Blog Post
Michigan Sunshine Leads to Wine
by annevm
If you're traveling the Michigan wine trails this summer, check out the new book From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries. For details on wine events planned around the state, click here. Or if you're simply planning to enjoy wine in a restaurant, here's a good article: Why It Pays to Order the House Wine in the March 2008 Food and Wine magazine at the library.
Blog Post
"Green" Building Grows in Michigan
by ecria7
"Green" building and sustainable design practices are nothing new for the Ann Arbor area and its Library. The Malletts Creek Branch incorporated a sustainable design that won the American Institute of Architects (Michigan) Award for 2005, and the more recent Pittsfield and Traverwood Branches also demonstrate similar sustainable design concepts.
A project in Lansing recently topped the news within this "greening" trend, achieving national recognition for its efforts in the field of sustainable design. The Christman Company of Lansing was the first in the nation to win a Double Platinum LEED Certification, the highest award possible for energy efficient design.
LEED refers to "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" and is the rating system sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Why would this be interesting? We are all beginning to realize our impact on our planet, and the USGBC makes the effort "to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life" (USGBC.org). Many of the measures taken in AADL's recent Branch designs follow these LEED recommendations. For both new construction and existing buildings, learn more about "green" building at USGBC.com!
Blog Post
Ann Arbor Triathlon/Duathlon
by Caser
Half mile swim? Easy. 14 mile bike ride? Name the day. 5 mile run? No problem. If these sound like your answers to these questions, then you're probably planning on competing in the Ann Arbor Triathlon/Duathlon on Sunday, June 8th, at Pinckney Recreation Area. But if your answers are -- like most reluctant athletes -- a laundry list of excuses, then consider the resources the Ann Arbor District Library has to offer to help you mentally and physically prepare for your first triathlon. Highlights from the Library's collection include: Triathlete Magazine's Essential Week-By-Week Training Guide, by Matt Fitzgerald; Triathloning for Ordinary Mortals, by Steven Jonas; Triathlon 101, by John Mora, and many more.
Why tri? Namely, because it's fun to swim, to bike, and to run! Training for a race is a great way to motivate yourself to get outdoors and to stay healthy. Also, you don't have to be Michael Phelps, Lance Armstrong, or Wilma Rudolph to participate; triatholons are for everyone. Competitors can choose between 4 distances based on their level of preparation and personal preference. The distances are The Sprint Tri: 700 yard swim, 12 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run; The Olympic Tri: 1760 yard swim, 25 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run; The Half-Ironman Tri: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13 mile run; and The Ironman Tri: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run. The only triathlon held in Ann Arbor this summer is June 8th, but there are many other races held in Michigan this summer, so sign up for your first tri today.
Blog Post
Books for Michigan gardeners
by amy
My favorite class at U of M was Woody Plants, and the required text, written by Burton V. Barnes and the late great Warren H. Wagner, is well worth reading...although it didn't keep me from killing several shrubs and a Pinus Strobus. AADL has several books about gardening in Michigan for both experts and those of us with perennially black thumbs. The free edition of Michigan Gardener (available at many locations around town) recommends the following in their April 2008 issue: The Michigan Gardener's Companion: An Insider's Guide to Gardening in the Great Lakes State, Covering Ground, and Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season.
Blog Post
Michigan Filmmakers at the Festival
by amy
This Sunday, the Ann Arbor Film Festival presents Made in Michigan, featuring films by Michigan residents, including the 42-minute "buzzards steal your picnic", a film by Ann Arbor filmmaker, Terri Sarris, about Frank Pahl, a Detroit-area composer, multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, and creator of self-playing musical automatons. (3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 30)
Blog Post
Finding Your Way Through the Family Tree
by Debbie G.
Looking for new ways to research the family tree? "Learning More at the Library of Michigan," a free annual genealogy seminar set for Saturday, March 29, will focus on utilizing online resources for family history research. The workshop runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Michigan Library and Historical Center. Seating is limited, so registration is recommended. Sign up online at www.michigan.gov/familyhistory, by e-mail at librarian@michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 373-1300.
