Happy Holidays from APL!

In honor of the Christmas holiday, the Anderson Public Library will be closed Sunday, December 24th and Monday, December 25th. We will re-open at 9:00AM on Tuesday, December 26th. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Name That Tune!

Here's a cool site to check out if you can carry a tune...but can't quite name it. The newest technology at the Nayio studio allows anyone to hum into a PC microphone for ten to fifteen seconds and the website will "name that tune." Don't have the mic? You can always call or email a friendly librarian!

It's a Mystery to Me...

Do you have a flair for writing mysteries? Do you always know "who-dun-it" before everyone else does? Take your talents to a new level by entering the 2007 Joan Lowery Nixon Award Mystery Writing Contest for Teens starting in February of 2007! Need some inspiration? Check out all the mysteries in our Teen stacks at the Anderson Public Library!

Weekly News Bite

This week, we'll be getting into the holiday spirit with a showing of "A Christmas Story," based on the writings of Jean Shepherd. Join in the holiday fun and don't shoot your eye out!

Booktalks at South Side!

A giant thank-you goes out to Mrs. Moulder and her fabulous eighth graders! I got to meet a lot of new faces and talked about a lot of great reads:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs by Jack Gantos

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

'Tis the Season...

...to be jolly, but many times, the holidays can make us feel sad, frantic, depressed, angry, confused...or any of the above. If you or someone you know is having a really blue Christmas, connect anonymously with other teens at Teen Central. Real teens help with real problems on this fabulous (and totally confidential) website. Prefer to dial it in? Then find a hotline and remember: you're not alone, even if it seems like it.

Get Green this Season!

Tired of giving the same old gifts? Feel like there's too much take, take, take? Then check out the Green Gift Guide, brought to you by the California Department of Conservation. This paper-free resource can help you "be green" by giving gifts made of recycled products, saving gift boxes from year to year and recycling your real Christmas tree at the end of the season. Like some more tips? Check out the library's resources, like Green Living : the E magazine Handbook for Living Lightly on the Earth, found on our shelves.

Happy Holidays from Teenreads.com!

This year, Teenreads.com is full of holiday cheer! They are giving away a fabulous basket chock full of great holiday goodies--hot chocolate, gourmet marshmallows and tasty cookies, just to name a few of the prizes included. If you're interested in winning this incredible prize, make sure you enter the Holiday Basket of Cheer Contest by December 14th! Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the Thanksgiving holiday, the Anderson Public Library will be closed Thursday, November 23rd. We will re-open Friday, November 24th at 9:00AM. Have a good holiday!!

Booktalks at East Side!

Huge thanks to Mr. Miller at East Side Middle School for inviting me to meet and talk with his sixth graders. (And thanks again for lunch!) Here's a list of the books I spoke about:

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

Rash by Pete Hautman

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

And a special note to Zack: I did not find anything definitive about the number of dogs on a sled team, but it is not unusual to have an odd number.

Thanks again for the invite--I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Teen Top Ten Announced!

Teen readers across the country voted “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling as their favorite book to take the #1 spot on the annual Teens’ Top Ten. The vote took place during Teen Read Week, October 15-21, 2006, and gave teens an opportunity to voice their choice of the best new young adult books.

The rest of the story (ranked in order):

2. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini

4. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray

5. Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

6. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

7. Poison by Chris Wooding

8. Captain Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J.V. Hart

9. If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where’s My Prince? by Melissa Kantor

10. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

Interested in being a part of the Teens' Top Ten? Final nominations for the 2007 Teens’ Top Ten vote will be posted in April at www.ala.org/teenstopten. Voting will take place during Teen Read Week October 14-20, 2007. Get reading!

Don't Forget!

Thursday, November 2nd, we will be showing the animated film, Monster House! This movie runs 91 minutes and is rated PG. Make sure you join us for an evening of frightening fun!

The Beast from the East...

...Side Middle School, that is. Big thanks go out to Mrs. Kennedy for inviting me to chat with her eighth graders who were entertaining as well as spirited. Props go to the fourth period class for knowing the absolute MOST about the Holocaust--you guys are gonna rock next semester! Here's a list of the books I brought:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Rash by Pete Hautman

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

Born to Rock by Gordon Korman

And some books I talked about but didn't bring:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Thanks again for the visit! Hope to see you all soon!

Calling All Sisters!

