Hennepin County Library - TeenLinks: News Flash

Movie Season - News Flash for

Hennepin County Librarians

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

I start getting pretty hyped about movies starting in May. Once the snow melts and the grass emerges, I want to go see movies in the park, movies in the drive-in, and movies in the popcorn-smelling, air-conditioned surround-sound heaven of a regular theater. These are a few of the movies that are on my radar. What do you think?

Iron Man 3 on May 3 (check out Iron Man comics at the library)
The Great Gatsby on May 10 (read the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Much Ado About Nothing on June 7 (read the play by Shakespeare)
Tiger Eyes on June 7 (read the book by Judy Blume)
Man of Steel on June 14 (read Superman comics at the library)
World War Z on June 21 (read the book by Max Brooks)
RED 2 on July 19 (read the comic by Warren Ellis)
The Wolverine on July 26 (read the comics by Chris Claremont
300: Rise of an Empire on August 2 (read the graphic novel Xerxes by Frank Miller)
Kick-Ass 2 on August 16 (read the graphic novel by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.)
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters on August 16 (read the book by Rick Riordan)
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on August 23 (read the book by Cassandra Clare)

Looking Forward to the End - News Flash for Apr 17, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:09:29 CDT

Sammi of Teens Online

This will be my last quarter in high school and then I will be off to college. It is hard for me to believe that in less than three months, I will be done with an entire chapter of my life. Looking forward, the things I have put at the highest priority are:

Family: I know that I only have the summer until I move out. Not living at home will be a huge change for me. I feel sad that I will no longer have the small, sentimental moments with my family. I think it's important to make time with family, because no matter what, they will always support you.
Work: One thing I have learned is that college will make you broke! It's important for me to save up money now so that I'm not in deep financial trouble later.
Friends: Unfortunately, most of my friends are not attending my university. Friends are what support you and keep you anchored in life. My goal this upcoming term is to have as many great memories with my friends as possible.

Graduating is hard! But I am beyond excited for the next chapter in my life.

Wallpaper Your Computer - News Flash for Apr 15, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:40:11 CDT

Annelies of Teens Online

Just last weekend I was staring at my desktop. In fact, I do that almost every day, but last weekend was different. It was at this point that realized that my desktop...was boring. Incredibly boring. Horribly lackluster. A pain to look at. I searched through my collection of wallpapers, whereupon I came to the realization that all these masterpieces that I once thought so beautiful, were, in fact, horribly dull. So I searched the internet for some amazing wallpapers, but found nothing on the first page of google image results.

Much searching later, I have found some essential wallpaper collections that I cannot help but share with you.

Windows Wallpapers I haven't bought a copy of Windows since XP (which wasn't actually purchased by me, so I suppose I can say that I've never bought a copy of Windows), but if you have since switched to Mac or Linux, you may be surprised to know that their wallpaper has improved significantly since the weird tiling textures of XP. They have also shared all their wonderful wallpapers on their website, free for users of any operating system.
Ubuntu Wallpapers. There isn't an amazing coverall link for Ubuntu wallpapers, nor will Google image searches easily find you what you are looking for, but Ubuntu wallpapers are where it's at. For every major release, Canonical holds a worldwide contest to choose the wallpapers that will come packaged with their next update. This selective process, pooling great artists from all over the world, results in some of the best wallpapers around, and with a well-phrased search it's easy to find oodles of high quality wallpapers, even a handy zip file with all the images from a release (May I suggest looking for ?ubuntu 12.04 wallpapers? for starters?)
While researching for this post, I also stumbled upon an interesting site that provides a set of new wallpapers every Wednesday, which results in almost more wallpaper than is possible to view in a lifetime. A quick look told me that their picks are pretty interesting, definitely something I am going to check out when I run out of my current stock.

Ultimately, when searching for wallpapers, I've found that its easier to find good ones through blogs and websites rather than google image searches, because the tastes of a real person are much superior to a computer algorithm.If you know any amazing wallpapers, please share them with below and be a friend to all humanity.

