Your Story & Mine: A Community of Hope

During the month of January, the Downtown Lansing Library will display a traveling exhibit on the theme of generational poverty and homelessness. It features art, stories, poetry and photography created by formerly and currently homeless adults. Read more about the exhibit, see a sampling of the artwork, and find a complete tour schedule here.

Plan to join us at a special event on Sunday, January 10, from 2 to 3, when some of the contributors will be here with a presentation about their struggles and triumphs on the journey to stability.

Holiday Events at CADL

This December, CADL has all kinds of events to help our patrons celebrate the season. Our website provides lists of holiday events at all thirteen of our branches. Click here for a list of events geared toward our younger friends, “Jolly Holidays for Kids.” Here, you’ll find a list of our holiday events for all ages.

CADL’s New Events Calendar

Our new online calendar features a complete list of the events at our 13 locations and Bookmobile. The calendar allows you to search by features such as age, event type and location. Check it out by visiting cadl.org/events and let us know what you think.

Park & Read

Park & Read, a new program sponsored by the Library of Michigan, Macy’s and The Hammock Company lets you enjoy a free day of reading in one of Michigan’s many beautiful state parks.

Patrons with a valid library card may ask staff for a “Park & Read” pass. The pass includes a list of the 98 participating parks and one free entry into any of these parks on one day (overnight parking not included).

The pass must be used within 7 days of it being checked out. After that it does not need to be returned to the library but it will expire.

Only a limited number of passes are available at each library. At any given time they may all be checked out. The program runs from now until Sept. 25, 2009.

For additional details, check out the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Web site.

CADL at L & L Zoo Days

L & L Zoo Days is one of the coolest events in Lansing. Not only can you visit the Potter Park Zoo for free, but visitors are also treated to frozen goodies, face painting,  bounce houses and more. And you can’t forget the amazing the animals!

This year was no exception. Both days drew huge crowds and outstanding entertainment. Several mascots were on hand to mingle with the children including the Capital Area District Library’s mascot Linc. And families got a real treat when a 10-foot tall juggler greeted them at the entrance. This year’s L & L Zoo Days was a first-class event.

Check out some photos of Linc, the stiltwalker and some of the zoo’s permanent residents at Flickr. For more information about events at the Capital Area District Library, visit cadl.org

Posted by ErinS

Summer Reading @ CADL

The Capital Area District Library’s Summer Reading Program is in full swing, and adults are encouraged to sign up at any of the 13 library locations. When you sign up, you’ll receive a reading log so you can keep track of your reading time, earning fun prizes along the way.

If you are looking for reading recommendations, be sure to check out Off the Shelf where Sarah, our Adult Selection Specialist, suggests books that will linger in your mind. And if you are on Twitter, follow @cadl to get Sarah’s Suggestions and our Reference Librarian’s New NonFiction tweets.

There are also several programs for adults this summer as well. Below are just a few. For a complete list of summer programs and events, check out our Summer Program Guide.

Downtown
The Art and Artistry of Charles H. Mead
Thursday, July 16 @ 7 pm
Local historian and author Craig A. Whitford has updated his presentation on local artist and photographer Charles H. Mead just in time for Lansing’s 150th celebration. Co-sponsored by the Historical Society of Greater Lansing.

Mason Library
Email Basics*
Monday, July 27 @ 10 am
Learn how to set up your own email account; to compose, send and open messages; and to add and open attachments. Participants should know how to use a mouse and Windows.*Register by calling (517) 676-9088.

Okemos Library
1st Sunday Gallery Walk
Sunday, July 5 from 1-4 pm
Kirsten Barton and Jessica Kovan

South Lansing
Summer Scrapbooking Crop for Adults*
Saturday, July 11 from 1-4 pm
Get creative! Learn to make a scrapbook page to preserve your special memories. Bring 5-6 photos and some basic supplies like adhesive, cardstock, patterned paper, sharp scissors and embellishments. A limited amount of supplies will be available at the library.
*Registration required by calling (517) 272-9840.

