This is my happy place. I love coming to the library to see what they have on their express shelf…read moreand to ask the kind, helpful librarians for recommendations. They also have miscellaneous cool stuff for checkout like board games, music instruments, even art. The website is easy to use in terms of reserving books. If you reserve a book and clear the wait list, they will pull it for you. I wish they had a method of deferring (eg if you clear the wait list when you're on vacation) so that you don't have to go back through the queue, but understand how this could be complicated. Their "shelf service" is amazing. You put in your reading preferences and they select a handful of books that fit. It's wild that this is something you can access for free. It's a nice physical space with plenty of bathrooms, reading areas, wifi, etc. I love this library and coming here makes me so grateful to live in AA

I can't believe that I came here for the first time last weekend, even though it's been 8 years…read moresince I was a student in Ann Arbor! Ann Arbor offers an abundance of things -- not just books -- and it's one of the most impressive libraries I've been to because of that! I came here last weekend because I heard they had an art exhibit for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month of a collection of artwork made by various Taiwanese artists. As a Taiwanese American, I knew I had to check this out immediately! And while I came to see this collection (and was so impressed by it!), I stayed for all the other things the library had to offer! I perused it's rows of artwork (including the Taiwanese artwork!) that you could check out and display in your household for 2 months on end! What a ingenious idea, I thought, as someone who is constantly switching out the artwork I have hung around my house depending on my mood haha! I also perused their aisles of equipment you can check out for every reason under the sun - starting a podcast? need some hardware? lighting? DJing? hosting a big party and want some giant chess? want to try a new instrument? The list goes on and on and the opportunities are endless! It's a shame that I am neither an Ann Arbor resident nor work in the city, so unfortunately I can't get a free library membership (and a paid one costs $150 a year!), and the librarian I spoke too also mentioned that the University of Michigan doesn't collaborate with the AA District Library either, so I'm not entirely sure if you're able to even get a membership here as a student, if you don't change your address to something in Ann Arbor, which is a bit of a bummer! But if you live or work in Ann Arbor, definitely don't sleep on the district library and make sure to take FULL advantage of all this place has to offer!

This is a beautiful library! I loved all the light wood tones and natural light. This is my…read morebrother's family's local branch and they stopped by one evening to check out some books. I tagged along because even though I don't have an AADL card, I love libraries. I browsed the used book section up at the front, which had a lot of great titles and many looked brand new. Most of the books were $2 with some that I saw for $5. I ended up buying two books that caught my eye - luckily they take Apple Pay because I left my wallet in my backpack at their house. This was such a nice experience and I would love to come back to this branch in the future.

Beautiful library - the architecture is gorgeous here! I love the tall birch tree trunks that frame…read morethe large, open windows and let in a lot of natural light for visitors trying to study and spend time here. Feels modern and comfortable. This library is also very child-friendly. There are small computer monitors on desks adjusted to children's heights they can use to play games on. I really appreciate how pro-public health AADL libraries are - the staff mask and there are free masks and tests provided for those who need them. There is ample parking next to the library. I also notice this library is next to a couple walkable neighborhoods - jealous of the residents here who can easily walk to and visit the library! There are open glass study rooms available at this location. If there is anything you want to borrow here that's normally located at another library branch, you can request a transfer of your desired item to this location and pick it up when it's ready to go. So convenient. Love this place, will definitely be back!

As a former librarian and lifelong library user and advocate, I love visiting libraries in other…read morecities. Nate and I were in town for work and needed a spot to do some remote work, so we stopped by this branch of AADL. The website said they didn't open until 10 am, so I was surprised to see people walking around inside the library and using the study rooms well before 10 am. There is a Sweetwaters attached and it seems like they have an arrangement with the library for cafe visitors to use part of the library space even before the library officially opens. I originally chose this location due to its easy parking and study rooms, but we set up at one of the tables near the cafe as the study rooms were already full. They were like little fishbowls - just a glass room with no actual door. The front of the library got a little bit loud at times, but it worked okay for us. There were many people working and browsing the library while we were there. The library is a lot larger than I was expecting for a branch in a mall, and I had fun exploring the used books for sale as well as the records they had to check out. Towards the back of the library is a "reading room," which was a quieter space with a fireplace, bigger tables, and cozy chairs. That was a popular area and it filled up quickly. I'll definitely be coming back soon!

I went here just check out sweet waters coffee next door and found myself at this connected…read morelibrary! The front desk was super helpful and gave me a brief tour and helped me make a library card! Very convenient location.

Plenty of parking and lots of seating inside the library…read more The employees were really friendly and one helped me find a book I was looking for! It's a pretty cool library with the arch shaped ceiling inside. Grateful for a nice library closeby!

WHERE ARE THE OLD AND CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS? Fantastic place, though the selection feels limited, and…read morethe nonfiction seems catered toward one specific type of person with one specific type of opinion, as do most things in Ann Arbor... it's not so black and white--I'm not some Trump diehard either, I'm just not really the breed of socially and financially comfortable Democrat person Ann Arbor propagates, not really a "democrat" or a voter at all, and that dissonance between who I am and who Plum Market patrons would like me to be is as apparent here in this library the selection of books as it is in many other places in Ann Arbor. I'd give it two or three stars for that reason alone but I'm absolutely thrilled to see they give out free Narcan and fentanyl test strips at the front - we addicts do love books but myself and the others I know do tend toward the exact sort of things that are being overlooked or perhaps censored by this library--the older and more controversial books, occultism, crime etc. I barely saw anything from before the year 2010, which is pretty disheartening, and a lot of the nonfiction had one particular political angle. All in all a pretty decent library with an okay if slightly sterile selection of books. I found a cool one on the history of opium, and a few on true crime that were pretty interesting.

