Public library offers fast, fresh, fun glimpse of city

For those who have spent lengthy and fruitless searches scaling the vast institution that is the University Library system, hope may still abound.

Not every precious book has been lost to the bottomless void of the Michigan student body - there is a way to find books on all sorts of popular topics. What's more, it doesn't involve money or under-the-table Internet operations.

So where is this oasis of reference material? Just past the edge of Central Campus at the Ann Arbor District Library, the red brick building that stands on the corner of South Fifth Avenue and East William Street - a mere 10-minute walk from the Union.

Though there are not six floors and metal book shelves that reach the ceiling (as Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library boasts), this library makes up in character what it lacks in size. The library, winner of the 1997-1998 National Library of the Year Aw

NATHAN RUFFER/Daily Three-year-old Kaleb Fox looks through the large aquarium at the Ann Arbor Public Library's "KId's Connection" during a day care field trip this week.

ard, takes up three floors and yet has a certain coziness about it.

On the first floor there is an immense collection of novels, short stories, and thousands of CDs and cassettes. And the books still sport their actual covers!

A unique addition is a list of "staff picks" at the front of many rows of shelves. Staff members choose books they have enjoyed, giving short plot summaries and suggestions as to whom the book might appeal. This section also offers a "Zoom Lends" rental collection of popular bestsellers.

Also on the first floor is an impressive youth department called "Kids Connection" with comfy chairs, mini tables, and computer with headsets.

The second floor holds a rather large reference section along with various selections of periodicals, magazines, and newspapers. There are also computers on the second floor, where one can browse the web and check e-mail. This floor offers a specialty department in which local business files, local newspaper clippings, and black studies collections can be found.

The newest addition to the library was in 1996 with the third floor, which holds the Language, Literature and Arts Department. You can find an enormous array of print and electronic material on anything to do with the humanities.

If you are craving artwork in your humble Ann Arbor abode, you are bound to find something to check out from this department's collection of 270 art prints. Patrons can actually rent art from the collection.

The basement of the library serves as somewhat of a time capsule, currently displaying an exhibit on local Ann Arbor organizations over the years. Also located there is the book shop, where new and used books are sold every weekend at very discounted prices. All of the proceeds support the library.

Circulation clerk Jane Gregory said that the book shop is organized by a group of volunteers and is an excellent and economical way to obtain quality reading material.

"Sometimes the University gets free books and donates them to us," Gregory said. "Most of the books are one dollar, or we'll do a special where you can get a bag of books for four dollars."

The Ann Arbor District Library stays true to its community with a diverse selection of reference materials on the city of Ann Arbor and the city's history.

Rackham second-year student Isaac Campos said he is a regular at the library because of his interest in Ann Arbor and the many different perspectives this library has to offer.

"I'm working on a paper dealing with the history of Michigan," said Campos. "Here I can do a lot of thorough research on local history."

Campos also is attracted to the other unique advantages the Library has to offer.

"They have a good collection of CDs here," he said. "I can use this library when I can't find stuff in the Grad."

Another attraction this library has is the assortment of exhibits and events it holds each month. Examples are as varied as evenings of jazz, poetry readings, documentary showings, ethnic instrument displays, snowflake cutting and design lessons, origami nights and string figure workshops. Guest speakers are invited to talk monthly, coming from across the United States.

Though University students are definitely a minority in this library, Gregory said she sees many students in addition to the native Ann Arborites throughout the course of the day.

"I am really struck by the diversity of the Ann Arbor community," Gregory said. "We have such a variety of names applying for library cards! I can tell that we have a very international University and city."

So if you are determined to find that one missing book that has been designated as "Not on Shelf" at Hatcher for months, look no further than the Ann Arbor District Library. Chances are you'll find it there - if not, you can stay, listen to a visiting storyteller and go home with a piece of artwork to decorate your room.

02-25-99