aadl.org

Did you ever wish that the library offered computer classes on Saturday? Your wish is granted.

On Saturday June 6th we have three classes scheduled with plenty of room for you!
Beginning Email at the Downtown Library 10 am - 12 pm
Craigslist at the Pittsfield branch 10 am -12 pm
Microsoft Mail Merge at the Malletts Creek branch 1 - 3 pm

826michigan

826michigan has opened registration for spring workshops! Workshops are available for kids and adults on a variety of subjects. Sign up here, but hurry because there are a limited number of spots available for each workshop, and they fill up quickly! And don’t forget about Drop-In Writing Time (no registration required) on Monday nights, 6-7pm, starting May 4, running through June 8.

On our new book shelf here at the AADL you can pick up a copy of The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life, written by Pam Grout & published by National Geographic. The author's intent, as she states in the introduction, is to alter your idea of what vacation is meant to be and offer you the potential to change your life. The experiences are divided into four categories: arts and crafts getaways, learning retreats, volunteer vacations, and wellness escapes. Even if you can't afford some of the fabulous ideas set forth in this book, it's still enjoyable to read about them. Consider a three-day mahout (elephant wrangler) training course in Thailand. Spend a month working for African Impact, a lion rehabilitation center in Zimbabwe. Master the art of blending scotch at the Glengoyne Distillery in the Scottish highlands. Ride horses to Machu Picchu's sacred sister city, Choquequirao, Peru.
The trip that caught my attention is run by COBATI (Community-Based Tourism Initiatives) in Kampala, Uganda. Instead of a typical African safari package that does little to benefit the locals, COBATI homestays offer the amazing opportunity to stay in small, rural villages and learn about the real Uganda. Visit banana plantations, stay with midwives, learn beekeeping & mushroom growing, attend community weddings, visit flower farms and see homesteads with Ankole longhorn cattle (indigenous to Uganda for at least seven centuries). Interested? Visit www.cobati.or.ug or head to the library for a copy of this unique travel guide.

lwv

CitiTV Channel 19 will televise the Ann Arbor Public Schools Candidate Forum live from the new CTN studios on Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m.. Unopposed candidates Glenn Nelson and Irene Patalan and new candidate Ravi Nigam will answer questions posed by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. And where will the questions come from? From YOU. Send your questions to the League at their Contact Page. The School Board election will be held on May 5, 2009.

schools

AAPS Superintendant Todd Roberts' presentation of the 2009/2010 schools budget will be broadcast on CTN Channel 18 on March 12 @ 11:00 a.m. and five subsequent dates. These difficult economic times are impacting all governmental bodies and this budget overview will provide the community with important information on the future of education in Ann Arbor.

March is Women's History Month. In honor of the tremendous achievements of women worldwide, Gale Publishing Group which offers numerous databases and other resources to libraries, has put together some great free resources. Based on the theme, "Get to Know the Women Who've Changed Our World," you can access activities, quizzes, biographies, a timeline and more at their special website. A great resource for teachers, activities by topic include history, geography music, science and literature. You can also download bookmarks, a calendar and screensaver. Biographies of famous women up to and including Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama are available.

You can also check out the Library's rich collection of books and dvds on women's history including a new book, Ad Women by Juliann Sivulka on the history of women in advertising and how they influence consumer habits.

There are two excellent opportunities for students with disabilities who are concerned that their disability will prevent them from getting a job or whether they should disclose their limitation. You will also learn about what is the best type of work experience and opportunities with Michigan's AmeriCorps and state corporations. The workshops will take place on these dates and locations:

Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 4:00 - 7:00pm Oakland Community College – Royal Oak Campus
739 Washington, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Register: Ms. Marcia Kosovec; (248) 246-2480; mmkosove@oaklandcc.edu

Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 3:00 – 6:00pm Wayne State University – Faculty Administration Building, Room 1139
656 W. Kirby (Reuther Mall), Detroit, MI 48202
Register: Ms. Randie Kruman; (313) 577-2570; rskruman@wayne.edu PRESENTERS Cathy McAdam, Consultant, DiverseAbility LLC John Lapetz, Retired Manager, Ford Motor Company

Word

Have you taken some basic computer classes and are ready to learn more? Improve your computer skills by learning how to use Microsoft Word. In our Microsoft Word Basics class you will be introduced to menu options including how to copy and paste text. You will learn how to modify text so you can create more interesting documents. Microsoft Word's spell and grammar check can help make your documents error-free. Space is limited so reserve your place in a Microsoft Word Basics class today!

email

Did you make a New Year's resolution to learn how to use an email account? It’s time to take a step towards your goal and learn how to use email. Sign up today for one of our Beginning Email classes this winter and learn how to send, open, reply, and forward email with confidence. Our classes for beginners are slower paced and smaller so you won’t get left behind. Classes are available at most library locations and at various times of the day. Find a time and location convenient to you and sign up today.

pell

He authored legislation that allowed hundreds of thousands of us to attend college through the Pell Grant, that established the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Read the complete New York Times obituary on Senator Claiborne Pell. The Thom McAn story alone is worth the read.