Blog Post
Job Opportunities in Higher Education
by Debbie G.
Check out a new web site with more than 1,200 job postings at 24 Michigan colleges and universities: Michigan Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). Jobs include research, professional, executive, administrative, and support positions in academia and their hospital and healthcare facilities as well as tenure-track and instructional faculty and positions in information technology and the trades. To broaden your job search, use the AADL Employment & Jobs section of the AADL Select Sites.
Blog Post
Michigan Notable Books 2008
by Van
The Library of Michigan's annual selection (annotations from the Library of Michigan list):
Alden B. Dow: Midwestern Modern, by Diane Maddex (Alden B. Dow Home & Studio) - This tribute to Midland native and nationally renowned architect Alden B. Dow (1904-1983) celebrates his creative and innovative designs for homes, churches, schools and government buildings, as well as his life philosophies of honesty, humility and enthusiasm. In his half-century career, Dow designed more than 600 structures, more than 100 of which were built in Midland, making the town a monument to his talent. Filled with vivid photos and design elements that reflect Dow's own style, the book also provides a detailed tour of the Alden B. Dow Home and Studio in Midland.
Connecting the Dots: Tyree Guyton's Heidelberg Project (Wayne State University Press) - A remarkable story of an artist's quest to transform his urban neighborhood, Connecting the Dots explores both the beginning of Tyree Guyton's journey as an artist and his impact on his Heidelberg Street neighborhood in Detroit. The book covers the controversies surrounding the project, the hopes of the artist, and a glimpse at the plans for the future.
Elijah of Buxton, by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic) - Few writers blend history, humor, and insights into human behavior better than Curtis, winner of the 2005 Michigan Author Award. In this young adult story set in Buxton, Ontario, Curtis explores the growth and travails of Elijah, a young African-American boy born free in Buxton, who travels into Detroit in search of a thief. Much more happens to him than he expects, and Elijah is forever changed by his encounters with the dark reality of slavery. The book is both heartbreaking and inspiring as Elijah grows into a deeper understanding of his history and legacy.
The Father of All Things: A Marine, His Son, and the Legacy of Vietnam, by Tom Bissell (Pantheon Books) - In this touching account of a son's struggle to understand his father's experiences in Vietnam, Bissell documents his travels with his father back to Vietnam, and offers a fresh perspective on the war there and the impact it made on the children of Vietnam veterans. A native of Escanaba, Bissell successfully illustrates that wars never really end for soldiers or their children.
Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas, by Eric Villegas (Huron River Press) - Based on chef and restaurateur Eric Villegas's award-winning PBS cooking show, Fork in the Road features recipes rich in Michigan's best local ingredients. Organized by regions of the state (The Fruit Belt, Middle of the Mitt), these recipes affirm the diverse food heritage of the Great Lakes region. All the while, Villegas' energetic and lively personality comes through in conversational sidebars discussing Michigan's agriculture and history. Mouth-watering photos showcase most of the dishes, and additional photos, from waterfalls to roadside food stands, evoke the spirit of Michigan.
From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries, by Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway (Ann Arbor Media Group) - Michigan's eclectic vineyards are showcased in this gorgeous introduction to Michigan's wines and the special people behind them. Experience Michigan's welcoming wine culture behind the scenes with Kegerreis and Hathaway, and discover the stories, the legends of wine making, and the marvels of the grape.
Iggy Pop: Open Up and Bleed, by Paul Trynka (Broadway Books) - Nicknamed "The Godfather of Punk," Iggy Pop rose out of Ann Arbor to front The Stooges, one of America's most influential rock 'n' roll bands; the musical genres of punk, glam and New Wave were all heavily influenced by Iggy's performances. Trynka's work is the first full biography of Iggy Pop (James Osterberg Jr.), yet is more than just a story of his life. It also illustrates the enormous role Ann Arbor and Detroit played in the development of the alternative music scene and provides a tragic depiction of the death of the hippie dream.
