Thank you, Ms. Arnold!

I had so much fun with Ms. Arnold's sixth graders today! I learned a lot about them and myself (evidently, I'm elderly, according to Phillip) and had a blast. Thanks for the invitation! Here's a list of the titles I brought:

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Witness by Karen Hesse

Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

An American Plague: the True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman

Thanks again! I hope to see you all for Summer Reading!!

FYI, 13yo skool grl is nu US txt mssg chmpN

If you can understand the title of this post and can text like the wind, you could be the next Text Messaging Champion. Don't knock it...Morgan Pozgar, a thirteen year old super-texter, is now $25,000 richer because of her fast fingers and quick brain. Read more about it here. And for those of you that are...um...text "challenged," the title of this post is: For your information, a thirteen year old girl in the new United States Text Message Champion.

Thank you, Miss Goehring!

And a big thank you to all of her students--you were all very attentive and asked great questions! I had a fantastic time and hope to see you all again soon! Here's a list of the books I spoke about today:

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Witness by Karen Hesse

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

I, Dred Scott by Sheila P. Moses

An American Plague: the True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

Don't forget...

...the Anderson Public Library will be closed Sunday, April 8th, in honor of Easter. We will return to our normal business hours on Monday, April 9th. Have a nice weekend!

Make a Difference

Think you can't change the world? Two high school students are doing just that with their online project Dollars for Darfur. Here's a little information from the site:

"The people of Darfur need our help. In Darfur, hundreds of people a day are raped, starved and murdered by the Sudanese armed forces and a Sudanese government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed. At least 400,000 people have died and more than 2 million Darfurians have been left homeless. The United Nations Security Council authorized that peacekeepers be deployed to Darfur, but the Sudanese government has not yet allowed them entry. Meanwhile, the calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter continues."

Click to find out how you can help. Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." And you know what? She's right.

Don't look now, but it's NPM!

What the heck is "NPM?" National Poetry Month, of course! For the month of April, we will be celebrating the genius and talent behind poetry of all kinds! Want to find out more? Check out the website from the Academy of American Poets. Inspiration is a click away!


Personal note: my favorite poet in the universe is the uniquely wonderful Ogden Nash--check out some of his fantastic poems (found in the 811 section of the Main Library.)

Booktalks for Mrs. Freeman!

Thanks again for inviting me to North Side on this rainy spring day! I met a lot of fun sixth graders and here's a list of some of the books we covered:

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Rash by Pete Hautman

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Dead Connection by Charlie Price

Click Here (to find out how i survived seventh grade) by Denise Vega

I hope everyone had as much fun as I did!

Check Your Sources!

Has this ever happened to you? You have a massive paper about the War of 1812 (or some other historical event) and you need information--fast! You turn to your pal, the Internet, and find a ton of stuff from Wikipedia. But hold on there! Is the information you have even correct? More and more, teachers are seeing wrong information taken from the wikipedia entries that students find. Could you be one of them? It's possible...the only way to make sure is to get accurate, authoritative information from credible sources. Credible sources? If you need help finding those, call us at 641.2456 or check us out online! Your grade could be a stake if you don't...

My After School Fun!

Today, I had the pleasure of meeting some very unique personalities from Park Place:

B. is a Mr. Bossy-Pants

D. is a tad obsessed with Eminem

V...well, she's been keeping to herself and I can't tell you much.

But they're a hoot and I hope they visit us again soon!

Testing, testing

When it's time to sit down and tackle a big test, like the ACT or SAT, don't you wish you'd had some prep time? Maybe a practice test or two? Number2.com offers just that--for free! Don't want to go online? No problem--the Library has a number of books designed to help as well. Good luck!

Welcome to the First Annual Teen Tech Week!

The Young Adult Library Services Association is pleased to announce Teen Tech Week, a new celebration aimed at getting teens to use their libraries for the different technologies that are offered there, such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, electronic games and more. In honor of the first annual Teen Tech Week, the Anderson Public Library and Tutor.com is offering free Live Homework Help and Ask-A-Librarian services for the next two weeks! Imagine getting instant assistance from the comfort of your computer. Check it out and let us know what you think. But hurry: this great deal ends March 17th. Instructional flyers will be available in the Teen Room.

And don't forget about more fun stuff happening this week for teens:

Tuesday, March 6th will see the comeback of our Teen Open Mic Night at 6:00PM. And Wednesday, March 7th, APL will be celebrating Teen Tech Week by creating iPod and cell phone covers from duct tape! Check our events calendar or call 641.2456 for more details.

