Put parent panic in your pocket and bring any questions on Saturday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. at the Downtown Library. We are pulling out the toys for the children to play, while Dr. Jamie Plunkett from the University of Michigan Center for the Child and Family gives a brief talk on the importance of play and positive parenting, then hangs around to chat with parents.

Knitters:
Here is your chance to meet Amy R. Singer - blogger, knitter, author and an all-around personality on Sunday, March 9th at the Downtown Library Multipurpose Room, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (The door opens at noon, hint! hint! and don't say we didn't warn you). And I am assuming you know about all those fabulous FREE patterns on her online magazine.

Amy will be talking, knitting and signing books. We may even have a preview of her next book with co-author, our Jillian Moreno. Amy's program is co-sponsored by Busy Hands.

So bring your projects and look forward to spending a cosy afternoon with 200 other knitting fiends--oops! I mean, friends.

This Wednesday at 2:00 pm at the Downtown Library, for the first time ever, the storytime puppet collection will be available for your imagination to go wild! Puppet stages are waiting for your shows and paper bags are waiting to transform into puppets. If you are in Kindergarten through grade three this program is for you!

Throw in a bunny with a box, a mouse with a cat, and a cow with major attitude, and stir briskly. This is a recipe for a fun last gathering of this session at the Wednesday Downtown and Thursday Pittsfield storytimes.

The hilarious new picture book, Grumpy Bird, will be joined by a blackbird adventure from India and a crafty trickster rabbit tale from American Indian tradition, when rabbit bounces up through the clouds to steal fire from the sky people, at the Wednesday Downtown and Thursday Pittsfield storytimes.

We'll provide the tape-in a bunch of colors from camouflage to pink-and you do the rest. Make what you want and meet other tapeheads. There will be duct tape books like Got Tape?: Roll out the fun with duct tape on hand for inspiration. You'll also view some great duct tape websites.

Drop in 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Pittsfield.

Turn an ordinary T-Shirt into a masterpiece, with fabric paint, stencils, and scissors. Teen program at Northeast, Thursday, August 2, from 2:00-4:00pm.

The 5th Annual Teen Graffiti Art Contest will be held Friday, July 20, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM, at the Downtown Library's Staff Parking Lot.
We'll provide the paint, supplies, paint boards, and easels. The top three winners will receive gift certifcates for art supplies from Michigan Book & Supply.

Thinking of buying a car? Have one, but it’s a junker? Let auto technology instructor Paul Kruthaup clue you in with tips on how to pick out a car, keep it running, and find reliable repair service.

Join us at Malletts Creek, Tuesday, July 17 at 6:00 p.m.

Thanks for sharing your expertise and giving each story your careful considerations.

Steve Gillis – Author of the novels, Walter Falls and The Weight of Nothing, both finalists for the Independent Publishers Book of the Year. Steve’s stories, articles and book reviews have appeared in over three dozen journals. Giraffes, a collection of stories, was published in February 2007 by Atomic Quill Press. A member of the Ann Arbor Book Festival Board of Directors, and a finalist for the 2007 Ann Arbor News Citizen of the Year, Steve teaches writing at Eastern Michigan University and is the founder of 826 Michigan.

Travis Holland – Travis Holland’s stories have appeared in Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and Five Points. His first novel, The Archivist’s Story, is published by Dial Press. A graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received his M.F.A., he lives in Ann Arbor.

Jim Schaefer – Jim Schaefer is teaching part-time (English) at WCC and Wayne County Community College, has an M.A. (Teaching Writing) from Eastern Michigan University, is a teacher consultant with the Eastern Michigan Writing Project, and was co-founder and publisher of a small literary (poetry/fiction) magazine for 14 years.

Michael Shilling – Michael just received his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. His stories have been published in The Sun, Fugue, and Other Voices. He is currently working on a novel.

Michael Spradlin – Born and raised in Michigan, Michael is the author of Spy Goddess: To Hawaii, With Love and Spy Goddess: Live and Let Shop, which the latter received a Mystery Writers of America Edgar Nomination for “Best Young Adult Mystery” 2006

Carolyn Stone – WCC English-Writing Instructor and Creative Writing Consultant

Shutta Crum - An award-winning poet and author of one novel, SPITTING IMAGE, and eight picture books including THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE which was an IRA/CBC Children’s Choices winner, and listed on the Chicago Public Library’s The Best of the Best. Many of her titles have appeared on the Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year lists, and have been short-listed for various state awards. A FAMILY FOR OLD MILL FARM, her newest book, is available this month. For more info on Shutta visit her web site.

Ami Walsh – Ami earned her MFA in creative writing from Warren Wilson College. She has received fellowships from The Ragdale Foundation (2005, 2006, and 2007) and the University of Michigan Bear River Writer’s Conference (2006).

Kristen Bledsoe – WCC English-Writing Instructor

During the Ann Arbor Book Festival, teen author, Ron Koertge spoke to finalists of the short story writing contest with humor and insightful advice. And the winners are. . .(click "read more" below)

Learn where to look for a job, how to create a resume and beef it up, and how to ace the job interview. Join us in the multipurpose room of the Downtown Library this Sunday, March 4 from Noon to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Register at the Downtown Youth desk or call 327-8301.

Test time draws near again! LearningExpress Library can help you get ready. Join us in the Pittsfield Computer Training Center and take an e-practice test.

Bundle Up those Babies and Bring them to PlayGroups. We Sing and do HandPlays and Tell Stories. We also Play and meet other babies. The next PlayGroup Program Series begins in two weeks.