teen blog
summer reading program 2012: OWN THE NIGHT
Folks, it’s that time of year again. Summer Reading Program time! I’m really excited to share our program with you all this year.
The meat of the program is the same: read a book, fill out a review form, be entered into our prize drawing. Simple enough. Teens in grades 6 through 12 can pick up a review form at any Cobb County library, can download a form here, or can simply fill out the form online here. There’s no limit to the amount of reviews you can submit. Each time you submit a review, your name (no limit) is entered into our prize drawing for a Sony eReader courtesy of OverDrive. Your name (limit one) is also entered into the Grand Prize drawing for an iPad 2 courtesy of Cobb EMC!!
This is big. Our sponsors have donated seriously awesome prizes! I want each and every one of you to read, read, read this summer! An iPad 2 is a pretty effective incentive, is it not?
And remember that we’re throwing an End of Summer Celebration the first Saturday in August. We’ve got something special planned that will be TEENS ONLY (more details soon).
Click here for more information about the Summer Reading Program.
And click here for a list of programs happening all summer long.
→ posted by Shannon on 6/1/12
→ currently reading: Hold me closer, Necromancer
whatdoyougeek?
You may (or may not?) have noticed that the Cobb County Public Library System is getting its geek on. What does that mean, you ask? We are participating in the Geek the Library campaign! What is Geek the Library? Geek the Library is a national campaign that aims to bring awareness to the plight of library funding.
So, what do you geek? And how can the library help you get your geek on? All Cobb County libraries have books, ebooks, audiobooks, e-audiobooks, videos, DVDs, online databases and resources, reference materials, internet (both wired and wireless), word processing, resume builders, book clubs, computer classes, children’s programs, teen programs, adult programs, and a lot more! And it’s. ALL. FREE.
Sound interesting? Show your support! Click here to view our Geek the Library page and comment about what you geek. Or visit the official Geek page here. Visit your local library to grab a Geek sticker, bookmark, and flyer. And Get Your Geek On!
ps: the library will be getting its geek on at Mableton Day on Saturday, May 19 from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm at the Mable House Amphitheatre in Mableton, GA. Come see us!
→ posted by Shannon on 5/17/12
→ currently reading: Enchantments
Geek the Library’ is brought to you by OCLC and funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. OCLC is a nonprofit library cooperative that has provided services to help libraries deliver more to their users for four decades. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In the U.S., it seeks to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – have access to the opportunities they need to succeed.
‘Geek the Library,’ ‘Get Your Geek On,’ and ‘What Do You Geek?’ are trademarks/service marks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Support Teen Literature Day!
Was yesterday o_O. I was home sick with The Plague (which is really just horrible allergies on top of a terrible head cold), and I didn’t turn on my computer once. So I’m sorry that I missed talking about young adult books on their Special Day, but I think it’s okay to talk about them today (which is Friday the Thirteenth).
I really want to wax poetic about all the wonderful things YA books can offer; but it seems that my brain is still muddled with pollen and sick germs. And my Dayquil is starting to wear off. So instead of a dissertation on YA books, how about a list of the Best Young Adult Books I Have Read Recently?
- The name of the star by Johnson
- This dark endeavor by Oppel
- Clockwork prince by Clare
- The absolute value of Mike by Erskine
- The fault in our stars by Green
- Where things come back by Whaley
- The midnight palace by Zafon
What are some of your favorite young adult books? Do you have a favorite YA author? Comment below!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/13/12
→ currently reading: Agnes Grey
Mary Ellen Wright Memorial Poetry Contest
The Cobb County Public Library System is holding a poetry contest in memory of Mary Ellen Wright, an active library supporter who passed away in 2011. The contest is open to ages 9-17. Funding for the contest is provided by Maryann Strossner, a private donor who wishes to honor the memory of her friend Mary Ellen, who loved the library and enjoyed poetry.
This poetry contest is open to ages 9 – 17 with prizes available in two age categories: 9 – 12 and 13 – 17. Please click here for more information.
I know CCPLS has many talented poets. I hope you will take advantage of this wonderful Memorial Poetry Contest!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/11/12
→ currently reading: Agnes Grey
you belong @ your library!
Although many of you are dreading today as the first day back to school after spring break, today has special significance in another sense: today is the kickoff to National Library Week! Sponsored by the American Library Association, National Library Week is a week-long celebration dedicated to the importance of libraries in their communities.
This year’s theme is You Belong @ Your Library.
How do you belong? Do you visit the library to check out books? Or DVDs? Do you use our free internet computers or wifi? Do you download ebooks or use our free online databases? Do you attend a book group or anime club? Do you come to hang out with friends or to spend time browsing the stacks?
Let us know! How do you belong at your library?
→ posted by Shannon on 4/9/12
→ currently reading: Lady Susan
favorite females: authors
Moving on to my second installment of Favorite Females- authors! I read a lot, and I read a fairly wide range of genres. Consequently, my favorite female authors are just as varied as my favorite literary characters.
