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Westgate Branch

Westgate Branch interior

2503 Jackson Ave (In Westgate Shopping Center) - Google Maps
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 327-4200


You can reserve Meeting Room A or B at Westgate at rooms. Reservations are available from tomorrow onward. You can reserve two hours per room per day, limited to 12 bookings per room per year.

Originally opened in 1977, the Westgate Branch re-opened in September 2016, having nearly quadrupled in size to its current 21,000 square feet. The Westgate Branch serves as a convenient learning center that delivers superior customer service, primarily to the residents of the northwest quadrant of Ann Arbor. The branch is in the well located and easily accessible Westgate Shopping Center off of Jackson Avenue.

Resources

The Branch houses an updated collection, consisting of traditional materials, such as books, BOCDs, and DVDs, now organized by user-friendly subject headings. Electronic resources include 13 public computer terminals, wireless internet access, and abundant electrical outlets throughout the building. Along with the more traditional picture and chapter books, the Westgate Kids section features a sizable collection of kids magazines, educational toys, a group of iPad gaming stations, and a giant honeycomb wall!

Spaces

While its primary mission is to deliver traditional library services, the Branch also serves as a true community center. In addition to the quiet and comfortable reading area complete with fireplace similar to other AADL branches, Westgate features both tables and comfortable seating throughout the building. Many tables are found near Sweetwaters Cafe, the first full-service cafe located within an AADL location. In addition to open seating, the branch has four first-come, first-served study rooms. Two meeting rooms are also available and reservable by members of the public. The West Side Room is used for library programs and will be available for rental beginning in January 2017.


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Translated Library Card Applications

The Ann Arbor District Library has translated its library card application into nine additional languages to help community members apply for a library card. Click the language below to download or print a PDF of that version of the library card application and bring the completed form to any AADL location to receive your card. 

Arabic

Chinese

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Public Event

Arbor Teas Summer Reading Series: "Expiration Date"

Wednesday June 28, 2017: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

June 10, 2015 Minutes of the Regular Meeting

ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
PITTSFIELD BRANCH LIBRARY
2359 OAK VALLEY DRIVE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015

15-117 I. CALL TO ORDER

President Barney Newman called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.

15-118 II. ATTENDANCE

Board Present: Kaplan (arr. 6:10p.m.), Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
Absent: None
Staff: Hadler, Neiburger, Parker, Tuthill, Wilson (recorder)
Others Present: James Greene, Dykema

15-119 III. VOTE FOR CLOSED SESSION FOR OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
(Item of action)
Roll call vote

Trustee Leary, supported by Trustee Leija, moved to hold a closed session for opinion of legal counsel and labor negotiations.

A roll call vote was taken.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-120 IV. RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING AT 7:00 PM

President Barney Newman reconvened to the regular meeting at 7:03 p.m.

15-121 V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)

Trustee Rosenthal, supported by Secretary Kaplan, moved to approve the agenda. President Barney Newman added the following items to the agenda: Old Business A. Friends Space Use Agreement – Item of action; New Business A. Resolution to Ratify Agreement with the AADL Librarians Association – Item of Action; New Business B. Resolution to Ratify Agreement with the AADL Staff Associates – Item of Action; New Business J. – Thanks to Sue Dishmon Upon Her Retirement – Item of action

Trustee Rosenthal, supported by Trustee Leija, moved to approve the additions to the agenda. The amended agenda was voted on.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-122 VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2015
(Item of action)

Trustee Rosenthal supported by Trustee Leija, moved to approve the minutes of May 18, 2015.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-123 VII. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

There were no citizens’ comments.

15-124 VIII. FINANCIAL REPORTS

CFO Hadler reported May showed an unrestricted cash balance just over $9.4 million. Tax receipts over $11.5 million, reflecting 98.6% of the budgeted amount, have been received through the end of May. Budget versus actual showed an operating surplus of $451,243. The fund balance stands just above $8.7 million. Four line items are currently over budget.