If you want more of a social vs quite library experience this place is for you!…read more The staff may be louder than the guests themselves, there is zero attempt at trying to create a quite environment. It's airport type design amplifies the noise in this location horribly. Why would anyone design a quite space life this??

My local AADL output! It is of course much smaller than the downtown branch, and with much fewer…read moreactivities/classes/events (though I'll admit I likely am not aware of all that the Pittsfield branch has to offer). I really enjoy the convenience of the Request books for pick up option, as they'll transport books/media that you would like to check out from other branches to this one (or any of them of your choosing). That is my most common use of the Pittsfield branch - picking up requests off the hold shelf and returning books. Plenty of convenient parking, free wifi, book/media return options inside and outside the building (so you can make returns at any time). A nice reading room, various bookable rooms, and some tables throughout to read, study, or work from. May not be the quietest place to work from if you have a lot of calls/video meetings. I also found out today that you can print up to 30 pages a day for free, and can print off your mobile device (connected to their WiFi and selecting their printers). Pretty cool! (Especially nice to know since my printer at home just apparently stopped working.)

I'm peeved at myself for not spending more time here but in a perfect world, at least once a week,…read moreI would come and sit in the new arrivals of the periodicals section, lounge out on the couches, and flip through the magazines for at least a couple hours, sipping on some tea or coffee from the little 'cafe' downstairs. This library has mixed spatial identities so it is up to you to find your nook. There are a variety of group areas versus quiet solo spaces versus my aforementioned favorite, the periodicals section in the atrium. It is a GIANT atrium and I love how the pleasant low hum of people talking throughout the building is softly absorbed by the silence of books. Of course the selection of books is astounding (one thing U of M has going for it) though a good deal of them are in the basement which is, let's just call it like it is, ugly as sin and depressing. The library also has a bunch of adjoining little "centers," one of which is this phenomenal media suite for editing, transferring, and doing whatever you want to whatever media you want. There is also a full-blown recording studio free for students to use. Damn you PhD for taking away all my time, energy, and creativity because otherwise, I'd be a rock star filmmaker by now. There's also a video game archive as well as special collections that has some crazy old architecture books like you wouldn't believe. Open 24-hours with plenty of computers. If you like artsy fartsy materials, this is your place.

This library is awesome! The building structure is mostly glass and so there is a lot of natural…read morelight beaming into every corner. This library has so many amazing resources: hundreds of databases, a glorious collections of books, a beautiful contemporary reading area with art and architecture magazines, and we cannot forget the many wonders of the Duderstadt Center. There is actually a room with video games (PC and every console ever created), not to mention audio and video recording studios. Computers are everywhere. Eating is allowed. They have a cafe in the front of the library. Important note: the stapler is located on the first floor at the center desk.

Excellent !! Your security guard, Chris, is an outstanding individual. I accidentally left my…read moreTitlist Driver after picking up the DVD'S I requested & he saw it & secured it until I returned. Great person. Have great respect for him.

I love this library. It's a gorgeous building and laid out very well. The assistants there are…read moresuper helpful and always very friendly.

Really interesting museum/ library even if you're not a history buff. (But maybe I've gotten more…read moreinterested in reading about political history with all the disfunction in politics over the last 10-15 years.) in any case, it was interesting & informative. It was Refreshing to see a GOP President who was sensible, well liked & respected by BOTH sides of the aisle... which Made My Day!

First time in Michigan. Decided to visit one of two Gerald Ford Presidential Libraries/Museums in…read moreMichigan. Why is there a Presidential Library in one city and a Presidential Museum in another? According to the security guard, President Ford has already offered his congressional papers to the University of Michigan, his Alma mater, before becoming president. He donated vice presidential and presidential papers while still in office. However he wanted his museum in his hometown of Grand Rapids. Therefore, two locations. The library itself is quite small, unless you are doing research. Basically just a lobby filled with exhibits, artifacts and a meeting room. Take a peek in the office through a locked glass door. The exhibit on the bicentennial was interesting. Loved the photo with the Girl Scouts and the letters from children. Get your Presidential Passport stamped. If you want to see more, visit the museum in Grand Rapids. That is where Ford grew up and represented as a congressman. His museum is located in his hometown. Good for a very brief visit if you are on University of Michigan Campus in Ann Arbor. Or, if you really want a 250th stamp in your Presidential Passport.

Decent study place in the North Campus of the University of Michigan. The place gets really crowded…read moreduring dead weeks, but there are quite a lot of desks that you could probably get a place to study. It is open to the public until midnight. Mujo is a great place to get decent coffee and snacks. I usually go with the Crammin Caramel Latte, which is pretty good. Just a heads up, sometimes it can be a little too sweet. Don't forget to get a FlocksTag card and use it!

I had the pleasure of attending the PCAP's annual presentation of prisoner art this year at the…read moreDuderstat Center Gallery this year. It was a thought provoking exhibit. The art had a such a wide range of styles, themes and mediums. Some of it was quite amazing really. I really was inspired by some of the beauty that was created in some of what must be the worst of circumstances. Some of it was achingly hopeful while other works really allowed you a glimpse at despair and even ugliness. All you can ask from art, a look at the real. So many contibutors, well over 300 pieces. We took our time and were there quite awhile. Quite an experience. Thanks for the heads up on this Mariah!