combination of art and tech, it's sleek, one-of-a-kind wearable art--especially when you make it yourself! Learn how at the hands-on workshop for teens and adults, Wired & Inspired, at the downtown Library on Wed., Jan. 3 from 7 - 8:30 pm. We'll have the parts, you bring some needle nose pliers, if you have them!