15-125 IX. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)

Trustee Leary, supported by Trustee Rosenthal, moved to approve the May 2015 disbursements.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-126 X. COMMITTEE REPORTS

15-127 A. POLICY COMMITTEE

Chairperson Kaplan reported the committee consisting of herself and trustees Leija and Rosenthal met and reviewed proposed changes to FOIA procedures as required under Public Act 563. It was determined that the AADL Freedom of Information Policy did not require any change. However, the Act required revised procedures and guidelines which were drafted by Dykema and reviewed by the committee. No Board action is required on the procedures.

Trustee Leija recommended that Board members secure an AADL email account for library related communication. The Board discussed personal versus public email accounts and referred the topic back to the committee.

15-128 XI. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Director Parker reported the Downtown Library re-opened this past Saturday after being closed two weeks for construction. She acknowledged Andra Williams and Andrew MacLaren for their excellent work in re-organizing collections throughout three floors of the library during the closure.

The summer game begins June 12th.

The reception for this year’s visiting delegation from Tubingen held at Malletts Creek was very well attended.

Eli Neiburger will be in San Francisco as a keynote speaker at the President's Program of the American Association of School Librarians Conference being held at ALA. Also at ALA, AADL will receive a Best of Show Award for our 2014 Summer Game video.

AADL has been invited to the inaugural National Maker Faire in Washington, D.C. Staff members Steve Teeri and Valerie Sobczak will be attending.

AADL received notification from Representative Dingell’s office that we were awarded a NEH grant for Latino Americans: 500 Years of History. Tim Grimes and Terry Soave were recognized for their efforts in securing this grant.

15-129 XII. MONTHLY STATISTICS

No additional statistical information was provided.

15-130 XIII. OLD BUSINESS

15-087 A. FRIENDS OF THE ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY SPACE USE AGREEMENT UPDATE
(Item of action)

Director Parker notified the Board that the Space Use Agreement with the Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library has expired. A letter has been drafted on behalf of the Board addressing the Friends request for amendments to the agreement.

Director Parker introduced Jim Greene from Dykema to address the requested amendments.

Mr. Greene reported that the request from the Friends to have audits performed every three years and have only reviews in the interim years is not unreasonable as they have received clean audits for over 10 years. The Library is submitting a revised Space Use Agreement requesting that in the interim years their auditor provide documentation reviewing their cash and cash handling process and procedures. The letter also requests that the FAADL Board stress the importance to their members and volunteers compliance with AADL policies and procedures regarding access, safety and security.

Trustee Leary, supported by Trustee Leija, moved to approve the letter addressed to the FAADL Board and the revised Space Use Agreement as proposed.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

Mr. Greene left the meeting at 7:44 p.m.

15-131 XIV. NEW BUSINESS

15-132 A. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND RATIFY AGREEMENT WITH THE ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY LIBRARIANS ASSOCIATION
(Item of action)

Trustee Rosenthal, supported by Trustee Leary, moved to approve and ratify the Agreement effective July 1, 2015 between the Ann Arbor District Library Librarians Association and Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-133 B. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AND RATIFY AGREEMENT WITH THE ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY STAFF ASSOCIATES
(Item of action)

Trustee Leija, supported by Trustee Leary, moved to approve and ratify the Agreement effective July 1, 2015 between the Ann Arbor District Library Staff Associates and Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-134 C. RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO REBECCA HEAD
(Item of action)

President Barney Newman, supported by Trustee Rosenthal, moved that the Ann Arbor District Library Board would like to officially thank Rebecca Head for her ten and one half years of outstanding service on the Ann Arbor District Library Board.

That the District Library would like to recognize Rebecca Head for her instructive wisdom and valuable leadership, friendship and commitment to the Library. Trustee Head brought true compassion and honest consideration for everyone with whom she came in contact: fellow board members, the public, the staff, volunteers, any visitors and all others. The fact that she listened before deciding and her generous ability not to judge were a model of public service long to be remembered by this Board.

That all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-135 D. DISCUSSION AND DECISION OF BOARD MEMBER REPLACEMENT
(Item of action)

President Barney Newman presented three nominees for the board position left vacant with the resignation of Rebecca Head. The names of Ms. Ebru Uras, Ms. Jamie Vander Broek and Ms. Karen Hart were presented to the Board for consideration. Board members discussed and considered all proposed candidates.

