Press enter after choosing selection
Graphic for events post

Public Event

Spices & Herbs: The Variety of Life with Keegan Rodgers

Monday July 29, 2019: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room
Grade 6 - Adult

Graphic for events post

Public Event

Creepy Crawly Critters

Sunday August 12, 2018: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
All Ages

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Fantastic Children's Non-Fiction

by -alex-

When Planet Earth Was New - by James Gladstone & Katherine Diemert -
This starkly beautiful picture book introduces very young readers to the geological history of planet Earth. Beginning with the very early development of the solar system, billions and billions of years ago, 'When Planet Earth Was New' shows the earth as it passes through various geological epochs, through the beginnings and the evolution of organic life, and into the human-dominated present. You'll find a great appendix at the end, giving a wealth of additional details. This little gem is a great way to show your child the basics of geological and biological history, years before they will first learn it in the classroom.

Pocket Full of Colors: the magical world of Mary Blair, Disney artist extraordinaire -by Amy Guglielmo & Jacqueline Tourville-
The authors chart the course of the life of Mary Blair, the creative talent behind Disney classics like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. Mary's creative instincts and professional ambitions collide with gender discrimination in the highly male-dominated work-spaces of mid-century America. Mary perseveres though, and single-handedly drags the Disney Studios from it's black and white past, and into the lush colors of it's storied golden age.

While there is much to love in this slender book, as and adult, my favorite part of 'A Pocket Full of Colors' is how carefully the illustrator captured the various incarnations of Mary's personal style, from Betty Page bangs, to late 50's June Cleaver pearls, and finally into ultra-trendy 60's Mod. This beautifully illustrated, audaciously colorful picture book is a great way to introduce your little one to biographies.

Yum! MmMm! Qué rico! : Americas' sproutings - by Pat Mora -
Featuring vibrant, warm colors and a playful style, Pat Mora manages to pack an enormous amount of quality content into a tiny little picture book. 'Written as a series of haiku, Yum! MmMm! Qué rico!' teaches kids about the history of many of the great foods that originated in the Americas (chocolate, corn, peanuts, potatoes, and many more). Be sure to check out the fun and informative histories of each food item, always in small print on the left-hand side of every page. Your child will be both educated and entertained.

Poison : deadly deeds, perilous professions, and murderous medicines - by Sarah Albee -
Written for more advanced readers, this book is sure to satisfy kids with a passion for chemistry, history, spy-craft, or maybe just anything morbid. While the author is careful to state that 'Poison' is not an exhaustive index of poisonous materials, at nearly 200 pages, Sarah Albee manages to cover an enormous amount of ground. Your child will learn about how humans have wrangled with chemistry throughout history, focusing on the where, when, and why of how people have come into contact with dangerous chemical compounds. Be sure to check it out!

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Endangered Birds

by Lara

On July 4, 2017 I saw a bald eagle flying over the Huron River! It was the first time I had ever seen a bald eagle in the wild. During the past several decades bald eagles were a very rare sight in the Ann Arbor area. After reductions in the use of dangerous pesticides such as DDT and 40 years on the endangered species list, bald eagle populations have significantly recovered in southeastern Michigan and around the United States.

”Bald Eagle Numbers Soaring in SE Michigan” is a short article in The Daily Telegraph (published in Adrian, MI). It has information on the recovery of bald eagles in southeast Michigan.

You can find out more about both Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service website.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of North America Online database is a very informative resource. You can find it by subject under “Science & Technology”, or you can find it alphabetically by name. For each bird species there are sections covering a variety of interesting topics including “Demography and Populations” and “Conservation and Management”.

12 Birds Back From the Brink by Nancy Furstinger highlights 12 different bird species that have made a comeback after being close to extinction. This book discusses both the reasons why species numbers declined to dangerous levels, and the actions that were taken to save them from extinction. It emphasizes the dramatic differences that human behavior can make in the survival or extinction of a species. Although intended for kids, the information in this book may be interesting to readers of all ages.

Here are some more kids’ books on endangered birds that both kids and adults may enjoy:

Endangered and Extinct Birds by Jennifer Boothroyd introduces both endangered and extinct birds. This book is easy to read and has lots of photographs.

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery tells the story of how scientists and volunteers are trying to save the unique and fascinating kakapo parrot of New Zealand. Like a number of other bird species in New Zealand, the kakapo parrot cannot fly.

Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf by Olivia Bouler features Olivia’s colorful illustrations of many types of birds. As an 11 year old, Olivia used her artistic talent to raise money for the vast numbers of birds devastated by the catastrophic 2010 Gulf oil spill. This book shows that even young people can make a difference by taking action!

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore has information on how scientists are trying to save Puerto Rican parrots from extinction. Puerto Rican parrots are the only parrots native to the United States. This book includes fantastic collage artwork and information on the history of Puerto Rico.

A Place for Birds by Melissa Stewart has lots of colorful illustrations, facts about birds, and suggestions for how people can help birds to survive.

If you’d like to try drawing some birds, Draw 50 Birds by Lee J. Ames includes all types of birds: common, rare, recovering, and extinct. There are no written instructions in this book, just drawings.

Graphic for events post

Blog Post

Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls

by ballybeg

Creatures of mystery, harbingers of death, symbols of wisdom and protection, owls have captured the imaginations of people from the earliest times. Both feared and revered, for their association with darkness and the night, they feature prominently in the folklore and art of all native cultures. You can see how they are immortalized in early art here.

I love these birds, and so does Paul Bannick. His new book, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls, is a hymn of praise to all nineteen species of owls which live in North America. Bannick is, first and foremost, a wildlife photographer, who strives to faithfully document natural moments with wild subjects, and his pictures are exquisite. Here are hundreds of the most magnificent images of owls: inquisitive nestlings, mature adults posing with haughty, knowing expressions, swooping and diving, hunting and feeding, he captures their natural grace and mystique in the most natural settings. From the large great grey owl to the tiny elf owl, from the common barn owl to the elusive burrowing owl, with different sizes, markings, and colors, there is a definitive owlish-ness to them all; a bird with a face. They live in every corner of our continent, have adapted to all habitats, and, though their habitats are threatened, they have survived. Enjoy the mystery and beauty of owls.

For stories, picture books, and folklore about owls these can be found in our collection.
For more information about owls in their natural habitats, we own these.

Graphic for events post

Lectures & Panel Discussions

Perfect Pies & Tarts with Keegan Rodgers

Wednesday November 1, 2017: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Grade 6 - Adult

Graphic for events post

Lectures & Panel Discussions

Electric Vehicles | City of Ann Arbor 2018 Sustainable Ann Arbor Forum

Thursday January 11, 2018: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Adults

Graphic for events post

Public Event

Nerd Nite Ann Arbor presented by AADL at LIVE 102 S First St.

Thursday November 16, 2017: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
LIVE (102 S 1st Street)
Adults

Graphic for events post

Public Event

Nerd Nite Ann Arbor presented by AADL at LIVE 102 S First St.

Thursday October 19, 2017: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
LIVE (102 S 1st Street)
Adults

Graphic for events post

Public Event

Nerd Nite Ann Arbor presented by AADL at LIVE 102 S First St.

Thursday September 21, 2017: 7:00pm to 9:30pm
LIVE (102 S 1st Street)
Adults