- Charlotte Brontë, famous for Jane Eyre
- Jane Austen, famous for Pride and Prejudice
- Jeanne Birdsall, famous for the Penderwicks series
- Yumeka Sumomo, famous for Chou ni naru hi (The Day I Became a Butterfly)
- Yun Kouga, famous for Earthian
Quite a variety, is it not? I thought long and hard about the women I would include in this list. I wanted to include women whose books I not only enjoy reading, but whose books I read again and again. Whose books I inhabit. Whose books take me out of my own life and put me into someone else’s life.
Although Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë share a literary time period, Charlotte was born in 1816, the year before Jane died, their books hold different spells for me. Jane’s books compel me to think about myself differently. In my opinion, Jane is able to strip her characters down to honest essentials; and it’s the act of reading about characters that are so much themselves that forces me to think of myself in such terms. If Jane modeled a character after me, what would she be like? Would I recognize her as myself? Would I be happy with the her? (I surely hope so!)
Charlotte’s books, on the other hand, always leave me in tears. Sad tears, happy tears, tears of frustration and vindication. Even though I’ve read the books before, I still cry for Jane and for Lucy. I can’t help it. And that’s why I love Charlotte’s books so much. I feel compassion (or happiness or anger or love) for her characters every time.
Jeanne Birdsall could have written her children’s series about the Penderwick family as a special commission just for me. There is no end to the amusement I get when reading her books. I have fallen in love with the entire Penderwick family and would enjoy nothing more than visiting them in my home state of Massachusetts. What I appreciate is that Jeanne has written a series of contemporary books for elementary-age children (and me!) that is sweet, honest, and wholesome.
Yumeka Sumomo and Yun Kouga are both mangaka (Japanese manga writers/artists). I can’t begin to guess how many times I’ve read manga by either woman (dozens, no doubt!) Sumomo sensei writes stories that are heartbreaking and beautiful and full of hope. Like with Charlotte Brontë’s books, I cry every time I read one of them. Kouga sensei’s works are more sweeping and epic. What appreciate about both women is that, as mangaka, they are both amazingly talented artists, but it’s the way they create text for their stories that really pulls everything together and makes their stories unforgettable.
Who are your favorite female authors? What is it about their books that you enjoy?
→ posted by Shannon on 3/19/12
→ currently reading: The Professor
favorite females: literary characters
I’m challenging myself to post at least once a week throughout March for Women’s History Month. I decided to record my favorite women in various fields, and I hope I can inspire some of you readers to comment with your favorite women. Comments on this page are a little funny, and they won’t show up right away; but fear not! I will check the comments often and make sure they’re viewable on the page. So comment away!!
I’d like to start my Favorite Females with my favorite literary characters. And there are so many! I’ll limit myself to five. In alphabetical order:
- Alice Deane from Joseph Delaney’s The Last Apprentice series;
- Alice (Liddell) from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland;
- Cassandra Mortmain from Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle;
- Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice;
- Lucy Snowe from Charlotte Bronte’s Villette.
As I look at my list, I realize that all of these characters are quite different personalities from each other. I certainly don’t typecast my favorites! Alice Deane and Elizabeth Bennet are the strongest personalities. They follow their own instincts and don’t rely on others. Neither of them caters to the accepted (and acceptable) views and roles of women in their respected times.
I include Alice Liddell in this list more for the fact that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is my second favorite book of all time (Peter Pan is my first). I don’t relate to Alice’s petulance and childishness; but I appreciate her imagination and her sense of wonder. Sometimes I wish I had walked through the looking glass in her place. I feel that Alice most likely kept her vivid imagination even after she became an adult, and I hope that I do, too. (That’s probably why I love Peter Pan so much, as well.)
Cassandra Mortmain is the character I identify with the most. She’s an idealistic dreamer who is more apt to daydream scenarios than actually get out there and make things happen. (I hope I’m not giving too much of myself away here!) But she’s a good person, and she cares deeply about those around her.
Lucy Snowe is calm and quiet. She thinks things through and doesn’t like to rock the boat. But at the same time, she is always true to herself and because of that she believes things will find a way to work out. I wish myself more like Lucy Snowe: reliable, dedicated, level-headed Lucy Snowe.
So tell me, who are your favorite female literary characters? Does your favorite have a similar personality to you or a completely different personality? Comment all the way at the bottom of this page!
→ posted by Shannon on 3/12/12
→ currently reading: This Dark Endeavor
women’s history month
The sun is shining (finally!), the wind is blowing (fiercely!), and the temperature is rising and falling (dramatically!)- it must be March! And with it, March brings us Women’s History Month!
Women’s History Month was first conceived in 1981 by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) as a week to commemorate women’s achievements. Women’s History Week was celebrated every year until 1987, when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as Women’s History Month.
Join the Cobb County Public Library System in celebrating Women’s History! Read staff book reviews of books authored by women or featuring women protagonists, view our photo gallery of women staff members who are artistically talented, and join our trivia contest on Facebook!
Do you have any favorite women authors or literary characters? Are you inspired by any famous women, past or present?
