matarAward-winning authors Gregory Orfalea and Hisham Matar will discuss their new books, 'The Man Who Guarded The Bomb' (Orfalea) and 'In The Country Of Men' (Matar) on Saturday, June 5 at 2 pm at the Downtown Library. This event is cosponsored by the Radius of Arab American Writers, who will hold their national conference at the University of Michigan, June 3 - 5.

amy huntley

We're celebrating the Finalists of the library's Teen Short Story Writing Contest with author Amy Huntley, who will discuss her work and announce the winners, at the Downtown Library, May 22, 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Amy's book The Everafter received a William Morris Award for best debut novel. We received 253 stories this year in grades 6 through 12. The stories are judged anonymously first by a panel of screeners, and then on to a slate of published authors. Feedback is always filled with praise about the creativity and expression of these stories and we applaud the courage and skill of all the writers' submissions.

Click here to read some stories from previous years.

If you want to know about the changes to be aware of in a loved one that might predict onset of Alzheimer’s Disease, please attend the presentation by Jennifer Howard, MSW, at the Downtown Library on Monday, May 24, 6:30-8:30 pm. While there is no cure, early detection can mitigate Alzheimer’s progression.

The speaker, the Interim Executive Director of The Alzheimer's Association, Michigan Great Lakes Chapter, will show video clips of AD patients and compare these symptoms to normal changes that occur as we age. This will be an interactive session, so come with questions!

robotmonster

Join us Wednesday, May 5, from 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm at the Downtown Library for an evening of truly bad film-making with this laughably awful 1953 sci-fi film. The evil Robot Monster has been sent to Earth as the advance party of an impending invasion. Ordered by The Great One to capture several humans, the Robot Monster becomes confused once it learns more about humans. Ro-Man, has destroyed all but six earthlings, but in trying to finish off these plucky survivors, he falls for the young woman in the group - the earthling Alice (or Al-iss as Ro-Man calls her). Robot Monster, which is not rated, was shot in four days at the bargain basement price of $16,000. The event is intended for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Illustrator Elizabeth Sayles is coming to Ann Arbor to do a picture book workshop for artists in grades K - 5. She will be at the Downtown Library on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. All materials for making the books will be provided.

Ms. Sayles has illustrated several dozen picture books as well as artwork for advertising firms and magazines. You can learn more about Ms. Sayles on her website.

Billy Crystal's book I Already Know I Love You was illustrated by Ms. Sayles. Other titles illustrated by her are Millions of Snowflakes by Mary McKenna Siddals, The Night Crossing by Karen Ackerman and The Very Little Princess by Marion Dane Bauer.

We are excited to be hosting this illustrator. It will be a very special event.

Muslims In America

I've been listening to an interesting series on WUOM about Muslims in Michigan and thought, "How timely!", since we are hosting a similar talk on April 22nd at 7:00 pm in the downtown library's Multi-Purpose Room. This is in partnership with Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice and the U of M Muslim Students Association. I look forward to hearing from panelists with a local perspective & hope you will join us.

cater
At this National Library Week Director's Program on Mon., April 12 at 7 PM at the Downtown Library, three nationally-known journalists will discuss the future of their field in this era of rapid change. This panel discussion features Franklyn Cater, senior producer at NPR's All Things Considered; Wayne Drehs, three-time Emmy Award-winning sportswriter for ESPN.com and Kyle Poplin, who helped launch Bluffton Today, an interactive, hyper-local newspaper. Cosponsored by Michigan Radio.

Nothing says spring in Ann Arbor better than Festifoolery but this year the Robots are taking over! Thanks to our friends at 826, we should be well equipped! Come to the Downtown Library at 2:00ish on Sunday, April 11 and get all geared up for the Robot Invasion on Main Street!

Petra Kuppers, UM Associate Professor of English and Artistic Director of The Olimpias Performance Research Series, will present a program of her work using the arts to inspire people with disabilities, April 1, 7-8:30 pm, Downtown Library. She uses creative movement, writing, and speaking as keys to self understanding and greater awareness of others. Kuppers travels the globe leading this interactive group process with adults of all ages. She will show video clips of her group work and answer questions on how to use body and mind to creatively engage with the world.

filmfest
The Ann Arbor Film Festival, the longest running independent film festival in the U.S., will hold its 48th festival on March 23 - 28. At this pre-Festival event, Saginaw Valley State University Associate Professor Mike Mosher will discuss Bison Boys & Famous Monsters of Michigan: the 1970s Super-8mm Films of Jimm Juback and Cary Loren. Loren and Juback were teenagers in the early 1970s, as well as eager viewers of the Ann Arbor Film Festivals.

The discussion will take place in the Downtown library from 7:00-8:30 p.m. downstairs in the Multi-Purpose Room.