tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65811897023520452012011-12-09T09:18:00.531-08:00Small town librarian discusses crafts, books, comics, media, teens, and more.Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-3782921234114091522011-12-08T11:15:00.000-08:002011-12-08T11:39:13.037-08:00

Zombie feltie prototype for a possible 2012 Summer Reading Teen craft. Idea taken from Appleton's former teen librarian and the book Zombie Felties. This guy was done up out of gray, white, and a little black felt, sewed together with kind of roughly with overstitching and stuffed with some scrap felt.His intensines are yarn, I added a few details and blood with sharpies.

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-52451361291636271372011-04-14T12:02:00.000-07:002011-04-14T12:22:24.237-07:00

What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae is a fun and unique piece of non-fiction for children.  While not a likely source for writing a scientific paper on the lifecycle of insects, it is perfect for children who have lots of questions about baby bugs.  Covering topics like where different insects lay their eggs, what different types of adult and infant bugs eat, and what they look like; this

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-16056729475884210392010-04-02T07:02:00.000-07:002010-04-09T16:42:01.871-07:00

Winter's End is the story of four teens who escape from a terrible orphanage/school where they've been housed after their parents rebel against the government. Three of them get to a safe house, where they are drawn in to the new rebellion, but the fourth is captured and forced to participate in a deadly game.I was really drawn into Winter's End at first, as the set-up of the orphanage/school

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-29782584375520177402010-02-09T19:31:00.000-08:002010-02-09T20:18:43.642-08:00

I will admit that I'm not big on the supernatural romance books, which is unfortunate as it is the current craze in YA and Adult publishing. It started with vampires and werewolves, and has moved on to include dark fairies, and now fallen angels. I do try and keep up by reading at least one or two of the newest ones, especially if they seem extremely popular. Even so, it is a rare event that I

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-41687237135490111192010-02-01T12:43:00.001-08:002010-02-01T13:39:01.551-08:00

Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=rubbing) is an art invented by Japanese fishermen in the 1800’s. It allowed them to keep a record of their catches. It continues to be an art form and has been adapted as an alternative to the stuffed fish on the wall for modern sport fishers. Traditionally a real fish is used, along with high quality ink, and rice paper. Libraries can adapt the art further for a

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-6405289157296975272010-02-01T11:05:00.001-08:002010-02-01T12:24:21.150-08:00

In a crazy attempt to get and keep caught up with new youth books coming out I've decided to try and read a book a day. January went well, with 31 books read, counting graphic novels, adult titles, and audio books. Here are some highlights:Ship Breaker - Paolo Bacigalupi (book source: ARC from publisher)Bacigalupi is fairly new author, and this is his first youth novel and only second published

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-65427116090254482362009-07-31T09:20:00.000-07:002009-09-18T14:41:23.502-07:00

Summer Reading was very successful this year. I issued a challenge to the local teens that if 500 of them signed up for the Summer Reading Program (SRP) I'd bleach my hair and dye it bright pink. To get the word out about SRP I went to all the local schools and the Boys and Girls Club and told them about the reading portion, the prizes, the programs portion, and my challenge. I also used the

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-37164712579579866772008-12-22T12:23:00.000-08:002008-12-22T13:57:39.126-08:00

I like trying to guess the books that will win the Caldecott, Newbery, and Printz awards. It lets me take a look at some of the titles from the year and be a little snarky. Snarky because of my feelings on the awards lately, and that like many others, I don't think they actually have much connection to what youth want to read. Back in May I talked about some of my feelings on the subject.So my

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-335098697631034682008-12-08T10:53:00.000-08:002008-12-22T15:33:56.200-08:00

Duct Tape is one of my favorite crafts to do with me teens, and one of their favorites as well. We usually do it 2-3 times a in year. This past summer one of the tweens in the group started up a business selling purses after learning how to make them at a program. Other teens have found duct tape items are a good gift. My teens seem to like it best if I leave it up to them what to

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-34588417052834443062008-12-04T18:20:00.000-08:002008-12-05T19:11:09.655-08:00

While there's not a lot targeted at teen librarians, there are a tons of good craft websites on the net, some general and some specifically teen geared. Here's some of my favorite to sift through:-Instructables - How to make cool DIY project. Instructions on how to make almost anything you can think of and lots that you never would. Some of it is pretty impractical for most library programs,

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-59210501958615617962008-12-02T14:13:00.000-08:002008-12-05T18:20:39.173-08:00

As a teen librarian, I've always got my eye out for good crafts to do with teens. And I have found that there aren't really that many resources out there targeted at crafts for teen librarians, not like what there is for children's librarians or teen book reviews. So, I've decided that that's something I can do. There is a book coming out, soon rumor has it, called, The Hipster Librarian's

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-77481420922138637172008-09-30T10:36:00.000-07:002008-09-30T11:38:09.939-07:00

