Annual Events and Series

You’re invited to learn and explore at these regularly scheduled events. Watch for them in our upcoming events list.

Recurring series

The following series recur throughout the academic year:

• Deep Dive into Digital and Data Methods for Chinese Studies
• Third Thursdays at the Library

MLK Day 

January

Observe MLK Day by attending our premier event of the year, when we present a keynote speaker or performance in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Learn more about our MLK Day event.

Douglass Day

Valentine's Day

Each year we throw a birthday party for Frederick Douglass on Valentine's Day. A leader in the abolitionist movement, Douglass pushed for equality and human rights until his death in 1895. In his honor, join with people across the country to transcribe writings by Douglass and other Black leaders and make them freely available for learning about Black history.

Café Shapiro 

Winter

Over the course of several evenings, stellar undergraduate student writers, nominated by their professors, read from their creative work, demonstrating the value of the arts and humanities. 

Learn more about Café Shapiro.

Mavericks and Makers Series

April/May

Each year we spotlight an indie director or producer whose body of work is held in the Screen Arts Mavericks and Makers collection.

The series of events typically includes a combination of:

• Lectures, panel discussions, and readings with people in the film industry 
• Films screened in partnership with the Michigan Theater and the Cinetopia Film Festival
• A public exhibit researched and developed by students in a major directors class offered by the Department of Film, Television, and Media

Questions? Contact Philip Hallman at phallman@umich.edu.

Ann Arbor Art+Feminism

Spring

Artists and activists who identify as women, non-binary, trans, queer, Black, Indigenous, or people of color make up only a fraction of contributors and content subjects in Wikipedia. In partnership with the Ann Arbor District Library, we lead an annual edit-a-thon to rectify these biases and create a more inclusive Wikipedia.

Party for Your Mind 

Before classes begin in the fall

Whether you’re new to U-M or a returning student, you’re invited to our annual Party For Your Mind to get more familiar and comfortable with the library as part of Welcome Week.

International Horror Film Fest 

Halloween

Join us for our annual Halloween spectacular, where we screen frightening foreign-language movies from around the world — with English subtitles. We have movies running all day, and you can drop in for one or all of them. It’s free, and costumes are optional.