Learn to Code or Just Have a Good Laugh - News Flash for Apr 2, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:42:40 CDT

Annelies of Teens Online

If you have ever tried to teach yourself something, you probably know that is can be difficult to get started on your own. In the beginning, you know so little that practicing your skills is incredibly boring, and learning everything can be so overwhelming. However don't let that stop you from learning to code! Coding is much too amazing to pass up the chance to learn; it will change your life, make you cry, scream with joy, and possibly include side effects such as strong dispositions towards chunky bacon.

To solve aforementioned learning issues, I have recently stumbled upon an amazing book that solves many such problems, while simultaneously introducing only one: you may possibly ignore all other obligations while reading this book. Why's (Poignant) Guide to Ruby is a book about a great many things, only one of which is the learning of Ruby, a computer programming language primarily used in the development of web applications. It will also teach you about the way of starmonkeys, new currencies, government subversion (or should I say grandiose submarining ), meditation with telephone cords, prank calling, and much, much more. It may also dissolve you into paroxysms of laughter, or tears, or both. (Plus, its written by Why the Lucky Stiff. Now what could be better than an electronic book written by a dead person?)

When you have reached the end of W(p)GtR (you are never finished with it, you have only read it for the first of many times), you may find yourself wanting to learn more Ruby. (If so, I suggest using Codeacademy or Googling yourself up a tutorial of your own.) If you do not want to learn Ruby after reading W(p)GtR, something may have been seriously broken within you. However, this will never be spoken of in your presence, only behind closed doors, and it will doubtfully have any great impact on your life. (Besides the fact that you may never come to properly enjoy bacon.) If you are such a broken person however, and are only in search of more shenanigans, I may suggest Homestuck to you, as I have heard it is full of a great many shenanigans, however that is a whole other story.

The Rules of Vampires in Literature - News Flash for Mar 27, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:21:46 CDT

Tatum of Teens Online

With the recent popularity of vampires following the creation of the Twilight series, the Vampire Diaries series, True Blood (based on the Sookie Stackhouse series) and other vampire novels, the rules of vampires have become blurred. I will go over the various rules for vampires from Bram Stoker's Dracula, the original vampire story, and compare them to some of the other rules in the above books.

Rule 1. Sunlight weakens vampires but it doesn't kill them. In most vampire stories sunlight will kill a vampire, but in Dracula it only weakens him. I think we all know that in Twilight sunlight makes vampires sparkle.

Rule 2. Vampires can transform into other forms such as bats, wolves, or mist. In most recent vampire novels vampires can't do this. At most the vampires can fly. Maybe authors feel that allowing the vampires transformations in their stories will dehumanize them, making them seem more like monsters and less like sexy mysterious beings.

Rule 3. Vampires can put people into trances. For the most part this is true in recent vampire novels. In both Vampire Diaries and True Blood the vampires can make people do things or forget things against their will. Once again, Twilight goes against the basic vampire rules as none of the vampires in Twilight have this power.

Rule 4. Vampires can only be killed by having a stake driven through their hearts with a hammer. This is the one that is the same among 99% of vampire stories. The hammer part isn't always true, but the stake is always a way to kill a vampire. Even in Twilight a stake through the heart will do the job.

Rule 5. People are transformed into vampires when vampires feed on them. In most vampire stories this, or a variation of this, is the way people are transformed into vampires. In Twilight the person may only be bitten by a vampire, in the Vampire Diaries the person must have fed from a vampire and then die to become one, and in True Blood a person must have been fed on by a vampire and then die, and then be fed vampire blood. These all closely resemble the Dracula way.

These are the basic vampire rules from Dracula. With so many different types of vampire, I thought it was necessary to bring it back to the basics and see the differences in modern vampires. It's clear that the new rules are closely related to the original ones (aside from the sparkling).

More Magazines for You - News Flash for Mar 21, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:26:27 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

A few months ago, Jody wrote a post about some of the great magazines that are available online and through the library. I'm happy to report that the library now has even more magazines with the launch of Zinio. Zinio allows you to instantly download popular magazines such as Seventeen, ESPN, Rolling Stone, Us, and Discover. You can read them on a wide range of mobile devices, tablets, and computers. And, best of all, you can check out as many as you like and you never need to return them. Whatever you're into, Zinio has something for you.

