|
News
Archived News
August 15, 2007
YDL invites all song lovers and songwriters—aspiring and seasoned— to join us as we celebrate the craft of songwriting the weekend of October 19, 20, and 21, 2007 at the Ypsilanti Songwriting Festival 2007 (YSF ’07).
YSF’07 will kickoff the weekend with a performance by the local power pop band, OffRamps at the Corner Brewery on Friday, October 19 at 8 p.m.
YSF’07 features nationally recognized singer/songwriter Freedy Johnston. Johnston will talk about his craft in a Q&A session with Martin Bandyke of Ann Arbor’s 107one on Saturday, October 20 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at YDL-Whittaker Road. A gifted songwriter whose lyrics paint sometimes witty, often poignant portraits of characters often unaware of how their lives have gone wrong, Johnston seemingly appeared out of nowhere in the early 90s and quickly established himself as one of the most acclaimed new singer/songwriters of the day. Johnston’s 1992 recording, Can You Fly, earned enthusiastic reviews and was named among the year’s best albums by The New York Times, Billboard, Spin, and Musician Magazine. The Village Voice called it “a perfect album.” 1995’s This Perfect World received similarly positive press – Rolling Stone magazine named him songwriter of the year—and spawned the hit single “Bad Reputation.”
Johnston has consistently maintained a loyal fan following and the respect of critics and peers through the releases of Never Home, Blue Days Black Nights, Right Between the Promises, The Way I Were: 4-Track Demos 1986-1992, and Live at McCabe’s Guitar Shop. A long-rumored album of covers will be out this fall. Johnston has also dabbled in film scoring by writing incidental music for the Farrelly Brothers comedy Kingpin and he performs occasionally with the Know-It-All Boyfriends, an informal cover band featuring Butch Vig and Doug Erikson of Garbage.
The YSF’07 Songwriters Panel is scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. in the Community Room at YDL-Whittaker Road. This discussion will be moderated by Martin Bandyke. Panelists include Chris Bathgate, Kelly Jean Caldwell, and Jeremy Porter.
Aspiring songwriters may register for an hour-long session with a seasoned songwriter that will take place between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 20 at YDL-Whittaker Road. We have searched high and low for the best songwriters representing a cross-section of musical styles. Call (734) 482-4110, ext. 1301 to register for a session with one of the following songwriters: Kelly Jean Caldwell, Almus Magnus, Jordan Lopez, and Sean Rogers.
DIY FAQs, a program that explores the options in using home equipment to record your music, is slated for Saturday, October 20 at 10 a.m. in the Computer Lab at YDL-Whittaker Road.
The YSF’07 Hootenanny begins at 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 20 at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. This combination open mic/sing- and play-along will be hosted by Kelly Jean Caldwell. We’ll give you a shot at playing your song before a live audience.
On Sunday, October 21, YSF’07 concludes with a family-friendly concert in the Community Room at YDL-Whittaker Road featuring Almond Joy (of the Candy Band) and Friends.
All YSF’07 events are free and open to the public.
In addition to these events and programs, YSF’07 will also staff a Songwriter’s Resource Room stocked with every imaginable songwriting resource – from rhyming dictionaries to publishing contact information; from tab sheets to computer workstations bookmarking the best websites for aspiring songwriters.
For further information, contact (734) 482-4110, ext. 1303, or check out our myspace profile.
August 13, 2007
Residents of the City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, or the portion of Superior Township legally served by YDL who are interested in filling vacancies on the Ypsilanti District Library Board should submit their applications to the Library Director (Ypsilanti District Library, 5577 Whittaker Road, Ypsilanti, MI 48197) by Wednesday, August 22, 2007.
Trustees Kristine Mucher and Marcia Phillips will be moving out of the area and have resigned their seats on the board, effective immediately, creating two vacancies. According to the YDL Board of Trustees By-Laws, the Library Board will appoint replacements who will serve until the November, 2008 election.
Qualifications for potential library board members include living in the library’s legal service area (City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, or designated portion of Superior Township); possessing a good understanding of the library’s role and importance in the community; showing a commitment to quality library service; having the ability to work with others and communicate effectively toward a common goal; and having experience or expertise in areas such as investments, public relations, and long range planning. Previous service on the board of a governmental unit or non-profit organization is desirable.
