ASPARAGUS! Stalking the American Life

Fri, 10/09/2009 - 10:53am by Bertha

On Thursday, October 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, in the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose room, the Library will present Asparagus!, the award-winning documentary film by Anne de Mare and Kirsten Kelly. The 53 minute film (not rated) tells the story of Oceana County, Michigan, whose residents built their identity and economic survival on asparagus, but now find themselves struggling to save their beloved 'roots.' This event, for adults and teens (grades 9 and up), is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Community Scholars Program, where students strive to model an ideal community in terms of friendship, responsibility, and diversity. ASPARAGUS! Stalking the American Life is a featured part of the Michigan Eats Exhibit at Michigan State University Museum in East Lansing now through November 2009. Discussions will be led by the film's co-director, Anne de Mare.

Sign up for the Journey to Freedom tour

Tue, 10/06/2009 - 9:44am by amy

On Sunday, October 18, from 2-5:00 p.m., the African American Cultural & Historical Museum (AACHM) will host a special "Journey to Freedom" bus tour. This popular tour of historical points of interest on the Underground Railroad--an official tour of the National Park Service--is led by Deborah Meadows of the AACHM. The bus departs from the front of the Industrial Technology Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron Drive. ( map) and tickets are $15. To reserve a seat, call 734-476-3158 or email deborahmeadows2@msn.com. This special tour accompanies the launch of The Signal of Liberty online, Saturday, October 17, from 2-4:00 p.m.

The Signal of Liberty, Ann Arbor's 1840s-era abolitionist newspaper, goes online

Tue, 10/06/2009 - 9:14am by amy

Join us at the Traverwood branch on Saturday, October 17, 2-4:00 p.m. to help us launch the online version of Ann Arbor's Signal of Liberty newspaper. The full text of this abolitionist newspaper, published in Ann Arbor in the 1840s, will be available online for the first time. Carol Mull, local historian of the Underground Railroad in Michigan, will be on hand at the launch to talk about some of the unique content in the Signal of Liberty and its role in her research; and Library staff will demonstrate browsing and full text access to over 12,000 articles and 312 issues of the newspaper. This project was done in partnership with the Bentley Historical Library and Digital Library Productions Services.

On Sunday, October 18, from 2-5:00 p.m., the African American Cultural and Historical Museum will host a related "Journey to Freedom" bus tour of local stops on the Underground Railroad. Click here for additional information about the tour.

Discussing the Future of the Book

Sat, 10/03/2009 - 11:11am by sharonknieper

At this time next week (Saturday, October 10th, 9:30-4:45) a discussion about the future of the book will be in full swing in the Clements Library. Students from the University of Michigan's chapter of the Special Libraries Association will be hosting the 3 panel event, which will include AADL's own Eli Neiburger.

With the future of information creation, storage, and dissemination being such a popular and immense topic, nationally known authors like David Weinberger ( Everything is Miscellaneous) and Clay Shirky ( Here Comes Everybody) have been able to create full careers. But it is also a topic important to the local community, reflected by the University of Michigan's participation in the Google Books Search, the closing of the Ann Arbor News and the closing of the Shaman Drum bookstore.

Check out the full list of panelists and their bios. If you decide to join in the discussion next week registration is recommended.

(Un)Natural History: The Museum Unveiled

Wed, 09/30/2009 - 8:27pm by muffy

The exhibition (Un)Natural History: The Museum Unveiled on view now through December 6, 2009 @ UMMA, features Richard Barnes's series of photographs Animal Logic (catalog on order) that examines the role the museum plays in our understanding of ourselves through the acts of collecting, preservation, and display. Images from this large body of work include photographs of the collections from the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Comparative Anatomy in Paris, the Canadian Museum of Nature, and the California Academy of Science. (Un)Natural History focuses primarily on the natural history museum and by extension collecting institutions in general, providing a kind of behind-the-scenes look at museum practice and display.

This exhibition coincides with the University of Michigan LSA Theme Semester Meaningful Objects: Museums and the Academy.

Is NOW a Good time for you to Volunteer?

Wed, 09/23/2009 - 10:56am by Beth Manuel

Interested in making a lasting mark in the life of a non-reader or English Language Learner? Washtenaw Literacy is looking for one-on-one tutors. Volunteer training begins Thursday October 1st and will occur on the following 4 Mondays & Thursdays: 10/5, 10/8, 10/12 & 10/15. Training sessions will be held at 5585 Interface Drive behind Creekside Grill. Or go to Washtenaw Literacy for their training schedule and other information.

Bilal's Stand

Mon, 09/21/2009 - 3:42pm by Bertha

On Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, AADL presents the film Bilal's Stand at the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room. This film focuses on the life of a Detroit high-school senior, Bilal, and his family's long-owned taxi stand - the source of all activity and income for the family for the last sixty years. Does Bilal take a chance at college or continue with his family business? After secretly submitting a college application and taking up ice carving in order to win a scholarship, he is forced to decide. This film is based on the true story of writer/director Sultan Sharrief, who will lead a discussion of the film with producer & UM Professor Terri Sarris. This event is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Community Scholars Program.

The HomeGrown Festival is this Saturday!

Tue, 09/08/2009 - 1:17pm by manz

Ann Arbor’s Homegrown Festival is headed to the Kerrytown market on Saturday, September 12, from 5-10pm. The festival’s website boasts, “The HomeGrown Festival celebrates local food and community and seeks to focus broad mainstream attention on the community-wide benefits (and pleasure!) of eating from our own foodshed.”

In addition to the wonderful food vendors who will be there, there will also be a number of other activities to partake in, including tomato tasting, a beer garden, chef demos, kids’ activities, non-profit booths, and live music. Sounds like good times! Admission is free, food is available for purchase.

Ann Arbor has such a wonderful community with great support in local food efforts. (Think Slow Food Huron Valley.) Celebrate wonderful food and wonderful Michigan farms at this event!

Ann Arbor's first Mini Maker Faire: This Saturday!

Tue, 08/25/2009 - 11:57am by eli

Have you heard about Maker Faire? It's an amazing set of festivals started by Dale Dougherty, founder of O'Reilly Media and publisher of Make Magazine. Maker Faire started in the Bay Area as a place that geeks, crafters, tinkerers, machinists, laser dorks, artists, diet coke and mentos performance artists, and more could come together and just see each others stuff for a few days. The idea has spread to Austin, the UK, Africa, and now is coming to Ann Arbor. The first ever Ann Arbor 2009 Mini Maker Faire is this Saturday, August 29th, at the Washtenaw Farm Council Fairgrounds in Saline, from 10 to 5 PM, and it's free for all ages. There will be space balloons, rocket telemetry, robots, a vortex cannon, homemade synthesizers, soldering lessons, screen print your own tshirt, and so on; all kinds of great stuff. This is a great beginning to a major movement, and it will certainly be a great time for all involved. Make time for Maker Faire this Saturday; you won't regret it!

Paws in the Park

Thu, 08/20/2009 - 10:37am by Caser

Attention dog owners and dog lovers: this Saturday and Sunday (8/22 and 8/23) from 9am to 5pm at Heritage Park, in Canton, bring your pup to Paws in the Park, a new event featuring the Purina Incredible Dog Team from America's Got Talent 4, Ultimate Air Dog, Rock n' Roll K9's, and much more. Be sure to check out the entire weekend schedule for more exciting events. This dog owner is especially looking forward to the Best Trick Contest and the Wiener Race, but maybe a bit unsure about the Best Kisser Contest. Can't make it this weekend? Check out Agility Training and Enjoying Dog Agility from the AADL for more information on training your dog for performing agility events.