→ posted by Shannon on 3/5/12
→ currently reading: The Technologists (featuring the first woman to attend The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1860s!)
lights, camera, action!
The Cobb County Public Library System is excited to introduce the Triple D Production Company!
Open to teens,Triple D is focused on creating health and wellness videos geared toward children ages 6 – 12. Teens are invited to attend any (or all!) Triple D programs to learn the basics of creating/writing, filming, and editing videos. Triple D videos made by teens will be premiered at the End of Summer Reading Party at Central Library in August.
Find more information and frequently asked questions here!
The Triple D Production Company is working in conjunction with the library system’s new initiative: Discover Your Health at the Library!
→ posted by Shannon on 1/11/12
→ currently reading: Destined
2011′s best of the best
2011 is winding down (in a flurry of activity, yes, but still winding down), and I find myself reflecting on all the wonderful books I’ve read this year. A few of my personal favorites have been, in no particular order: Word nerd (Nielsen), Into the wild nerd yonder (Halpern), Wonderstruck (Selznick), Wildwood (Meloy), The phantom tollbooth (Juster), and Beautiful chaos (Garcia).
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) also reflects on the best books of the year. They’ve recently released their Teen’s Top Ten list, which is voted on by teens across the country. Do you agree with the books that have been chosen? Which books would you add to the list? Which books would make your top ten list?
→ posted by Shannon on 12/7/11
→ currently reading: Inheritance
November, what?
It would appear that autumn is full upon us: the leaves are bright red, orange, and gold, the wind is brisk, and the weather is cooling down. I, too, have been sick, which for me is a harbinger of the colder months 
We have many wonderful things to look forward to this November, including the end of Daylight Saving time, Thanksgiving, and Black Friday. But what else can we expect to celebrate this November? Plenty more, my friends, plenty more.
Native American Heritage Month
http://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/
Native American Heritage Month is dedicated to celebrating and increasing awareness of the contemporary and historical contributions and achievements of Native Americans in the United States. Native American history is vast and can be dated back approximately 40,000 years, when Paleo-Indians migrated from Siberia across the Bering land bridge into North America. Today there are hundreds of distinct Native American tribes in the United States. Take this opportunity to learn more about Native American culture and history. You’ll find more information on the library’s Multicultural Resources page including programs and booklists.
NaNoWriMo
Next up: National Novel Writing Month! I can’t explain this any better than the NaNoWriMo folks have:
National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing on November 1. The goal is to write a 50,000 word, (approximately 175 page) novel by 11:59:59, November 30.
Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.
Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.
Movember
And last, but certainly not least, we have Movember. Movember is an initiative to raise awareness for men’s health
specifically prostate cancer. Mo Bros, those who raise funds for men’s health, spend the month of November cultivating their moustaches. So if you happen to notice more ‘staches than usual, you’ll know why. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men behind non-melanoma skin cancer. According the to CDC, in 2007, 223, 307 men were diagnosed with and 29, 093 men died from prostate cancer. Movember aims to raise awareness and help fight for men’s health.
→ posted by Shannon on 11/3/11
→ currently reading: Wonderstruck
teen read week 2011
It’s that time again! Teen Read Week! This year’s theme, Picture It @ your library, focuses on graphic novels.
Aah, graphic novels. How do I love thee? It surprises me that a lot of people don’t like graphic novels or think graphic novels aren’t really literature or simply won’t let their kids read graphic novels because they’re too easy or they’re not real books. Excuse me?
My love of graphic novels prompted me to do some research for Teen Read Week. I wanted to dispel the stereotype that graphic novels aren’t worthwhile reading. Do you know what I found? Endless articles insisting that not only are graphic novels excellent choices for reluctant readers (especially boys), “they [graphic novels] are also taken seriously as literature and an art form in their own right”.1
Media specialists, librarians, and teachers across the US understand the importance of graphic novels for students. Students who read graphic novels learn “…to analyze literary conventions, character development, dialogue, satire, and language structures as well as develop writing and research skills”.2 But not only that, students “…also have to consider visual elements such as color, shading, panel layout, perspective, and even the lettering style”.3 In other words, reading a graphic novel can be more challenging than reading plain text: plain text is a linear, somewhat straightforward endeavor; while graphic novels challenge readers to follow the text and illustrations around the page. Throw manga (Japanese comics) into the mix and you are further challenging readers: manga is presented in the Asian literary format of right-to-left instead of left-to-right.
Still not convinced? I can’t blame you. Comics and graphic novels have always been viewed negatively in the US (unlike in east Asian countries like Japan, where comics are held in high artistic and literary regard). But graphic novels aren’t just superheroes anymore. I could hand you a graphic novel (written for adults, not children!) depicting the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I could offer you graphic novels about wars, oppression, and hope. Biographies and autobiographies, histories, travel guides, classic literature, and novels. In a graphic format, these texts come alive and allow readers to experience the story in a different, oftentimes more personal, way. Seeing the story while reading the story is a very powerful experience.
