Comments on: Meeting Watch: Ann Arbor District Library (15 Sept 2008)

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:31:33 +0000

AADL director Josie Parker writes about the library building project here: http://www.aadl.org/node/11361

Re. the county’s Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled: AADL has agreed to take on the services, most of the materials, and the equipment – not the employees.

By: Dave Cahill

Dave Cahill — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:27:43 +0000

It’s great that the AADL is willing to rescue the programs that the library for the blind offered. However, I would not hold out too much hope that the existing staff will be re-hired by the AADL.

Also, I say “good riddance” to the present Alden Dow-designed downtown library. Like most architects, Dow was willing to build anything. However, his specialty was not public architecture – it was private housing. And his lack of inspiration in the public architecture field is obvious from what he designed in Ann Arbor: the city hall, the Fleming Administration Building, the Community Center on North Main, and the downtown library.

(Note: I retired from the AADL Board on June 30.)

By: A. L. Bliss

A. L. Bliss — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:53:07 +0000

Mary,

Regarding tearing down the current library: I figure these things happen, but will lament this one more than some, as the building is one of a few in town designed by Alden B. Dow, a rather amazing architect who was a student of F. L. Wright. Some of his designs don’t fit very comfortably with a 2008 aesthetic – not that I could tell you what a 2008 aesthetic is. (His works include: Ann Arbor City Hall, UM admin bldg, UM Botanical Gardens, Greenhills School, etc.)

But as a part of American architectural history, he’s a good example of someone who took Wright’s instruction and put his own spin on it. Look at the Guggenheim Museum, then look at the Guy Larcom building here, and notice the similar influence. One needn’t think city hall is a beautiful building to appreciate how fresh it looked in 1963. Dow did most of his work in Midland, MI (being the son of H.H. Dow of Dow Chemical fame), where he designed a great many churches, and (my favorite) private homes. His own home and studio is well worth a visit, and is, I think, his masterpiece: http://abdow.org

So, there will be one less A. B. Dow design in the world, once the library comes down. Not many will likely care much, but I’ll miss it, mostly because I admire the work of someone who believed in a bold vision of a future that never quite happened, but was cool in its own right.

By: Leah Gunn

Leah Gunn — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:20:22 +0000

We at the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners are grateful to the AADL for taking over the services of the Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled. The program will be supported by the taxpayers of the AADL District (which is the same as the AA Public Schools) but will serve the entire county. According to what I have been told personally by Josie Parker, the same programs will continue for the patrons, and she wants to add activites and services, expecially for children who are not served now.

So thank you to the AADL and its taxpayers for coninuing to provide this very valuable service to all county citizens.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:38:50 +0000

While the AADL is short on space, moving the library for the blind might make it more accessible — the old location was pretty out-of-the-way. Is there any word on whether staff will be transitioned? There are some great and experienced folks working at the County, and I don’t know that there are qualified staff at AADL. Can you get some comments from current County library patrons and the AADL? I’d love to hear more about this.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:53:44 +0000

TeacherPatti: A couple of people spoke up during the meeting’s public comment session in support of the county library’s services for the blind and disabled, fearful that those services would be curtailed or eliminated by AADL. Josie Parker said the transition might take a while, but that they were committed to that constituency. Glad you liked the article!

By: TeacherPatti

TeacherPatti — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Mary, thanks for the excellent article. I had NO idea that the library for the blind was going to close. That’s forever on my list of “to do field trips” for my kiddos (I teach the blind at DPS). I’m relieved to hear that it will not only stay open, but will expand.