Trustee Leija introduced Jamie Vander Broek who was in attendance. Ms. Vander Broek thanked the Board for considering her and stated she was passionately devoted to the Ann Arbor District Library system.

Voting for all candidates was done with a show of hands and was as follows:

Ms. Karen Hart: Trustee Leary, Trustee Surovell

Ms. Jamie Vander Broek: Trustee Kaplan, Trustee Leija, Trustee Barney Newman, Trustee Rosenthal

Ms. Ebru Uras: None

Ms. Jamie Vander Broek was appointed to fill the remaining vacant term through December 2016.

15-136 E. ELECT LIBRARY BOARD TREASURER
(Item of action)
Roll call vote

President Barney Newman, supported by Trustee Surovell, moved to nominate Trustee Rosenthal to the position of Board Treasurer. There were no other nominations.

A roll call vote was taken.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

President Barney Newman offered the oath of office to Treasurer Rosenthal:

“I, (name stated), DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL ABIDE BY THE BYLAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS OF MY OFFICE AS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.”

Trustee Rosenthal was installed as Board Treasurer.

15-137 F. BOARD COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
(Item of action)

Action on filling vacant Board Committees was postponed until the July Board meeting.

15-138 G. JULY AND AUGUST AADL BOARD MEETING DATES
(Item of discussion)

It was determined that quorum would be met at both scheduled July and August AADL Board meetings.

15-139 H. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2014-2015 BUDGET
(Item of action)

Trustee Leija, supported by Trustee Leary, moved to transfer $45,000 from Capital Outlays to Purchased Services; to transfer $5,000 from Capital Outlays to Communications; to transfer $25,000 from Capital Outlays to Software; to transfer $45,000 from Capital Outlays to Supplies; to transfer $2,000 from Capital Outlays to Other Operating Expenditures; that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-140 I. RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO JENNY IOTT UPON HER RETIREMENT
(Item of action)

Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Leija, moved the Board resolves that it would like to officially thank Jenny Iott for her service as an employee from March 19, 2001 to June 19, 2015 of the Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-141 J. RESOLUTION OF THANKS TO SUE DISHMON UPON HER RETIREMENT
(Item of action)

Trustee Leija, supported by Trustee Leary, moved the Board resolves That it would like to officially thank Sue Dishmon for her service as an employee from December 20, 1999 to June 30, 2015 of the Ann Arbor District Library; that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-142 K. VOTE FOR CLOSED SESSION AT THE JULY 20, 2015 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE, OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL AND LABOR NEGOTIATIONS
(Item of action)
Roll call vote

Trustee Leary, supported by Trustee Leija, moved to hold a closed session at the July 20, 2015 regular meeting for discussion of real estate, opinion of legal counsel and labor negotiations.

A roll call vote was taken.

AYES: Kaplan, Leary, Leija, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None

Motion passed 6-0.

15-143 XV. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS

Emily Puckett Rodgers

I’m very excited that you just voted in Jamie. She’s a professional colleague of mine and we work together at the University Library and coordinating a lot of community focused events. I’m on the board of A2Geeks, which is a local non-profit that hosts the Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire and other local community events celebrating the arts and technology community here through education. I am the new president of that board. I also want to thank all of you for supporting the Ann Arbor Mini Maker Faire and supporting all of that here in a very creative and vibrant way. I wanted to thank you again.

Michael Lausch

My name is Michael Lausch and I want to also congratulate Jamie Lausch Vander Broek on her appointment. You’ve made an excellent choice. Thank you.

15-144 XVI. ADJOURNMENT

President Barney Newman adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

Freedom of Information

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

The District Library Board directs the Director of the Library to implement procedures to keep the district in compliance with 1976 P.A. 422 et seq. known as the Freedom of Information Act and to monitor the administration of those procedures.