I hope I’ve dispelled some of the graphic novel’s negative stereotypes. I have been reading graphic novels for a long time, and it continues to shock me when I suggest a graphic novel to a library patron (usually a middle or high schooler) and the patron’s parent says no. Give graphic novels a chance! Spread the word! And during this Teen Read Week, read a graphic novel!
Click here (Graphic Novels YA+A booklists)for a list of Young Adult and Adult graphic novels available through the library system.
→ posted by Shannon on 10/17/11
→ currently reading: Maximum Ride: the graphic novel
1. Cleaver, Samantha. ”Comics & Graphic Novels.” Instructor 117.6 (2008) 28-30.
2. Schwarz, Gretchen. ”Expanding literacies through graphic novels.” English Journal 95.6 (2006) 58-64.
3. ibid.
think for yourself, and let others do the same, part 4
On this, the penultimate day of Banned Books Week, I sit back and hope that I have instigated some discussion on censoring/challenging/banning. Ours would be a very boring world if everyone liked the same things and had the same feelings and opinions. Having differences among individuals isn’t an evil thing. Differences remind us how important our freedom to choose is.
→ posted by Shannon on 9/30/11
→ currently reading: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
think for yourself, and let others do the same, part 3
The following is a list of the 100 most frequently challenged books from 2000 – 2010. A challenged book is a book that has been recommended for removal from public circulation. A banned book is a book that has been removed from circulation. (Visit ala.org/bbooks for more banned and challenged book lists.)
1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. ttyl; ttfn; l8r g8r (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16. Forever, by Judy Blume
17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King, by Linda de Haan
21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
26. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainbow Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by E.R. Frank
How many of these challenged books have you read? How would you feel if none of these books were available at the library because, as challenged books, they were removed from the collection? If you came across a book that you didn’t like or agree with would you want the book to be removed from the collection so no one could read it? Or would you want others to read it and come to their own opinion concerning the book?
→ posted by Shannon on 9/28/11
→ currently reading: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
think for yourself, and let others do the same, part 2
Perhaps I’m a bit stubborn, ornery, or just plain independent, but I would never, never allow someone (especially a complete stranger!) make a decision for me.
If I pick out a cart full of groceries at the supermarket, I expect to be buying and taking all of them home.
If I want to watch the ridiculous PG-13 rated comedy instead of the G-rated family film, that’s my choice.
If I’m craving a big, greasy hamburger with a mountain of fries, why not?
What do you think? Would you allow a stranger to make a decision for you or would you prefer to decide for yourself? Even if it turns out that you’ve made a less than wise decision? (I’m vegetarian, so my less than wise decision would have to be that hamburger…)
TO BE CONTINUED.
→ posted by Shannon on 9/27/11
→ currently reading: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
think for yourself, and let others do the same, part 1
What would you do if you were checking out at the grocery store and the cashier started picking and choosing which items you could purchase and take home?
What would you do if you were at the movie theatre, buying a ticket for the movie you’ve been dying to see, and the theatre employee said ‘no, that movie has bad words‘ and gave you a ticket for a G-rated, family movie instead?
What would you do if you were at a restaurant and the waiter refused to serve you a hamburger and fries and instead gave you a salad because it’s better for you?
TO BE CONTINUED.
→ posted by Shannon on 9/26/11
→ currently reading: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
congratulations!
Congrats to the winners of our annual Summer Reading Program!
- Acworth: Christopher O.
- Central: Yemone M.
- Gritters: Rodney B.
- Kemp: Brett W.
- Kennesaw: Jade B.
- LARay: Brandon G.
- Powder Springs: Comfort O.
- South Cobb: Kawsu M.
- Stratton: Matthew O.
- Sweetwater: Marissa G.
- Vinings: Catherine C.
- West Cobb: Savannah B. + Jenni E.
→ posted by Shannon on 8/4/11
→ currently reading: Penderwicks at Point Mouette
don’t, don’t, don’t forget!
The Summer Reading Program deadline is closing in fast! Teens, don’t forget to submit your book reviews by July 31 (this Sunday!) in order to be eligible for the prize drawing. Each Cobb County library will pick a winner (for a Target gift card) the first week in August.
That’s not a bad way to end the summer 
→ posted by Shannon on 7/25/11
→ currently reading: Villette
we’re not done yet!
I looked at my calendar this morning and did a double take. Does July really and truly start this week? Why, yes, yes it does! That means we’re hitting the half-way mark for our summer library programs. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of programs left to take part in: Improv, Wii, Crime Scene Investigation, YouTube, Needlepoint, and Origami are just a few of the library programs coming up in July. Click here (teen calendar july) for a PDF of all our July teen programs or click here to go to the teen calendar on our website.
See you soon!
→ posted by Shannon on 6/27/11
→ currently reading: The Dark Frigate
summer 2011: a guide
Summer vacation is officially upon us. I know this because the library is BUSY. Crazy busy. For all of you students in grades 6 – 12, remember that the Summer Reading Program starts June 1. Don’t remember what the Summer Reading Program is or what you need to do? No problem. We’ve got you covered:
Book review forms are available at all 17 Cobb County libraries and can be downloaded as a PDF on our website. Review forms can be returned to any Cobb County library. Each library will draw one winner in early August. Only the first 10 review forms per person will be eligible for the prize drawing.