For all of you who devoured Ann Brashares' The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, good news is on the way! A fourth title to the series is coming soon...but you could win an advance copy before the rest of the world! Register at Sisterhood Central by November 19th and you could win a copy of Forever in Blue, the last book in this touching series. Good luck...and if you don't win, check back at our library in January 2007.

Pop Quiz!

Would you rather read a novel than watch some re-run on TV? Would you rather eat dirt than be forced to read more than a magazine? Take this quiz and let us know what you think! SmartGirl and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) are dying to hear from you. While you're at it, check out the YALSA website and vote for the 2007 Teen Read Week Theme.

Wanna take a trip?

The American Library Association is offering a fabulous trip to Washington, D.C. for one lucky finalist in the National Library Legislative Day 2007 Student Contest! You could win round-trip airfare and two nights of accomodations in Washington, D.C. if your design is chosen. Check out the link for more information. But hurry--the contest ends October 29th!

Home Sweet Home

Do you find yourself constantly redecorating your room at home? Do you enjoy sketching your very own dream room or house? Then this website is for you! Architect Studio 3D gives young adults a chance to design their own house with Frank Lloyd Wright. Want to find out more? Check out our huge collection on designing fabulous living spaces!

Books for booktalks

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Silent to the Bone by E.L. Konigsburg

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

More booktalks!!

Here's a list of some of the titles I've covered in the past few days...enjoy!


Code Orange by Caroline Cooney

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Mr. Was by Pete Hautman--don't forget, he'll be here Thursday, October 12th for the 2006 Teen READ 'N' FEED!

Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konigsburg

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Happy Reading!! Hope to see many of you at the Teen Advisory Board meeting Tuesday, September 26th at 3:30 in the Carnegie Room (third floor)!

Attention all "American Idol" fans!!

Mark your calendars and dust off your song sheets! It's time, once again, for Teen Open Mic Night at the Anderson Public Library. This is our own special version of American Idol! The show starts at 6:30PM tomorrow, September 12th in the Delaware Room. Come early to mix and mingle with other teen talents. Questions? Call 641.2456 for more information. See you then!

Thank you, Mrs. Freeman!

Just wanted to thank all of Mrs. Freeman's sixth graders. You all asked some great questions and had interesting stories...I hope to see a lot of you at all the upcoming Library programs. And thanks again to Mrs. Freeman for inviting me! The books I talked about today include:

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Mr. Was by Pete Hautman

Thanks so much for being a great audience--I'll see some of you next Wednesday!

Just a quick reminder!

The Anderson Public Library will be closed on Monday, September 4th, for Labor Day. We will re-open Tuesday, September 5th at 9:00AM (as usual.) Don't worry--you can still browse the catalog and virtually explore the library online!

Who's Popular?

Meg Cabot, that's who! This amazing author who brought you The Princess Diaries is at it again with her new title, How to Be Popular. And you could win a free signed copy!! Click here to find out how! But hurry--the contest ends September 12th!

Get "Sharp" for School!

I don't know about you, but I adore Sharpie markers...now, there's even more of a reason to love them! Sharpie Markers is giving away ten $10,000 scholarships!! Check it out and leave your mark!

Top 10 Mistakes Freshmen Make

For all of you getting packed and ready for college, here are the Top 10 Mistakes that Freshmen Make (according to The Indianapolis Star):

1. Assuming college is an extension of high school
2. Being overly ambitious
3. Saving $$ by not buying the books
4. Ignoring e-mails
5. Working too much
6. Looking for help in all the wrong places
7. Thinking the professor is a god
8. Over-socializing
9. Under-socializing
10. Choosing the wrong career path

For more information, call us at 641.2456 for college prep materials! Good Luck!

You're Invited!

You've spent all summer reading until you thought your sweaty eyes would bug out. You've tracked your time and marked it dilligently on your All-Access Pass. You've attended programs and recruited your friends to the Program. Now it's time to celebrate! Join us Friday, August 4th at 6:00PM as we open the doors of the Anderson Public Library for TEENS ONLY! The Library will be closed to the public--but not for you! You must be wearing your third level prize tee shirt to gain entry to this after-hours bash--NO EXCEPTIONS. This means that you, and only you, can be your guest to our party--no bff's, no moms, no dads, no younger siblings--just you! We will be having a movie, games, prizes (just for coming!!) and more! Please call 641.2456 to register...don't forget, you could actually go home with this!