Board members’ duties include attending monthly board meetings, serving on board committees, preparing for and participation in board meetings, serving as a library advocate in the community, as well as visiting and using the library frequently.
The deadline for submitting letters of interest and applications forms is Wednesday, August 22, 2007. Applications for the position and a trustee job description are available by clicking here or by contacting YDL’s Administrative Services Receptionist at 734.482.4110, ext 1371.
July 18, 2007
Library hours don’t have to stop you from picking up your library materials.
Beginning August 6, 2007, your library materials can be waiting for you in a secure locker located at any Ypsilanti District Library location: YDL-Whittaker Road, YDL-Michigan Avenue, or YDL-Superior. It’s easy to use. When you call or visit any YDL location, let the staff know you want your materials available after-hours in the lockers at a specific YDL location. You’ll need the last seven digits of the barcode number on your library card to use this system. To retrieve your materials at the locker after hours, simply enter the last seven digits into the keypad, hit “enter” and the door to your locker pops open. It’s easy and convenient! Lockers are safe and secure. The system will only open your locker when your library barcode digits are entered.
After-Hours Pickup FAQs
-Customers may place requests for after-hours locker pickup via phone or in person at any YDL location.
-Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
-Customers must request this service prior to the last hour before closing.
-Customer library card numbers will serve as the combinations for the locks. The lock combinations will work only on the night they are assigned. Library staff will reset the combination daily for each locker.
-YDL staff will place materials in lockers prior to closing.
-Materials must be picked up no later than opening time the next day. Materials left in the lockers will be placed back into circulation the next morning.
Library Annual Report Wins Award
July 16, 2007
The Ypsilanti District Library took home a prestigious award for YDL’s 2005 Annual Report titled “A Lasting Impression” which featured YDL’s art collection in a postcard format. It was chosen from more than 420 nominations as the “Best of Show” for its category.
The award was presented June 24 at the American Library Association conference in Washington, DC. YDL Director Jill Morey received the award at the conference, one of the largest of its kind in the world with over 18,000 attendees.
The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 64,000 members. Its mission is “to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.”
July 3, 2007
The Ypsilanti District Library is very pleased to announce a new service for YDL’s patrons. It is a unique video-on-demand resource, called MyLibraryDV, from which patrons may download video content to their own home computers. MyLibraryDV is created by Recorded Books. Currently, MyLibraryDV includes over 400 programs. Choose from cooking shows such as America’s Test Kitchen, travel series such as Globe Trekker, and how-to programs like Antiques Roadshow. Up to 10 titles can be checked out at once, with a 7-day check-out period. Programs can be viewed on a television or other monitor with a cable hook-up. Ask to see title lists at any YDL Reference Desk.
Later this month YDL cardholders will also have access to MyLibraryDV’s Hollywood Favorites and World Cinema package, which includes more than 500 feature films, TV movies, and TV miniseries released from the 1930s through the 1990s. Check out movies like Black Hawk Down, Casablanca, Fly Away Home, Seven Samurai, The Matrix, and Black Beauty.
What you’ll need to use this service:
-A broadband internet connection at home (such as DSL or cable)
-Microsoft Windows 2000 or higher
-Installation of the MyLibraryDV download manager
-YDL library card and PIN number
Additional system requirements: Windows XP with SP2 or Windows 2000 with SP4; the most recent version of your browser; minimum 1GB of free disk space; playback performance may be degraded if CPU is less than 1GHz; Flash Player 9 and Windows Media Player 10 or above with the most recent security update. MyLibraryDV is not compatible with Macintosh computers, except those with an Intel processor and the ability to run Windows.
Click here for more information and to access this service.
YDL Hosts Bus-eum 2 May 25, 2007
On the afternoon of May 25, 2007, Ypsilanti District Library - Whittaker will host the TRACES' Bus-eum traveling exhibit titled Vanished: German-American Civilian Internment, 1941-48.
This exhibit teaches visitors about the U.S. Government interment of 15,000 German-American civilians during World War II. The exhibit includes narrative panels, an NBC Dateline documentary, and a 1945 U.S. Government film. For more information, contact Monique at (734)482-4110 ext. 1341.
