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Mustache Madness!

by PattySmith

In the month of November you might notice more men walking around sporting mustaches. No, there isn’t going to be a shortage of razors and shaving cream! Many of these men are taking part in a campaign called Movember. Movember started over 10 years ago in Australia as a way to raise awareness about men’s health. In the past few years the mustache movement has made its way across the world and has become an international campain that has raised $559 million and funded over 800 programs in 21 countries.

But hey, grown men aren’t the only ones allowed to have fun with Movember! Children can participate too by checking out these great books centered around, you got it, MUSTACHES!

Mo’s Mustache by Ben Clanton
Monster Mo's big, beautiful mustache inspires all of his friends to copy his style by growing fabulous mustaches of their own, leaving Mo to wonder how he will continue to distinguish himself.

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos
When Baby Billy is born with a mustache, his family takes it in stride. They are reassured when he nobly saves the day in imaginary-play sessions as a cowboy or cop and his mustache looks good-guy great. But as time passes, their worst fears are confirmed when little Billy's mustache starts to curl up at the ends in a suspiciously villainous fashion. Sure enough, "Billy's disreputable mustache led him into a life of dreadful crime."

Mustache by Mac Barnett
When extremely good-looking King Duncan builds more and more tributes to his handsome face, neglecting kingdom projects and repairs, his loyal subjects find a mustachioed solution.

Big Bushy Mustache by Gary Soto
In order to look more like his father, Ricky borrows a mustache from a school costume, but when he loses it on the way home his father comes up with a replacement.

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826michigan Hosts Writing Workshop with Author V.V. Ganeshananthan

by karaelise

Are you a fiction writer? Have you ever wondered about the writing techniques of a journalist? Well, now is your chance to get your questions about journalism answered! 826michigan’s “How to Write Like I Do” writing workshops presents: The Reported Imagination: Journalism Techniques for Fiction Writers. Heading up this workshop is none other than V.V. Ganeshananthan, Zell Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Michigan and author of the critically acclaimed 2008 novel, Love Marriage. Topics of discussion will include how fiction writers can use journalism techniques, such as interviewing and arduous editing, in their craft.

This fun event is for adults only, and takes place on Saturday, February 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 826michigan. Participants will be treated to Zingerman’s coffee and pastries.

Cost for this event is $25 per participant. However, 826Michigan is running a Bring-a-Friend special that allows you to purchase two tickets for $40! All proceeds from the event go to support 826michigan’s free creative writing program for youth ages 6-18 in Washtenaw County. So, get out your pen and paper or computer, and come join V.V. Ganeshananthan in a discussion about incorporating journalism techniques in your fiction writing!

Date: February 4, 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Place: 826michigan
115 East Liberty Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Cost: $25 for 1 person
$40 for 2 people (the Bring-a-Friend special)
Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com

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Finding Grant Funding For Community Nonprofits

by hillary dorwart

Monday December 12, 2011: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Looking to up your grant-seeking skills for your community nonprofit organization? Join us for this workshop - which has been so popular that we are offering it for a third time - in a lecture format with plenty of available seating.

Returning to the AADL, Karen Downing, the Foundations and Grants Librarian at the University of Michigan, will discuss and demonstrate the various web-based funding databases currently available. She will illustrate search strategies and discuss how to match sponsor and nonprofit priorities. Resources to help with proposal writing will also be addressed in this informative session.

There is no registration for this event - which will have plenty of seating for all!

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Meijer Simply Give Food Pantry Drive

by Stewart

Join Food Gatherers in the fight against hunger this weekend at the Ann Arbor Saline & Carpenter Meijer store locations. Participate by purchasing donation cards to be given to Food Gatherers as Meijer gift cards!

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Next Week In Booklists

by jaegerla

Significant Dates for the Week of September 25 to October 1

Sunday September 25: Kick off Banned Books Week by reading some Banned Books.

Monday September 26: Johnny Appleseed Day

Tuesday September 27: Ancestor Appreciation Day

Wednesday September 28: Rosh Hashanah

Thursday September 29: National Coffee Day

Friday September 30: Ask A Stupid Question Day

Saturday October 1: First day of Adopt A Shelter Dog Month

Always remember that every day is a celebration!

