Children's Areas, Play Areas, Toys & Special Features
Downtown Youth Area
The Downtown Library is the largest location of the AADL system and contains a very large area on the first floor dedicated to children ages birth through sixth grade. The area has a variety of features to entertain, engage and invite children to play and explore. In a separate area on the first floor, the Downtown Library also has a Teen Area for middle and high school students.
Toys for Play There are assortments of toys throughout the Downtown Youth Area. The small toy table in front of the information desk changes every few weeks with toys intended for toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary school-aged children. The toy rotation includes a barnyard set; a fairy village with a mushroom house; jungle animals with a tree, cars and street signs; magnatiles; play food sets, and more. This popular spot has plenty of toys to share, and it’s always a fun surprise to see which toys are out to play with! Large, wooden puzzles are also available near the Picture Book and Board Book area.
The Story Corner AADL regularly offers storytimes, class visits, and tutoring in the Youth Story Corner. When the Story Corner is not in use for these events, it contains an assortment of larger toys for babies and toddlers. These toys include big blocks, small rockers, play rugs, dinosaurs, trucks, and a magnetic board with letters and stories. Fairy Door Ann Arbor is home to a variety of fairies, if you haven’t already discovered them! Some fairies have moved into the Fairytale section of the Downtown AADL Youth Area. If you’re searching around town for The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor, be sure to visit. Check out AADL’s Pinterest page about all things Fairy in town.
Aquarium The large, saltwater aquarium is arguably the most popular feature in the department (and maybe the entire building). This unique hexagonal tank is home to a collection of large, colorful and fascinating saltwater fish. Take a look at AADL’s Pinterest page for more information about the aquarium.
Art Table The dedicated art table in the Youth Area is the place to go for art projects that change on a monthly basis. Each month children have a new hands-on opportunity to experience art and express their creativity.
Display Case & Bulletin Boards The glass case next to the information desk displays a changing array of themed stories, collections, snow globes, or even science and nature materials that can be checked out from the Library! It’s always a surprise . . . you never know what might be on display next. The large bulletin board behind the information desk also has changing, colorful displays that help keep the Youth Area fresh and inviting with seasonal Library material recommendations and promotion of annual events.
Garden During the warmer months of the year, the Downtown Library opens the doors to the gorgeous, enclosed garden for families to read, have a snack, or just enjoy being outdoors with the redbud trees and lilacs. There are two entrances to the garden, in the Youth Area near the Picture Books and in the Tools area on the first floor.
Giant Chess & Checkers Stop and play a game while you're at the Library! The Youth Area has a table set up with a chessboard and oversized chess or checkers pieces for anyone interested in learning or playing these popular games. Ask the staff at the youth information desk for simple instructions if you want to learn how to play! AADL also regularly hosts Chesstastic events.
Study Rooms The Youth Area has two small study rooms, each containing a table, three chairs and a dry-erase board. These rooms are available on a first-come-first-served basis to anyone who wants to use them.
Pittsfield Branch
The Pittsfield Branch has a dedicated Youth Area with a variety of children’s materials, toys, computers, and places to play.
Toys There is a Duplo Table and wooden puzzles for younger children located in the Youth Area. When the large program room is not being used for storytimes or other events, there is an assortment of toys available for play.
Hands-On Museum’s Bernoulli Exhibit The Bernoulli Exhibit, also know as Bernie, was commissioned by the Library and designed, constructed, and installed by the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. The exhibit demonstrates Bernoulli's principle, aerodynamics, gravity, and geometry. The steel cone at the top of the exhibit is laser-cut from one piece of flat steel and then pulled to make the cone (that's where the geometry came in). Children will enjoy playing and learning about science while using Bernie.
Wildlife in the Wetlands The Pittsfield Branch is built partially on stilts above wetlands. Many of the windows of the Branch face over the water. The installation of several bird houses has made watching wildlife a delight! Ducks, muskrats, turtles, many species of birds, and other wildlife have been spotted from the windows of Pittsfield. The next time you visit, be sure to check it out!
Malletts Creek Branch
Toys The Malletts Creek Branch has a dedicated Youth Area with a variety of children’s materials, puzzles, a Duplo Table, iPads, and places to play.