150 years of fun!

It's almost time for the 150th Great Indiana State Fair! Not only are there giant pumpkins, farm animals, elephant ears and lemon shake-ups, but this year, Rascal Flatts, Kanye West and Kid Rock are planning to perform! Check out the website for more details. The Fair runs from August 9th to the 20th...have fun!

Get Crafty!

Still don't have much to do with what remains of your summer? Let the D.I.Y. (Do-It-Yourself) Network help. Here, you'll find all kinds of creative ideas for crafts and boredom busting activities. Not quite your speed? Then check out Alternacrafts by Jessica Vitkus--this original craft book empasizes recycling and originality. This is not your grandma's craft book!

My favorite word...

Want something for free? Then check out Teen Offers! This website is dedicated to scouring the Internet to find freebies for teens! There are no age restrictions; this service is brought to you by www.bored.com. Have fun! Don't forget--the Library also carries books with information on scoring cool stuff too.

Tick...tick...tick

Do you hear that? That ominous sound is the sound of your summer ticking slowly away. School is just around the bend--are you ready? If the idea of shopping for school supplies gives you the sweats, there's still time to register for the Teen Summer Reading Program and a chance to win a backpack full of everything you'll need for the fall. For those of you cruising toward Senior year, you may want to start thinking about how you'll get to college. Call us at 641.2456 for help!

Summer Reads!

We are already in our second full week of the Teen Summer Reading Program and have registered nearly 200 teens! Way to go! But the Anderson Public Library isn't the only organization giving away tons of books this summer. Elle Girl magazine is offering readers tons of great books to win! Check out their book club, Dare To Read to find out more!

What Happened Today?

Go back in time with the Library of Congress! This new feature, called Today in History, is brought to you by the American Memory Project. Travel through space and time and see amazing photos from long ago! What happened on your birthday? What happened today? Click and find out!

A big thank-you!

Just wanted to take this time to thank the great students at East Side Middle School for letting me visit. A special thanks goes to Ms. Hird for inviting me to her class; another special thank-you to Mr. Hird for listening to the same stories five time running! These are the books we got to talk about:

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Code Orange by Caroline Cooney

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan

The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake

Invisible by Pete Hautman

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Thanks again, everyone! Hope to see you June 1st for Summer Reading Registration!

Got Milk?

Does your school have what it takes to be named one of America's 50 Healthiest Student Bodies? This year, got milk?, Sports Illustrated and Teen People are searching for schools that help their students keep active and fit. Tell got milk? what your school is doing and you could win prizes from Adidas, Phat Farm/Baby Phat or subscriptions to Sports Illustrated and Teen People. Enter today--the contest ends June 15th!

It's All About the Graphix!

If you're someone who digs the adventures of superheros or enjoys manga, you need to get online and check out No Flying, No Tights. Make sure you stop by the Anderson Public Library and peruse all the new graphic novels found right outside the Teen Room. Happy Reading!

Booktalks!

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a bunch of great South Side students this Friday! Lots of great questions and excellent observations. The books I talked about were:

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Code Orange by Caroline Cooney

Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper

The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Invisible by Pete Hautman

I hope you all had as much fun as I did and I see you at the Library soon!

"Dear Diary..."

Have you ever wanted to peek into someone's diary? How about taking a look in Meg Cabot's diary? Straight from the brain of the author who brought us The Princess Diaries and All-American Girl--check it out!

Did you know...?

...That April is National Poetry Month? If you are interested in poetry, here are some events you should check out:

Teen Poetry Slam on Tuesday, April 4th at 6:00PM in the Delaware Room. Please bring at least three pieces of original poetry and be ready to compete for cool prizes. If you don't write poetry but like listening to it, make sure you attend--we always need judges and scorekeepers!

Want to get published? Check out the 2006 Claudia Ann Seaman Poetry Award Contest! You must be a student from grades 9-12 attending a public or private school. You could win at chance to be published in a journal--as well as $500!

Great Winter Read!