Warning: Totally Graphic Content Ahead!

Have you ever browsed through the Anderson Public Library's extensive graphic novel collection? Wait...you want to know what a graphic novel is? You're not alone--simply put, graphic novels are novels that are written with text and illustrations rather than simply words. They are NOT picture books! They are so much more than that--don't believe me? Then come on down and see for yourself. We've even provided some comfy chairs for reading. See you there!

Thanks Mrs. Wildman!

A big thank you goes out to Mrs. Wildman at North Side Middle School--she and her seventh graders invited me to their classes for booktalk mania! Here are the titles I brought:

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

Vampirates by Justin Somper

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Thanks again to everyone! I had a great time, blizzard or not!

Go Colts!!

Last night, our Indianapolis Colts won Super Bowl XLI, beating the Chicago Bears 29 to 17! To Coach Dungy and all the Colts (and their fans,) congratulations! For all of you who didn't get to watch the game--or the commercials--check out the links above!

Booktalks for East Side Middle School

Big thanks to Ms. Hird for inviting me to talk to her seventh graders. I learned all kinds of stuff from you guys! Here's a list of the titles that I talked about:

Click Here (to Find Out How I Survived the Seventh Grade) by Denise Vega

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Swallowing Stones by Joyce Macdonald

Code Orange by Caroline Cooney

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Thanks again--and to Garrett: there are worse things than ripping your pants, but I'm hard-pressed to find them. You win the prize!

The 2007 Printz Award Winners!

The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.This is selected annually by an award committee; up to four honor books may be chosen as well. This year, the committee chose a graphic novel as the winner! And wouldn't you know, the Library has several copies of it: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. The honor books, also in our Library, are:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; volume 1: The Pox Party
by M.T. Anderson

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (last year's winner)

Surrender by Sonya Hartnett

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (second year for this author!)

Happy reading!

Do You Bleed Blue?

Last night's game against the New England Patriots sealed the deal: the Indianapolis Colts are going to the Super Bowl! Check out all the great resources the Library has to offer, from football rule books to histories of the Super Bowl to recipes for satisfying your Super Bowl party guests. Go Colts!

What's Happening Tonight

Don't forget, the Anderson Public Library is showing Material Girls tonight, starring Hilary and Haylie Duff. This film is rated PG and lasts 97 minutes. We'll be starting the film at 6:05PM in the Delaware Room on the third floor. Join the fun!

You Could Be Poet...

...and just not know it. How can you find out? Try some online magnetic poetry and get creative! You don't need to buy anything--just click and create! For more inspiration and genius, check out our extensive collection of poetry on the second mezzanine!

This year, I resolve...

...to try and stick with my resolutions! It's January 8th...how many of you are sticking to the plans you made on January 1st? Havene't made any? Need some ideas? Go online and get some inspiration! If that's not enough, come on down to the library and check out our New Year's display in the Teen Room!

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.

It's beginning to look a lot like booktalk time!

I've spent the past two days booktalking my lungs out (thanks to Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Regenold!) and here's a list of the titles I brought the sixth graders:

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Driver's Ed by Caroline Cooney

Dead-End Job by Vicki Grant

No Limit by Pete Hautman (previously titled Stone Cold)

Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser

A Boy at War by Harry Mazer

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Have a happy holiday and I'll see you all in the next two weeks!

Title to Remember

Need something to read as the weather gets chilly? Try Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The story? Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever. And keep checking our shelves for the amazing sequel, Pretties.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Just a quick reminder that tonight is Teen Open Mic Night at 6:00PM on the third floor. Bring yourself, bring a friend and bring an idea! Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Library. Hope to see you there!

Booktalking Titles

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Hird's seventh graders at East Side Middle School--what a hoot! I also brought in a ton of books...here's a list:

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Invisible by Pete Hautman

Kissing Doorknobs by Terry Spencer Hesser

My Brother's Keeper by Patricia McCormick

Happy Reading!!

Useless Fact #2

Did you know...

Beverly Goldman was jailed in January of 2000 on seven counts of failing to return overdue library books. Goldman was arrested at her local library in Clearwater, Florida. That library had tried for over sixteen months to retrieve the overdue materials valued at $127.86.* The lesson? Turn in your stuff, people!!

Just an FYI: Wednesday, September 21st at 6:00PM, the Anderson Public Library will be showing Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of Black Pearl in the Delaware Room. This swashbuckling film lasts 143 minutes and is rated PG-13.** We will have all sorts of pirate books on display for your reading pleasure...ye bilge rat! Not to mention tasty treats courtesy of the Friends of the Anderson Public Library, matey!!




