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!

Book advice

Need some help picking out a new read? I always have problems trying to figure out what to read next. Reading Rants! has helped me out a lot! This website provides "out of the ordinary Teen booklists" as well as a lot of good insight into each title. And the books aren't broken down into the usual suspects like "Historical Fiction" or "Romance." Instead, the clever reviewers have created different categories like "Fanging Around" (books about vampires) or "Reality Bytes" (non-fiction about teens, for teens). If you find yourself in a pinch or want to branch out, check it out! This website led me to my new favorite YA novel, Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith.

Weekly News Bite

Not much to report at this time...we're all just waiting for summer to get here fast! This week, we have a T.A.B. meeting today (Monday), April 25th at 3:30 in the Carnegie Room. Don't forget that Friday, April 29th, the Anderson Public Library will be closed all day for Staff Development Day. But Saturday, we will be hosting a Poetry Workshop for Teen and Tweens. Interested in helping or participating? Call 641.2456 for more information!

Booktalks at North Side

Okay, everyone, here are the books I brought to Mrs. Wildman's class on Thursday, April 14th:

Overboard by Elizabeth Fama

Breathing Underwater by Alex Flinn

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (I can't get enough of this one!)

Godless by Pete Hautman

An American Plague: the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

Tiger by Jeff Stone (This is the first of the Five Ancestors series by Mr. Stone)

Big thanks go out to Mrs. Wildman and her awesome classes for inviting me today! I hope I see you all during the Summer Reading Program...you know who you are.

Weekly News Bite

This is a huge week for Teen Programming at APL! Last night, we hosted about 25 guests at the Teen Poetry Slam and it was fantastic. The runner-up was Tim; the winner was first-time competitor Tommy. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Thursday, April 7th at 6:00PM in the Teen Room, we will be hosting a Get Crafty @ Your Library Night. Our task for the night will be hemp & bead jewelry. And Saturday, April 11th at 1:00PM, we will be having Get Reel for Teens: Afternoon at the Movies. Our feature film will be "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen," starring Lindsay Lohan. This movie runs 86 minutes and is rated PG. Snacks will be provided by the Friends of Library.

News from T.A.B.

Last night, the Teen Advisory Board met and discussed a lot of really great ideas. We covered Open Mic Night, Summer Reading Program and Get Reel: Movies @ Your Library. President Marissa Coon also shared this announcement: Highland High School will be hosting Coffeehouse on April 20th at 6:00PM. This art & live performance venue will be open to the public and food will be provided. Everyone is encouraged to attend and support our friends at Highland!

Don't forget to register for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament! Gaming will begin at 1:00PM sharp Saturday, April 2nd, in the Chief Anderson Room. Remember to bring your own deck! This tournament is open to all participants ages 9-19. For more information, call 641.2456.

Weekly News Bite

March is finally coming to an end and April is full of fun stuff @ the Library! First things first: Monday, March 28th, we will be having a Teen Advisory Board meeting at 3:30PM on the third floor. This will be a quick meeting about Summer Reading Program as well as a few other programs planned for the summer. Hope to see you there this afternoon!

Booktalks at North Side

Here's a list of the books I talked about at North Side this week:

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

What Jamie Saw by Carolyn Coman

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

When Nobody's Home: Fifteen Baby-Sitting Tales of Terror by Judith Gorog

The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place by E. L. Konigsburg

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

If you have any questions, let me know!

Weekly Update

Last night, we had a whopping 29 people show up for Teen Open Mic Night! It was a great evening that featured everything from a clarinet solo to a reading from the poetry of Langston Hughes to a brand new interpretive dance performance of the wildly popular "Fresh Greens." Tons of fun! The next one will be Monday, April 11th at 6:00PM...start planning your performance piece now!

This week, I will also be visiting North Side Middle School to talk about books (well, yeah) and the Summer Reading Program. Check back Friday for a list of the titles that I'll be booktalking.

Quick reminder: next Monday, from 3:00PM-5:00PM, we will be showing Disney's Spirited Away. Join us for a great animated film as well as snacks provided by the Friends of the Library. See you there!

Weekly News Bite

Just a reminder that Thursday, March 10th is Get Crafty @ Your Library from 6:00PM-8:00PM. This week, we'll be hosting it in the Delaware Room on the third floor--bring a snack if you want! More importantly, next Monday, March 14th is Teen Open Mic Night. The last Open Mic Night was unbelievably good, with lots of new talent. I'm hoping this month's will be even better.