Policy adopted by the Ann Arbor District Library Board December 12, 1995

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION PROCEDURES

Public Summary of Procedures and Guidelines

Procedures and Guidelines

Traverwood Branch

3333 Traverwood Drive (at Huron Parkway) - Google Maps Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (734) 327-4200

Opened in June 2008, the Traverwood Branch serves as a community-based learning center that delivers superior customer service, primarily to the residents of the northeast quadrant of Ann Arbor. Both the building and the surrounding landscape capitalize on environmental principles, thereby allowing the overall project to operate more in harmony with the ecosystem and the community in which it serves. The Traverwood Branch Library is situated on 4.34 acres located in the southwest corner of Traverwood Drive and Huron Parkway in Ann Arbor. The Branch is a one-story building of approximately 16,500 square feet. It replaced the Northeast Branch of AADL, located in Plymouth Mall, which was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the community. In 2009, the Traverwood Branch won the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Michigan Building Design Award for its innovative design. Read more about the Traverwood Branch and the documentary made about the construction of Traverwood titled, "Up From The Ashes" or visit our image gallery to see photos and drawings of the building.

Resources

The Branch houses an updated collection, consisting of traditional materials, such as books, magazines, and DVDs. Electronic resources include 24 computer terminals, 20 of which are located in an Electronic Training classroom, a laptop computer station with seating for nine people, and wireless internet access throughout the building. Along with the more traditional picture and chapter books, the Traverwood Youth and Young Adult section features a sizable collection of Teen graphic novels, youth magazines and a group of Youth computer stations.

Spaces

While its primary mission is to deliver traditional library services, the Branch also serves as a true community center. This facility includes a quiet and comfortable reading area complete with fireplace that houses the branch's magazines and newspapers. Traverwood also features a vending area, a program room for groups of up to 60 people and four study and tutor rooms. For more information about how to rent the program room please visit the Room Rental Page.

Natural Beauty

The Traverwood Branch is unique for its green construction and the natural beauty in its design. Both the building and the surrounding landscape capitalize on environmental principles, thereby allowing the overall project to operate more in harmony with the ecosystem and the community in which it serves. The building’s site, a triangular portion of land at the intersection of Traverwood Drive and Huron Parkway, runs along the Stapp Nature Preserve at its rear. A rain garden is located on the south side of the building. The design of the Branch takes advantage of natural day lighting. The ash trees that were removed from the site were incorporated in the Building's design, used in the flooring and shelving for the Traverwood Branch. A few of the trees were left intact and used as support beams along a row of windows on the south wing of the building to dramatic effect. The trunks interact beautifully with the uninterrupted expanse of green trees behind the building.

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Downtown Library Project

By the 1940s, the need for a new Downtown Library to replace the Carnegie-funded structure on Huron Street and State Street had become apparent. Years of study led to the selection of the site at the corner of South Fifth Avenue and William Street for this new library, which opened it doors on October 13, 1957. By the early 1970s this building itself had become insufficient to meet the needs of a growing library system (which by then had also constructed the Loving Branch, precursor to the Malletts Creek Branch). An expansion doubling the size of the 1957 building was completed in 1974. A third addition was completed in 1991, adding the 3rd and 4th floors and again doubling the size of the library, in order to meet the needs of a growing collection size, rising circulation numbers, and increased programming offerings.

In 2007, AADL hired PROVIDENCE Associates LLC to undertake a study assessing the 20-year feasibility of the Downtown Library. This study included 10 focus groups with more than 100 users of the AADL and sought to determine the needs of the library as its needs and offerings to the community continue to grow. The findings of this study led the AADL Board to issue a Request for Qualifications for Architectural and Engineering Services that eventually resulted in the selection of Luckenbach-Ziegelman Architects, PLLC of Ann Arbor. Skanska was hired as the construction firm who would undertake the project in whatever form it would eventually take.

At the same time as the development of the concept for the Downtown Library, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority created a plan to replace the parking lot on the north side of the Library with an underground parking garage. This led the two organizations to develop a joint survey asking for feedback on both the Downtown Library and parking. The results of this survey will help guide the AADL and Lukenbach">Ziegelman Architects as plans for the Downtown Library develop.

