Hands-On Lab: Finding Funding for A College Education - November 6 & 7

Thu, 10/31/2013 - 11:34am by K.C.

Wed. & Thurs. November 6-7, 2013 |7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Pittsfield Branch: Training Center

This event is intended for teens (grade 9 and up) and adults

UM Foundations and Grants Librarian Dr. Karen Downing and French Studies Librarian, Jennifer Bonnet present a workshop for high schoolers, their parents, and anyone seeking funding for college.

Learn about a variety of specialized Web resources, how to articulate a plan of study, identify potential funders, and apply for relevant educational grants.

We will also compare free Web resources and subscription-based services (U-M pays the subscription and provides free access). Participants will have time to search for scholarships during the session.

Amazon Teen Bestseller: I Am Malala

Tue, 10/22/2013 - 2:39pm by annevm

Check out I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which currently is #7 (hardcover) and #12 (Kindle edition) on Amazon's list of Best Sellers in Teen & Young Adult Books. The book is by Malala Yousafzai with help from Christina Lamb. From Amazon: "When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive . . . "

College Night: Solving the College Admissions Puzzle

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 7:28am by K.C.

Wednesday September 25, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

This event is intended for adults and teens (grade 9 and up).

For those involved in the college selection process, it's AADL's 7th annual College Night with the co-authors of "Solving the College Admissions Puzzle: A Guide for Students and Families About College Selection, Essay Writing, and High-Stakes Testing"- Community High's college prep counselor John Boshoven; Debbie Merion, the founder of Essay Coaching; and performance coach Geraldine Markel.

Learn about the college selection and application process: Part 1: Finding the College that Fits; Part 2: Applying to College: Those Pesky Essays; Part 3: Applying to College: Those Pesky Tests.

This event will include a book signing with copies of the book available for purchase.

Ready or not, it's time to head back to school!

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 3:58pm by mariah

Just in time, jump.aadl.org is here for parents looking for everything that AADL has to offer kids of all ages. Recommended reading lists, the details on the best upcoming events, homework help, and even guidance on planning your visit to AADL -- jump.aadl.org has it all.




JUMP's is divided into four basic sections:


Recommended Stuff helps you find some of the best books, materials and kits by age or grade, reading level, and topic. Library staff have also compiled handy lists of award winners and favorites.




Plan Your Visit is a section that guides you through the various features in our five locations, gives you links to explore to all sorts of library collections, events and exhibits, and provides tailored information for visiting with various age children and patrons with special needs.




Storytime and Events is your spot for a master list of all of our programs for parents and children.




Homework Help offers direct links to online resources for research and reports, as well as Brainfuse's on-demand/online homework help and information on other in-person fee-free tutoring offered at the Library and in the community.




Whether you're a seasoned library user or new to town, jump.aadl.org gives you the scoop on what's happening for kids at the Library. Take a peek, start exploring, and let us know what you think!

Learning with School House Rock!

Tue, 08/27/2013 - 4:06pm by PattySmith

If you grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons in the ‘70s or ‘80s it is quite likely you can recite the words to the Preamble to the United States Constitution by singing it. In fact, you probably learned a lot of cool things from the ABC short films Schoolhouse Rock! These animated ditties covered math, history, science and grammar in ways that made learning fun. The award winning program came straight out of the advertising world of Madison Avenue. When advertising executive David McCall discovered his son could not remember the multiplication tables, but knew all of the lyrics to the latest rock songs, his advertising mind took over and the wildly popular program was born. (Sadly, in 1999 McCall and his wife tragically lost their lives while on a mission in Albania aiding Kosovar refugees.)

The AADL has a nice collection of Schoolhouse Rock DVDs that can be used both in the home and the classroom. Many of the DVDs have bonus features that include sing-along songs, interactive pop quizzes to help reinforce key concepts and downloadable educator’s guides with web links. Wherever you choose to enjoy the series, prepare to have fun learning with the catchy tunes that taught millions of children that Knowledge is Power!