Williamston
Colors in Art with Anita Saviko*
Saturday, June 27 from 1:30-3pm
Did you ever wonder how the colors we use every day came into being? Williamston artist and MSU Evening College Lecturer Anita Saviko will take you around the world discovering “color”. You will participate in learning how to create colors that work in any fine art media, as well as in house paint. Registration is required by calling (517) 655-1191.

Webberville
Stitchin’ Time Drop-in Needle Arts Group
Tuesdays, July 7 & July 21 @ 6 pm
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’re invited to join this fantastic needle arts group! Come share ideas and conversation and work on your project in good company. Dessert provided.

Posted by ErinS

The Bath School Disaster

Bernstein with the audience

On Saturday, the Capital Area District Library welcomed Arnie Bernstein, author of Bath Massacre: America’s First School Bombing.  The captivated audience listened as Bernstein discussed his compelling book investigating the horrific crime that forever changed the community of Bath.

Kehoe's Truck

On May 18, 1927, Andrew Kehoe set off several explosives concealed in the basement of the Bath Consolidated School then killed himself by car bomb taking the life of others helping in the rescue. The same day, Kehoe, brutally murdered his wife and burned down his farm killing their livestock and destroying all the crops. In total, 45 people died, mostly children.

After a 30-minute emotional lecture, Bernstein took questions from the audience and honored a survivor of the disaster who attended the event. He also chatted with the audience afterwards while signing autographs.

Book TV Videographer

The event drew a substantial crowd, as well as the media. The program will be aired on C-SPAN’s Book TV on Saturday, May 16 at 5 PM, Sunday, May 17 at 4 am and Monday, May 18 at 1:30 am.

 

 

Continuing recognition of our community history, the Capital Area District Library additionally hosted the annual Caterino Collector’s Showcase

Lansing Hotel Fire

on the same day. Local authors, collectors, and historical and genealogical societies  displayed materials from their collections. Find more pictures of local treasures as well as photos from the Bernstein event at flickr.

 

 

For more information on  the Bath School Disaster, check out Mr. Bernstein’s book  at CADL.

Bath School Disaster survivers talk to Story Corp. http://www.storycorps.org/?s=Bath+School+Disaster

A Top Chef visits CADL

Chef Stephanie Izard, the fourth season winner of the hit Bravo TV show, Top Chef  stopped by the Okemos and Holt-Delhi libraries to spill some of her culinary secrets this past weekend. Not only were the attendees treated to  the famous chef’s secrets, they were also given the opportunity to taste!

With the generous help of Lansing Community College’s culinary students and the Lansing Center, Stephanie whipped up two mouth watering dishes; a soba noodle and shrimp salad and a skirt steak salad dotted with garbanzo beans, fennel, oranges and topped with a tangy chive and greek yogurt dressing.

Validating her title as Fan Favorite, Chef Stephanie was both charasmatic and entertaining while perparing the dishes. She graciously answered questions about the show, being sequestered for five weeks during filming and the nerve-racking eliminations. She also answered questions about her Michigan ties (Stephanie is a University of Michigan graduate), favorite foods and of course – ingredients.  

Stephanie explained that one of her favorite ingredients is salt, adding that it can bring out the flavor in just about anything. She delighted the crowds with anecedotes from the book she’s currently reading, Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky.

On our way out, Stephanie gifted us with the tastiest muffins. She kindly posed for pictures, chatted with fans and signed autographs for all who asked. Check out more photo’s from the two events at CADL’s Flickr.

Top Chef: The Cookbook  available at CADL.

History Detective

Art historian and co-host on PBS’s History Detectivess, Elyse Luray gave verbal antique appraisals last Saturday at the Stockbridge and Haslett libraries. 

Elyse was assisted by local expert Glen Rairigh, owner of Americana Auctions and a participant in appraisal programs for the Phillip Morris Companies.

Check out our Flickr photostream for more pictures.

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If you enjoy history, make sure to join Valerie van Heest when she presents Beneath the Inland Seas. Valerie will talk about the thousands of ships that rest on the bottom of Michigan’s Great Lakes.

Leslie Library
Wednesday, March 18 at 10 am

Mason Library
Tuesday, March 24 at 6:30 pm

Basketball Great Visits CADL

Basketball great, Greg Kelser visits the Okemos Library.