Why Quizlet Makes Me Sad - News Flash for Mar 12, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:05:35 CDT

Annelies of Teens Online

I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I cringe every time Quizlet is recommended by a teacher or another student. Of course, Quizlet is an amazing website that seems perfect for a lot of situations. Most students use it, so it's probable that the flashcards you are looking for have already been created, and if they haven't been, it's easy enough to create a set of your own.

But although Quizlet works fine for pumping and dumping, the lesser known SRS software is much better for long-term retention. Based off of memory research done in 1885 by Hermann Ebbinghaus, spaced repetition software contends that there is an optimal time to review something, and drowning yourself in flashcards, like with Quizlet, both wastes time and may actually hinder your recall. This software judges how well you know a fact and then decides when to show you the flashcard again, be it in 5 seconds, 1 day, 2.5 months, or 1.3 years. Even if SRS doesn't help you learn any better than studying regular flashcards, it certainly saves time as you don't review things you already know well.

To work properly, SRS usually demands sustained studying, an option not appealing to students who just want to pass their tests, no more. As it is less popular than Quizlet, spaced repetition programs also tend have fewer pre-made decks. However there are some added advantages to using software made for nerds, including support for picture and sound, cloze deletion, type comparisons, and foreign languages (most notably support for Korean, Chinese, and Japanese characters and furigana).

Anki, in possession of one of the largest SRS user-bases, has at least 1,000 decks available online for download and has a free desktop application and cloud storage, which makes it a capable contender to the Quizlet monopoly.

Everyone is a victim of the pump-and-dump mentality (no one could separate me from the flash games I use the night before to pass geography tests), but if you ever find something you have a burning desire to learn and know forever, SRS is for you. In my case, I can't stand to forget my Spanish vocabulary, and I'd really like to avoid relearning vocabulary every time I go back for seconds on the SAT, so SRS is my secret passion.

The Hidden Joys of Biographies - News Flash for Mar 6, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:21:31 CDT

Tatum of Teens Online

Biographies have a bad name among teens. They seem like something a history teacher might assign you to read for a project. However, if you find the right subject, a biography or autobiography could be very enjoyable.

I just finished an autobiography by one of my favorite musicians, Marilyn Manson. It might have helped that he was a journalist/writer before he became a musician, but his writing was very engaging. It was a completely different experience reading about his life in his own words than what other people have written either in books or on the Internet.

I think that everyone can find a biography that they will enjoy based on their interests. For the sports fan there are countless books on sports players and coaches. For animal lovers there are books on racehorses, such as Seabiscuit or Man O? War, dogs, cats, and many other animals. For music lovers, of course, there are countless biographies of musicians of the past or present. These are just a few examples of the different types of biographies you can find at the library.

iPads in Schools - News Flash for Feb 26, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:48:47 CDT

Shamily of Teens Online

As our generation is becoming completely electronic, many teens are becoming submerged in many electronic devices. However, not only for games, music and personal use, electronic gadgets are also being used for educational purposes. Many school districts around the state are providing each student with their very own iPad for use.

One example is the Wayzata School District. All students in grades Kindergarten to 3, and 6 to 8, were given iPads. These iPads were distributed in early January. Students in grades 6 to 8 are taking home iPads daily for homework and studying for tests. The main purpose for handing out iPads is to improve learning, however students are also allowed to download any other apps of their choice. By the year 2016, the Wayzata district hopes to put an Apple iPad in the hands of each and every student.

The Art of School Scheduling - News Flash for Feb 21, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:49:57 CDT

Annelies of Teens Online

So, it's that time again: time to decide what you want to study next year. As a junior, this is the last time I'll be scheduling classes and it's a little stressful. (It's a little melancholy as well, but that's much too clandestine to mention. Everyone can't wait to leave high school, right?) In any case, if you still have yet to turn in those forms, or are already thinking about next-next year's credits, here are some of the wonderful (but little known) opportunities I was grappling with. (As if you need more indecision when it comes school scheduling.)

