Blog Post
Sancho's Scene: Community Events that Wander off the Path
by Sancho Panza
Gear up for spring at Downtown Home and Garden this Saturday with owner Mark Hodesh, who’ll be digging up the dirt on lawn care from 10am to 2pm. Nostalgic for winter already? Head over to the Ann Arbor Ice Cube and get your shiver back at the annual Melody on Ice. The show will feature local skaters of all ages performing a variety of acts—from traditional figure skating to synchronized teams, crazy stunts and more. Afterwards, pop into the neighboring Pittsfield Branch to snuggle up with a book and some tasty vending machine hot chocolate.
Blog Post
Women on the move
by Maxine
March is Women's History Month, a time to celebrate the past accomplishments of American women and those who continue to work for women's rights. March 22 is the anniversary of two significant events for women. On that day in 1972, the Senate passed the 27th amendment, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex. Known as the Equal Rights Amendment, the law was then sent to the states for ratification. Even with an extension from Congress, the ERA failed to pass, short of three votes.
Coincidentally, on March 22, 1893, the first women's collegiate basketball game was played at Smith College. Women's basketball has seen an upsurge of popularity since then, with the formation of the WNBA in 1997 and the increase in national coverage of women's college basketball games.
Blog Post
Searching for foreign language books
by Tara LS
The best way to see what is available in our foreign language collection is by call number. Searching by call number allows you to differentiate between adult and youth books. When at the Catalog page, select "More search options", then select "call number". If you enter the general call number, a list of the holdings for that language will be displayed. Of course, you can also search by title, author and subject ("name of language" language materials).
The call numbers for the adult foreign language books are FLC + the first three letters of the name of the language. The only exception is Japanese which is "FLC JPN".
For example: Chinese = FLC CHI, Arabic = FLC ARA, Spanish = FLC SPA
The call numbers for children's foreign language books are Youth FLC + the first three letters of the name of the language. Again, the only exception is "Youth FLC JPN".
For example: Telugu = Youth FLC TEL, Hebrew = Youth FLC HEB, Urdu = Youth FLC URD
Blog Post
And the winner is...
by anned
Today NASA announced Harmony as the name of the new module of the International Space Station. The name was chosen from an academic competition involving thousands of students in kindergarten through high school which required students to learn about the International Space Station, build a scale model of the module, and write an essay explaining their proposed name.
Harmony is a pressurized module that will act as a connecting port and passageway to additional international science labs and supply spacecraft. It also will be a work platform for the station's robotic arm. Find out more at NASA's website.
Blog Post
It's all sewn up.
by Maxine
Besides the wearin' of the green, try a range of colors on March 17, National Quilting Day. Quilts have been used as navigation tools for African Americans fleeing slavery, to warm wounded soldiers, and to express the cultural traditions of many countries. This day represents a grass roots effort to unite quilters around the world. Organizations, groups and individuals are encouraged to join NQA and to promote quilting in their communities.
Quilting is alive and strong in the Ann Arbor area. In fact, this weekend, the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild will be presenting a talk, "Treasures in the Trunk," followed by a showing and sale of quilts by members. For more information, call 878-6396.
The Library has a rich collection of books on quilting as well as inspiring stories about how quilts can be catalysts for building community and a folklore all its own.Whitney Otto's How to Make an American Quilt is one such story.
Blog Post
Gilberto Gil!
by jillean
Yes, legendary musician, songwriter and activist Gilberto Gil is in Ann Arbor this week! There is still time to get tickets to his performance at the Hill Auditorium this Friday, March 16th at 8pm. I'll be "esperando na janela." If you want a preview or can't make it to the concert, the library currently has Quanta Live for check out.
Blog Post
What do Piglet and Captain Underpants have in common?
by StoryLaura
They are sharing the March is Reading Month celebration in the glass display case at the Downtown Library's Youth Department. Take a peek at The Velveteen Rabbit, Madeline and other favorite characters.
Blog Post
High Adventure That’s Beyond Compare…
by anned
Remember Grammi, Cubbi, Gruffi, Sunni, Tummi, and Zummi? They lived in Gummi Glen and used the special properties of Gummiberry Juice to help protect the kingdom of Dunwyn from the evil antics of Duke Igthorn. Adventures of the Gummi Bears ran for six seasons (from 1985-1991) and was Disney’s first successful animated television series. The animation is spectacular and the mysteries of the Ancient Gummis lead to many different and thrilling storylines. Make it Saturday morning any day by checking out the DVD.
Blog Post
He's always prepared and has 122 merit badges to prove it!
by emilyas
As a Boy Scout you may have earned a lot of badges, but James Calderwood of Chevy Chase, Maryland probably has a couple more than you. He's earned all 122 Merit Badges! Read & hear more about this enthusiastic Eagle Scout on NPR. To learn more about the Boy Scouts check out these books on the Boy Scouts of America or visit the National Council's website.
Blog Post
Think Spring in Botanical Language
by muffy
Two mid-career Michigan artists will dazzle you with luminous images of botanicals at the River Gallery in Chelsea, Michigan, March 3 - March 31st.
Mary Beth Koeze is an award-winning painter who received her degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Kim Kauffman, a technically astute photographer, will present unique photo collages created from multiple scans of original botanical images.( Artist statement).
An artist talk is planned for March 17th at 4 p.m. at the gallery. FREE.