Weekly News Bite

February's almost over! Not much to report this week, but March is going to be loaded with programs. This week, we're hosting Game Night @ Your Library Thursday, February 24th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM in the Teen Room. Don't forget the T.A.B. meeting next Monday, February 28th in the Carnegie Room (third floor) from 3:30PM to 4:30PM. This is going to be a big one as we will be discussing Summer Reading Program as well as our peer-supported poetry workshop!

Weekly News Bite

Last night, we celebrated Singles' Awareness Day (okay, okay, it was Valentine's Day, but who want to celebrate that?) by hosting our February Teen Open Mic Night. Let me just say that it was amazing! I have never had so much fun (or witnessed so much talent!) at the library. Thanks to everyone who participated, from the stellar performers to the supportive audience! We look forward to seeing you all next month, March 14th, for another great evening. Tell your friends, enjoy some snacks and performances, and maybe, even perform yourself!

Waxing Poetic

We hosted the Teen Poetry Slam tonight, courtesy of the Friends of the Library. After three rounds of some excellent poetry, our scorekeeper Marissa announced the results:

Runner-Up: Tim Doerner

Winner: Jason Thompson

Congratulations to the winners and a giant thanks to everyone who participated, from the judges to the talented poets. Look for details soon regarding National Poetry Month events in April!

Local Drama

Calling all theatre buffs! Highland High School is hosting a One-Act Play Festival. It will run Thursday, March 3rd to Saturday March 5th at 7:00PM at the Highland High School Auditorium. It is $3.00 for students and $4.00 for adults. Hope to see you there! Thanks to T.A.B president Marissa Coon for this PSA!

Weekly News Bite

January is finally over and we're getting ready for a great February! Punxutawney Phil saw his shadow and now we have six more weeks of winter! But there's lots going on at the Anderson Public Library for the rest of winter:

Saturday, February 5th is our Afternoon @ the Movies for Teens! Join us in the Chief Anderson Room at 1:30PM.

Monday, February 7th is Teen Poetry Slam Night. Bring at least three pieces of original work to enter the competition. Not a poet? Come and participate as a judge or scorekeeper.

Thursday, February 10th is Get Crafty @ Your Library. Stop by at 6:00PM to check out this month's work of art.

Read something good lately? Share your opinion online. Email me for more details.

Weekly News Bite

This week, we are launching a new program: Teen Game Night! This is slated to happen the fourth Thursday of every month from 6:00PM-8:00PM. It's a chance to hang out and have fun at the Library with friends and new faces. The Library will provide chess and checker boards as well as cards; if you have a game that you like to play, bring it on in! Remember: no gambling is allowed at any time. So meet up with us on Thursday, January 27th in the Delaware Room from 6:00PM-8:00PM!

Don't forget: the Teen Poetry Slam is right around the corner! We will be performing on Monday, February 7th at 6:00PM on the third floor. Join us!

Booktalks at Northside

Here's a list of the titles I booktalked for Mrs. Wildman:

I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier

The Rag and Bone Shop by Robert Cormier

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Stop Pretending: what happened when my big sister went crazy by Sonya Sones

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen

And suggested by a student:

Anne Frank and Me by Cherie Bennett

Hope you all had a good time and I see you soon! I'd also like to thank Mrs. Wildman for giving me a chance to meet with new students.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament Winners

The winners for the Winter Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament are:

Age Bracket One (ages 9-11):
1st place--Chris McCord (Northside MS)

Age Bracket Two (ages 12-19):
3rd place--Jesse Earl (Northside MS)
2nd place--Brandon Treutel
1st place--Shawn Blair (Northside MS)

Congratulations to everyone who competed! We had 46 players this session. The next tournament should be sometime in March...watch those calendars!

Saturday Update

Our Get Crafty program on Thursday night was a lot of fun! Ten people joined in the paint, glue and mess to create jeweled boxes to take home. Need some creative ideas? Check out www.diynet.com for inspiration. Want to get crafty with us at the Library for free? Our Get Crafty series is held monthly, every second Thursday. If you have ideas for crafts, drop me a line!

Saturday, January 15th, we will be hosting our Winter Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament. Keep checking back for the winners of the Winter Tournament as we will post the names this evening.

Don't forget! The Anderson Public Library will be closed this Monday, January 17th, in honor of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. See you all Tuesday!