Internship: I'm not sure about yours, but my high school offers a really cool internship course, where you can learn the ins and outs of applying for a job and find the skills you need to get an internship at a local business. The first term covers resumes, interviews, and helps you survey the area around your high school for businesses in need of some high school interns, while the second term gives you time to skip school and work in a real work environment as an intern in the type of job you hope to have one day.

PSEO: Most people have at least heard of PSEO, but it can take a little digging to find out how this option will really work for you, as you need to make sure that you fulfill your high school graduation requirements while taking courses in a college setting. If you really want to get off the high school campus though, this option is definitely for you. Tatum wrote an interesting article about it here if you'd like to read more about it.

Honors Mentor Connection: This option is probably the least known of the four, as I only found it when I was paging through my course book in search of course #1 (there is no such thing apparently. Drat.). It's similar to an internship course, but is especially useful for high schools that don't offer such a course and also includes seminars and other interesting things. I've heard that this program is more guaranteed to give you a real job (because some businesses could possibly just hire interns to file papers), but I've heard great things from both programs, so it is entirely up to what works best for you.

Local College Partnerships: This isn't an official name, so you may not come up with much when you Google it, but many high schools have relationships with local colleges and offer off-campus courses that can earn you both high school and college credit (such as enrollment at Hennepin Technical College). They usually offer bus services too, for those who don't have a car (like myself). Most of the courses offered are centered around nursing and car repair (which have never interested me), but the chance to get out of the classroom and do something hands-on sounds like an unforgettable, worthwhile experience. I ultimately chose to stay in the building for my last few years of high school, because I want to take psychology and get my COMPTIA A+ certification, but it was a really difficult decision. Although I didn't take any of these chances, I hope my experience can help you in your decision to stick around or leave high school early.

Calling All Book Clubs! - News Flash for Feb 13, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:04:53 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Do you want to hang out with teens and talk about books you've read? Consider joining a book club. Hennepin County Library offers a number of them. Just search for "book club" on our Events page.

Want to start a book club yourself? Check out these DIY tips including how to plan a meeting, start a discussion and some general questions to get you started talking. The library even offers teen book club kits which give you 10 copies of a book plus a discussion guide in each bag.

Some publishers offer discounts on books if they're being used for a book club and you're up for purchasing your own copies. Go to Sourcebooks to explore their new teen book club.

What kind of book club do you want to be involved in? One run at a library? One run by a friend?

Movie Picks by Librarians - News Flash for Feb 8, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:12:52 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Do you love movies? Check out our video page on BookSpace to download a movie to watch at home or check out what new DVDs the library has purchased. Use the library catalog to search for any additional DVDs we may own.

The Young Adult Library Services Association creates lists of movies around different themes. Check out Fabulous Films for Young Adults to find lists called Survival, Song and Dance, Other Times/Other Places, Outside In: Rebellion vs. Conformity, Coming of Age Around the World, and more. It's a wonderful way to discover new movies.

Do you think of yourself as a super fan or cinephile? Take a look at the Library of Congress' efforts to save important films by adding them to the National Film Registry. "Spanning the period 1897-1999, the films named to the registry include Hollywood classics, documentaries, early films, and independent and experimental motion pictures. This year?s selections bring the number of films in the registry to 600." Films added in 2012 include Breakfast at Tiffany's, A League of Their Own, and The Matrix. The Registry is a great way to discover classics that have inspired filmmakers for generations, and see movies that represent America through the decades.

How do you look for new film recommendations?

The Art of the Commercial - News Flash for Feb 4, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:51:52 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Love 'em or hate 'em, commercials are here to stay. Did you know there is an industry award for best commercials called the CLIO and that the Walker Art Center here in Minneapolis will show the best in U.K. commercials every Fall with its British Arrows showcase? It turns out truly funny and sometimes even sentimental sells, with an occassional "wow that's cool" thrown in.

One great showcase for American commercials takes place every winter when the Super Bowl comes around. Here's what the Washington Post thinks were the best commercials this last weekend. What do you think?

Groundhog Day! - News Flash for Jan 28, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 12:49:15 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

I love time travel stories. Last year's Looper got things almost perfect. "Almost" because every time travel story falls apart if you look too closely. But that's okay, because the best time travel stories tell us more about ourselves than they do about time travel.

