Join in the celebration as AADL unveils Old News, a new, online product (available at aadl.org after this event) devoted to the digitization of newspapers from Ann Arbor's past.

Over the course of fifteen months, acclaimed author Sebastian Junger (author of The Perfect Storm) followed a single platoon based at a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan. His objective was to convey what soldiers experience--what war actually feels like. The resulting New York Times Bestseller 'War,' (now available in paperback), describes what few civilians will ever witness - what it means to fight, to serve, and to face down mortal danger on a constant basis.His time in Afghanistan is also the subject of the documentary feature film Restrepo, which Junger directed with award-winning photographer Tim Hetherington. Restrepo received the 2010 Grand Jury Prize for documentary at Sundance and an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. In addition to 'The Perfect Storm,' (the basis for a major motion picture starring George Clooney), other Junger bestsellers include 'Fire' and 'A Death in Belmont.' A contributing editor to Vanity Fair, Junger has been awarded a SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism as well as a National Magazine Award. This event includes a booksigning and books will be on sale.

Each year, Library Director Josie Barnes Parker chooses a current topic of interest as the director's program for National Library Week. At this year's event, several nationally-known journalists will discuss the future of their field in this era of change. This panel discussion features Franklyn Cater, senior producer at NPR's All Things Considered; Wayne Drehs, three-time Emmy Award-winning sportswriter for ESPN.com and Kyle Poplin, who helped launch Bluffton Today, an interactive, hyper-local newspaper.

In the 10 years since his first story appeared in the debut issue of National Geographic Adventure, journalist and photographer Tom Clynes has covered Ebola outbreaks and armed conflicts in Central Africa, retraced Edmund Hillary's climbs in New Zealand, learned to fly in the Australian outback, and chased the ghosts of outlaws and freedom fighters in Iceland, Jamaica and Vanuatu. In this stunningly visual presentation, he'll bring us along on assignment to the ends of the Earth. This event is co-sponsored by the Knight-Wallace Fellows.Tom Clynes is a contributing editor for National Geographic Adventure and author of the book Wild Planet. An alumnus of the University of Michigan, he has returned to campus this academic year as a Knight-Wallace Fellow.

Since John F. Kennedy's presidency, Helen Thomas has covered more presidents as a member of the White House Press Corps than any journalist working today. The recipient of more than thirty honorary degrees, she was honored in 1998 with the inaugural Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, established by the White House Correspondents' Association. From her long and illustrious vantage point, she has seen presidents succeed and fail, and has now collected that knowledge in her new book (co-written with Craig Crawford), 'Listen Up Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do.' At this special event, cosponsored by Michigan Radio, Helen shares her candid views about the White House and discusses her new book of Presidential advice. The event, which will include a booksigning, will be held at The Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty, Ann Arbor). Books will be on sale at the event, courtesy of Nicola's Books.

Helene Cooper is a native of Liberia who came to the United States at 14 years of age. She grew up at Sugar Beach, a mansion by the sea, and lived a childhood filled wealth and advantages. It was also an African childhood, filled with knock foot games and hot pepper soup, heartmen and neegee. But after the coup d'etat in 1980, Helene, her mother, and her sister fled Liberia for America. Helene will discuss her memoir, a deeply personal story and an examination of a violent and stratified country. It is also the story of Helene Cooper's long voyage home. Ms.

A total of 10,500 athletes took part in 302 events in 28 sports in the recent 2008 Summer Olympic games. Richard Deitsch, a UM Knight-Wallace Fellow, is special projects editor and media writer for SI.com. He has covered four Olympic Games, including Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin and Beijing. At this program, Deitsch will give his eye-witness account of the '08 games.

Cokie Roberts covers Congress, politics and public policy for ABC News and serves as Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio, where she was the congressional correspondent for more than ten years. AADL is honored to host an evening with the award-winning journalist at the Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty in Ann Arbor. In her best-selling book "Founding Mothers," Roberts paid homage to the women who helped establish our nation. In "Ladies of Liberty," (Morrow; on sale April 8, 2008) she continues the story of more remarkable women and their achievements in moving the fledgling nation forward, from 1796 to 1828. The event includes a book signing, with books for sale courtesy of Borders. There is no charge for admission. Cosponsored by Michigan Radio.In her more than thirty years in broadcasting, Ms. Roberts has won many awards, including two Emmys. She has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame, and was cited by the American Women in Radio and Television as one of the fifty greatest women in the history of broadcasting.

Mr. Shadid, the only journalist to win a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting from Iraq, will discuss the world of Iraq and his award-winning book, 'Night Draws Near: Iraq's People In The Shadow of America's War,' a riveting account of ordinary people caught between the struggles of nations. Shadid went to war in Iraq neither embedded with soldiers nor briefed by politicians. Because he is fluent in Arabic, Shadid -- an Arab American born and raised in Oklahoma -- was able to disappear into the divided, dangerous worlds of Iraq.

The Library is proud to host Joseph Lelyveld, executive editor of The New York Times from 1994 to 2001, as he discusses his new memoir and his illustrious career. Mr. Lelyveld held high leadership positions at The New York Times for twelve years. He has been a correspondent for The New York Times in London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Washington, D.C. and South Africa.In his memoir, 'Omaha Blues: A Memory Loop,' Lelyveld unravels the tangled story of his father, a rabbi, and mother with equal measures of candor and tenderness.