The role of the public library in modern America, Ypsi’s Little Bird Cafe, and who knows what else… on this weekend’s edition of the Saturday Six Pack

This evening’s episode of the Saturday Six Pack promises to be interesting. I tried, to the best of my ability, to book a full and complete show, but things kept getting in way. It was like the universe was pushing back against me. The harder I worked to cobble something together, the more things would fall apart. So, here we are on the day of the show, and I still don’t have the whole thing booked. Yes, I have some awesome guests lined up, and we’ll have a great time, but, because of last minute illnesses, and other unforeseen twists of fate, there may be extended periods of time where I’m either trying to pull people in from the street outside to talk, or begging people to call in and keep me company while I try desperately to finish my six pack. So consider yourself warned, OK?

Here, however, is what we know with some degree of certainty will be happening this evening.

The show will start with a conversation about the changing role of the public library in contemporary America with Josie Parker, the director of the Ann Arbor District Library. [I’d originally intended to also have on Lisa Hoenig, the director of the Ypsilanti District Library, but it’s looking like she might might have caught a bug of some kind. I suppose it’s possible that she could feel better by this evening, but, based on our yesterday, I wouldn’t count on it.] I suspect, among other things, we’ll be discussing the library’s role in disseminating information to the community, the AALD’s move into what you might call non-traditional collections, their recent foray into entertainment journalism with their online magazine Pulp, and the position the library holds as a common space in a community where such places are becoming increasingly more difficult to find.

And, then, at some point, we’ll be turning our attention toward the renovation of the little red brick building at 908 North Congress Street, which, assuming owner Beth Kwiatkowski is able to raise the money she needs to make it happen, will soon transform into a small neighborhood caffe called Little Bird. [The photo below, says Kwiatkowski, was found when removing old flooring from the building.] While we’ll be joined in the studio by Kwiatkowski’s friend Melissa Kuz, who has been assisting with the launch of Little Bird, Kwiatkowski herself will be calling in from Florida, where, at this very moment, she’s getting ready to attend a beer festival… As I’ve never attempted to interview a person who is several hours into a beer festival, I’m very much looking forward to it.

And, I’m still working on a few other things. If they don’t pan out, though, I suspect I’ll just be taking your calls about Donald Trump, who just recently won the Republican primary here in Michigan… Speaking of Trump, if you’re a supporter of his, feel free to give me a call tonight, once my guests have left the studio. I’d love to talk with you.

update: Alright, I’ve got a third segment for us. We’ll be joined later in the show by Beth Ernat, Ypsilanti’s director of economic development, who will be talking with us about plans, announced just yesterday, to build a train platform in Depot Town.

And, here, thanks to AM 1700 senior graphic designer Kate de Fuccio, is this week’s poster, in case any of you want to print copies and leave them at one of your favorite highway rest areas.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NEVER TUNED IN TO THE SIX PACK BEFORE, HERE ARE THE DETAILS ON HOW TO LISTEN:

Unless you live inside the AM 1700 studio, chances are you won’t be able to pick the show up on your radio. As that’s the case, I’d recommend streaming the show online, which you can do either on the AM1700 website or by way of TuneIn.com.

And for those of you who aren’t yet familiar with the show, and need to get caught up, you can listen to the entire archive on iTunes.

One last thing… If you’d like to tell your friends and neighbors about the program, feel free to share the Facebook event listing.

And do call us if you have a chance. We love phone calls. So please copy down this number and slide it into your sock… 734.217.8624… and call us between 6:00 and 8:00 this evening. The show is nothing without you. Sure, sometimes it’s nothing even with you, that’s true, but usually you make it better.