And don’t forget to check out our teen programs and workshops this summer. We’ve got everything from yoga and crime scene investigation to anime clubs and film festivals. Click here (teen calendar june) for a PDF or click here to go to the Teen Calendar on our website. See you soon!
→ posted by Shannon on 5/31/11
→ currently reading: Skippy Dies
Congratulations Class of 2011!
→ posted by Shannon on 5/26/11
→ currently reading: Skippy Dies
public service announcement
DO NOT BE ALARMED. DO NOT PANIC. READ THE FOLLOWING IN A CALM MANNER AND YOU SHOULD WILL BE FINE.
The Zombie Research Society (ZRS) has issued the following statement:
“The zombie pandemic is coming. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when.”
All citizens have a responsibility to educate themselves to the coming threat. The ZRS has designated May as Zombie Awareness Month in order to “…to emphasize continued vigilance in the face of the coming zombie pandemic.” It is important to know and understand the enemy because “the life you save may be your own.”
Refer to Cobb County Public Library’s Zombie Booklist for more information on zombies and how best to protect yourself in the coming zombie apocalypse.
→ posted by Shannon on 5/19/11
→ currently reading: Scorpia Rising
May is Get Caught Reading Month! I encourage everyone to get caught. In the act. Red handed. It’s not so bad; I get caught all the time. It’s really only embarrassing the first time, then it’s not so bad
So, what have you been caught reading?
UPDATE: I’ve been caught reading quite a bit this month: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, Harvey by Hervé Bouchard, Loveless volumes 1 – 9 by Yun Kouga, Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz, and the blogs Lifehacker, Re-Nest, How About Orange, and CRAFT.
→ posted by Shannon on 5/4/11
→ currently reading: Great Expectations
turn that TV off!
This is one of those easier said than done challenges. It’s TV Turn Off Week this week! That means no TV. For nothing. Not even one teeny little 30 minute sitcom. Will you survive take the challenge?
Maybe this will help: here’s a list of wonderful things you can do that don’t involve the TV.
- read a book
- play a board game
- write a poem
- bake something from scratch
- perform a one act play
- learn an instrument
- crochet, knit, or sew
- create a collage
- draw or paint a picture
- take a walk
- play a game of basket-, base, foot- ball, or soccer
- teach yourself to do something new
- watch the clouds
- create a sidewalk chalk mural with your friends
- meditate
- do taichi, yoga, or pilates
- write a song
- etcetera
You can also click here for a list of non-TV activities being hosted by the library this week!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/18/11
→ currently reading: Brooklyn Bridge
Support Teen Literature Day 2011!
Alright, be honest: how many of you out there knew there was a special day devoted to teen and young adult literature? For a long time, I had no idea. Support Teen Literature Day sprung up on me about four years ago. I was so excited about it! A whole day in celebration of the very books I love to read?! No way!! Now I look forward to it in giddy anticipation every year.
Teen and young adult literature really has been evolving and maturing in recent years. There is no limit to the topics and genres that teen authors will tackle. I know, I know, it seems like it’s All About Vampires. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! What about stories involving cancer, child abandonment, drug and alcohol abuse, relationships, depression, body image, abuse, death, and so on? Those books are out there, too.
I’ve heard people say that there’s a perfect book for every person, and I really believe that. Books have found me when I’ve needed them the most. Books are powerful, and the stories they tell and the wisdom they impart is essential. I’m not saying that books are the ONLY tool out there for self-discovery and self-help. Not at all. I am saying that books are important tools that can reveal information to us in a way we won’t soon forget. I have read books that definitely stayed with me long after I had finished reading them. And more often than not these books are teen and young adult books.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (those wonderful people behind Support Teen Literature Day) put out a yearly list of Best Books for Young Adults. The 2011 list is linked here: YALSA list. I can’t force you to read the books on that list; but I can assure you that they (the ones I’ve read!) are excellent! You can also check the Teen Page on the library system’s website for more great booklists.
I also urge all you young adult book lovers to spread the word about Support Teen Literature Day! Let the haters people know that young adult literature isn’t all fluff and vampires. Teen and young adult literature is coming into its own. And that’s just what we want!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/14/11
→ currently reading: Great Expectations
National Library Week 2011
We celebrate National Library Week every year; but this year I find that the mission of NLW hits home more than ever. For 2011, the American Library Association challenges individuals to Create Your Own Story @ Your Library. And in tough economic times (like these!), more people do just that. In Cobb County, our libraries not only provide books and research assistance, but free internet access, resume and job hunting resources, reading enrichment programs for all ages, free community space, and so much more.
Library haters try to convince us that libraries are on their way out. Who needs librarians when students can surf the internet for answers? Who needs books when your iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Nook, or smart phone can pull up ebooks and newspapers? Who needs story time when children can watch TV or play “learning games” on on the internet? Aren’t libraries a “luxury” that can be closed without any trouble?