Mackinac Bridge: A 50-Year Chronicle, 1957- 2007, by Mike Fornes (Cheboygan Tribune Printing Co.) - Filled with details of day-to-day life on the Big Mac, Mackinac Bridge honors the history of the bridge that united Michigan's two peninsulas and became a symbol of the Great Lakes State. Combining exhaustive research and interviews, Fornes recounts tales of the routine (toll collections), the celebratory (the 100 millionth vehicle across the bridge) and the grim (traffic fatalities), while the extensive use of photos and memorabilia complement these stories and provide a unique visual perspective.
"My Brave Mechanics:" The First Michigan Engineers and Their Civil War, by Mark Hoffman (Wayne State University Press) - Letters, diaries, regimental records, and local newspapers enrich this compelling history of the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. The state's only such Civil War unit, the regiment was largely composed of skilled craftsmen and artisans. After training at Camp Owen in Marshall in 1861, the unit moved south and fought to maintain and support the Union supply lines in the Civil War's Western Theater, building and repairing bridges, railroads, and telegraph lines.
One Thousand Tracings: Healing the Wounds of World War II, by Lita Judge (Hyperion Books for Children) - The very special and lovingly illustrated story of Judge's mother and grandmother, set during World War II in Pinckney. During the war, Judge's grandmother received an appeal from German friends who were starving and cold, and from this one simple request, a refugee assistance effort began, supported by ornithologists across the United States and Pinckney residents. By sending hope and kindness in the care packages, these people began healing the wounds of war.
Paper Tiger: One Athlete's Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football by Ted A. Kluck (Lyons Press) - Combining the behind-the-scenes journalism of Paper Lion with the sports humor of Bull Durham, Kluck details his season as a long snapper with the Battle Creek Crunch of the Great Lakes Indoor Football League. In this near-bottom rung of professional football, teams struggle to make ends meet and players refuse to abandon their love of the game in their fight for one last shot at gridiron glory.
A Primer on Parallel Lives, by Dan Gerber (Copper Canyon Press) - Gerber's seventh book of poetry explores his fears and doubts as a youth growing up in western Michigan and reveals the landscape of his current home on California's central coast. Nature and observations of the world around him are central to Gerber's poems. His poetry explores everyday experiences and images, successfully converting them into something unique and magical. Gerber won the 1992 Michigan Author Award and is a past recipient of the Mark Twain Award.
The Red Parts: A Memoir, by Maggie Nelson (Free Press) - Originally considered one of the famous "Michigan Murders" that occurred in Ann Arbor in the 1960's, Jane Mixer was brutally murdered in 1969. Just as Nelson - Mixer's niece - was publishing a collection of poetry in 2005 reflecting on the family tragedy, new DNA evidence surfaced, implicating a new suspect, a retired nurse from Gobles. This memoir, a deeply personal search for closure, moves seamlessly between the author's recollections of her father's death, her sister's rebelliousness, and the new trial.
Returning to Earth, by Jim Harrison (Grove Press) - Northern Michigan plays a pivotal role in Harrison's ninth novel. Determined to chronicle his family's history before he dies, Donald Burkett is a 45-year-old Chippewa-Finnish man afflicted with Lou Gehrig's disease. This tender novel explores life, death, and finding redemption in unlikely places, as Donald's struggle with his disease encourages his loved ones to conquer their troubled past by letting it go.
Sailing Grace, by John Otterbacher (Samadhi Press) - Former Michigan legislator Otterbacher of Grand Rapids shares this inspiring tale of his personal triumph over open-heart surgery. In his sailboat named Grace, Otterbacher, together with his wife and two daughters, sails across the Atlantic Ocean to Ireland, overcoming both Mother Nature and his medical struggles.
The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky: The Writings of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, edited by Robert D. Parker (University of Pennsylvania Press) - Parker recovers and revives the life story and literature of largely unknown Ojibwe poet and writer Jane Johnston Schoolcraft (1800-1842). Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie by her Ojibwe mother and Irish-born father, Schoolcraft is the first known American Indian literary writer. Although Schoolcraft did not publish her work, Parker's thorough research led him to her poems and traditional stories, as well as her translations of Ojibwe songs and other texts into English. Publishing them for the first time, Parker also provides insights into and interpretations of her life and work.
