Blog Post
Do women read more than men? Do younger generations read less?
by emilyas
This article on NPR does claim that women read more books than men, but what do you think? Is that true for your household? The article also says that despite the Harry Potter phenonmenon, younger generations are reading less. Do you agree? We'd love to hear your thoughts!
Blog Post
Hungry for Information
by MarilynG
The Food Stamp Challenge in Michigan has made our community much more aware of how far family food budgets can be stretched. If you want to know more about nutritional assistance programs, hunger in the United States or world hunger, go to the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center listed in our Resource Databases. This social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources, provides a complete one-stop source for information on social issues. Or, let the Library help satisfy your hunger for knowledge by borrowing a book such as Toward an End To Hunger In America.
Blog Post
Sancho's Scene: Community Events that Wander off the Path
by Sancho Panza
Walking past Peaceable Kingdom earlier this week, I noticed an adorable poster in their window. Arranged in layers like a barnyard trifle, a thoughtful cow, an orderly row of puffy chicks, and a stout pink pig announce the 34th annual Dawn Farm Jamboree. The event takes place this Sunday, September 9, which happens to be the same day as the Kerrytown BookFest and the AAUW Book Sale here in Ann Arbor. All those pastoral animals marching by make me want to reach for James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small, or perhaps a little Dick King Smith. That’ll do, pig.
Blog Post
"Gifts of Art" is a true gift
by Maxine
Do you know about the "Gifts of Art" program at the University Of Michigan Hospital? If you don't, check it out tomorrow when Tad Weed, recently transplanted Los Angeles jazz pianist performs at 12:10 p.m. in the University Hospital's main lobby. For the last twenty years, Weed has toured with Woody Herman, bandleader, singer Carmen McRae and others.
"Gifts of Art" is an innovative program that brings both art exhibits and music to hospital patients, family, friends and staff in the belief that art promotes healing. The events are open to the public. Concerts are weekly and cover a broad range of musical styles from classical to world music. Exhibits include exemplary work from area sculptors, painters, mixed media artists and photographers. Also, check out the Library's books on art and healing.
Blog Post
Hats off! (and on)
by Maxine
Do you enjoy wearing or trying on hats? Then September is the month for you. It's time for Felt Hat Month. But there's no need to just wear felt hats. Try them all and check out the Library's great collection of books on hats, everything from books on knitting hats to the beloved 500 Hats of Bartholemew Cubbins. Hats have been faithful barometers of cultural norms, status and occupation throughout history from the lavish brims and floral decorations of the Edwardian era to present day baseball cap mania. So hats off to anyone this month who wears a hat just for the fun of it.
Blog Post
Finally! A Defender of Fashion!!
by anned
Who has supersonic feet, x-ray eyes, and a brain that can mix and match hundreds of outfits in a second? It's Fashion Kitty!!!!
Regular cat by day (if you consider wearing clothes, walking on two legs, attending school, and speaking regular for a cat), Fashion Kitty by night. Super nice Kiki is always ready to answer a call of despair and use her super powers to save other cats from making fashion faux pas . Don't miss her exciting origin story in Fashion Kitty and watch her take on the evil Fashion Queen in Fashion Kitty Versus the Fashion Queen! It's nonstop sparkly pink action!
Blog Post
10th Annual National Stepfamily Day
by lola
Celebrate National Stepfamily Day on Sunday, September 16, with a family picnic. Have a private backyard picnic or join in on a city park picnic. Visit the National Stepfamily Day website for more information on this annual event. A local picnic is being held at Kensington Park in Milford, Michigan. Find out more about this event before checking out some good books and movies at the library. Like Yours, Mine and Ours, Maxx Comedy, Stepsister from the Planet Weird, and Boundless Grace.
Blog Post
Take a brief recess with Perry Mason!
by anned
The devastatingly handsome Raymond Burr is available for your viewing pleasure! Watch as Perry Mason humiliates Prosecuting Attorney Hamilton Burger time and again with his courtroom superheroics! AADL now has season one and season two of the original Perry Mason TV series (1957). You can also watch Raymond Burr take on Godzilla in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. He's unstoppable!
Blog Post
He's still "singin' in the rain," on screen, that is
by Maxine
Today, August 23 is the birthday of famous dancer, actor, choreographer and director, Gene Kelly. Kelly was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. in 1912. His mother enrolled him and his brother in dance classes when Gene was eight but they were mercilessly taunted by other boys in the neighborhood. It wasn't until Kelly became a star athlete in high school that he began to take dance seriously but he didn't fulfill his passion until he dropped out of law school to pursue performing full time. Perhaps Kelly is best known for his roles in Singin in the Rain and An American in Paris but he either performed in or directed over fifty films. Memorable dance scenes include his dancing with an image of himself in Cover Girl or with an animated mouse in Anchors Aweigh. Check out some of his films from the Library and feeling inspired, put on your dancing shoes.
Blog Post
Is modesty the new rage?
by emilyas
According to this article on NPR, the new fashion trend for ladies is modesty. Wendy Shalit has written two books on this subject, exploring the "Modesty movement". Check out A Return to Modesty from 1999, or her latest book Girls Gone Mild.