Meet the Mac Monday | November 5 | 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm | Downtown Library | Third Floor Training Center

Do you have a Mac and want to learn more about how to use it? Are you curious about Macs? Come to our class and we'll teach you how to use the Dock, Spotlight, Finder, Dashboard, and Widgets. You'll also learn how to launch applications and quit them. You'll leave the class equipped with new words like Alias, Spotlight, Spaces, Expose, and more. Registration is not required and the classroom will open 15 minutes before the class begins. View the complete class schedule at aadl.org/classes.

Unable to attend the class? Check out these great video tutorials.

Recommended books at the library:
Teach yourself visually OS X Mountain Lion
Switching to the Mac: the missing manual
The little Mac book

See you in class!

Saturdays, November 3 and November 17 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Traverwood Branch

Head to the Library for some space to work on your novel for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Hurry - the novel has to be finished by November 30!! AADL provides the space - YOU provide the creativity! What are you waiting for? Join the Write-Ins! Another Write-In will occur at the Traverwood Branch on Sat., Nov. 17. Then come to the TGIO (Thank God It's Over) Celebration with author Lara Zielin on Sat., Dec. 1!

National Novel Writing Month is a non-profit event that encourages teens and adults to tackle the challenge of writing a novel during November. The goal is to write a 50,000 word, (approximately 175 page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved. For more information about NaNoWriMo, visit nanowrimo.org.

Saturday, October 27 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Traverwood Branch

If you've ever thought about writing a novel, here's your inspiration: NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)!

Join us for the big Kick-off Party, hosted by the local NaNo liaison Eric Foldenauer! This event includes refreshments - so come and enjoy and get your creative juices flowing as we begin this extraordinary month! Meet other local writers to inspire you to face the challenge!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a non-profit event that encourages teens and adults to tackle the challenge of writing a novel during the month of November. Participants begin writing on November 1 with the goal of writing 50,000 word (approximately 175-page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30.

NaNoWriMo writing sessions will be held at Traverwood Branch during November – but get a head start and celebrate with this great kick-off party.

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

Join the online community of Books and Beyond at 8:00 pm tonight, Wednesday October 10, to listen and learn about Jon Grayson, the host of Overnight America, based in St. Louis and heard on a number of stations throughout the U.S. How did this multifaceted program get its start? To whom does it appeal? Why is St. Louis the home base? Is it necessary that a show come from New York or Los Angeles? To what does Grayson attribute his success? Approximately 15 minutes prior to the event start time go to The Books and Beyond Room or, alternatively, select The Books and Beyond Room at: www.accessibleworld.org and enter your first and last name on the sign-in screen. If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on the Books and Beyond entry page.

The next Michigan Commission for the Blind Braille and Talking Book Library Book Club meeting will be held on October 13 at 1:30 p.m. in Lansing at the Library of Michigan in the BTBL public service area located on the first floor across from the elevators. This month's book is DB60225, Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. The meeting can be attended in person or via the OPAL online meeting room. The meeting site is accessible. Individuals attending the meeting are requested to refrain from using heavily scented personal care products in order to enhance accessibility for everyone. People with disabilities requiring additional accommodations (such as materials in alternative format) in order to participate in the meeting, or those seeking more information, should call Scott Norris at (517) 373-5516 at least five business days prior to the meeting.

Whether you enjoy Autumn by the water, the forest, the ice, on Main Street or at the Farmer’s Market, you must surely check out the Halloween storytimes at AADL!

Wednesday, October 10 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Downtown Library | Multipurpose Rom

Prescribed or controlled burning is a technique sometimes used in forest management, farming, or prairie restoration. Fire is a natural part of both forest and grassland ecology and controlled fire can be a tool for foresters. Controlled burning also stimulates the germination of some desirable forest trees, thus renewing the forest.

The Autumn 2012 Burn Season is upon us! Join us as the City of Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation staff discusses what controlled burns are and why they are used in Ann Arbor's natural areas. This presentation is recommended for anyone interested in helping with burns, as well as anyone simply interested in learning more about why and how they are conducted.

Mystery bookstore, Aunt Agatha's is celebrating their 20th Anniversary by having 15 authors visit their store on Fourth Ave. Aunt Agatha's will be hosting an open house on Wednesday, October 3rd from 4-7pm, feature cake and drinks as well as the opportunity to meet the authors.

A few of the guest authors include:
Alyse Carlson, author of The Azalea Assault
Sarah Zettel, award-winning author of mystery and sci fi books and Ypsilanti native
Steve Hamilton, author of the Alex McKnight series
And many more.

For the full schedule of authors and more information, check Aunt Agatha's Event Page.

The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional Chamber and West Washtenaw Business Association are sponsoring a job fair on October 17, 2012. The job fair will take place at Washtenaw Community College in the Morris J. Lawrence Building between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. This job fair is an effort by the WWBA and A2Y Chamber to stimulate the economy in Southeastern Michigan, make local employers successful and get the unemployed and under-employed back to work. A few of the participating companies include Northwestern Mutual, Select Ride, Michigan Ladder, Macy's, Michigan Office Solutions, and Zingerman's. Job seekers are advised to come ready to meet with potential employers and should bring multiple copies of their resume.

Short story writers, grab your laptops for the first annual Write Michigan Contest
presented by Kent District Library, Grand Rapids Public Library and Schuler Books & Music.

Writers of all ages can enter, with cash prizes awarded for Readers' Choice and Judges' Choice.
Winning entries will also be published by Chapbook Press in both print and eBook format.

Entries accepted September 4 – November 30, 2012

One story per author
Maximum story length: 3000 words
Entry fee: $10.00 for 18 and older
(free for 17 and younger)
Contest open to Michigan residents only
See complete contest guidelines

The Write Michigan Contest has an entry deadline of November 30, 2012.
Winners will be announced by the first of February and celebrated on March 19, 2013 at the Grand Rapids Public Library.

A great opportunity for aspiring writers!