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
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
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
That awkward time between Valentine’s Day and Freedom To Read week is approaching…which means it’s time for a new display idea! This one’s got a pun, a bunch of snowmen having a snowball fight, and an unconventional way of selecting books. So you know it’ll be a hit. Plus from where I’m stationed in Southwestern… Read More “Got a Case of the Winter Blues?” Library Display
National Poetry Month is approaching, and my library is preparing with a Poem-A-Day contest – the winners of which will be displayed during the month of April. There are three age categories, children, teens, and adults. Guess which one has received the fewest entries. Teens! We decided to run a lunch hour “Poetry Blitz: Inspiration Station”… Read More Teen Poetry Blitz: Inspiration Station in the Library (with free downloadable toolkit!)
Still looking for a Valentines Day display? It’s not too late to put together a Blind Date With a Book display! I’ve seen variations of this display, and absolutely love the effect. A patron looking at a wall full of appeal factors has a more interesting decision to make than a patron looking at a… Read More Blind Date With a Book – Tips and Tricks
For the past year I’ve been surrounded by library school students. Not only were these people who adored libraries, but they were people who were planning to dedicate their lives to making sure libraries continue to thrive, evolve, and meet the needs of their communities. Together we learned the charming philosophy and sociology of libraries,… Read More The Role of a Contemporary Public Librarian Might Not Be As Simple As You Think
What I Read The thing about working in 2 library systems is…that there’s just so much more to read! I’ve read so many books this month – I’ll just have to give you bite-sized reviews of each of them. 1000 Feelings For Which There Are No Names by Mario Giodano: New to our non-fiction collection,… Read More What I Loved #6 – Belzhar, Zita the Spacegirl, Meditation, Uptown Waterloo, and Graduation
Ontarian Librarian 