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!