Stealing Buddha's Dinner: A Memoir, by Bich Minh Nguyen (Viking) - As a Vietnamese immigrant coming of age in Grand Rapids in the 1980s, Bich Minh Nguyen longed to fit in with her blond-haired, blue-eyed peers. Nguyen blends stories of struggles and anxieties at home and school with her hunger for American snack foods, music and television, both as an exotic treat and as a symbol of American identity. With a frank and powerful voice, Nguyen writes of building her own identity amid often conflicting cultures.
Sweety Pies: An Uncommon Collection of Womanish Observations, with Pie, by Patty Pinner (Taunton Press) - Saginaw native Pinner filled this beautiful memoir with stories of family and friends, and their beloved recipes. Stirred together with recommendations on living life fully and making the most delicious pies imaginable, this book is a treasure and a delectable delight.
Up in Honey's Room, by Elmore Leonard (William Morrow) - Leonard, the 1996 Michigan Author Award winner, sets his latest novel in 1945 Detroit. U.S. Marshal Carl Webster hopes to use the free-spirited Honey Deal to track down a pair of escaped German POW's hiding out with Honey's ex-husband, Walter. Complete with German spies, a transvestite killer, and Nazi look-alikes, Leonard's dialogue is fast-paced and clever, leading up to the final wild sequence of events "up in Honey's room."
Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations With Gerald R. Ford, by Thomas M. DeFrank (G.P. Putnam's Sons) - Including years of private conversations with President Gerald R. Ford, DeFrank's book offers great insight into Ford's personality, as well as revealing a little-known and profoundly different side of President Ford. The Newsweek correspondent illustrates many of Ford's thoughts on today's political landscape and contains a unique glimpse into the private person behind the public figure.
Blog Post
Detroit Classic Rock Radio: A Plea For Sanity
by John J. Madonna
If you asked me six years ago if I liked Bob Seger, I’d’ve said, “I don’t know who that is.” If you asked me four years ago if I liked Bob Seger I’d’ve say, “Yeah, he’s okay. I got Stranger In Town for fifty cents; it was worth it.” If you asked me right now if I liked Bob Seger, I’d say, “Are you kidding? Every disc jockey in Detroit spends their days fawning over him, his “musical influence,” and playing ev'ry cut off of Live Bullet! Just because he’s from Michigan, I have to love him? No, thank you.” Then I’d probably find a cardboard cutout of Bob Seger, just so I could punch it in the face. I routinely bring three wherever I go. You got to have backups.
Part of me will always be a snotty teenager that will, when too many folk pour adorations on something, automatically hate it more and more. I do not set out to tarnish the good Bob Seger name. Fact is, he made some good records. Springing out of the lively late 60s/early 70s Detroit rock scene, he helped establish Michigan as a great Rock and Roll state… though we might've got more help from Peter Wolf, Magic Dick, J. Geils, and everyone else in… oh, man I am completely spacing on their band’s name. And Bob Seger can proudly boast he had the perseverance to do what few else have done: achieve mainstream success at age 30.
That being said… being from Michigan does not magically make his records any better. “Old Time Rock and Roll” is not a brilliant song. In fact, the more I hear it, the more I doubt if it’s even a good song. His ballads can tend on mushy; his blue-eyed soul can tend to whitewashed soul; and “Turn The Page?” More like “Turn Off The Radio.” Am I right? Am I right? I’m right.
Detroit radio, and I'm looking at you CSX, give Bob Seger his due. No more, though. It does the man no good trying to make him out as better than he was. Thank you and good night.
Blog Post
Mitt and Minn series is geographical and fun
by annevm
Kathy-Jo Wargin has done it again, with the Mitt and Minn series about a pair of friendly traveling Midwestern mice. The series came out just as my husband begged for “no more talking mice books.” Ha. Not since Judy Blume’s Fudge books has a series been such a hit with our son. The first book is Mitt the Michigan Mouse followed by , and . The publisher is Mitten Press, an imprint of Ann Arbor Media Group. The series is represented in the Michigan Children's Book Authors, Illustrators & Publishers Exhibit presented by the UM Special Collections Library, on display in the lower level of the downtown AADL through Nov. 29.