Peony

It's almost time to stop and smell the peonies at the Arboretum! The Peony Gardens will be in bloom during this year's Peony festival June 4th to June 12th, and there's lots to see and do. Peonies will be available for sale on June 4th and 5th, with proceeds benefiting the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. There will be live music Saturday June 4th from 11 to 1pm, and guided lunchtime tours at noon June 4th through June 10th. Click here for the official event listing, where you can learn about the festival's Peony Photo Contest, more about the Peony Garden, hours and directions for the Arboretum, and more! Want to start your own flower garden? Check out the AADL's flower gardening resources!

Alphabet

Ever wonder why spelling in English is so difficult? Ben Franklin sure did, and he attempted to do something about it! Did you know that in 1768, Ben Franklin invented a new English alphabet that could make spelling easier? It did so because each letter in Ben’s alphabet represented exactly one sound! Widely known today as “Benjamin Franklin’s Phonetic Alphabet,” Franklin’s proposal did away with the consonants c, j, q, w, x, and y, which he thought were redundant. It also introduced six new letters to differentiate sounds he felt were not well represented by the alphabet we know today, like the difference between the "long o" in “own” and the "short o" in “pond”. Ben’s reasoning was that if letters more closely represented a single sound, spelling would be a lot easier! His alphabet never really caught on, but if it had, we might all find spelling a lot easier today!

For more information on Franklin’s alphabet and a sample of text written in it, click here! For AADL books on spelling for kids and the history of English spelling, click here!

founder_frankling

In a city with such a significant university presence, it seems fitting to remember the contribution that Benjamin Franklin made on the landscape of higher education in the United States.

Through the years, the founding fathers have provided a popular option for college & university names: Thomas Jefferson University, James Madison University, Franklin & Marshall College. And lest we forget the numerous homages to George Washington – The George Washington University, Washington & Lee University, Washington University in St. Louis, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington College. Yet interestingly, each institution was established by an unrelated party and named in the founding father’s honor (with Ben & George possibly donating some money to a few of their namesakes). One university which was established by a founding father bears what seems to be a much more egalitarian name: The University of Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Franklin.

Initially established as The Academy and College of Philadelphia in 1749, the first class of twelve students graduated eight years later in 1757 (I bet the 250 year class reunion a few years ago was something!). Benjamin Franklin had a vision for an institution which would not emphasize the training of clergymen, but would instead focus on the education of a business and governing class. After a number of name changes, board of trustee shake-ups and administration squabbles, the current University of Pennsylvania was formed. Unlike other American Colonial Colleges, Franklin’s University of Pennsylvania was the first institution of higher education to offer a modern liberal arts curriculum. Over 250 years later, the University remains one of the nation’s premier institutions of higher education.

Exploring the history of Benjamin Franklin’s University is aided by the University of Pennsylvania Archives. Similar research is possible for Ann Arbor’s University at its own archives: Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.

To learn other exciting details about Benjamin Franklin, visit Ben Franklin: In Search of a Better World, on display through July 8th.

The Ann Arbor District Library also makes exploring the history of our own city possible through sites such as The Making of Ann Arbor and The Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program which can be found on AADL’s Local History Page.

Wild Swan Theater has been delighting young audiences by staging original versions of classic myths and tales for 31 years! A big reason it is so loved, besides their awesome energy and talent, is because they integrate American Sign Language, audio descriptions and touch tours as key components of everything they present. AADL invites everyone, grade 4 and up, to experience how this is done on Thursday, June 2, 7-8:30 pm at the Downtown Library. Artistic Directors Hilary Cohen and Sandy Ryder will give an interactive workshop on how they weave accessibility into all their productions to create inclusive, live theater at its best.

chess

Chess is a game of positioning, strategy and fun. Try your hand at a couple games regardless of your ranking or your age. The downtown library currently is hosting a special exhibt, Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World which celebrates Franklin's 300th birthday. According to Ben Franklin, "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it."
Please join us at Traverwood, May 15, Sunday, from 1-4 pm. Chess boards are supplied.

Comics and comic book characters have always been popular with many but have more recently broken into the mainstream in a huge way. Because of the recent rise in popularity, many kids (and "kids at heart") are taking up an interest in comic books.

The Ann Arbor District Library has fantastic Graphic Novel collections in youth, teen, and the adult sections of all 5 library branches and also offer lots of neat programming involving comics, how to create them, and info about those who do.

Tomorrow, May 7th, 2001, is Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops around the world give away comic books to anyone who comes into their stores. Check out local comic book store, Vault of Midnight, and see what you can find!

And for those busy tomorrow that can't get out to Free Comic Book Day, check out this event in June: Kids Read Comics hosted at the The Chelsea District Library and throughout the downtown business district in June.

"Kids Read Comics Convention is a totally free event that unites kids, teens, parents, teachers and librarians with professional artists and writers from the comics and animation fields. Our goal is to introduce kids to worlds of imagination while unlocking their creative impulses, and to serve that goal, the convention features:

* hands-on workshops
* panels and presentations for kids, families, and educators
* a chance for kids to meet and chat with comics and animation professionals
* the opportunity for kids to have their own art portfolios reviewed"

Celebrate Children's Book Week!

Come sing, stomp and shout in celebration of Children's Book Week. Kevin Kammeraad will be here to lead us in the festivities. Kevin is a Michigan author, singer, and educator who believes that singing and motion is essential to children and adults alike. He uses puppets, silly songs and dances to get everyone moving. Visit his website to learn more.

Come to the Traverwood Branch on Thursday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. to see Kevin. This will be a treat for the whole family!

LoisLowry

During a recent visit to Ann Arbor, author Lois Lowry sat down with us for a brief discussion of her work. She's written over 35 books for children and young adults, amassing countless awards and recognitions along the way.

She's twice been awarded prestigious Newbery Medals for the most distinguished contributions to American literature for children, in 1990 for Number the Stars and in 1994 for The Giver. Ms. Lowry discusses her long-standing connection with Ann Arbor, answers questions submitted via Facebook about her writing, and gives us a jaw-dropping sneak peek into her upcoming project.

food bank

Sometimes we forget that residents of our community go hungry all year, not just Christmas time when food drives are prevalent. The Back Door Food Pantry, sponsored by Temple Beth Emeth, St. Clare's Church, and Muslim Social Services is in urgent need of canned foods, vegetarian meals, condiments and toiletries. To find out how to make a donation click here. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in need, here is a list of local Food Resources.

Two DVDS in our collections tell fascinating stories of two American couples with passion for Art.
Art of the Steal is the dramatic story of keeping the Albert and Laura Barnes Collection together in Merion, PA. and the Barnes Foundation that governs the trust as intended.
Herb and Dorothy is the magical story of a postal clerk and a librarian who managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history. The collection is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Of course, there is more to the stories.
You can go to the accompanying links for current information.
In any case, these documentaries present fabulous works of art, and provide fascinating armchair travel.