Archive for July, 2007

Save the dates - fall Year of the Teen Workshops!

Get your calendar, and get ready - we have some GREAT workshops planned for this fall! Here’s what’s coming …

Thursday, September 20:
Teens and Technology: What’s Up Now
10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Oxford Public Library

Teens use technology to communicate and collaborate on a regular basis. They use Twitter and text messaging, blogs and Facebook, Pandora and iTunes. Come find out what teens are doing with technology as a part of their day-to-day lives, learn how to connect with teens virtually, and how to market your services using the technologies teens are currently into. Linda Braun, of Librarians and Educators Online, will get us up to speed.

Friday, October 5
Gaming and the New Literacy
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Shrewsbury Public Library

It is no longer enough for today’s students to know how to read, write and do arithmetic; now they  must be proficient at finding, organizing, and conveying information, and all in an ethical manner. Beth
Gallaway, author of Get Your Game On! (Neal Schuman, 2007), shares why video games matter to your library in terms of entertainment, culture, learning, literacy, and adolescent development. School and public librarians who directly serve teens, and administrators and trustees whose staff serve teens, shouldn’t miss this workshop.

Tuesday, November 27
Patrick Jones on Building Your Collection & Reaching Teen Readers
10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Leominster Public Library

We have libraries filled with books, yet many students who enter our media centers are aliterate; they have the ability to read but choose not to. Learn best practices for reaching these students, as well as tips for building a lasting “core collection” for all teen readers.

About the presenter:
Patrick Jones is a national expert on library services for teens. His latest young adult  novel, Chasing Tail Lights, was published in spring 2007.  His first YA novel, Things Change, was named by YALSA as a best book for reluctant readers. His most recent (and last) professional publication is Connecting with Reluctant Teen Readers. Jones is a frequent speaker at library conferences, having visited all fifty states and several other countries.  Jones grew up in Flint, Michigan, began his library career in Springfield, MA, and now lives in Minneapolis.

Monday, December 10
Lights! Camera! Teen Action Plan!
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Boxborough Public Library

We’re nearing the end of the Year of the Teen, so now it’s time to take all that great knowledge you’ve gained and write a Teen Services Action Plan! A written plan can be included in your library’s long range plan and can be used for future grant writing and program planning. Participants will learn how to use a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) brainstorming exercise to prioritize ideas and develop goals. Including library staff and teens in this process will make a teen services action plan a valuable and viable document. Susan Babb, Youth Services Consultant for the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System, will lead the workshop.

Registration information for all these workshops will be available soon on the CMRLS website. YA and children’s staff, school librarians, Serving Tweens and Teens grant recipients, library directors, all library staff, and trustees are invited to attend. Come and bring a friend!

The Central Massachusetts Year of the Teen project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.


1 comment July 26th, 2007

Great news on teen services

From a news article just released:

The Public Library Association’s (PLA) 2007 Public Library Data Service (PLDS) Statistical Report tracked young adult service trends in public libraries. The report found that nearly 90 percent of the public libraries surveyed offer young adult programs, with more than half (51.9 percent) employing at least one full-time equivalent dedicated to fostering young adult programs and services, up dramatically from 11 percent in 1995.

This is great news! Read the rest of it at the YALSA web page.


Add comment July 26th, 2007

New accessory for the Wii?

I just saw an article about a new accessory that Nintendo plans to introduce for the Wii - tentatively called the Wii Zapper, it will work with first-person shooter games. The device will give players the actual physical experience of pulling a “trigger” when shooting in the game. Battle sounds will be heard through the device. I don’t know why, but this seems like too much realism to me - take a look at their New Accessories web page and see what you think. 


Add comment July 20th, 2007

New graphic novel series … by Nicolas Cage?!

I just read an article in USA Today about Nicolas Cage and his son writing a 6-volume graphic novel series together. Wow! The cover art looks pretty amazing - I wonder how the story is?

BTW, he’s one of my favorite actors! He was great in National Treasure!


Add comment July 3rd, 2007

Pimp My Bookcart II contest now open

Ever since the end of last year’s Pimp My Bookcart contest, people have been telling Unshelved how they plan to customize, trick out, augment, or otherwise “pimp out” their bookcarts for 2007. They are more than happy to announce the contest is now officially open, this time sponsored by Highsmith!

The deadline to submit photos for the contest is October 31, 2007 so grab a book cart, find some teens, and get ready to win! See the Unshelved contest website for more info!


Add comment July 2nd, 2007


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