That could be why my favorite time travel movie often isn't even classified as sci-fi. It's a comedy. Groundhog Day follows Phil Connors (Bill Murray) as he lives the same day over and over again. It's a simple, brilliantly-executed premise. What would you do if you could live the same day over and over? Would you use that time to better yourself? Would you try to live the perfect day? Or would you even purposely make mistakes because there would be no repercussions the next day?

If you don't have plans this Saturday, February 2, I highly recommend watching "Groundhog Day" on Groundhog Day. If you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat. If you have, I think you'll agree that this is a day you'll want to relive again and again.

History Day Hullabaloo - News Flash for Jan 14, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:32:18 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Are you working on a History Day project? The library has a number of ways to help you, including our History Day Hullabaloos on January 26 and February 16 at the Minneapolis Central Library, where you can meet with mentors from the University of MN to help you make sens of and break down your project into workable phases as well as learning about how to create your projects and what information the library can help you locate for research.

Check out our History Day Hullabaloo page for a quick access to events listings, library research materials and the number to the History Day Hotline.

Are you doing a project this year? How's it going?

There's an App for That - News Flash for Jan 8, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:20:31 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Did you know you can access the library and its resources using apps? Here's a quick list for you.

hclib mobile gives you access to the library's catalog and your account, as well as locations & hours, chat reference, events & classes, and more
Overdrive Media Console lets you download ebooks, audiobooks, etc. from the library
Freegal allows you to download free songs through the library from the Sony music catalog and is available through both iTunes and the Android Play Store
AccessMyLibrary from Gale Databases lets you do research on health care, environment, biographies, career choices, car repair, literature, science and more

Why You Should Read Shakespeare - News Flash for Jan 2, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:43:25 CDT

Tatum of Teens Online

Having just finished a course on Shakespeare where we read 9 of his plays one might think that I would be done with him for a long time. However, I was delightfully surprised with what I found in this class. Instead of the complicated and dry stories that I was expecting I found something new in Shakespeare. The stories are complex but still interesting and the language is easy to get used to, especially with footnotes. Having said this, I will now give you five reasons to read Shakespeare.

1. The stories are amazing. My favorites are tragedies such as Hamlet or King Lear. The plots are engaging and entertaining and so dramatic. There are a few inconsistencies in the plots but they add to the style of Shakespeare.
Shakespeare leaves unanswered questions. In toay's society we demand answers. If a movie ends with unresolved problems people get angry, but Shakespeare's plays are different. In tragedies most of the characters die in the end, in comedies people get married, and romances have a combo of both. These kinds of endings don't always answer all your questions about what happened and how the characters came to die or fall in love.
The characters are never perfect. Since this is a play you never know everything that the players are thinking. There are no perfect characters in the plays, they all have flaws and they all make mistakes. Some say one line and others have up to 40% of the dialogue in the play but none are portrayed as the perfect being.
The language is fun to read. Shakespeare rarely says exactly wht's going on. He uses different styles of writing to make his point. The plays contain songs, soliloquies, prose and verse. Some people seem to struggle with the language but if you get a book with footnotes it makes it a lot easier. The footnotes tell you what some words mean that we don't use or that we use in a different context. If you really struggle with his language there are versions of some of his plays in modern language.
Shakespeare is hilarious! He makes jokes about all kinds of things in his plays. In most of the plays there is a character called 'Clown' whose job is to lighten the story. They are the only characters that can make fun of royalty in the plays with royalty and they often speak in prose with is pretty straightforward. There are also some really funny sexual jokes (particularly in Antony and Cleopatra) that you may or may not catch.

Magazines for You - News Flash for Dec 31, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:45:18 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Do you like reading magazines? The library has a large collection in our buildings and many can even be read online through our databases. We've also bookmarked some great eZines (published only as a website) such as Rookie, for teen girls featuring art, writing, photos and more around monthly themes; ThreeSixty, written by Minnesota teens; and YARN, the young adult review network which publishes teen writers as well as reviews of adult authors who write for teens.

What magazines do you like to read?