* This fact found in The Guinness Book of World Records, 2006

** Acording to the MPAA, PG-13 means that some material may be inappropriate for children under the age of 13.
Parents are strongly cautioned.

It's That Time of Year!

Today was booktalking day at Northside Middle School! A big thank-you goes out to Mrs. Freeman and all her great sixth graders. Here's a list of the titles I brought:

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar

Tiger by Jeff Stone

Can't wait to see more of you on Thursday!

Weekly News Bite

Hope everyone enjoyed a little time off this past Labor Day! Special Announcement: this Thursday, September 8th, we were scheduled to have a Get Crafty session for teens. Unfortunately, due to some special circumstances, we are going to have to reschedule this event for later in the year. I apologize to all of you who were hoping for a craft this week.

But...we are still hosting our Fall Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament on Saturday, September 10th from 1:00PM to 4:00PM in the Chief Anderson Room. Registration is required; please call 641.2456 for more information!

Helping Those in Need

For anyone who has watched a television, listened to a radio or logged onto the Internet this week, you know how badly the southern portions of the United States have been damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Many people have been rescued, but thousands are still waiting for help. A lot of people here in Indiana want to help those less fortunate in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Here are two good websites to get you started:

www.redcross.org

www.networkforgood.org

Keep these folks and the volunteers helping them in your thoughts this holiday weekend...

Question for the weekend

Okay, here's the question for the weekend:

If you could fast-forward your life, how old would you want to be and why?


Think about it and write or email me your answer! Have a great weekend!

Weekly News Bite

September is almost here! What the heck happened to summer?

Enough depressing talk! Hang out with us at the Anderson Public Library Thursday, September 1st as we kick off our "After School Flicks" series at the library. At 6:00PM, we'll be showing National Treasure with Nicholas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates. This 131 minute movie is rated PG by the MPAA. Snacks are provided by the Friends of the Anderson Public Library.

Important Fact of the Day

Did you know what the top five causes of Teenage Death are?

Accidents (39%)

Murders (26%)

Suicide (18%)

Cancer (15%)

Other (2%)

We care about our future...you should too! For more information on these and other facts, feel free to ask a librarian for help.

Information from The Book of Lists for Teens by Sandra and Harry Choron

Monday, Monday

It's another week here at the Anderson Public Library and we are offering some really great opportunities for teens this week. This afternoon, August 22nd, at 3:30PM, the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) will be meeting in the Carnegie Room on the third floor to discuss some upcoming events. Feel free to join us. Bring a friend and a few good ideas!

Thursday, August 25th at 6:00PM, we will be hosting Ductigami--Fun with Tape! Bring a friend and your imagination!

A special thanks goes out to everyone who made our Harry Potter Film a success this Saturday. From everyone who participated by watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to the teens who helped set up the snacks to the Friends of the Anderson Public Library--thank you!

Back to School (again)

It's that time again...can you believe it? Where did the summer go? Now it's time for alarm clocks and new school supplies and, don't forget, HOMEWORK. But here's a list that may make it a little easier to face the back-to-school facts.

9 Nobel Prizewinners Who Didn't Exactly Enjoy School

Winston Churchill, winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize in literature

Albert Einstein, co-winner of the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics

Richard Feynman, co-winner of the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics

Arno Penzias, co-winner of the 1978 Nobel Prize in physics

Bertrand Russell, winner of the 1950 Nobel Prize in literature

Andrei Sakharov, winner of the 1975 Nobel Prize for world peace

George Bernard Shaw, winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize in literature

Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the 1913 Nobel Prize in literature

Sigrid Undest, winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize in literature

How much do you know about the Nobel Prize? How much do you know about the winners? To find out more about them, check out the Biography section on the first mezzanine at the Library. Or better yet, read one of his or her works.

Useless Fact of the Day

Did you know...

...that rubber bands last longer when they are refrigerated?*


*Fact found in The Book of Lists for Teens by Sandra and Harry Choron

Weekly News Bite

Just to keep you all posted on the happenings at the Anderson Public Library:

Thursday, August 18th at 6:00PM, we will be hosting Get Crafty @ Your Library for teens in the Teen Room. This month's craft is candle-making with wax beads and scented oils. Join us for some creative fun!

Saturday, August 20th, we will be showing the winner of the Harry Potter film contest: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The movie starts at 2:00PM on the third floor and snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Anderson Public Library.

