Blog Post
Ann Arbor, Then and Now
by jschaen
The Ann Arbor News' archive highlights major events and news-worthy stories through the city's history. But beyond that, it also gives a glimpse into what life was like for residents on a daily basis. Hidden between photos of big events are images of the stores and streets. They can give us a window into what Ann Arbor was like for the people who lived here, and they can highlight what has changed... and what hasn't.
The following are old images of Ann Arbor paired with views from today, which let you see which buildings have withstood the test of time and where things have grown and developed.
308 South Ashley Street, 1937
1937:
Blog Post
Detroit Free Press, Historical Database (1831-1922)
by darla
Explore Detroit's history through the eyes of the major city newspaper:
MT. ELLIOTT CEMETERY. CONSECRATION OF A CATHOLIC BURIAL GROUND. -- Detroit Free Press, Dec. 10, 1865, Page 1.
J. L. Hudson Celebrates the Anniversary of His Establishment in the Clothing Business. -- Detroit Free Press, Mar 31, 1882, Page 6.
VERNOR TO RESCUE: Brings His Ginger Ale to Council Meeting. THIRSTY ALDERMEN REJOICE -- Detroit Free Press, Aug. 22, 1906, Page 6
SEVERE TEST FOR THE NEW FORD MACHINE: Makes 1,357-Mile Tour on 67 Gallons of Gasoline and Not One Adjustment -- Detroit Free Press, Oct 11, 1908, Page 20
What an incredible resource we have in this database. AADL patrons have full-text access to articles and full-page images from over 90 years of Detroit newspapers. These articles cover Detroit and Michigan, as well as national news from 1831-1922, and provide citations for students wishing to use them as primary resources. Genealogists will enjoy the special obituary search option, and historians will love being able to peruse this treasure trove of information.
Access to this and any of our other reference databases and resources is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card. For access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access the Detroit Free Press Historical Database, go to the Newspapers page, and select Detroit Free Press Historical (1831-1922).
Blog Post
General Business File: Your Go-to Place For Business Articles
by annevm
If you need articles on business or finance, check out General Business File. In this database you can locate millions -- yes, millions! -- of articles to analyze company performance, industry events, and the latest in management, economics, and politics. The database draws on general interest publications, such as Fortune magazine, and on an enormous range of trade and specialized publications from around the world.
Access to this database is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card , or since this is a MeL Database, a Michigan driver's license number can be used instead. For L-card holder seeking access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. Michigan residents without a valid library card can gain access to this and other MeL databases by visiting MeL.org and entering their driver's license number.
Blog Post
Titanic Passenger Records Released Online
by darla
The genealogy site Ancestry.com has released thousands of records online relating to the passengers and crew of the Titanic. The collection will be available for free until April 15, the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking. More than 2,200 people were aboard when it struck an iceberg, and more than 1,500 killed. The collection includes a massive amount of information relating to those people, including passenger lists, crew lists and lists of deaths at sea. Also included are two databases from Canada, one featuring headstone images of 121 Titanic victims buried at Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The second, from the Nova Scotia Archives, includes 329 coroner inquest files and 330 records of bodies that were recovered by ships, along with the disposition of those bodies. "The sinking of the legendary Titanic was a major moment in the history of both the United States and the United Kingdom," says Dan Jones, VP of global content for Ancestry.com. "As the years have passed, many generations have lost information that would confirm relatives who may have been aboard. We’re very pleased to offer these records free for a limited time and provide a single source to find answers to some long-standing family mysteries." Other Titanic-related databases available on Ancestry.com include the Carpathia Passenger List from 1912, which includes many survivors from the Titanic, as well as a broader collection known as “Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1975”.
The Ancestry.com Titanic Collection can be found here. Visit one of our AADL locations to access the library version of Ancestry.com.
Blog Post
DearReader.com: You've got (book-ish) mail!
by annevm
The resource DearReader.com offers free short book excerpts, delivered daily to your email. If you state what type of books you like, you get a 5-minute excerpt from a book selected based on your preferences. New books are offered each week.
Suzanne Beecher -- the reader/writer behind DearReader.com, and also author of the book Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a happy (if disorderly) life -- does other amazing things, such as giving away aprons, books and homemade chocolate chip cookies through DearReader.com.
