Today is the birthday of Emily Bronte who wrote the extremely romantic WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and yet Emily herself never had a lover nor did she ever get married. Go figure, and furthermore, go read the book!

ORIGAMI was a splendid success, with nine eager folders (plus a crazed teen librarian with two left thumbs) creating magic with Linda Bogen. If you were there, you know what I'm bloggin' about, and if you weren't, come to the Library and see the kinds of things we created in the Display Case, just to the left of the front door.

The Playwriting Seminar, presented once again by Meredith Levy, will be held Tuesday, August 3rd, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Monroe Room.

All my ragingly eager writers (and even those of you who simply dabble in the written word) should (did I say should? I meant must!) attend. Just as it was last year, it's going to be great and you all ought to be there (if only just to say you were, and reference the Library and Meredith when you stand on stage to receive your Tony Award for best play in 2021--hey, it could happen!)

Summer is moving along as fast as possible in this dreadful heat/humidity. Keep the AC and the fans on full blast and we'll all get through it.

Think of it: one day in the brevity of time we will again be kicking up the leaves of autumn. Ah, that that day would come soon! I am so desirous of 68 degree weather I could weep!

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...ah, did someone say brothers? I meant sisters, of course, the three intrepids of SPEAK OUT who discussed with me, speaking of sisterhood, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES.

Rock on, my SPEAK OUT teens, and next week we will discuss HANDMAID'S TALE (copies are still available for those wishing to get in on the literary fun.

Did someone say "wow"?

Well, heck, I'll say it again: WOW!!

Last night's turnout for TALK IT UP was unprecedented in number of teens in attendance (not to mention the amount of junk food consumed by them!).

I was delighted by the turnout, and delighted additionally by the assistance I received from my colleague, Meredith Levy, in set up and discussion assistance, too. Many thanks, Meredith.



Next week's book, for those of you who were not there and wish to get in on the action, is LEMONADE MOUTH, soon to be a major motion picture from Disney Studios.

I have copies available for all who wish to join us.

All I can say is WOW! The creativity of Wyckoff teens is clearly without bounds, as was evidenced by the gorgeous tote bags decorated most cleverly with stencil prints tonight at the Library.

Watch this space, 'cause pics are coming. You will be amazed! If you were there, you will be simply amused.

Keep pace with all the fun happening at the Wyckoff Library this summer.

Summer 2010 for teens at the Library really starts this week!

Tomorrow evening, for all of you lucky ones who have signed up for it,

the Library is offering Sharon Gross's stencil print program.

On Wednesday starts TALK IT UP and SPEAK OUT,

the summer's first of six book discussion weeks.

Finally, I hope that, while I've been cavorting about

in the unusually overwhelming heat in the Adirondacks last week,

Wyckoff teens have been reading, recording their pages,

and getting prized as appropriate.

Summer's really here now!

Hey, today is the day to MAKE WAVES at the Wyckoff Library by signing up for the summer book club.

Read all you want, report back often with your pages, and get cool prizes.

Hope to see you all today! (or tomorrow, or next week (when I won't be here, but the sign up sheet will be!))

My plan is to have no prize items left by summer's end; help my dream come true!

Today we celebrate the birthday of William Strunk, Jr., better known to some of you as half of the brilliant team of folks who wrote ELEMENTS OF STYLE, a bible for anyone who writes or has aspirations to do so.

Strunk, who taught English at Cornell University for 46 years, wrote this famous "little book" for his students. One of them was the yet-to-be famous writer E.B. White, who revised it in 1935 when his name was added to the authorship. (You may know White better as the author of CHARLOTTE'S WEB, among other titles.)

So, when someone says to you, 'you'd better check with Strunk and White on that', they are suggesting that you should revise your writing style.

If Mr. Strunk were living today, he would without doubt be able to edit this blogpost within an inch of its life; your humble blogger has never been known for sparcity of text.

Keep on writing (if that applies to you, that is!)