Winter Driving - News Flash for Dec 19, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:39:26 CDT

Sammi of Teens Online

It finally feels like winter is here! I remember going to a concert last year in December and the temperature was 50 degrees. Just when we thought we'd have another snow-free winter, Minnesota reared its malevolent head.

I have a love-hate relationship with the snow. Having a white Christmas makes me feel so much more festive. I love to ski, and fake snow is horrible to ski on. The cold weather is perfect for ice skating, too. And I was horribly disappointed that I only went sledding once last year. But at the same time, the snow seems to sap the life out of nature. All of the birds go away, I don't see any small mammals, and even the deer that roam around my neighborhood seem to hide away. On top of that, the snow creates a desolate looking landscape. And let's not forget how disgusting brown snow looks when it's all plowed to the side of the road. Mountains of black snow pile up and create an eyesore.

This year, I'm faced with a new problem; winter driving. Last year I didn't think was difficult at all; there were a few rough road days, but other than that the cold was just an inconvenience because the ice on my windshield would take forever to thaw. However, with the recent storm I'm beginning to feel some symptoms of road rage. I will admit, there are some roads that have still not been plowed in the area. However, people continue to drive 5 miles an hour in a 45 mph zone because they see some snow on the side of the road. I'm not sure why people are driving as if they are that afraid to drive. Don't get me wrong, I am a total advocate for vehicular safety; but there comes a point when people need to accurately assess the situation and not make me 20 minutes late for work.

For now, I like the snow more than if there was none. Talk to me a couple of months from now and it might be a different story. Any other opinions?

How Do You Shop for a Boyfriend? - News Flash for Dec 7, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:22:46 CDT

Sammi of Teens Online

With the holidays approaching, it's about that time when we all start our Chrismas shopping. My family is usually very direct with each other as to what we want. My boyfriend, on the other hand, is a different story.

We've been dating almost a year and this is our first Christmas we'll be celebrating together. He had already told me that he had gotten my present and wrapped it. Which leads me to my main topic for this blog post; why are there no generic, go-to sentimental presents to buy for guys? A guy could almost always buy a girl a piece of jewelry, flowers, chocolate, stuffed animals, etc. and have it be a successful Christmas.

So why are there no good presents for guys? If you talk to most guys, it seems that a new gadget, sports tickets, or a t-shirt are pretty standard. But where's the sentiment in those types of gifts? It's hard to imagine a gift like an iPad going down in the memory books as a heartfelt present. Besides, many electronics and sporting events are extremely expensive.

Maybe it's just me, but I think the gift-giving field is very unbalanced. Agree or disagree?

Sledding - News Flash for Dec 7, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 08:18:50 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Are you of the opinion "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow?" What are some of the things you enjoy about snow? Ever since I was tiny I have been a fan of sledding. It turns out many other people enjoy it as well, based on the website Snow Sleds, where you can find information on different types of sleds, best sledding locations, safety, maintenance and more.

Is staying indoors more your thing? You can watch other people sledding (using people power or horse power) in films such as Citizen Kane, It's a Wonderful Life, Doctor Zhivago and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Apocalypse Now? - News Flash for Nov 27, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:27:11 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Have you heard the rumors that because the ancient Mayan calendar ends in December of 2012 that some people have predicted the end of the world? Have no fear! NASA tells us why the world won't end by answering questions on topics like the Mayan calendar, planetary alignment, polar shift, meteor strikes and more.

Stories about the end of the world are very compelling, even as we hope they never come true. Read some great novels about Apocalypse & Dystopia from the library. What theory about the end fo the world do you find most interesting?

Top 10 Books for Teens Today - News Flash for Nov 21, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:53:57 CDT

Shamily of Teens Online

According to The Top 10 Books for Teens Today, the following books are known to be the most popular. The only books I haven't read in this list are The Graveyard Book, Slated, and The Wee Free Men. The other seven books I have read and have enjoyed greatly! Check out the summaries of these 10 books considered to be the top 10 books for teens. Are there any books you really like and would recommend for other teens?

