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.

La Escuela

There’s always a lot going on at the AADL and today is no different. Join us for the POV film La Escuela in the 4th Floor Meeting Room at 7:00 PM. A discussion will be facilitated by Deborah Hollands Des Jardin from the UM English Language Institute and Mabel Rodriguez of the UM Residential College.

Instead of organs and bones are you made of awesome? Do you know what Nerdfighter means? Do you know what jokes means in the sentence "that is so jokes!"? Soon you will be able to find out! Printz Award Winning and New York Times Bestselling author John Green and his brother Hank Green will be desending on the library with their loyal nerdfighting fans Nov 14th 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

ghost

Are ghosts real? Have you ever experienced paranormal activity? Whether you are a believer or an open-minded skeptic, get ready for Halloween by coming to the Downtown Library this Thursday, October 30, to learn about paranormal investigations from Brad Mikulka, Director of the SouthEast Michigan Ghost Hunters Society. SEMGHS is a professional research group out of Lansing that takes a scientific approach to ghost hunting and has been featured on the Discovery Channel's series A Haunting. Mr. Mikulka will discuss some of the group's ghostly investigations, demonstrate equipment and share samples of evidence including sound recordings and video. Teens, 6th grade +, and adults are invited to this spooky, thought-provoking event.<--break!-->

Very Vonderful halloween tales avait you at the Downtown Library on Friday October 31st! You have a choice of the 9:30 or 10:30 storytime and then you can join all the colorful costumed characters at the Main Street's Treat Parade at 11:00 AM. Vut a vild scene to vitness! Come vun come all!