It’s been a crazy month couple months! My libraries have been busier than ever, I currently have 14 books out on my card, and I’m planning programs galore. Now that the weather is warming up I have some big plans in the works. But in the meantime, I’ve been loving a lot of stuff lately.… Read More What I Loved #10: MORE Psychological Thrillers, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Headphone Discos
National Poetry Month Library Display Happy National Poetry Month everyone! Celebrations are held, awards are presented, and most of the world goes on living their lives, oblivious. Many teens may not have had a chance to enjoy poetry (in the traditional sense) outside of English class. and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce… Read More April is Poetry Month: Teen Display
How Does My Brain Work?! You don’t have to peruse personality quiz websites very long to know that people are fascinated by themselves. Everyone, at some point, asks vital questions about who they are, why they are that way, and how their brain works. Good thing there are so many fascinating books on the topic of psychology… Read More Psychology Book Display: How Does My Brain Work?!
The gift bags are opened, the dresses are for sale, and Neil Patrick Harris is taking a very long nap: the Oscars are definitely over. But the curiosity surrounding this year’s award for Best Picture is not. Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu is an incredible, perception-shattering film (with… Read More Movie Review – Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
This display highlights one of the most appealing aspects in Teen Fiction: unusual high schools. The brilliance in these books is that they take an ordinary experience that almost every teen can relate to, and twists it up. Sprinkles magic on it. Adds some vampires. Throws in some spies and mini skirts. These books are… Read More YA Display: Not Your Average Highschool
Where: Hespeler Idea Exchange, program room When: March 18, 6:30-8:00, March Break Ages: 10-19 Attendance: 21 attendees (approximately half under 12 years old and half over 12, 5 boys, 16 girls), 2 volunteers Type: Drop-In Description: Wreck This Journal by Kerri Smith is a special kind of book that encourages its “readers” to think outside… Read More Make Your Own Wreck This Journal Teen Program
The Cambridge Idea Exchange has some exciting news: we’ve added button makers to our branches! While policy is still in the works, as of now, patrons can create a limited number of buttons for free. I ran an introductory maker space at the high school branch – at which over 60 buttons were made in… Read More Teen Button Makerspace
When it comes to crafting, there are two types of people: those who want the detailed step-by-step instructions, and those who want the freedom to explore on their own. This month, at the Cambridge Idea Exchange, I made a deliberate effort to include opportunities for both types of people. For the instruction lovers I created… Read More Teen Makerspace Program: Recycle Mania in the Library
What I Read Winter is in full swing, which means many an afternoon spent curled up on the couch. We broke some horrifying temperature records in Kitchener-Waterloo this week, and I’ve been coping with a large pile of excellent novels. Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson: Crazy, creative, disturbed, kept me up all… Read More What I Loved 9: Psychological Thrillers, Selma, Girl Talk
Once upon a time I woke up with an idea for a display. A huge flow chart that took up an entire wall, and asked readers questions about their reading preferences. As they worked their way down the chart, they would have to decide for themselves what kind of book they wanted to read, and… Read More Interactive Reader’s Advisory: Flow Chart Display
Ontarian Librarian 