YDL has expanded its hours May 1, 2007
The Ypsilanti District Library has implemented new hours of operation. Public hours for the library are now 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday with weekend hours remaining unchanged (Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m.)
Both the Whittaker Road and Michigan Avenue facilities will institute the new hours. The Superior Township location will maintain its current hours of 4-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday.
The Board of Trustees of the Ypsilanti District Library voted unanimously to expand the hours from the former starting time of 10 a.m. Monday through Thursday. The new operating hours reflect an ongoing effort to make YDL more convenient for its users.
The YDL - Whittaker Road facility is located at 5577 Whittaker Road just south of I-94. The YDL - Michigan Avenue facility is located in downtown Ypsilanti at 229 W. Michigan Ave. The new Superior Township branch is located at 8975 MacArthur Blvd.
For current hours and location information, click here.
Story times begin at YDL-Superior April 19, 2007
The Ypsilanti District Library launched its interim branch, YDL-Superior, in Superior Township at the end of February to an appreciative community. Starting May 1, a story time for preschoolers will be added to the list of services. Superior Story time will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday mornings.
Marlena Shuler, a YDL staff member who has been conducting outreach to schools for YDL and the weekly Jump Start story time, will be the story time leader. Attendees can look forward to great stories with interactive activities and learning opportunities. The first story time will feature dinosaurs.
YDL celebrates El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros April 19, 2007
Join the Ypsilanti District Library - Whittaker Road on Sunday, April 29 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. as we recognize the traditional day of celebrating children in Latin America and promote literacy for people of all cultural and language backgrounds. Enjoy a mariachi band—LaZelaya, a children’s chorus—ALAS de Fuego, a children’s talent show, crafts, and refreshments provided by Taqueria La Loma. The library’s collection of bilingual children’s books will also be on display.
Since its inception in 1925, many nations throughout the world and especially within the Western hemisphere celebrate this day to honor and celebrate children—who represent the hope and dreams of every community. This event is sponsored in conjunction with the Ann Arbor District Library.
YDL-Whittaker to Feature Playaway Digital Audiobooks April 18, 2007
Beginning May 1, YDL-Whittaker will offer patrons a new type of audiobook called the Playaway. A Playaway is half the size of a deck of cards and holds 6-24 hours of audio, usually a single title. Listeners can place digital bookmarks, control the speed of the narrator’s voice, and easily move forward and backward through the book. The device has a universal jack that works with most headphones and car adapters, and a lanyard is provided.
Adult titles in our collection will include The Da Vinci Code, Digging to America, The Innocent Man, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Marley and Me, Walking the Bible, and A Briefer History of Time. Some youth and young adult titles are Eragon, The King of Slippery Falls, A Wrinkle in Time, Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, The Giver, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Around the World in 80 Days. Since our initial collection is small—40 adult titles and 37 youth/young adult titles--we are limiting patrons to 2 check-outs at a time.
Playaways allow those of you who have not yet taken advantage of our eAudiobook collection a chance to experience the simplicity of having an entire book fit in the palm of your hand. No discs or tapes to change, no bulky players strapped around your waist. This small device provides hours of listening pleasure!
February 16, 2007
As part of the 2007 Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads, the Ypsilanti District Library will present an appearance by Ira Glass of National Public Radio in “Radio Stories and Other Stories.” The host of the documentary public radio program This American Life visits Eastern Michigan University’s historic Pease Auditorium on Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Heard Saturdays at 10 a.m. on WEMU 89.1 F.M., Glass will be in the middle of a tour when he visits EMU. Prior shows include stops at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Boston Opera House and the Chicago Theater.
The premise of This American Life remains as simple today as it was a decade ago: Glass strings together documentary-style stories around themes as hazy as tales of prom or pen pals. But the topics are often beside the point. It's about the stories - newsworthy or not - and the singular characters that come to life within them.
General admission tickets are $10 and available at the EMU Convocation Center Ticket Office or by calling (734) 487-2282.
This unique event is made possible through the support of The Bank of Ann Arbor – Ypsilanti Office; Eastern Michigan Library and the Friends of EMU Library, and Friends of the Ypsilanti District Library, and WEMU 89.1 FM.