To the haters, I say stop hating! Libraries have always and will always provide a great service to the community. I don’t imagine that every citizen visits their local library every day, every week, or even every month. But even so, imagine how it would feel to not have the option to visit the library because it was deemed extraneous and closed down. How do you get that book for English that you have to read by next week? Who do you ask for help finding a primary source for your History research paper? Where do you go to get information about scholarships and grants for college?
Now, more than ever, we need to step up as a community and let the Powers That Be know how we feel about our libraries. How do you Create Your Own Story @ your library? What has your library done for you or allowed you to accomplish? What are your earliest library memories? Do you have a favorite librarian that always has the right answer for your question?
Let us know! Join us on Facebook and YouTube. Follow our Twitter. Become involved in your library’s future, or there won’t be a future for your library!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/11/11
→ currently reading: Jane Eyre
Spring Break 2011
We’ve got your whole week covered! Click the link below to get a full list of Teen/Tween/Film programs being offered by Cobb County libraries.
→ posted by Shannon on 4/4/11
→ currently reading: Jane Eyre
happy birthday, dr. seuss!
You are never too old to enjoy a classic Dr. Seuss book. So, in honor of his birthday, why not read your favorite Dr. Seuss book today? I guarantee it will put a smile on your face and have your tongue in knots.
My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Dr. Seuss’s ABC. What’s yours?
→ posted by Shannon on 3/2/11
→ currently reading: Asta in the Wings
you are here @ your library
I know it seems like it’s a little early, but trust me, it’s not: we are already beginning to plan activities for the Summer Reading Program! And we’d like your input! Check out the survey below, and let us know what sorts of programs you’d like to see at your library this summer.
→ posted by Shannon on 2/16/11
→ currently reading: The Mysterious Howling
distracted driving
I like to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition every Sunday night. I find the families and their stories incredible and inspiring. The story from this past Sunday was no exception.
The story was about Alex Brown from Texas. Alex was a senior in high school. She was on her way to school one morning when she lost control of her truck. Her truck went off the road and flipped several times. Alex was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.
She had been texting.
Her family now tows her wrecked truck to schools across Texas, warning teens of the dangers of distracted driving. The Extreme Makeover Team helped the Brown family spread their message by creating the Remember Alex Brown (R.A.B.) website. On the website you can sign the R.A.B. Pledge that you will not text and drive. My husband and I have signed the pledge. So have Justin Bieber and Emma Roberts. I urge all Cobb County teens and their families to take the pledge.
Recently, Georgia enacted a Distracted Driving Law that prohibits any driver of any age to “write, send, or read any text based communication, including but not limited to a text message, electronic mail, or internet data” (Senate Bill 360).
House Bill 23 prohibits any driver under the age of 18 from using a wireless device at all. That means no cell phone use while driving.
I admit to using my cell while driving. I’ve even texted while driving (before it was against the law). But really think about it: what can we be texting that is worth dying for? Alex Brown’s death was senseless and completely preventable. It’s just not worth it.
Please think before you use your cell while driving. And don’t forget to take the R.A.B. pledge.
To learn more about Georgia’s Distracted Driving Laws, follow the links below:
http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/sb360.htm
http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/search/hb23.htm
→ posted by Shannon on 2/4/11
→ currently reading: Into the Wild Nerd Yonder
let’s go mobile!
Our fabulous Tech Team has put together a streamlined version of the library’s website for use with smartphones! Check it out!
http://www.cobbcat.org/mobile/
→ posted by Shannon on 2/1/11
→ currently reading: The Danger Box
share your talents
Starting in January, the first Tuesday of every month is Open Forum at the South Cobb Regional Library. Teens 12 and up can come share stories, poetry, art, music, drama, etc. with other teens. Get creative; get inspired! Click on the image below to find out more.
→ posted by Shannon on 12/23/10
→ currently reading: The Calder Game
handmade holidays
Well, it’s that time of year again: tis the season for giving! If you’re in the same boat as me, you’re wondering how to spread the winter cheer on a tight (really tight!) budget. That’s where the library comes in handy. Our shelves are full of books with great ideas for creating your own holiday gifts. We’ve got books on knitting and crocheting, amigurumi and shibori felting, homemade greeting cards and scrapbooks, cookbooks with every cookie recipe known to man, sewing and quilting books, woodworking books, even Green crafting books. The possibilities are endless!
Before you drag your parents to the mall to shop for your friends and family, why don’t you check your local library first? I’m sure you’ll find some inspiration for a really great gift (on the cheap!)
→ posted by Shannon on 11/30/10
→ currently reading: Beautiful Creatures
behind the scenes with chemistry
October 17 – 23 is National Chemistry Week sponsored by the American Chemical Society. Celebrated every year since 1987, National Chemistry Week raises awareness of the importance of chemistry in everyday life.
This year’s theme, Behind the Scenes with Chemistry, focuses on the use of chemistry in movies and special effects. Think Mythbusters!
