Decorate Your Space Winter Contest

If you missed the fall Decorate Your Space Contest, there’s a winter contest coming up soon.  Yay!  I can’t wait to see your designs. 

Please check out our new “Contests” page to see details and get an entry form.

Decorate Your Space: Teen Library Contest

We have a new contest going on at the Burlington Public Library.  It’s called Decorate Your Space.  The idea is to come up with a design for the corkboard in the teen space.   The winner will actually get to decorate the board, and will win a $30 Gap Gift Card.

For this fall, the contest theme is…  It was a dark and stormy night.

 

There are links to the contest rules and the entry form below.

Decorate Your Space – About the Contest

Decorate Your Space Entry Form

 

Please call (360-755-0760) or email me if you have any questions… sarahl@ci.burlington.wa.us 

Save the World and Improve Your SAT Scores!

  Part of the 2011 Summer Reading Program is promoting global awareness and do-gooding. The Free Rice website is a game that challenges your vocabulary powers, plus, through the United Nations World Food Program, feeds hungry people around the world. Whenever you answer a question right, 10 grains of rice are donated to end world hunger. A warning though… this game is really addictive.

Summer Reading Is Here!

THIS YEAR’S GRAND PRIZE IS AN IPOD NANO!

The summer reading program is officially underway. We have a few great events coming up and we have a reading program that will earn you rewards!  So come into the library today to pick up your summer reading log.

Summer Reading
*Track your reading by crossing out 10 minute chunks on your summer reading log (available at the library)*

*Remember that any reading counts.  If you read blogs, text messages, books, magazines, emails… it all counts.*

*Read for 400 minutes and you get a half-way prize, which you can claim starting July 5th.  You also get entered into a drawing for an IPOD NANO!*

*Read for 800 minutes and you’ll get a book of your choosing, which you can pick up after July 30th.  You also get entered a second time into the IPOD NANO drawing.*

Upcoming Summer Events
*Drumming with Ray Soriano - – Wednesday, July 6th 5-6 pm*

Come to the library for a hands-on drumming workshop with musician and teacher Ray Soriano.  You’ll have your choice of about 30 hand drums to beat, slap, smack, and pound.  Join us, and let loose your inner percussion star!

YouTube video of August 2009 workshop

*Intro Robotics Workshop* – - July 11th, 13th, 18th, 20th 2-4 pm

You are invited to an intro-level robotics workshop at the library!  This workshop will be involve four sessions over two weeks.  It will go something like this… build a Lego Mindstorms robot, program your robot to do something cool like fetch you a bag of chips, and finally, enter your robot in a competition.  The top robots of each category will earn your team prizes and bragging rights.
To register email Teen Librarian Sarah Lunde: sarahl@ci.burlington.wa.us

*Belly Dancing with Assent* – - Tuesday, July 19th 2-4 pm

Come dressed in your comfy clothes and get ready to shake it.  This class will introduce you to some belly dancing basics and inspire self-expression using a powerful artistic medium.

See you there!

Summer Robotics Workshop

The library is hosting a robotics workshop! You’ll get to build, program, and compete with your robot in this introductory program. The dates are: July 11th, 13th, 18th, and 20th from 2 to 4 pm. There’s only 20 spaces available, so
email Sarah, the new librarian to sign up!

Peace, Love, and Good Books – Partie Deux

Almost two years ago I began this blog for the Burlington Library’s teen population and the occasional wandering, immature adult, who loves YA Lit (that’s my demographic!). The whole epic adventure began with a post called, Peace, Love, and Good Books. Well, the time has come in my career to move on. Yes, today is my last day at the Burlington Library and as I say goodbye, I thought that I would try to come full circle with my last official post.

(This next paragraph will make more sense if you read my very first post )

Farewell to BPL’s blog for teens by Lisa D. This was a place that you could visit to get updates on the best and brightest books that we have to offer! And remember… “Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.” ~ Mortimer J. Adler

Who knows what the future holds but it’s usually more than we could have wished for. So, stay tuned for bigger and better from the Burlington Library’s future teen librarian!

Peace out…

The Morning After…the Oscars

While most people are now buzzing about how incredibly boring James Franco was as the host last night at the Oscars along with Anne Hathaway, despite all of her dress changes and his, I’d like to discuss something a little more positive. Forget the chatter about Melissa Leo dropping the F bomb during her acceptance speech or the incredibly uncomfortable moment of award presentation by Kirk Douglas! So, what is one to do?

I’m glad you asked! Let’s do something fun and take a look at the nominees for Best Picture in their book form: 127 Hours, Black Swan, Social Networking, The Fighter, Inception (House of Leaves is a book similar to the film, Inception), The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, Toy Story 3,  True Grit, and Winter’s Bone. And the winner for Best Picture in the year 2010? The King’s Speech won! Yeah for language!!

Who Would You Call?

Perfect Chemistry: Too Perfect or Just Right?

I saw the book cover and shuddered at the perfect couple in the perfect embrace. Puulease! But after I recovered from my initial repulsion to the cover, I did the unthinkable. I picked it up, flipped it over, and read the summary. Yep, I actually gave it a chance. That’s when I realized that it actually sounded like it might be a good read and that I’d have to give it a try. So glad I did ’cause it was a great modern twist on the classic star-crossed lovers’ tale.

What was the recipe for success? Equal parts rich, popular, beautiful girl named Brittany (what else?!) cooked at a low simmer with sexy, bad-boy Alex who knows that most females can not resist his sultry charm.

The spice in this story comes from the fact that both of these two soon-to-be lovebirds both harbor dark secrets behind their masks of perfection. Brittany goes to school each day all the while trying to hide her less than perfect home life that includes  parents who don’t get along and her mentally disabled sister that she lovingly cares for. Then there’s Alex Fuentes who’s from the South side of town, running from rumors of drug abuse, and gang violence, when in reality he’s desperately trying to protect his younger brother from these very real threats. Once this is established, the couple are partnered up in class which results in an immediate clash.

It’s only after Alex takes a bet to get Brittany to fall for him, that he actually does ends up falling for her. Now we have the couple who, moments ago couldn’t stand the sight of one another. The result is a couple who can’t stop staring into each others eyes. Capitalizing on this attraction, the author, Simone Elkeles, takes the reader on an emotional and bumpy ride, breaking stereotypes left and right. Elkeles also alternates chapters between the perspective of Brittany and Alex, giving the reader a glimpse into each character throughout the story, which is a nice technique and kept me caring about these two. So, buckle up and hang on for a ride full of sexual tension and sarcastic banter. You’ll know it’s true love and that this book is perfect!

Check out Elkeles’ website for more about her writing and book trailers by clicking here.Still not enough for you? Check this song out. She’s a big-time talented fan who created this song about Perfect Chemistry packed with teenage angst!

Valentine’s Day: Now and Then

This antique card seems strangely prophetic in regards to the importance of phones, communication, and love, although I’m not sure what’s up with the cupid buns! So, after you connect with your sweetie, kick back, and enjoy some sweet sounds. Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day!