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Percy Jackson & the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
There is No Dog by Meg Rosoff
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Slated by Teri Terry (new book not in library collection yet)
The Wee Free Men (The Tiffany Aching series) by Terry Pratchett

Cold Weather Survival - News Flash for Nov 15, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:29:56 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

'Tis the changing of the seasons, with Winter fast following Fall. Whether you love the cold or not, you need a special set of tools to survive the next few months of snow, ice, and darkness. Here's what I recommend:

Come to a library event. Getting out of the house for something fun keeps your curiousity and energy going.
Got questions you need answered but it's too hard to leave the house? Ask Us using email, IM, or the phone.
Escape the weather by going on a mental vacation by reading a book.

Do you have any tips on how to survive the winter?

National Novel Writing Month - News Flash for Nov 7, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:49:40 CDT

Iman of Teens Online

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is a really cool challenge to write a book in a month. Essentially, one would write a little less than 2,000 words a day. This is really cool idea if you had a story idea on your mind and you need an excuse to flesh it out and write it. You are not allowed to work on any previously existing manuscripts but you can work on plot lines and character descriptions. Although it is not a part of NaNoWriMo, some participants do go on to publish their stories afterward. This is a great experience for all young writers who are looking for a challenge to test their writing skills.

Need some tips? Here's what author Alice Osborn has to say.

The Difference Between High School and College - News Flash for Oct 30, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:11:52 CDT

Tatum from Teens Online

A lot of teens in this age group are making college decisions around this time, whether it be applying or already receiving acceptance letters. As I am a full time PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment) student at the U of M I thought I would share the joys of college with you who are still slummin' it in high school.

One of the best things about college is the free time between classes. Between my 8 a.m. and my 9:45 a.m. I will often grab a bagel and hot chocolate from Einstein Bros. and chat with one of my friends in a lounge area. Later in the day while waiting to catch my bus my two besties and I find a cool spot to eat lunch in Dinkytown (one of my fave's being Five Guys). It sounds simple but it's such a change from the constant movement of high school, a small freedom that makes college so much cooler.

Another awesome thing about college is the classes. There are endless choices to fulfill major and liberal arts requirements. This semester I am taking a class called Horse Management, an experience I never would have gotten while in high school. While horses are my thing, there are awesome classes in all areas. One of my friends and I are going to take foil fencing next semester, a sport I've always wanted to pursue. Also, you can schedule classes later than in high school, so no more waking up at 5:30 a.m. to look great at a 7:30 class time. In fact the earliest classes at the U are at 8:00 a.m.

Lastly a super cool thing about college is the clubs. I have joined several clubs since I started here in the Fall, including the Gallifreyan Human Alliance (yeah Doctor Who fans), Pre-Vet club, and the Minnesota Association for Zombie Enthusiasts. Unlike high school these clubs don't have to have teachers there so it's easier for the kids to connect. There are parties and cool events for students to go to, and with clubs you already have something in common with the other people there. In Pre-Vet club I have already had the opportunity to go to a Wisconsin dairy farm and participate in exams! These kinds of opportunities aren't really available in high school.

I hope I gave you some insight into the life of a college student. I really love PSEO and would be willing to answer any questions you have about college or the application process in the comments. Have a Happy Halloween!

Protect Your Electronics - News Flash for Oct 23, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:59:24 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

People are investing a lot of time and money in technology and gadgets. There's no worse feeling than losing a gadget or watching your computer crash. There are some things you can do to protect yourself.

Regularly back up your computer
Take a look at OnGuardOnline to learn how to avoid scams, avoid malware, and be smart online
Use apps like Find My iPhone or Prey for Apple or Android devices and computers

Do you have any tips on how to keep your electronics safe?

Cool Procrastination Gadgets - News Flash for Oct 15, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:12:33 CDT

Annelies of Teens Online

It's finally here: our first days off of school after a solid month of studying! Even if you're stuck at home all weekend, you're probably still excited about the precious days of relaxation. For me though, these days off just make me less eager to do my homework and more likely to be found gallivanting around the deep, dark, time-sucking parts of the Internet. (You know the part of YouTube I'm talking about.) However, this doesn't tend to go over well with my grades. If you're planning on hiding from your homework after break, there's plenty of interesting gadgets just for you that can make getting it all done a little easier.