In November 2008, the Library Board voted to suspend the Downtown Library Project as a result of the economic downturn.

2007 Providence Report on the Twenty-Year Feasibility of the Downtown Library
2008 AADL Downtown Branch Renovation and South Fifth Avenue Underground Parking Survey
2008 Skanska Cost Estimates for Renovation and New Building

Pittsfield Branch

Opened March 20, 2006

Architects: Luckenbach | Ziegelman Architects, PLLC
Construction Manager: Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Landscape Architects: InSite Design Studio, Inc.

The Pittsfield Branch is an example of sustainable design. Both the building itself and the surrounding landscape capitalize on environmental principles, thereby allowing the overall project to operate more in harmony with the ecosystem and the community in which it serves. The building incorporates solar heating, natural daylighting, convection cooling, and materials which are from renewable resources and ultimately recyclable. The Library site encompasses principles such as naturally capturing and filtering stormwater and implementing native plants and grasses.

Environmental Considerations:

1. Relationship to Site

The main space of the library faces south to capture the maximum heating benefit from the winter sun and maximum daylight throughout the year. The south wall is designed to admit maximum solar radiation in the winter but to block direct sun in the summer, admitting primarily indirect and reflected light. The north and west sides, those most exposed to winter winds, are service spaces and have minimal windows.

2. Building Cross-section

The high, arching ceiling combined with the roof monitor serves to reinforce the natural tendency of warm air to rise, thus facilitating convective cooling. In the summer, air in the monitor is heated by the sun and is allowed to escape through operating windows on the north side. It is replaced by cooler air entering near the floor on the south side and, to a lesser extent, air entering from under the eave on the north. In the winter, with the windows closed, the heated air in the monitor is pushed down by ceiling fans. Overhangs block the high angle summer sun but admit the lower angle winter sun.

3. Recycled Content Material

By way of example, the roof and much of the sidewalls are clad with pre-finished steel, made primarily from recycled material. The pre-finishing is with a low VOC content resin. The window frames are fabricated from recycled aluminum, and the carpet is woven with 50% recycled content yarn. The cellulose wall insulation consists of 90% recycled material, and the drywall will be a minimum 50% recycled content.

4. Low Energy Content Material

The masonry for this building is burnished concrete masonry units rather than brick. Not only is far less energy consumed in the manufacture of these units than is required for brick, but they are manufactured less than 50 miles from Ann Arbor and, therefore, a relatively small amount of energy is consumed in their transportation to the site.

5. Materials from Renewable Resources

Wood for construction and for the fabrication of furnishings is from managed forests rather than from old-growth forest trees. For example, cork flooring is made from the bark of the cork tree, which is removed without damaging the tree and subsequently re-grows.

6. Coordinated and Efficient Lighting

The artificial lighting system is automatically monitored so that it is turned on only when the day lighting is insufficient for comfortable reading. If the day lighting level rises, the lights automatically shut off. A built-in time delay prevents frequent cycling on and off. The light fixtures utilize highly efficient T5Ho lamps with electronic ballasts, and limited accent lighting is low-voltage halogen.

7. Air Quality Management

Most commercial buildings operate with a constant quantity of outside air taken in by the mechanical system whether needed or not for health and/or comfort reasons. The Branch has sensitive air quality monitoring devices that modulate the air intake so that the only outside air that is heated or cooled is what is actually required at any given time.

8. Construction Practices

During construction, wood, plastic, and metal waste was separated so that it was recycled, thereby diverting at least 50% of the usual construction waste from the landfill.

Natural Features Enhancement and Management Program

The restoration and management areas include the existing watercourse, Malletts Creek, and wetland. Restoration of these areas involves selective planting of species native to Southeast Michigan that are more appropriate and better adapted to the site than non-native species. This diverse array of native plant material also functions as wildlife food and shelter, and to attract pollinators to the area. Initial and long-term maintenance is performed on this site to preserve the quality of the native plant systems and to assess their impact on the watercourse and wetland.

Pittsfield Branch Image Gallery

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