Teen Knitting Club
If you like to knit and want to teach others or if you want to learn how to knit, come join the Teen Knitting Club. Knitting isn’t only for girls. Everyone can knit. It is fun, relaxing and allows you to be creative.
The first meeting is on Monday, December 3, 2007 at 7 PM in Teenspace. Regular meetings will be the first Thursday of each month, beginning January 2008.
Bring your own yarn and knitting needles. We’ll supply the refreshments and a comfy place to sit and knit and chat.
I hope to see you on Monday.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Month: November 2007
Database of the Month – Biography Resource Center
The Syosset Public Library’s Biography Resource Center is a database of biographical information on over 340,000 individuals throughout history, around the world and across all disciplines and subject areas. It is a perfect resource for students wanting summary or detailed biographical information and can be accessed from the Homework Help-Biographies section of the TeenSpace website.
Biographical information is culled from over 135 reference sources and 300 magazines and includes over 26,000 images. Biography Resource Center includes Thumbnail biographies as well as in depth Narrative biographies. In addition, there are magazine articles and links to websites containing further information. A Recent Update window displays a brief summary of recent events that will ultimately be included in the person’s biography.
Searches can be performed based on the person’s name, occupation, nationality, ethnicity, year of birth or death and many more criteria. The homepage also contains a “Spotlight On” person, with a link to that person’s biographical material.
So, give Biography Resource Center a try.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Stand Up for Freedom! Art and Writing Contest
The Nassau County chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union is sponsoring the Stand Up for Freedom! Art and Writing Contest. This contest is open to Nassau County students grades 7-12. The deadline is December 20, 2007.
Specifics of the contest are as follows:
Topic:
“You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other man’s freedom. You can only be free if I am free.” Interpret this quote from Clarence Darrow as it relates to civil liberties in the United States today. You may focus on the rights of any of the following groups: women, minorities, the LGBT community, immigrants, students, prisoners or people with disabilities.
Requirements:
Essays and shorts stories must be:
-750-1,500 words
-Persuasively and passionately argued
-Clearly organized and written
-Thoughtful and original
-Properly sources
Artistic Pieces (posters, movies, photography, poetry/spoken word) must:
-Clearly convey a position or interpretation
-Be thoughtful and original
-Be focused on the topic
-Poetry/spoken word must be recorded onto video/dvd format
Prizes and Judging:
Entries will be evaluated without identifying the students’ names or schools. Prizes will be awarded as follows:
Essay Winner (7th-8th grade) $100
Creative piece Winner (7th-8th grade) $100
Essay Winner (9th-12th grade) $300
Creative piece Winner (9th-12th grade) $300
Send all entries to:
New York Civil Liberties Union-Nassau
250 Fulton Avenue, Suite 514A
Hempstead, NY 11550
Entry forms can be obtained at the Syosset Public Library or by contacting the NY Civil Liberties Union.
e-mail: [email protected]
More information can be obtained at the following website: http://www.nassau.nyclu.org/freedom_contest_2007.html
Good luck, everyone.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Long Island Portfolio Day
The Huntington School of Fine Arts is sponsoring Long Island Portfolio Day for serious art majors. This event is designed to give potential art majors a chance to discuss college offerings with college officials and have them evaluate the applicant’s work. Over 20 colleges and universities will be in attendance. Attendees are required to present a samlple of their artwork. The event will be in two parts:
Part I: Friday, November 16, 2007 from 10 AM – 6 PM
Part II: Monday, November 19, 2007 from 10 AM – 4 PM
Portfolio Day will be held at school’s studios at:
2 Melville Road North, South Huntington, NY.
More information can be obtained on the school’s website: http://www.huntfinearts.com/events/portfolio_day.php, via e-mail at [email protected] or via phone at 631-351-4060.
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
Novels in Verse
Novels in Verse are exactly what it sounds like: a story told in poetry rather than prose. It may not be as formal as many of the poems you are familiar with, but it is poetry and it is very readable. One of my favorite authors of novels in verse is Sonya Sones. I just finished her latest book, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know, and thought I’d tell you about her other books, all of which I think are great.
One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies
“My name is Ruby. This book is about me.
It tells the deeply hideous story of what happens when my mother dies and I’m dragged three thousand miles away from my gorgeous boyfriend, Ray, to live in L.A. with my father, who I’ve never even met because he’s such a ***** that he divorced my mom before I was born.
The only way I’ve ever even seen him is in the movies, since he’s this mega-famous actor who’s been way too busy trying to win Oscars to even visit me once in fifteen years.
Everyone loves my father. Everyone but me.”
What My Mother Doesn’t Know
“My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love, too.
It’s not that I’m boy crazy.
It’s just that even though
I’m almost fifteen
I’ve been having sort of a hard time
trying to figure out the difference
between love and lust.
It’s like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don’t seem to be able to agree
on anything.”
What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know
“My name is Robin.
This book is about me.
It tells the story of what happens
when after almost 15 pathetic years of loserdom,
the girl of my dreams finally falls for me.
That seems like it would be
a good thing, right?
Only it turns out to be
a lot more complicated than that
Because I’m not gonna lie to you —
there are naked women involved.
Four of them, to be exact.
Though not in the way you might think.
Don’t get me wrong — my girlfriend’s amazing.
But the way things have been going lately,
I’m starting to believe that the only thing worse
than not getting what you want,
is getting it.”
Ed Goldberg
Teen Services Librarian