So don’t be afraid to explore the world of chemistry: it’s the science behind the explosions!
→ posted by Shannon on 10/16/10
→ currently reading: The Heretic’s Daughter
meet an illustrator!
Who? R. Gregory Christie
When? this Friday, October 8 at 3:30 pm
Where? the South Cobb Regional Library
R. Gregory Christie, who has family here in Mableton, is a nationally-renowned illustrator. He has won the Theodor Geisel Award Honor, the Schneider Family Award, and is a three time recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award honor. Christie has illustrated many books, including biographies of Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, and Sojourner Truth.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet this amazing illustrator!
→ posted by Shannon on 10/5/10
→ currently reading: Celandine
banned books week: celebrate your right to read
Starting today (sept. 25) and ending next Saturday (oct. 2), libraries across America are celebrating Banned Books Week. This year’s theme is Think for Yourself and Let Others do the Same. You can learn more about Banned Books Week here.
Sponsored by the American Library Association, Banned Books Week spotlights the harm that censorship and challenging / banning books has on readers. In the United States, with our First Amendment right to Free Speech, many people think that book banning is an obsolete threat. The truth is, however, that dozens of titles get challenged across America every year. Many titles are removed from schools or libraries.
As a reader and a librarian, I would be extremely upset if someone made a decision for me regarding which books I may or may not have access to and read. Imagine that your library system decided to no longer carry a certain title because a small majority of people thought the book wasn’t appropriate. When Harry Potter first came out, for example, many parents and organizations wanted the books out of schools and libraries because the plot focuses on witches. It is certainly their right to believe the books are inappropriate; that is their First Amendment right. I, however, don’t believe the books are inappropriate and enjoy reading them; and that is my First Amendment right.
As a population of citizens and readers, you should be aware of the threat that censorship and challenging / banning has on you and those around you. Don’t allow others to think and make decisions for you. Stand up for your right to read and to choose what to read.
For the most challenged books of past years visit the American Library Association’s website.
→ posted by Shannon on 9/25/10
→ currently reading: The Midnight Folk
what should I read?!
Young adult literature has really been booming recently. There is so much to choose from! It’s hard to know where to start. In an effort to help, Becca and I have added new Teen Booklists to the website. Go to the Teen Page and click “booklists”. You’ll find Alex Award Books, Books for Guys, Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Real Issues, and Books in Diary, Journal, and Verse form. It’s just a start, but we hope it helps! And be sure to check back for new booklists soon!
→ posted by Shannon on 8/31/10
→ currently reading: The Necromancer
let the fun begin
I know school has already started back, but let’s not forget that there are still fun times to be had at the library! Regular programming for t(w)eens will be starting again in September. There are lots of new and interesting programs being offered. Click on the Teen Calendar to see what I mean See you there!
→ posted by Shannon on 8/21/10
→ currently reading: The Thief Lord
just a few days left!
Hey teens! Don’t forget that you only have until this Saturday, July 31 to turn in your Summer Reading Program book reviews! Each library will draw a winner for a Target gift card on Monday, August 2. You still have time. Enter for a chance to win!!
→ posted by Shannon on 7/28/10
→ currently reading: When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
are you secure?
I was recently reading an online article about password security. We all know that computer and online security is important, but how seriously do we really take it? Especially when using a public internet computer–like in the library or at school–are we being as secure as we need to be?
The article I read gave a link to a site called How Secure Is My Password? What a neat concept! At this site you can assess how strong your passwords are by seeing how long it would take a computer to crack them. Now, knowing how strong your password is doesn’t automatically make you secure online. You still need to use discretion on the internet: Don’t give out your usernames or passwords to anyone; Don’t let computers remember your passwords; and Don’t forget to log out of websites.
→ posted by Shannon on 7/13/10
→ currently reading: The Swan Thieves
beat the heat!
Well, summertime is in full swing. Fourth of July is just around the corner and back to school is creeping up on us. I hope you’ve been taking advantage of all the wonderful programs your local library has been offering! We’ve got book clubs, anime clubs, painting lessons, forensics, artsy classes, and so much more! Click here to download a full summer program calendar. And don’t forget to submit your Summer Reading Program book reviews. You’ve got a chance to win a Target gift card. Each library will draw a winner in August.
Beat the heat at the library!
→ posted by Shannon on 6/28/10
→ currently reading: The Professor and the Madman
teen poetry page
Are you a poet? Are your poems closed up in a notebook where no one can enjoy them? Ms. Becca, the Librarian at the West Cobb Regional Library, is looking for teen poetry to go on the Teen Poetry Page! Drop off a copy of your poem to any library in Cobb County, and we’ll see to it that your poetry gets on the Teen Page! You can include your name or remain anonymous. Either way, your poetry should be shared!
→ posted by Shannon on 6/12/10
→ currently reading: The King of Attolia
e-resources
What exactly is an e-resource? An e-resource is an online resource that you can use to find information. It can be an encyclopedia, a journal, magazine, or newspaper, or even a collection of old photographs with historic value. And believe it or not, all of these types of resources are available to you for free through the E-Library link on the CobbCat homepage.