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2011 What About You Walk

by Stewart

On Saturday, September 24, in Gallup Park, you are welcome to participate in a 5K and 1 mile walk/run. Proceeds will be disbursed by the United Way of Washtenaw County to the charity of your choice. Enjoy an afternoon of family fun activities, entertainment, and prizes. The event will also include a Charity Expo and Health and Wellness Fair. A free lunch will be provided by Damon’s Grill. For more information, visit what about you walk or rules & information.

Registration begins 9:00 AM
5K Run & 1 Mile Run at 10:00 AM
5K Walk & 1 Mile Walk at 10:30 AM

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Write a Song for a Kid in Need

by iralax

The Songs of Love Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing personalized songs for children and teens currently facing tough medical, physical or emotional challenges, free of charge.They’re looking for volunteer songwriters (must be professional quality) to write and record songs for children and teens facing tough medical, physical, or emotional challenges. Over 15 years these efforts have produced 22,000 songs, a truly remarkable gift to these families.

Here’s how it works: You are sent a child’s profile sheet filled out by a parent or other caregiver that describes special interests, hobbies, favorite things, family members, friends, pets, favorite music style(s), and such. This profile sheet also spells all names phonetically so you are assured of getting them just right. You write a great song that has the child’s name featured in the chorus and that mentions all the items on the profile sheet. You make a tasty recording of the song and email an mp3 and lyric sheet to Songs of Love Foundation within 21 days. Songs of Love makes a CD with a nice label and an insert with the lyrics and mails it to the family. That’s the only use of the song unless Songs of Love chooses to use the song for promotional or fundraising purposes later. The song and sound recording belong to Songs of Love. What you get is the immense satisfaction of doing a really good deed.

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Finding Grant Funding For Community Non-Profits

by hillary dorwart

Wednesday, July 13, 2011: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

*Registration required: Register Now

Looking to up your grant-seeking skills for your community non-profit organization? Help your non-profit by attending this hands-on workshop!

Discover the online resources that can assist you in getting operating and programmatic grants for your non-profit. Additionally, there will be discussion about matching sponsor and nonprofit priorities and resources to help with proposal writing.

Karen Downing, the Foundations and Grants Librarian at the University of Michigan, and French Studies librarian, Jennifer Bonnet will discuss various web-based funding databases currently available, illustrate search strategies and give you time to look for funding for your own organization.

Registration is required for this session. Register online at aadl.org, in person at any location or by calling 327-4555.

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Médecins Sans Frontières

by pkooger

What would you do if your child was on the edge of death and you had no way to contact a doctor? What would you do if a natural disaster or war had left you and your neighbors injured and homeless?

Médecins Sans Frontières (known in the U.S. as Doctors Without Borders) is an international medical humanitarian organization devoted to supporting and aiding people in lands crippled by poverty, violence or catastrophic events. They have brought medical aid and public health services to places such as Rwanda, Kosovo, the Congo region, and Haiti. MSF was created in 1971 and has been saving lives all around the world ever since.

Dr. James Orbinski is a well known humanitarian activist and a former President of MSF. He accepted the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize on the organization’s behalf. His book, An Imperfect Offering, recounts his experiences in Somalia and Rwanda, while asking tough questions about one's responsibilities to the suffering. Triage is a documentary that follows Dr. Orbinski as he returns to Africa. This powerful film questions the ability of one individual to effect change in the face of political forces we cannot control. Triage “celebrates the best in the human spirit while staring unblinkingly at the worst.”

For several perspectives of what it is like to enter a crisis zone to save lives, see Writing On The Edge, a collection of essays from 14 different authors.

The Photographer is an award winning account of one man’s journey into Afghanistan with MSF during its war with the Soviet Union. This moving graphic novel uses photographs taken during the journey to help the reader understand the mental and emotional pressures felt by the author.

Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders is a recently released Oscar-nominated documentary focusing not on the work of MSF, but on the lives of doctors and volunteers who have chosen to live in the most dangerous places on Earth and devote themselves to helping the needy. The film has not been released on DVD yet, but I look forward to seeing it in AADL’s collection soon.