Aquarium This Youth Area has an inviting saltwater aquarium that features a variety of fish. These active fish offer a wonderful chance for children to see ocean life up close.
Natural Features The Malletts Creek Branch and its surrounding landscape of native plants were designed and built following environmental principles, allowing the building and land to exist in harmony with the ecosystem and the community in which it serves. In spring and early summer, strawberries grow in the garden outside of the Youth Area. From the growing green roof to the cork floors, there are a lot of cool features at Malletts Creek! Take a look at the Youth Tour Guide to learn about the environmental features and take a special tour with Sally Salamander. Adults interested in sustainable design and those who like to garden may also be interested in the details in the Tour Guide, including the list of plants growing around the Branch.
Traverwood Branch
Toys The Youth Area of the Traverwood Branch contains a variety of toys, wooden puzzles, iPads, and a Duplo Table for younger children. When the large program room adjacent to the Youth area is not being used for storytimes or other events, an assortment of toys and big blocks are available for play.
Natural Beauty & Ash Tree Trunks The Traverwood Branch is unique for its green construction and the natural beauty in its design. The building’s site, a triangular portion of land at the intersection of Traverwood Drive and Huron Parkway, runs along the Stapp Nature Preserve at its rear. A rain garden is located on the south side of the building. The design of the Branch takes advantage of natural daylight. The ash trees that were cleared from the construction site were incorporated in the building design and used in the flooring and shelving for the Traverwood Branch. A few of the trees were left intact and used as support beams along a row of windows on the south wing of the building to dramatic effect. The bare trunks clearly show the damage patterns that the Emerald Ash Borer made along the trunks that ultimately killed these ash trees, and many other ash trees in Michigan.
Westgate Branch
Toys The Youth Area of the Westgate Branch contains a variety of toys, wooden puzzles, and iPads.
Parking & Buses
Downtown Taking the bus to the Downtown Library is easy since the AADL is located directly across the street from the Blake Transit Center. Find buses to Downtown here, or see The Ride. Several options are available for Downtown parking, operated by the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. There is metered street parking available on 5th Avenue, William Street, and Library Lane; a pay parking lot at the corner of 5th Ave. and William St.; and the four-level, underground Library Lane parking structure is located between 5th Avenue and Division St. Parking is free on Sundays. Pittsfield The Pittsfield Branch has parking available at no charge in the parking lot adjacent to the building. Over-flow parking is usually available next door at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Arena. Currently, there is not a bus stop near the Pittsfield Branch. However, AATA Route #16 is the closest route. Check The Ride for bus schedules and more details. Malletts Creek The Malletts Creek Branch has parking available at no charge in the parking lot adjacent to the building. Street parking is also available on Homestead Commons Court. The Malletts Creek Branch is serviced by several AATA bus routes, including the #5 and the #7. Check The Ride for bus schedules and more details. Traverwood The Traverwood Branch has parking available at no charge in the parking lot adjacent to the building (enter off Traverwood Dr.) and in the parking lot under the building (enter off Huron Parkway). Street parking is also available on Traverwood Dr. and Huron Parkway. The Ride’s #1 and #2 routes serve the Traverwood Branch. Check The Ride for bus schedules and more details. West The West Branch is located in the Westgate Shopping Center and is located in the corner courtyard by Sun & Snow. There is ample, free parking in the shopping center. Several bus routes serve West. Check The Ride for bus schedules and more details.
Bathrooms & Changing Tables
All five locations of the Ann Arbor District Library have unisex or family restrooms with changing tables for babies.
Computer Games & Internet Access
All five locations of the Library have iPads in the Youth Areas, pre-loaded with games for children to play. There are games appropriate for babies and toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary school students. Anyone is welcome to use them; sign-up is not required. If the room is busy and many children are using the iPads, we ask that users limit themselves to 30 minutes. At the Downtown Library, the Youth Area also has four computers that offer Internet access for children ages 14 and under and caregivers with young children. Internet access for everyone is on the second floor of the Downtown Library. The four AADL Branches offer Internet access in one large computer lab.
Program Rooms
All AADL locations feature large program rooms where regular programs for children and families are held. If you are interested in reserving or renting a program room for a meeting or group, see the AADL Room Rental Guidelines.