Public Event
Introduction to Theremini
Monday January 29, 2018: 7:00pm to
8:00pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Grade 6 - Adult
Blog Post
Happy Birthday Mark Rothko!
by PhoebeH
Mark Rothko (1903-1970) was an Abstract Expressionist painter, famously known for his color field paintings: six or seven foot canvases painted with large rectangle swaths of color. The subjects of his paintings appear simple, and often people view them with the thought “well, I could do that.” However, Rothko’s paintings are not necessarily about the technical skill involved, they are about the way the painting makes the viewer feel, the emotions that the work elicits in the observer, and about creating the illusion of spatial infinity. Abstract Expressionism as a movement came about in New York in the 1940s, and focused on the "sublime," defined as working to capture and portray the unspeakable, be it emotion, the divine, or the cosmic. For some abstract expressionists like Jackson Pollock, the art of their work is in the emotion expressed during the act of painting. For Rothko, the art is in the relationship between his painting and the viewer, in being overwhelmed by the sensation of the colors, and becoming emerged in the painting. The artist is known for saying the viewer should ideally experience his work from 18 inches away, as to become one with the painting. While our art prints are not to scale, they still do an excellent job of eliciting emotion and are available for check out here. (For the full viewing experience, be sure to check out Orange, Brown which is on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts!) To read more about the artist, check out this book written by his son, or this biography. You can also find books about Abstract Expressionism here.
Public Event
Event Lighting Petting Zoo
Friday July 14, 2017: 1:00pm to
4:00pm
Westgate Branch: West Side Room, Westgate Branch: Meeting Room B, Westgate Branch: Meeting Room A
Grade 6 - Adult
Crafts
Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire
Saturday June 3, 2017: 10:00am to
4:00pm
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby
All Ages.
Blog Post
Happy Birthday Samuel Ting!
by bengelty
Today marks the 81st birthday of American physicist and Nobel laureate Samuel C. C. Ting. Born to Chinese immigrant parents right here in Ann Arbor, Ting earned degrees in both mathematics and physics from the University of Michigan.
He went on to win the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in the amazing field of subatomic particles. Ting then went on to propose and fight for the addition of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) to the International Space Station in 2011. The AMS-02 is used to observe and study cosmic rays.
In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech Samuel Ting emphasized the importance of experimental work:
“I hope that awarding the Nobel Prize to me will awaken the interest of students from the developing nations so that they will realize the importance of experimental work.”
The AADL has some great books about science experiments you can do at home, to help you explore the world of science:
Check out: Amazing Science Experiments by E. Richard Churchhill, for more than sixty simple physics experiments that can safely be done with materials around the house.
Or: The Usborne Big Book of Science Experiments, which provides instructions for simple experiments that introduce basic concepts in chemistry, biology, and other areas.
Our collection of Science Tools will help curious minds explore the world around them!
Blog Post
New to the Tools Collection: Guitars, Basses, and Amplifiers!
by gauntlettm
If you’ve perused the Tools collection in the past year or so, you may have noticed from time to time our electric guitar and electric bass, and wondered if you could bring one of these super cool instruments home with you. Well, wonder no more! New to our Tools collection as of today, we are offering not only the instruments you’ve spent time jamming on at our demo stations, but also some really nifty 3/4 scale acoustic guitars! Holy cow!
Combined with our extensive guitar pedal collection, a wide variety of cables, and yes, even amplifiers, the possibilities for reaching musical nirvana are endless! The guitars and basses can be checked out for one week at a time, and similar to other Tools in the collection, are first come first serve. Whether you’re a beginner looking to dip your feet into the world of rock and/or roll, or you’re a seasoned professional serenading the masses for the night up at The Ark, AADL has you covered.
So is the soul of Jimi Hendrix inside of you, begging to share your six string wizardry with the world? Do you find that your right hand has an insatiable need to slap and pop four steel strings, like you’re Flea, Geddy Lee, or Victor Wooten? Is the next hit folk song to be used in car commercials bouncing around your brain? If you answered yes to any of these seemingly preposterous questions, it’s about time you dropped by the Tools collection, and unleash the shredder in you!
Here are links to our fabulous new additions:
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Acoustic Guitar
Mobile Cube - Stereo Vocal/Synthesizer/Guitar Amplifier
Micro Cube Bass RX - Bass Guitar/Synthesizer Amplifier
Micro Cube GX Amplifier
Blog Post
New Games!
by manz
It is summer! Time to get outside… and play with tools from the AADL Tools Collection! Which includes new oversize games just in time for playing with in the great outdoors!
Simply put, the Rainbow Mini Golf set looks amazing. I mean, rainbow putters?! It has everything you need to get that hole in one.
If you like to keep the action in the air instead of on the ground… Mini Badminton is worth a twirl! Place it on a table and be ready to play. Both new games are so new and amazing requests can’t be placed on them just yet, so keep your eyes peeled! And be sure to check out all other great tools in the collection!
Crafts
Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire
Saturday June 4, 2016: 10:00am to
4:00pm
Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby
All Ages.
Blog Post
Sizzlin' Craftin' With Sizzix
by manz
Maybe you’ve checked out the Sizzix Big Shot machines from the circulating tools collection at the library, and are looking to explore more. These books have some great ideas!
Upcycle With Sizzix offers techniques and ideas for using the die-cutting and embossing machines to repurpose and reuse just about anything, and offers oodles inspiration. Cards That Wow With Sizzix shares creative ways to cut, fold, and embellish your handmade greeting cards. Time to get making! And be sure to look into the Sizzix machines that you can check out with your library card!
Blog Post
Digitize Your Photo Collection with a Portable Scanner!
by anthonyd
The Magic Wand Portable Scanner is just one of many great Tools at the Ann Arbor District Library that you can check out with your library card.
With its easy to use functions this scanner is great for scanning large amounts of photos in minutes. Insert 4x6, 5x8 or 8x10 prints into the auto feeder and the scanner will do the rest. And anything larger can be scanned by hand; just detach the scanner from the docking station and you're instantly mobile!
Other features include color or monochromatic scan selection, 300/600/1050/1200 DPI scan quality selection and a color display to playback the scanned images. So instead of spending countless hours using a flatbed scanner for your next project use this one instead!