Cobb County recently added some new resources to the E-Library. One of my favorites is PowerSpeak Languages under the Books, Reading, Literature heading. PowerSpeak offers you a full course of a language that you would like to learn. So far Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and ESL Spanish are available with more languages to come. You will have to use your library card number and pin number to log in and then create a free account to enter the site, but that’s it. I started taking the French course, and it’s really fun! Each language lesson includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking sections. Depending on how in depth you make your language lesson, it could take up to 100 hours to finish all the activities! You’ll be fluent by then!
→ posted by Shannon on 6/2/10
→ currently reading: The Thief
making waves!
It’s the last week of school. In a few short days you will be free from educational obligations. But that doesn’t mean you should stop using that brain of yours! Why not join the Summer Reading Program? This year you can Make Waves @ Your Library: pick up a review form from your library or print one off the Teen Page. Read a book; write a review; and be entered to win a prize! This year each library will choose its own winner. So why not?!
We’ve also got lots of fun stuff to keep you busy this summer. Check out the Teen Calendar to see what activities your local branch is hosting. We’ve got Anime Clubs, DDR tournaments, book discussions, craft hours, movies, etc etc etc! Stop by and hang out. And bring your friends!
>→ posted by Shannon on 5/17/10
→ currently reading: The Last Olympian
keeping track
Are you an avid reader? Would you just love to have a place to keep track of the books you want to read, are currently reading, and have read? Did you know there are lots of great websites that let you do just that?
Keeping an online catalog of books is really neat. I used to keep a simple list in Word of the books I have read. But I got to a certain point – about the time when my list exceeded twenty pages – that I outgrew that option. It was just too cumbersome to keep the books in order (alphabetically by author, I might add); and it wasn’t very interesting to look at.
A fellow librarian suggested I try GoodReads. It’s perfect! I type in the book I’m looking for and GoodReads searches its own extensive database or Amazon’s database to retrieve my book. Then it puts the book on my “shelf”. I can display my shelves as a list of titles or authors, but I like to display by cover. I’m a fiend for book covers! GoodReads keeps track of all the books bibliographic information (like the publication date and ISBN), when I added it to my collection, when I started reading it, and when I finished reading it. You can also rate your books and add reviews or summaries.
LibraryThing and Bibliophil are two other well-known websites that offer a similar service. And they’re all free to join. Why not try one out?
→ posted by Shannon on 5/11/10
→ currently reading: A Spot of Bother
privacy revolution
This week, May 2 – 8, is Choose Privacy Week. The Privacy Revolution is part of the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom. Their goal is to “protect [our] freedom to read, search, and learn in a digital age” and to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding our privacy.
It’s interesting, to say the least; dare I say Big Brother?
→ posted by Shannon on 5/4/10
→ currently reading: The Titan’s Curse
animania!
Have you clicked over to the Library’s Flickr page yet? You haven’t?! Well, here’s a peek at what you’ve been missing…
Pretty incredible, don’t you think?
→ posted by Shannon on 5/1/10
→ currently reading: Manhood for Amateurs
book talk
I love to read. (Did you already guess that? I mean, I am a librarian after all.) What I love most about reading is that, after I’ve finished a book, there’s so much more I want to know about. I recently read a YA book called Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer, and when I was done I just had to read a biography about Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. My point is, when you finish a book the book doesn’t end. Reading one book opens up an interest in a topic that can lead to the reading of other books.
Starting May 4, I will be offering a program called Book Talk at the South Cobb Regional Library(first Tuesday of each month from 6:00 – 7:00 pm). At Book Talk we’ll choose a topic (bullying, loss, history, fantasy, relationships, etc.) and open up a discussion on that theme. And there’s no required reading. I hope you’ll stop by and share with us!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/26/10
→ currently reading: Manhood for Amateurs
anime ga suki desu ka?
Are you interested in anime and manga? Well, you’re in luck! Several of our libraries have Anime Clubs for you to join! Check out the Anime Clubs at the East Cobb Library, the South Cobb Regional Library, and the West Cobb Regional Library. Feel free to call the libraries to get the specifics. You can also check the program calendar on the Teen Page to find out dates and times. See you there! Jaa ne!
EDIT: we now have a unique page for the libraries’ Anime Clubs! The link is at the top of this page under the Teen Blog link (hover over the Teen link and you’ll see the Anime link.) Yay!!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/20/10
→ currently reading: Masterpiece
oh rly?
Did you know the Cobb County Library has a Facebook and a Flickr page? ya rly! Friend us to find out what’s new at the library. We’re always updating!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/16/10
→ currently reading: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
welcome
Hello and welcome to our new Teen Blog!
Be sure to check here often for things going on in the library for teens. With seventeen libraries in Cobb County there’s usually something going on! And yeah, Happy Support Teen Literature Day!
→ posted by Shannon on 4/15/10
→ currently reading: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