Access to this and any of our other reference databases and resources is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card. For access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access DearReader.com, go to the research page, and select DearReader.com from the Books, Reading & Literature category.
Blog Post
Computer Database
by manz
Use the Computer Database to find technology articles on topics such as telecommunications, computer software and hardware, business and industry, and consumer advice on technological products. This database contains articles, including peer-reviewed, full text, and those with images, that have been published from 1980 to present.
The database is fully searchable by subject, and you can also search for specific publications.
Popular search topics include viruses, hacking, spam, and electronics.
Access to this database is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card, or since this is a MeL Database, a Michigan driver's license number can be used instead.
For L-card holder access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access the Computer Database, go to the research page, and choose to Browse by Name A-Z: A-C, and click on Computer Database. Michigan residents without a valid library card can gain access to this and the many other MeL databases by visiting MeL.org and entering your driver's license number.
Blog Post
Chilton Auto Repair
by pkooger
Chilton Auto Repair is your go-to guide for all things automotive. Whether you have a 1940 Chevrolet Master Deluxe or a 2010 Kia Sportage, Chilton has what you need to keep your car ticking.
The Chilton Auto Repair database contains the complete text of Chilton auto repair manuals going back all the way to 1940. In addition to the text and diagrams, many repair manuals are supplemented with photos, videos, PDFs, and animated visual aids.
Want to know when you should get your spark plugs changed? Take a look at the maintenance section where Chilton has schedules of recommended timelines for vehicle upkeep.
Chilton also posts current and past technical bulletins and recalls for automobile parts, so you and your passengers are always at your safest.
Access to this and any of our other reference databases and resources is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card. For access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access the Chilton Auto Repair database, go to the research page, and select Chilton Auto Repair from the Car Repair category.
Blog Post
Brainfuse Is Here To Help
by jaegerla
Get help with homework or get ahead of the curve with Brainfuse, an online tutoring service. Live tutors are available from 2-11pm everyday to teach students in the subject areas of math, english, science, and social studies. You can even submit papers for comments before they get turned in for grades. This is a truly incredible resource for students from Kindergarten to college. Adult tutoring is offered as well through their Adult Learning Center. Everyone student can benefit from the use of Brainfuse.
Access to this and any of our other reference databases and resources is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card. For access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access Brainfuse, go to the research page, and select Brainfuse from the Student Papers category.
Blog Post
Books & Authors Database
by Caser
If you love reading fiction, then the Books & Authors database is the place for you. Whether you're looking for read-alike books or your book group wants critical reviews and author biographies to add to the discussion, Books & Authors has all this and more in through easy-to-navigate homepage. Try browsing through Community Picks and Expert Picks for popular selections, or Seasonal Suggestions, Best Sellers, or Award Winners for more ideas.
Get suggestions on your next read by searching author, title, or genre. For every title you find in Books & Authors, the site generates dozens of related book titles for you to read next. Find what might be your next favorite book based on what you already like. The database is also a great way to access a solid range of book reviews compiled in one place, all from reputable publications such as The New York Time Book Review, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly.
Access to this database is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card, or since this is a MeL Database, a Michigan driver's license number can be used instead.
For L-card holder access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access Books & Authors, go to the research page, and choose to Browse by Name A-Z: A-C, and click on Books & Authors. Michigan residents without a valid library card can gain access to this and the many other MeL databases by visiting MeL.org and entering your driver's license number.
Blog Post
Birds of North America Online
by darla
Clangula hyemalis! Ortalis vetula! No, these aren't Harry Potter spells, they are birds -- the Long-tailed Duck and the Plain Chachalaca, scientifically speaking. For a wealth of information on our local feathered friends, be sure to visit the Birds of North America Online database. Created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the American Ornithologists' Union ("Ornithology" is the scientific study of birds), BNA provides information on EVERY species of bird from North America. Photos, videos, and audio recordings of bird calls accompany text descriptions about characteristics, life cycles, habits, and demographic information for each species. This site, which is updated every month, is fabulous for students, bird watchers, budding ornithologists, and lovers of nature.
Access to this and any of our other reference databases and resources is available at every branch of the AADL, as well as from outside the library with a valid AADL library card. For access from an outside location, please sign in to your library account, visit our reference database page, and navigate to the desired resource. To access the Birds of North America Online database, go to the research page, and select Birds of North America Online from the Science & Technology category.