Monday, August 22nd, we will be having our first Teen Advisory Board meeting of the 2005-2006 academic year. Bring a friend and an idea for making the library a better place for teens. The meeting starts at 3:30PM in the Carnegie Room. For an agenda, please stop by the Information Services Desk or call Beth at 641.2456.

Okay, that's three events in a week! Hope you can make one or two (or, if you're feeling sassy, all three!)

Weekly News Bite

Last night, we had a rip-roaring Teen Open Mic Night! Over 25 people showed up and there were great performances from old pros and new folks alike. I hope that you all can get to the next Open Mic Night which is scheduled for Monday, September 12th at 6:00PM in the Miami Room. It's tons of fun!

Thursday, August 18th, we will be hosting our monthly Get Crafty @ Your Library at 6:00PM in the Teen Room. This month, our craft will be creative candle making with wax beads and glass pots. Bring a friend and get crafty!

School is right around the corner...don't forget, the Anderson Public Library can help you find the answers you need for homework and research. While we do not offer a tutoring service, we can find books and articles that you may need for essays and research papers.

By the way, don't forget to vote for your favorite Harry Potter film! We have ballots in the Teen Room and a cauldron in which to cast your vote. The winner will be shown Saturday, August 20th at 2:00PM in the Chief Anderson Room. Snacks will be provided courtesy of the Friends of the Anderson Public Library.

Weekly News Bite

The time has nearly come to say farewell to the summer...and the Summer Reading Program. We are having our final "Get Reel for Teens" film on Friday, July 29th at 2:00PM. We'll be hosting the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, complete with flying monkeys! Join us for some snacks and fun as we bring Summer Reading to a close.

Thursday, July 28th, we will be having our Summer "Evening @ the Improv for Teens" at 6:00PM. Think about Whose Line Is It Anyway? meets area teens. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of the Library; entertainment will be provided by YOU!

Weekly News Bite

Only a few more weeks of summer (and Summer Reading Program) are left in 2005! Have you turned in your entries for awesome prizes? If not, you still have 10 days to do so...time is running out!

Hang out with us this Friday, July 22nd, as we watch Ella Enchanted, based on the novel by Gail Carson Levine. This movie runs 96 minutes and is rated PG. Bring a friend to enjoy the movie and free snacks provided by the Friends of the Library.

Have you read the latest book by J.K. Rowling? Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was just released July 16th and has been flying off the shelves. Reserve your copy today. Don't forget--starting August 1st, every area Muggle has a chance to cast your vote for the Harry Potter Movie Day on Saturday, August 20th.

As much as we don't like to think about it, school is right around the corner. Don't forget about all the great resources the Anderson Public Library has to offer!! Keep checking our calendar for great Teen programs.

Weekly News Bite

It's nearly the middle of July--where has the summer gone? Don't forget; we are still in the midst of Summer Reading fun. It's not too late to join! It's free! It's fun!

Thursday, July 14th, from 6:00PM-7:15PM, we are hosting a Get Crafty @ Your Library session in the Teen Room. Our craft this month will be jewelry-making. For more information, call us at 641.2456.

This Friday, July 15th, we are showing the movie Hook, one of my personal faves! This PG movie is 142 minutes long and based on the book by J.M. Barrie. It stars Dustin Hoffman in the title role and Robin Williams as his nemesis. If you haven't seen this classic, be sure to join us! Like every Friday, we are giving away summer reading program prizes as well as providing yummy snacks!

Someone's in the Kitchen at APL!

Our cooking program for teens, This Ain't Your Mama's Kitchen, was a great hit! We made English Muffin Pizzas, Ranch Roll-Ups and Marshmallow Creme Dip with strawberries. Some books we highlighted included:

Teens Cook: How to Make What You Want to Eat by Megan & Judi Carle

New Cook Book from the editors of Better Homes and Gardens

Don't forget to check out great websites like:

www.kraftfoods.com and www.allrecipes.com

We're looking forward to another cooking session very soon! Keep checking our calendar of events for more fun for teens!

Weekly News Bite

It's Tuesday and I hope everyone had a glorious holiday weekend! This week, we will be having two teen programs (for the price of one!):

This Ain't Your Mama's Kitchen on Tuesday, July 5th at 1:00PM in the Delaware Room will cover basic cooking and kitchen skills as well as some helpful shopping tips.

Get Reel for Teens on Friday, July 8th at 2:00PM in the Chief Anderson Room. We'll be viewing Freaky Friday which is rated PG and runs about 97 minutes long. Snacks are free and provided by the Friends of the Library. We will also be drawing names for Summer Reading Prizes, so bring your entries!

