Come celebrate the publication of Hazen Schumacher’s A Golden Age of Jazz Revisited, on Sunday, December 14, 2-3:30 at the Downtown Library. The book makes the case that the years 1939-42 were the artistic highpoint of popular jazz, and it includes 2 CDs with the tunes he feels back up his claim. Schumacher, who was jazz radio host at UM for thirty years (WEMU-89.1 FM has taken over that role), will discuss and play recordings of the most loved jazz in Michigan and on the UM campus of the mid-twentieth century. He is a master of the genre and will entertain and enlighten new and old jazz lovers.

If you are indulging yourselves in a performance of the Nutcracker this season, make sure to stop in to the Downtown Youth Room and see the small collection of colorful Nutcrackers in the glass display case. Santa, a pirate, an artist, Robinhood and a royal nutcracker are awaiting your arrival.

aadlman: If Ann Arbor was a Megaman game, one of the bosses would be AADLMAN.

It's December in Ann Arbor. You know what that means... a fresh infusion of salty brown slush. That, plus AADL-GT's 5th Annual Grand Championship Tournament Weekend! The action gets going Friday Night, 12/19 at 6 PM with our final Revolution Hero Tournament for All Ages featuring Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero tournaments for players of all skill levels. Then, at High Noon on Saturday 12/20, the 2008 SmashKart Wildcard Tournament and Grand Championships bring together players in grades 6 - 12 for Ann Arbor's hottest gaming event, with a Wii, iPod, and DS up for grabs to the Grand Champions! We wrap up the season with Public Library Pokémon League on Sunday 12/21 from 1-5 PM, and then finally the 2nd Annual GT Awards, Clan Cup Finals, and Grudge Buffet featuring the finest comestibles that Salsarita's has to offer, on Monday, 12/22 at 6 PM. All events at the Downtown Library in the lower level Multipurpose Room. Food and prizes at all events!

If you are caught up in the current foreclosure mess, bring your questions and concerns to a panel of local experts on Thursday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Downtown Library. Beyond Foreclosure will zero in on what you can do to survive and recover from the unfortunate experience of home foreclosure. Knowledge is power, so visit aadl.org for free access to a variety of online magazine and newspaper articles (including The New York Times), where you can learn more about how the government and communities around the country are dealing with this challenge.

with these hands

This is the last week-end you can view the Migrant Project Exhibit on the 3rd floor of the downtown library. The work of Rick Nahmias is compelling and disturbing in that the plight of the migrant worker in America remains a contemporary issue. Despite improvements made since Edward R. Murrow’s documentary Harvest of Shame was aired on Thanksgiving Day in 1960, Nahmias writes: “There is no other sector in our country where people work so hard to earn so little”. Something to think about as we celebrate the harvest as a nation this week. For more startling anecdotes read With These Hands by Daniel Rothenberg or see Nahmias' book, new to our collection.

AADL-GT old logo: AADL-GT: Videogame tournaments from the Ann Arbor District Library

The weekend after Thanksgiving we have three straight days of video game heaven. Friday - Revolution Hero, Saturday - AADL-GT, and Sunday PL2. Who would believe your library could be this much fun?

Friday Night | 11/28 | 6PM-8:30PM - REVOLUTION HERO - Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution
-Two all ages tournaments with prizes for the top three in each
-High Powered Sound systems, Cobalt Flux pads
Saturday | 11/29 | 12PM-5PM - AADL-GT - Gaming Tournament series (middle & high school students only)
-Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Double Dash
-Four tournaments with prizes and pizza for lunch.
Sunday Afternoon | 11/30 | 1PM-4PM - PL2 - Public Library Pokemon League
-Battle Revolution and Union Room Tournaments with prizes for the overall top three
-Bring your Nintendo DS and copy of Pokémon Diamond or Pearl and get ready to battle
-Open Play too!

traces of the trade

This powerful film was an official selection of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Traces of the Trade was filmed by Katrina Browne, a first-time filmmaker who discovers after looking into her family history that her New England ancestors were the largest slave trading family in U.S. history. View clips here.

Thursday, November 20 | 6:30-8:30 PM | Downtown, 4th floor | Grade 9 - Adult

Gauguin

Or does Picasso pique your interest? We have hundreds of framed Art Prints for you to borrow to redecorate your home or office. Browse the catalog by Media if you know the title of a print or take a look on the second or third floors to see what we have available. It's a refreshing way to embellish your space and we have so Manet to choose from!

Science experiments mulit-cultural

Join us on Tuesday, November 25 at 6:30 pm for this hands-on science workshop. Learn some science experiments and watch some cool demos based on traditional and new concepts in science and engineering. All kids (by age or at heart) are welcome! It's a night guaranteed to make you want to be a scientist or engineer. Presented by the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and Proyecto Avance: Latino Mentoring Association (PALMA) from the University of Michigan.

john green

Join the Ann Arbor District Library in welcoming John and Hank Green on Friday, November 14th, to the Downtown Library at 7 PM.

The brothers are the founders of Nerdfighters—“ We're Nerdfighters. We fight against suck....we fight for awesome. We fight using our brains, our hearts, our calculators and our trombones.” Hank and John communicated for more than a year and a half through videoblogs, and thus became vlogbrothers. What began as an experiment in bringing long-distance siblings closer has become a sprawling community devoted to books, social activism, and the love of all things nerdy.

John Green is best known for his award winning writing. He is a YA novelist and has won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award for Looking for Alaska, and a 2007 Printz Honor for An Abundance of Katherines. His newest book is Paper Towns.