Need a Ride?

Fri, 09/17/2010 - 9:07am by Beth Manuel

Now there's RideConnect, a new transportation coordination center serving Washtenaw County residents. Sponsored by Western Washtenaw Area Value Express or WAVE, the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study or WATS; People's Express, Washtenaw County, and Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, RideConnect also coordinates services among existing public, private, and non-profit transportation as well as county human service agencies.

Other programs they offer include: Individual Travel Training Sessions; Train the Trainer Travel Training Sessions offered to human service agency staff on how to deliver travel trainings to their clients; Transportation Assistance Programs for Senior Citizens: facilitates short term financial assistance to pay for public transportation trips for Washtenaw County residents 55 years and over who have low incomes and/or disabilities. Trip purposes include non-emergency medical appointments, grocery shopping, employment, education and other vital life line trips to other destinations.

The Volunteer Driver Program providing trips to non-emergency medical appointments for people with low incomes, senior citizens 55 years and over and people with disabilities who have a Medicare and/or Medicaid card, receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) benefits, unemployment benefits, or social security benefits.

Kid Bits - Colors HAPPEN

Wed, 07/28/2010 - 12:20pm by ryanikoglu

The Nutbrown Hares find Colors Everywhere.
Alison’s Zinnia is an alphabet book of names and flowers, with full-page illustrations of each flower by Anita Lobel.
A little girl knows EXACTLY what she does NOT want to wear in Too Purpley!
Among the stories in Virginia Tashjian’s classic With a Deep Sea Smile we told “The Lady’s Room” in Preschool Storytime at Malletts Creek Branch this week.
Pinkalicious is what happens when you eat too many pink cupcakes.
When the mice begin to step in the paints they find new colors of Mouse Paint.

1st Annual PEEPS® Photo Contest Winners!

Wed, 04/07/2010 - 4:18pm by erin

It was a dirty, marshmallowy job but someone had to do it! We took over where the Ann Arbor News left off and debuted the 1st Annual PEEPS® photo contest. Participants from preschool age to adults of all ages created dioramas using PEEPS®, took photos and submitted them. Judging was conducted by myself, Lara Zielin, author of Donut Days and editor of the Literature, Science & Arts magazine at the University of Michigan, and Amy Sumerton, Program Director for 826Michigan. We laughed, we cried and we came up with the winners! Sometime soon the winners' photos and ALL of the entries will be linked here and permanently stored in our gallery, but in the meantime check them out at annarbor.com. Read more and take off your hats for our winners in six age categories:

Preschool winners
* 1st Place: Rosie Flynn
* 2nd Place: Serafina Sabatini
* 3rd Place: Nicholas Wade

Grades K-2 winners
* 1st Place: Elliot Varnum
* 2nd Place: Gram Brownlee
* 3rd Place: Erin Hill

Grades 3-5 winners
* 1st Place: Loey & Walden Jones-Perpich
* 2nd Place: Joseph Weber
* 3rd Place: Elise Brod

Grades 6-8 winners
* 1st Place: Sofi St. John
* 2nd Place: Micayla Roe
* 3rd Place: Cecilia Roe

Grades 9-12 winners
* 1st Place: Kathrin Larson
* 2nd Place: Julia Markey
* 3rd Place: Annabel Weiner

Adult winners
* 1st Place: Henry James
* 2nd Place: Ben Dzialo, Robin Zdrodowski, Tim Zdrodowski
* 3rd Place: Christine Tupper

Take a Winter Hike this Saturday

Tue, 02/16/2010 - 8:14am by K.C.

Grab your boots along with warm clothing and join Natural Area Preservation (City of Ann Arbor) staff outside the entrance of the Traverwood Branch for a winter walk through Stapp Nature Area. A staff naturalist will discuss native plants and trees, ecological restoration, and responsible use of public lands. After the hike, we'll warm up with hot drinks inside Traverwood's program room.

Take a Hike @ Stapp Nature Area | Saturday, February 20 | 2-3:30 PM | Traverwood Branch | All Ages

Senegal Family Cultural Celebration

Sat, 01/16/2010 - 6:17pm by StoryLaura

Note: Due to planned power outage at the Downtown Library, this event has been moved to Traverwood Branch.

We can’t wait for you to hear the drumming and see the joyful dancing of the Akanni Omowale African Drummers and Dancers at our Senegal Family Cultural Celebration on Sunday, January 17 at 2:00 pm at the Traverwood Branch library. Akanni Omowale recently performed at the Museum of African American History in Detroit. After the music and dance we will enjoy a traditional treat and then make colorful giraffe collages. All ages are invited!

Learn the Tricks and Tips of aadl.org

Wed, 01/13/2010 - 10:45am by Beth Manuel

There's still time to register for our class on aadl.org. If you are available today from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Downtown Library Training Center, 3rd Floor
*Registration required: Register Now

A roadmap to searching for materials, information, and events on aadl.org. Participants will discover a variety of hidden gems within the site, including: the advantage of using My Account for placing holds, how to navigate the research tab, and how and why to tag items. Basic computer and mouse experience is required. You may register online, at any AADL location, or by calling 734-327-4555.

Bill Harley is coming to town!

Sun, 11/15/2009 - 12:51pm by StoryLaura

When I met Bill Harley thirty years ago, and heard him tell stories at a concert in a beautiful old church in Cambridge, MA, I knew he had the sense of humor, depth and compassion to move everyone in the family to laughter and tears. I am tickled pink that our library will be hosting this Grammy award-winning storyteller and musician on Sunday, November 22 at 1:00 pm for a free family show at the Ark for ages five and up. If you are a grown-up looking for an evening of classy entertainment come to the 7:30 pm Ark show that same date for more edgy and exquisite fun!

Take a Fall Hike @Bird Hills Nature Area

Wed, 09/16/2009 - 3:22pm by K.C.

If you’ve never trekked through the Bird Hills Nature Area, you are in for a treat. Located on a moraine, this land of steep slopes was logged in the 1800s and then grazed by cattle. In the 1920s under new owners reforestation began. With its varied topography and soils Bird Hills is one the most floristically diverse areas in Ann Arbor.

City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation staff will lead the hike. View a wide variety of trees, discover the ways to identify them, and learn about ecological restoration and responsible use of public lands. Come join us!

Saturday, October 3 | 2:00-3:30 PM | Bird Hills parking lot off Newport Road, just north of M-14

Caring for Your Parents

Wed, 09/02/2009 - 6:50pm by french_film_grl

Do you find yourself in a situation where you are suddenly a caregiver to an elderly or disabled parent? Do you have questions about this new role in your life? We have DVDs that might help answer all those questions for you. Check out our Caring for your parents:The Complete AARP Guide, or Caring for your parents: The complete family guide. Having some of your questions answered might make this time of your life go more smoothly and peacefully.

PreK Bits - We're Going To The ZOO

Wed, 07/08/2009 - 11:22am by ryanikoglu

We're going to the zoo in Storytime with Ms. Rachel. Ann Arbor is a one hour drive from two excellent zoos. You can visit the Detroit Zoo and Toledo Zoo this summer. While you're traveling you can share these stories and songs:
Sing "Going To The Zoo" with Peter Paul And Mary, or Raffi. Read Tom Paxton's words in Going To The Zoo.
The Baby Beebee Bird keeps all the animals up at night.
Night Shift shows all the jobs that work through the night.
Lion discovers the Zoo is where he is the MOST Happy Lion.
I Want To Be A Zookeeper tells about the job.