Weekly News Bite

On this week's menu: we have Get Reel for Teens this Friday afternoon at 2:00PM. We'll be showing Shrek 2, which is so much better than the first one (in my honest opinion)! Join us for some soda, snacks and summer reading prizes!

Need something to read? Check out great titles by author Melissa Lion. Anderson Public Library owns Swollen; her latest, Upstream will be on the shelves soon. Click on her name to read her interview with Teenreads.com. Enjoy!

Friday Fun

Don't forget! This afternoon at 2:00PM, we will be showing Shrek, starring Mike Myers, John Lithgow, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and many, many more! Free snacks will be provided in addition to our weekly Teen Summer Reading Prize drawings.

Next week? Shrek 2!

Weekly News Bite

"You got me? You got me? You got me?" If you attended last night's Teen Open Mic Night, you know exactly what I'm talking about...if not, there's always next month! Last night, the theme was tropical and the mood was festive. Special thanks go out (as always) to T.A.B. and Friends of the Library for such a great spread.

News flash for all Laurie Halse Anderson fans! Her novel Speak has been made into a film that swept independent film festivals throughout 2004. It is scheduled to air Monday, September 5th on both Showtime and Lifetime. No times have been released, but keep your eyes peeled!

Don't forget this Friday at 2:00PM, we will be having a screening of Shrek as well as enjoying snacks (and air conditioning!) and giving away Summer Reading Prizes. For a more complete listing of the teen events for the summer, including the next Open Mic Night, take a peek at our event calendar. See you Friday!

Yu-Gi-Oh! News

Today we hosted our Summer Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament for teens and had a great time! Thirty people showed up and the competition was fierce. Everyone showed that he or she could be a great sport and everyone enjoyed the door prizes and snacks. Congratulations to our winners and to everyone who made the effort and participated, including my "clean-up" crew. Hope to see you September 10th for the Fall Tournament! (Registration begins in August!!) Here are the results:

Division I (ages 9-11)

Runner-up: Brandon M. from Southview

Winner: Kerry H. from South Side

Division II (ages 12-18)

Third place: Dmitri N. from Anderson High School

Runner-up: Chris M. from North Side

Winner: Shawn B. from Highland

Tales from New York City

So I'm back from the BookExpo trip in New York City with lots of great stuff for Summer Reading Program! Now is the time to get cracking and win some of the stellar prizes I smuggled back on the plane. Just a note to the now-seventh graders from Northside: I did get to meet Neil Gaiman, the author of the novel Coraline. He was very excited when I told him about everyone liking Coraline and is not half as creepy as you might expect! I also got to see some really cool things which I'll be posting here in the near future. But enough about the Big Apple!

This week, we are having two programs. First will be Get Reel for Teens at 2:00PM on Friday afternoon. This week's film is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory which is based on the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. If you've never seen this cult classic, be sure to bring a friend and join us for some candy (what else?) and fun! Don't forget: we draw for the weekly Summer Reading Prizes after the movie!

We are also hosting our Summer Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament this Saturday, June 11th at 1:00PM. Registration is required. Please call 641.2456 to register or for more information!

That's all for now. Check back for photos from NYC!

Booktalks at North Side

It's booktalk time again! I got to visit a lot of almost-seventh graders today at North Side. Here are the books I talked about today:

Tangerine by Edward Bloor

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

The Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray by Chris Wooding

I hope everyone today enjoyed the titles. I had a great time and hope to have even more fun tomorrow! Don't forget--it's time to sign up for the Teen Summer Reading Program!

Weekly News Bite

So, did you know there's only four days until the Summer Reading Program Kick-Off? Everyone around here is getting geared up for it...and you should be too! Anyone from grade 6 to grade 12 can participate in the Teen Summer Reading Program. It's super easy: sign up at the Anderson Public Library anytime on or after May 21st. Just for signing up, you receive a goody bag complete with entry forms. Guess what happens next? You READ, of course! You don't need a library card, you don't need to check the book out...you just need to read and record the item you've completed. Things that count: a book, an audiobook (book on tape or CD) or three magazines. Things that don't count: a movie or your kid sister's bedtime book. You turn in the completed entry form and that gets you into the weekly drawing. We will be drawing every Friday afternoon between 1:00-4:00 at our Get Reel for Teens programs. You can find detailed information about Get Reel on the Anderson Public Library calendar. Questions? Feel free to call me at 641.2456 or stop by the Reference Desk. Good luck and hope to see you at Kick-Off!