It is the start of Banned Books Week, which raises awareness of challenged and banned books, and celebrates the freedom to read. Public libraries are places for people of all walks of life to come together, and thus must cater to a wide range of interests, reading levels, and upbringings. What is right for one family might be offensive to another. The important thing is that public libraries do

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-23475462510830493222008-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:002008-07-16T15:32:29.222-07:00

I've been going to see a movie every weekend lately. Which is nice (though expensive) as I saw like three movies in theaters last year.Iron Man- Best superhero movie of the last year or two, though way more violent. Marvel is laying the groundwork for something big. Robert Downey Jr. is the perfect Tony Stark. Go for the theater if possible, and remember to stay through the credits.Get Smart-

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-57836631261857037532008-06-09T11:03:00.000-07:002008-07-16T15:04:41.683-07:00

6/9/08 (not posted earlier due to lack of time at computer)Across the country libraries are either beginning Summer Reading or finishing up their first week or two. My library has begun today, and is off to quite a start. With schools out and temperatures in the 90's-100's, families and groups of teens seem to be flocking to our air-conditioned library. We've got over 60 kids and 30 teens

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-66177820444560691752008-05-29T15:56:00.000-07:002008-05-29T17:29:39.305-07:00

I just finished listening to "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary Schmidt. It is the winner of both the Printz Award and a Newbery Honor, which is a pretty big honor. Now this is also tells you some things about the book with having even seen it. -The main character will be between 11 and 14 years old -It will very likely be historical fiction -It will almost certainly be

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-49393816193604265692008-05-21T12:23:00.000-07:002008-05-29T17:32:29.159-07:00

Summer Reading is a great, wonderful, fun thing for kids, teens, and libraries. But preparing for it makes me pull out my hair.Here's a piece of my To Do list:- Choose movies- Screen movies- Choose crafts- Make sample crafts- Book program space- Buy prizes- Photograph prizes- Write up prize descriptions- Create bulletin board- Make fliers for schools- Use up all the copier toner- Make packets (

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-757884455406887452008-05-06T18:37:00.000-07:002008-05-06T18:55:55.990-07:00

Summer Reading is hurtling towards us, and I feel sort of ready. I'm trying to get a lot of things going with the Teen Advisory Board too. They have agreed to make posters promoting Summer Reading, and the review blog is finally getting off the ground. I'm very pleased that it is finally happening, so I hope it continues to grow.We are talking about meeting at Barnes and Noble to do some end

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-23827948168722170942008-04-16T13:11:00.000-07:002008-04-18T10:44:19.811-07:00

I really enjoyed PLA. There were good programs, good company, and good food. It is nice to be able to go to a conference where I actually had to chose between programs every session. Highlights included:Reader's Advisory for Teens program- Helped confirm that I'm doing things right, and gave me some new hints.Game Studio program- The Minneapolis Library is using a really cool program called

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-983827000965207732008-03-17T09:52:00.000-07:002008-03-17T10:49:31.072-07:00

Visited a number of comic book stores this weekend and picked up a bunch of stuff. Here's a rundown:Echo- Terry Moore's new series looks interesting and science-fiction-y. Will it be good? Probably. Will it be appropriate for teens? Hard to tell so far, as really very little has happened, but I hope so. The cover of the first issue is very shiny.Serenity: Better Days- Joss Whedon's new

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-29823152108874990112008-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:002008-03-17T09:49:41.568-07:00

"Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" is Jessica Day George's second book. It is a retelling of the old Scandinavian story "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," which has elements of Beauty and the Beast and the myth of Cupid and Psyche. It is a story of which I am particularly fond, and George's version did not disappoint me at all. "Sun and Moon" is in the same vein as Gail Carson Levine's "Ella

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-88809303820604031062008-03-07T13:43:00.000-08:002008-03-07T15:24:36.710-08:00

Read a number of books this week so here's a quick run down:"A Wreath For Emmet" by Marilyn NelsonOne of the Printz Honor books for 2006, "A Wreath..." is a complex poetical remembrance of Emmett Till, a young man, only fourteen years old, brutally murdered for supposedly whistling at a white woman in 1955. Everyone has heard the story at one point or another in high school history class, though

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-5070654777106859582008-02-22T11:24:00.000-08:002008-02-22T14:13:37.645-08:00

Eoin Colfer, long time teen favorite for his Artemis Fowl series, has produced an exciting new work. Airman is about young Conor Broekhart, who begins his life by being born in a falling hot air balloon. He lives on the Saltee Islands, a small, but wealthy, kingdom of the cost of Ireland. His childhood is idyllic and his education includes fencing, languages, and the science of flight. In a

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6581189702352045201.post-82034766138505558092007-12-14T09:17:00.000-08:002007-12-14T11:21:15.829-08:00

It is about time I got a library blog. I need some place to record the current happenings.I think it is a very interesting time to be a librarian. Tech is changing, funding is changing, the world itself is changing. I'm lucky enough to work at a library that is currently changing and transforming. Our first load of Playaways arrived the other day. They are sitting in the cataloging office

Gillianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16147446148463638683noreply@blogger.com0