Make a Father's Day Card

This Sunday is the day we honor dads, grandpas, and uncles.
Come to the Pittsfield Branch on Saturday, June 15 at 11:00 a.m. and make a card
for those special people in your life. This is for preschoolers through 5th graders but
everyone is welcome. All supplies will be provided.

For books on this summer holiday, click here.

Saturday, June 8 | 11am-1pm | Pittsfield Branch | Grade 6th- Adult

June 8 is International Yarn Bomb Day! We have two yarn bomb programs at Pittsfield to celebrate. First up:

Help us yarn bomb the exterior of the Pittsfield Branch Library! What is yarn bombing? It’s a form of knit graffiti and public art. We will be adding a coat of knitted color to the trees outside Pittsfield.

At the program you’ll learn how to knit simple pieces with our knit-cam and an instructor (the multi-talented Karen LePage of One Girl Circus) to help guide you. At the end of the program we'll use the pieces we created to yarn bomb the front of Pittsfield. We'd love your help with this art collaboration! The knitting instruction starts at 11am, and it’s not an easy program to arrive late to if you plan to knit for the first time.

We highly encourage experienced knitters and crocheters to also join us. Or if you have a piece already made, bring it to the program and we’ll direct you to the yarn bomb zone!

We have a ton of yarn on hand, but ask that you bring needles size 8 or 9 if you have them. For the younger patrons we have a yarn bomb program for grade K- Adult at Pittsfield from 3-5pm!

For more info on yarn bombing see this great website, and check out the book Yarn bombing: The art of crochet and knit graffiti. For better visuals, visit the Downtown library garden, which was yarn bombed in May!

Saturday, June 8 | 3pm-5pm | Pittsfield Branch | Grades K-Adult

June 8 is International Yarn Bomb Day! We have two yarn bomb programs at Pittsfield to celebrate.

Grades kindergarten through adult are invited to create fiber arts pieces to help complete the yarn bomb exhibit at Pittsfield. What is yarn bombing? It’s a form of knit graffiti and public art.

We’ll have a variety of yarn and supplies on hand for you to make unique fiber pieces, including pom poms! No experience required. After we make our pieces we’ll head outside and hang up our creation.

There will be NO knitting instruction at this event, but if you do knit or crochet, you’re welcome to bring needles and come stitch with us! Or if you have a piece already made, bring it to the program and we’ll direct you our yarn bomb zones!

For more info on yarn bombing see this great website, and check out the book Yarn bombing: The art of crochet and knit graffiti. For better visuals, visit the Downtown library garden, which was yarn bombed in May!

esl logo

...in English as a Second Language conversation group at three of our locations each week. AADL's partnership with Washtenaw Literacy provides us with trained volunteers to help participants get comfortable speaking English. Groups meet Mondays at the Pittsfield Branch from 1:00-2:30 PM; Wednesday at our Traverwood Branch from 7:00- 8:30 PM. There's also a group that meets at Mallets Creek on Fridays from 1-2:30 PM. Participants do not need to register to take part in these groups and can attend as many as they'd like. If you're interested in learning more about Washtenaw Literacy, check out their website or give them a call: 734-879-1320.

Are you ready to rethink long-standing parenting practices? Author Heather Shumaker has defined 29 "renegade rules" for parenting young children, drawing on her own experience raising two young children as well as the work of child psychologists, educators, and neuroscientists.

Heather Shumaker is the author of It’s OK Not to Share…And Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids, which was named a Best Parenting Book of 2012 by Parents magazine, and is a northern Michigan bestseller. Salon.com called it "an insightful, sensible and compassionate book full of downright revolutionary ideas."

She is a speaker, journalist, blogger and advocate for free play and no homework for young children. She’s been featured on Fox & Friends TV, Huffington Post, New York Post, Parenting, Parents.com, USA Weekend, Wisconsin Public Radio and other media.

Join us at the Pittsfield Branch at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 21 for Heather Shumaker's talk, and be prepared to change your mind! This event includes a book signing, and copies of It’s OK Not to Share…And Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids will be available for purchase.

Friday, April 26 | 7:00-8:00pm | Pittsfield Branch | K-8th Grade | Adults

Author Scott Seegert and illustrator John Martin, both from Michigan, are responsible for the wildly funny and silly Vordak the Incomprehensible book series. They’ll both be at the Pittsfield branch on Friday, April 26 talking about their books, leading a drawing exercise, and will perhaps be bringing a little surprise! If you’re into funny books, drawing, and super villains, then this event is for you.

The Vordak books, including How to Grow Up and Rule the World, Rule the School, and Double Trouble, are most appropriate for kids in grades 3rd – 8th, but this library program will be enjoyed by those grades in K-8th, as well as adults! It’s always fun to hear an author talk about their work and then get to meet them, and here we’re lucky to meet the author AND the illustrator!! Be sure to also check out the Vordak website, with all sorts of fun things to do.

Books will be for sale after the program, and there will be a book signing.

Wednesday, April 17 | 7:00-8:00pm | Pittsfield Branch | 6th - Adult

It's National Library Week! Let's celebrate the DIY way.

Stencil up a plain canvas tote bag any way you’d like! We'll have the totes, the paint, and stencil supplies, you bring the design ideas. We'll be exploring freezer paper and contact paper methods. It’ll be totes fun. (Feel free to bring a drawing or a print of a design you think would work as a stencil to put on a tote.)

Spring Break! Time away from school and daily routines. Time to do fun things! Come to the Pittsfield Branch Library at 2:00 p.m on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 for a magic show by Baffling Bill. This Michigan-based artist will be returning to Ann Arbor for an amazing performance. What a great way to spend an afternoon!

Then try a few magic tricks of your own by checking out some of these books.

Do you keep track of all the books you read? When you get that book report assignment, do you have several titles to choose from? Do you remember what each book was about?
A book journal is a good way to keep track of the books that you read.
Come to the Pittsfield Branch on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. and make
a journal that you can use to track your reading history.
We'll show you how to make paper journals as well as online ones.
This is for kids in grades K - 5. All supplies will be provided.

For some ideas, look here.

Sunday, March 3 | 2:30 - 4 pm | Pittsfield Branch Program Room | Teen to Adult

Looking for new craft ideas? How about ribbon crafts!

Come learn how to make beautiful bows and flowers out of ribbon. We’ll be trying four crafts out of The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts, including a ribbon rose and a five-pedaled flower. They're perfect for hair accessories or brooches or even decorating gifts. All materials will be provided. Some crafts will require simple sewing.
ribbon rose