It is said that Anna (Anastasia) Cayne was born in a thunderstorm. A slightly spooky and complicated high school girl with a penchant for riddles, shortwave radios, Houdini tricks, and ghost stories, Anna spends much of her time writing obituaries for every living person in town. She is unlike anyone the narrator has ever been with, and they make an unlikely, though happy, pair." "A week before Valentine's Day, Anna disappears, leaving behind only a dress placed neatly near a hole in the frozen river, and a string of unanswered questions." Desperate to find her, or at least to comprehend what happened and why, the narrator begins to reconstruct the past five months. And soon the fragments of curious events, intimate conversations, suspicious secrets, and peculiar letters (and the anonymous messages that continue to arrive) coalesce into haunting and surprising revelations that may implicate friends, relatives - or even Anna herself.

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's that time again. Valentine's Day. This could be a great thing...or a not so great thing, depending on your point of view. But don't despair. Tonight is Teen Open Mic Night at 6:00PM!

Playing in the Snow

The 2006 Winter Olympics are nearly here with the opening ceremony scheduled for tonight! It's estimated that 2 billion people will be watching the ceremonies on television!

Don't forget that Tuesday, February 14th at 6:00PM, we'll be hosting our very special Valentine's Day Open Mic Night. Whether you love it or hate, come enjoy some snacks and fun in the Delaware Room!

SLAM!

Don't forget that Tuesday, February 7th, we are hosting our Teen Poetry Slam at 6:00PM. Never been to a slam? Well, don't worry--it's tons of fun! If you're nervous about performing, come along to participate as a judge or a scorekeeper. It's a great way to meet area teens who are interested in poetry...just like you! See you in the Delaware Room at 6:00PM!!

Mmm...Chocolate

Today we spent an afternoon taste-testing all kinds of confections during Get Crafty! We voted on five different kinds and the winner was Hershey's Limited Edition Dulche de Leche by far! Creamy and sweet, these disappeared fast! Everyone made beautiful roses from candy and chenille stems--even Joe's rather unique flower was pretty! I hope everyone had a good time and I look forward to next Tuesday's Teen Poetry Slam.

It's Groundhog Day!

...and it turns out we're in for six more weeks of winter! You can read the official forecast right out of Gobbler's Knob. Celebrate with us tonight at 6:00PM as we watch the film Groundhog Day in the Delaware Room. Snacks provided by the Friends of the Library.

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but it's not all roses for everyone...except for us! Com on down Saturday, February 4th, as we sample some chocolate and create roses from Hershey's kisses in the spirit of Cupid.

See you tonight!

What's Happening This Week?

Okay, so January is almost over (yikes!) and you are soooo bored, right? Come on down to the Library and let us relieve some of that boredom!

Thursday, February 2nd is Groundhog Day! Come celebrate Punxsutawney Phil with all of us at 6:00PM in the Delaware Room as we watch (what else?) Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Chris Elliott. It's the story of a cynical, arrogant newscaster who has the worst day of his life...again...and again...and again.

Saturday, February 4th at 2:00PM, we'll be having Roses & Kisses in the Delaware Room. Intrigued? Okay, we'll be creating roses from Hershey's kisses...and eating more than a few ourselves!

So shake the winter blahs and come on down! We'll be waiting! Got any questions? Call me at 641.2456.

Big Thanks

A great big thank-you goes out to the teens who helped clean up the Teen Room this afternoon--and to all of you who stop to pick up that piece of paper or push a chair in--we appreciate it like you wouldn't believe! January's programs have all wrapped up, but get ready because February is almost here. First up? After School Flix presents: "Groundhog Day." When will this be happening? Well, on February 2nd, of course. This PG film starts at 6:00PM and runs about 100 minutes. Any questions? Call us at 641.2456.

Feeling scared today?

Did you wake up feeling a little off today? Perhaps you have triskaidekaphobia. But fear not...you're in good company! Friday the 13th doesn't happen often; in fact, the most number of times the 13th can fall on a Friday is three. That won't happen again until 2009. Breathe easy...

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2006! We've already kicked off the year with tons of programs for teens...and we have lots more!

Tuesday, January 10th at 6:00PM, we are hosting our first Teen Open Mic Night for 2006. This is a change from our usual Monday night programs, but we hope that you can all make it!

Thursday, January 19th at 6:00PM, we are showing War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. This PG-13 film runs about 116 minutes and is based on the sci-fi classic by H. G. Wells. Check it out!

Tuesday, January 24th at 3:30PM will be our first Teen Advisory Board meeting. Interested in making the library a better place for teens? Have a great idea for the Summer Reading Program? Want to make a movie suggestion? Then join us! Call me at 641.2456 for more information.