The Hidden Life of Wolves

Tue, 08/13/2013 - 3:08pm by Enzy

From The Three Little Pigs to Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf has often been portrayed in European culture as a monster that is crafty and vicious, being viewed as either dangerous predators or rivals for food. However, other perceptions of the wolf include viewing the animal as a spirit animal, attributing human inner qualities to the creature or seeing the wolf as a source of scientific data. These concepts are challenged in The Hidden Life of Wolves, a fascinating book written by wildlife filmmakers Jim and Jamie Dutcher who argue that the wolf is not "the wolf of nightmares," "the spirit wolf," or "the managed wolf." Instead they favor the idea of "the social wolf."

The Dutchers chronicle the story of the Sawtooth Pack and the wolves’ reintroduction to their natural habitat in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. The Dutchers lived in a tent alongside the pack for years witnessing the social behaviors of the wolf pack and drawing conclusions based on little before seen wolf actions. Throughout the Dutchers’ experience with the Sawtooth wolf pack, they were able to shed light on illusive habits of wolf packs in general, revealing the social lives of wolves. They observe the joy of the pack when pups are born as well as the mourning that occurs when the pack loses a member. Witnessing such events allows the Dutchers to conclude that wolves are more than the mythical creatures that are read about in fairy tales but instead are highly social creatures.

Not only is the information within the book detailed, but the photographs are beautiful and captivating. The Dutchers make a compelling case for the preservation of the wolf packs and their habitats. I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the social behaviors of animals and environmental issues.

Free Online Learning Resources from Everyoneon.org!

Wed, 07/17/2013 - 2:08pm by Stewart

Go to EveryoneOn.org to learn, learn, learn! The site offers resources for students, educators, and parents. The student resources serve grades K-12 with beginning, intermediate and advanced skills using Power My Learning where students can learn and practice Math, Language, Social Studies and Science skills, Microsoft Office, Graphic Design programs such as Wordle and Inkscape, Computer Programming such as Scratch and Kodu Game Lab, and Life Skills such as finding a career, going to college, managing finances, and goal setting.

Check out more online learning resources at aadl.org/handouts.

GED Test Preparation Class

Tue, 06/18/2013 - 2:04pm by monkk

Ann Arbor Public Schools Adult Education is offering a free GED test preparation class before some big changes in the GED test. Registration and orientation will be held on July 1 from 10:15 am to 12 pm at the Malletts Creek branch library. Class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 pm starting July 3rd. AATA bus tokens are provided for students who need transportation.

The new GED test takes effect January 2014. This means current GED students must pass all of their tests by December 2013. After that, everyone will need to start over again with the new series of tests. The new test will be online only. Adults wanting to earn their GEDs should enroll now, because passing the test demands a substantial time commitment. Starting class this semester gives students time to review materials they already know, and to learn new skills for the test. The Adult Ed program assesses students, provides many opportunities to take classes, offers practice tests and gives students one-on-one attention. For more information call (734) 997-1250.

An Introduction To Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro" With Music Expert Richard LeSueur

Sat, 06/01/2013 - 11:52am by hillary dorwart

Sunday June 9, 2013: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Richard LeSueur, opera lover extraordinaire, will provide a delightful introduction to Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro". He will discuss the plot, the relationship of the characters and provide recordings for listening examples.

This event is held in conjunction with Arbor Opera Theater's production of "The Marriage Of Figaro" at Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, June 13-16.

Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics: Scientists Fair 2013

Sun, 05/05/2013 - 9:05am by hillary dorwart

Saturday May 25, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Here's your chance to learn how scientists provide explanations about the world and universe! The Ann Arbor Science & Skeptics present their second annual Scientists Fair at AADL.

Scientists from the University of Michigan and other local institutions will explain the scientific concepts of the Big Bang theory, particle physics, climate change, nuclear power, and exploring Mars.

This event is for adults and teens (grade 9 and up).