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!

Okay, it's been a while, but things have been busy 'round here. Plus, I'm putting my all (or at least some of it) into making the TEEN ROOM of the newly renovated Wyckoff Library the best TEEN ROOM of all!

Trust me, you will be as delighted as I when this is completed, and you will be spending a lot of your free time in that new teen space!

But onto other more pressing matters, Thursday the 3rd of November will be another TEEN WRITERS GROUP meeting at 5:00 - 6:30 PM in the Library, so hone your pencils and get ready to write once more.

Later that same month there is a book discussion of a pretty cool book with a pretty lame name, THE SECRET OF ROVER. There is no dog, btw, in this book and you have to read it to discover the secret. I have books available now for those that wish to attend the Thursday 11/17 meeting from 5:00 - 6:00 here in the library, replete with snacks, o'course.

Okay, I'm making up a word to describe last night's TEEN WRITERS GROUP. 

The new word is wonderfullity.  Yes, that's the word indeed.  Wonderfullity!

Well, I enjoyed it, and I hope my stalwart six attending writers did, too.

Did I mention fabulousity? Oh, yeah, it was that, too.

Today is the first of this season's TEEN WRITERS GROUP.

At 5:00 PM this evening, a select number of you fine writers out there will assemble, share your work, share some fun, and in general share a memorable hour and half.

If you are not yet registered for this meeting, please know you will be missed if you are not there, and it's not too late to contact me.

Did I mention snacks?

Did I mention hilarity?

Did I mention . . .ah, just come and find out for yourself!

Continue to watch this space for more news for TEENS at the Wyckoff Library!

IT'S BANNED BOOK WEEK!

DO SOMETHING NAUGHTY AND READ A BANNED BOOK.

SEVERAL ARE ON DISPLAY IN THE TEEN SECTION OF THE LIBRARY AND NOT ONE OF THEM IS ANYTHING LESS THAN CLASSIC LITERATURE.

A small selection of really good books on my NEW BOOKS shelf that have not gone out yet:

ENCHANTED QUEST by Frewin Jones (Book Five of THE FAERIE PATH)
WATCH FOR ME BY MOONLIGHT by Jacquelyn Mitchard (A "Midnight Twins" novel)
ADDIE ON THE INSIDE by James Howe (a novel in verse, "The Purgatory of the Middle School Years")
BLANK CONFESSION by Pete Hautman (realistic fiction, gripping mystery)
BELLADONNA by Mary Finn (Historical fiction with romance, horses and acrobats!)
PICK-UP GAME: A FULL DAY OF FULL COURT (Ten teen fic writers pen stores and poems about "round ball on hard wood")
SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY by Dana Reinhardt (realistic fiction from a master of the genre)
HOW I STOLE JOHNNY DEPP'S ALIEN GIRLFRIEND by Gary Ghislain (now someone please tell me why this book did not fly off the shelf as soon as it arrived)

Leah Cypess, whose wonderful book MISTWOOD was the subject of a teen book discussion in the Spring, is back again with another wonder, NIGHTSPELL, which has recieved some great reviews and will no doubt be a terrific read.

It's available right now, so be the first to check it out, if you can!

Autumn is upon us, and once again the Wyckoff Library

goes into high gear for Wyckoff Teens!

Check this space regularly for my schedule.

Right now, I'm offering the following reality:

I will be hosting our ever-popular TEEN WRITING GROUP on the first Thursday of every month, starting October 6th from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Bring a recent opus (or whatever creation you wish to read) and be ready to read it to your peers.

Additionally, I will be hosting a book discussion group that will meet monthly on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Books are on their way, even as I write, so sign up soon as I am limiting this to 15 teens, also.

RSVP (and not just because I like to hear from you, but because it makes my life a little easier (and I like to hear from you, too).

The first Wyckoff Library Teen Coffee House, 23 August 2011!

Hey, is this a Teen Coffee House or what?

Kaitlyn sings to a rapt audience.

Are those maracas I see on that table or am I dreaming?

Some avid listeners give thought to picking up the bongo drums, but quickly reconsider.

A few final notes from Kaitlyn (and thanks so much for the vibes)!

PICS FROM THE COFFEE HOUSE CONTINUE!

HOW COOL IS THIS EARRING! (AND HOW COOL IS MY CAMERA FOR CAPTURING IT SO NICELY)

What? Dunkin's Coffee at the Library Teen Coffee House? A novel idea!

Happy to be here!

Just two guys shootin' the breeze at the Coffee House. . .

More pics from ORIGAMI, as promised:

Did I hear someone say "ARF?"

WYCKOFF TEENS HARD AT PLAY!

HAPPY FOLDERS DISPLAY THEIR WORK!

SOME PICTURES FROM ORIGAMI!
(MORE TO COME!)

Well, our fingers may be tired from folding and creasing, but Wyckoff's budding teen origamists acquited themselves quite well indeed yesterday evening, thanks to the most effective teaching by our favorite Master Origamist, Linda Bogan.

All of us have great origami pieces to treasure, including a lovely picture frame, an adorable dog, tulips in a basket with a handle and, last but not least, a cleverly fashioned paper top that spins like the dickens.

If you weren't there, you missed some great fun, accompanied by a fine sense of accomplishment. Of course, there is ever the chance we will invite Ms. Bogan back, at the very latest next summer.

PS: No, we did not make paper cranes. . .maybe next time?!?

PPS: Yes, watch this space for pics from the program itself. . .Wyckoff teens in action, again!