The Downtown Library will be filled with the tiniest and most colorful trick-or-treaters
you have ever seen on Friday, October 29th for the 9:30 am and 10:30 am Halloween storytimes. After stories and songs we’ll give out bags and candy to kickoff the Main Street Treat Parade which begins at 11:00 am. To get in trickster mode, check out two brand new treats, Hallowilloween and AlphaOoops! H is for Halloween.

philosopher kings

The Philosopher Kings takes us on a journey through the halls of the most prestigious colleges and universities in America to learn from the staff members who see it all and have been through it all: the custodians. From the producers of the multiple-award winning Flight from Death, The Philosopher Kings gives you the opportunity to learn from eight incredible individuals.

This film series is co-sponsored by the University of Michigan Community Scholars program. A discussion will follow the film. Please join us.

Thursday, October 21 | 6:30-8:30 pm | Grade 9 and Up | Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Accessibility
Recent studies have been done on the subject of participation by people with disabilities in arts and culture within Ann Arbor. The upcoming program Community Discussion: Participation by People with Disabilities in Arts and Culture on Wed., Oct. 13, 3-5 pm in the Downtown Library Multi-Purpose Room will explain some of the issues brought up by these studies regarding accessibility to fine arts and culture venues in Ann Arbor. The presenters will discuss the wide range of findings from four focus groups recently held on this important topic.

Know Obstacles

Join us at the Downtown Library on Oct. 12 at 7:00-8:00 pm for some audacious rock and blues tunes played by the band Know Obstacles. The musicians have special needs and special talents! The group was formed in 1997 by David Ziff and Steve Osburn and has played at several venues in Washtenaw County. You will recognize many of the songs and be impressed by the wonderful sound and spirit of Know Obstacles! Dancing and singing along are encouraged!

HinermanJoin us at the downtown library for a “how-to” session with Nature photographer and Quilt Artist Brooks Hinerman. The “Making a Floral Art Quilt” program is in conjunction with Hinerman’s quilt exhibit “The Blooms of Matthaei” on display now at the downtown library. The exhibit represents a melding of Hinerman’s love of photography with quilting in that she uses her macro photography of flowers as patterns for making art quilts. Many of Brooks' finest macro flower images were taken at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor. The exhibit is based upon photos taken at Matthaei, in their conservatory and outside gardens.

If you haven’t had the chance to take in the exhibit, come take a look and join us Tuesday evening!

Making A Floral Art Quilt | Tuesday October 5 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Downtown Multipurpose Room

On Friday, October 29, 2010 the Ann Arbor District Library will be hosting author Scott Westerfeld at the Downtown Library at 7:00 p.m. Come early. We are expecting a big crowd for this very popular author.

Mr. Westerfeld will be touring to promote the October 5th release of Behemoth (on order), the sequel to his book Leviathan. He is also the author of a popular series about a futuristic society that makes everybody look the same. Uglies, Pretties, Specials and Extras are the four titles in that series.

For more information, check out Mr. Westerfeld's website.

rebecca

Enter the sophisticated world of couture when Rebecca Lambers, “Couturiére,” Fashion Designer and Exclusive Dressmaker visits the Downtown Library at 7:00 p.m. on September 29th.

One of Ann Arbor’s unique treasures, Ms. Lambers’ is an exclusive dressmaker and fashion designer, who specializes in creating unique custom clothing for women. She was showcased at the Detroit Institute of Arts in conjunction with fashion photographer Richard Avedon and was profiled in the May 2010 edition of Hour Detroit Magazine. Current Magazine calls her 'the fanciest stitcher between Chicago and New York.'

Rebecca will talk about her life in art – showing images, garments and presenting a few live models to illustrate her process of connecting with the ideas of each client and highlight the value of useful, tangible, beautifully made objects.

So I Come to America: Detroit Pre-World War I Immigrnts

The exhibit So I Come to America tells the story of pre-World War I immigrants through documentary photographs and text panels. Between 1980 and 1983, Robert Gordon interviewed and photographed 50 Detroit area immigrants who came to the US prior to the outbreak of WWI in 1914. Join us Wednesday, September 22 from 7:00-8:30 PM at the Downtown Library where Dr. Gordon will discuss the compelling stories behind the immigrant subjects used in his exhibit. His work will be exhibited in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Downtown Library through October 14.

grown in detroit

The award-winning documentary Grown in Detroit focuses on a Detroit public school of 300 parenting teens who learn about nutrition and independence as they work in the school's farm. This school is the third of its kind in the country; the Catherine Ferguson Academy strives to provide quality education in order to ensure a bright future for each new parent and their child. The school is named after Catherine Ferguson, a famous freed slave who lived in New York who, although illiterate, has been credited as one of the largest promoters of education in the early 1800s. Mascha & Manfred Poppenk are the Dutch independent filmmakers who brought Grown in Detroit to light.

Thursday, September 23, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Film & Discussion, Grade 9 - Adult, Downtown Library, Multi-Purpose Room

carolynking

Listen & watch some local history when AADL presents “The Girl in Centerfield” on Wednesday, September 15 from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Downtown Library. This documentary tells the 1973 story of 12 year old Carolyn King, who just wanted to play ball on an Ypsilanti Little League team, except the National Little League organization didn't allow girls to play. Find out about the political fallout that occurred & how the Ypsilanti City Council stood up for her. Not long after, the National Little League changed their No-Girls rule. Producers Buddy Moorehouse and Brian Kruger will be on hand for a Q and A after the film.