February 15, 2007
“Big Blue,” the Ypsilanti District Library’s bookmobile, now has a wireless Internet connection for its circulation computer making it easier for patrons to check-out, check-in and reserve books on the mobile-library during its stops.
The wireless connection allows the bookmobile’s library representatives to be logged directly into the main library system, allowing for book searches, requests, and access to library records. Previous methods did not allow for this access and the bookmobile was not “connected” to the main system.
One of the popular features of the bookmobile is the reservation service. Patrons can reserve books from their computer and have their selections placed on the bookmobile to be picked up at the scheduled stop closest to their home. Books from all library locations can also be returned to the bookmobile, saving a trip to Whittaker Road or Michigan Avenue. Internet access for users is not possible on the current bookmobile but is slated to be a main feature of the new bookmobile that is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2007.
The winter bookmobile schedule can be viewed here, or call 482-4110 ext. 1359 for more information.
The Ypsilanti District Library is pleased to announce that it will open its new interim location in Superior Township Saturday, February 24, 2007. YDL - Superior is located at 8975 MacArthur Blvd. (at the intersection of MacArthur and Harris). Doors will open at 10 a.m.
The new library is located in the building that was formerly used by the Superior Township Utilities Department and is adjacent to the fire station. The space was designated for library use by Superior Township officials William McFarlane, supervisor, Kay Williams, clerk, and Brenda McKinney, treasurer.
Hours for the new branch are 4-8 pm Monday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. – 2 pm Tuesday and Saturday.
The new location will have books for adults, children and teens; large print books, DVDs and videos, audio books, newspapers and magazines and four computers will have Internet access for patrons with library cards. Online access enables patrons to visit the many databases available. Future plans include children’s programs.
A librarian and circulation/customer service representative will operate the building when open. If you have any questions, staff at YDL-Superior may be reached by calling (734) 482-3747 during the hours it is open. At other times, you may call (734) 879-1303 for information.
Superior Township officially joined YDL in August of 2006 after successful passage of a millage election. Superior residents can use any of the YDL branches and services. The bookmobile already includes Superior Township in its weekly route. Patrons may request books and other materials from other YDL locations and have them delivered to YDL - Superior within days.
The Whittaker Road facility opened in 2002 and is located at 5577 Whittaker Road just south of I-94. The downtown branch is located at 229 W. Michigan Ave. and re-opened in 2003 following an extensive renovation.
The Ypsilanti District Library will provide free Internet access points or “hot spots” for users with personal portable computers or devices capable of receiving wireless signals. This service is available during normal library business hours. The Wi-Fi service will allow users to access the Internet with wireless devices when sitting within range of access points located at both YDL Whittaker Road and Michigan Avenue facilities as well as YDL’s park plaza in downtown Ypsilanti.
Library staff will provide general information on settings necessary to access the Internet via a wireless connection, but will not be responsible for any changes users make to their personal computer settings. The Library cannot guarantee that a user’s hardware will work with the library’s wireless connection. As with most public wireless “hot spots,” the library’s wireless connection is not secure. All wireless access users should have up-to-date virus protection on personal laptop computers or wireless devices.
Use of these access points is governed by the Ypsilanti District Library Internet Public Access Policy.
The Ypsilanti District Library is proud to announce the expansion of its outreach program, Books on Wheels, which offers library service to residents who are physically unable to come to the library. At this time the library is seeking residents to serve.
The program serves homebound patrons by delivering materials to them on a monthly basis using volunteers. The library staff selects materials based on the patron’s interests and a volunteer drives the materials to the patron’s home and returns within the month to exchange them. Outreach Volunteers are carefully screened for suitability for the program.
To be eligible for the program, the potential patron must be physically unable to get themselves to the library, and provide information as to the reason the service is needed. The patron must also live in our service area which includes the City and Township of Ypsilanti and Superior Township and be eligible to obtain a library card.
If you, or someone you know, would like more information about the Books on Wheels program or is interested in becoming an Outreach Volunteer, contact the library at 734-482-4110 ext. 1359 or 1303.
|
|
