Where I am now

Golly, it's been a while. Okay, next week I will be away cavorting (read bicycling, kayaking, golfing, hiking, canoeing, among other fun-nesses) in the gorgeous Adirondacks, known familiarly as The 'Dacks, but when I return it's summer in full for teens at the Wyckoff Library, so get ready for mayhem (with candy). Happy 4th to one and all and see you soon!

Book Expo 2012

Today Denise Marchetti (our wonderful Chuldren's Librarian) and I had the distinct pleasure to attend the 2012 Book Expo event in New York City at the cavernous Jacob Javits Conference Center. Sadly, I did not get an opportunity to see John Green, one of my most fave teen authors, but I will admit to shaking the hand of the estimable Walter Dean Myers. What a thrill! And you may see some interesting posters in your Teen Room, too. I netted some cool books you may want to read, as well. Next time you see me, ask me about this great day. I'm still giddy about it (and pretty darn tired, too). Those of you attending tomorrow's Teen Writers Group will probably hear me vent about it!

Library Redux Fait Accompli

Okay, I'm here at my desk in the Reference Office, my lovely new desk, typing on my trusty old laptop, listening to the sounds of the Library coming back to life!

Yesterday I had a passel of intrepid teens aiding me in getting my teen collection in good stead on their shelves in the new TEEN ROOM!

I also gave them a tour of our new digs.  The Library is decidedly different and, of course, the same, in that we provide the same great service to our patrons, but now our ambiance is way cooler.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on OPENING DAY on May 19th.  It's going to be fun and I will be hosting a TEEN COFFEE HOUSE from 3:30 to 5:00 PM in the newly refurbished Monroe Room, so bring your music, poetry, sense of imagination and humor and we will have a great time.

See you there!

It's happening!

We are beginning the MOVE BACK!

200 Woodland Avenue Library, is what I'm talking 'bout, and this week as I lay moaning in my sick bed, books from deep storage, books from the teen collection, were being shelved on the spanking new shelves in the Teen Room in the newly reconstructed Wyckoff Library.  (Many thanks to Mary Witherell, our intrepid Director, for seeing the storaged part of my (your) collection safely to its new home.)

And what a great new home it is!  One I'm hoping you will all find much to your liking, that is, you will want to spend as many hours as possible in its fabulous confines. 

And don't forget:  Opening day is MAY 19TH, so clear your calendar and have some fun at the new Wyckoff Library. 

(Be prepared:  it might just knock your socks off!)

 

HUNGER GAMES PARTY!

The party was epic, as promised, and I've just fully recovered enough to blog about it.

Twenty-two brave Tributes battled each other in mad games of trivia, darts, charades, and musical mats, all to the music of the movie itself, and accompanied by great food as might be eaten by those in the Districts as well as the Capital.

Watch this space for photographic evidence of the controlled mayhem that was. . .

HUNGER GAMES, THE PARTY!

The Harvesting is over. The chosen tributes will approach their destinies this Thursday. Watch this space for evidence of their bravery, their matchless aptitude, and The Games themselves. The Games will be blogged!

NATIONAL PROCRASTINATION WEEK

March 4 - 10 is NATIONAL PROCRASTINATION WEEK

(Just sayin'. . .)

Furthermore, I'm wondering if anybody out there even reads this Blog. 

Respond if you do, please.  One likes to know one is noticed.

Hunger Games, the Book

     Hunger Games, the Movie

          Hunger Games, the Wyckoff Library Party!

 Tributes, you are invited to attend

this festive triumph,

the HUNGER GAMES PARTY.

On 22 March 2012 at 6:00 - 8:00, twenty lucky teens 12 - 18 years of age will be enjoying the festivities so contact your Teen Librarian, Barbara, ASAP to secure a spot.

It will be EPIC !

A stellar turnout last night for the first 2012 TEEN ADVISORY GROUP meeting, as nine Wyckoff teens (and one Lorax!) and I enjoyed each others company, as well as great snacks and maybe even a cup of Joe (through the generosity of our local Dunkin' Donuts!)

We're planning a party (among other things), so watch this space as events unfold.

Thanks to everybody who attended!  I hope you all enjoyed it as much as your Teen Librarian did.

 So back to that party:  hold the date March 22 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM here at the Library!  (Just sayin'. . .)

Today's birthday boy!

STEVE JOBS!

http://www.allaboutstevejobs.com/


Not ashamed to say this is posted from my iPad.. Thanks, Steve, for all your genius.

TEEN ADVISORY GROUP CAFE

Ah, regarding FAULT IN OUR STARS,

did I mention tissues? 

Oh, yes! 

Tissues will be needed!

(An aside:  the book has been optioned for the cinema. . .yay!)

FAULT IN OUR STARS

A new book from the award winning (and popular favorite) John Green!

We followed him as he went LOOKING FOR ALASKA,  watched him deal with AN ABUNDANCE OF CATHERINES, but now he takes on a brand new challenge.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS is a tenderly constructed novel about one of life's most brutal challenges.  The book's heroine, Hazel, is battling cancer with a fierce sense of humor, as only John Green could imagine.  A fine mixture of comedic pathos, this novel touches every nerve, and serves up a deliciously improbable romance in the telling.  

Today is the birthday of Peter Mark Roget, and while you may think you do not know his name, you should thank him for the wonderful resource he has given to all people who engage in writing of any sort.  Mr. Roget is responsible for the THESAURUS, a word which translates literally from the Greek into "treasury", and a treasury it is indeed!

But since that's not all he did, check out his bio in the attached link: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/roget_peter_mark.shtml

IT'S A NEW YEAR!

And I have been remiss at blogging. That is to say, I haven't had anything to say on this spot since November. Not that there has not been anything to say but the Silly Season, as some have called it, tends to drag us kicking and screaming into the New Year, with very little time to do that which we so enjoy doing, except having fun, celebrating with friends and family, and eating great food, etc. Did someone mention gifts?

Hey, wait a minute . . .I think I kinda enjoyed doing that, too. Ah, the Silly Season has taken its toll, and we are all now living in a New Year.

In just two and a half weeks, the Wyckoff Library Teen Writers Group will be meeting again (remember: the first Thursday of each month!).

BUT this time it will be a completely different writing experience.

We are delighted to have back with us the wonderful folks from YOUTHSTAGE, a really cool group of writers/performers from Princeton, NJ.

This time, YOUTHSTAGE will be offering Wyckoff Teens (12-18) a program called

ACT IT/WRITE IT!

I'm sure my writers are all up to this fun, and even if you think you aren't, just give it a try!

I can't imagine anyone of you will be either disappointed or undelighted (word?? or did I just make that one up?).

Anyway, for those with interest, and I hope that's all of you, it starts at 5:00PM and lasts until 6:30PM.

Contact me please!

Yo yo here we go! We be marbilizin',

and if you don't know what that is

come check it out and learn a new artform.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_marbling

Thursday 16 November 2011, 5:30 PM in the Wyckoff Library.

All Wyckoff teens are welcome, so register soon.

Hey, that's next week, already!

So. . .we have suffered through a dire week, filled with power outages, downed wires, tree branches falling freely, and other such horrors, but we have come through!

The highlight for me?  Last night's TEEN WRITERS GROUP meeting, attended by five of my loyal legion of writers, and we shared lots of new writing.

BUT, the coolest thing of all was that at least two of my writers is endeavoring to accomplish the NaNoWriMo feat of writing a book in the thirty days of November.   Check it our for your darn selves:  
http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/ywp
As if that was not enough, another of my stalwarts is writing a story to submit to an online competition!

Ah, the Wyckoff Teen Writers continue to accomplish great things!

Okay, the TEEN WRITERS GROUP writes again tomorrow. Get out your Schaefer cartridge pens* and start penning something to bring tomorrow to read to your peers.

See you in the library at 5:00 PM, and get ready to have to good time for about an hour and a half.

B

*Schaefer cartridge pens were what I had to write with when I was in grade school. Messy things, but they did encourage great penmanship! (You don't have to write with them, but there is a decided coolness to doing so, for me at least.)

My middle finger that rested just below the nib was perpetually blue, the required ink color!

Jack o' lanterns covered in snow. How lame is this!

Blizzard conditions here and the Library closes at 3:00 today!