Internet Blocking Add-ons: If you have a problem perusing FaceBook or YouTube when you should be doing homework, there's an app for that! (Or an add-on, more accurately) Add-ons or extensions are like apps that you can attach to your Internet browser, and can do many things such as hide advertisements or notify you of a new email. A great multitude of smart people have built add-ons to block non-work related sites or to warn you when you have spent too much time in time-wasting places. These apps usually require some honesty and self-motivation to work correctly, but for those with serious Internet addictions there are some that are built so robustly that even restarting your computer won't shake them. I personally use LeechBlock for FireFox, but there are options for every browser that you may find helpful, including many not listed below. (Try searching for your browser + "procrastination add-on", and you can find a whole network of helpful tools.)

LeechBlock (for FireFox)
WasteNoTime (for Safari and Chrome)
FocalFilter (for Windows)
SelfControl (for Mac)
Cold Turkey (for Windows)

NaNoWriMo - News Flash for Oct 9, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:45:44 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

Have you ever wanted to write a novel? If so, NaNoWriMo is your chance! What the heck is NaNoWriMo? It's not a what; it's a when. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. Every November, thousands of writers attempt to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Some succeed, some don't. A few years ago I gave it a try. I was one of the people who didn't succeed. But even though I didn't make it to 50,000 words, I was glad I did it. I wrote more than I would have otherwise, and the process made me a better writer.

The official website for NaNoWriMo has some great resources for participants. You can track your progress, receive inspiration from other writers, and get great writing tips. Even if you're not planning on doing it this year, it's a good resource if you're interested in writing. If you're looking for more writing resources, check out our Creative Writing subject guide.

You've got a few weeks to start thinking of ideas so you can get a strong start on November 1. Happy writing!

Halloween Ideas - News Flash for Oct 2, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 08:57:28 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Do you celebrate Halloween? Want to wear a costume? There are plenty of inexpensive options. Here's 10 Thrift Store Halloween Costume Ideas and how to Make a Great Costume With Vintage Clothes.

Want to plan a party? Decorate your house? Follow recipes for treats or the creation of fake blood? Check out Halloween Web or search for other websites that celebrate the holiday. Have fun this season!

Teen Read Month - News Flash for Sep 30, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:31:00 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Did you know October is Teen Read Month at your library? Your local libraries want to help you start the school year out right by helping you clear fines off your card, or even get a new one if you lost it or your signature is from when you were a little kid. There are also fun events like art contests, workshops to create anime music vides or a boom box from a lunch box, and a chance to create a cool mask for Halloween.

Hope you take advantage of getting your library card ready to use so you can check out everything, including books, that make October Teen Read Month.

Caution: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - News Flash for Sep 18, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:27:10 CDT

Laura of Teens Online

I love the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo last spring when somehow I got away with applying it to a school project. The story itself was thrilling. There were times when I was scared, angry, excited, and terribly upset throughout the course of the book.

But that's now what I want to talk about.

I'm here cautioning any reader who is interested in seein the movie. If you, like me, don't handle violence well, if you get scared easily, don't see either of them. If the book was a little too much, don't see it. Swedish or American, we are presented with the images for a thematically violent, dark, and gruesome story. Rape, death, and torture are important elements in this mystery thriller. I caution you even against the book -- but that is a lighter caution. The book opens your eyes and your mind. The movies present horrific sequences of violence and torture beyond horror-movie because it all seems real. The books are great, but filmmaking, especially American, has changed over the past few decades to leave less and less up to the imagination in regards to violence.

The movies are not bad. They capture the story well. But part of capturing the story is capturing the violence. Just a quick idea for those who love the stories, but thinking back, are kind of disturbed.

Harry Potter: Part of the Framework of Your Life? - News Flash for Sep 10, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:00:38 CDT

Laura of Teens Online

I find myself re-reading Harry Potter every summer. And probably every winter. And usually during the spring and fall. I have never been able to replace the characters that grew up with me. I haven't been able to find other stories that can match the adventures, the ideas, and the humor that accompanies Harry Potter. I wouldn't consider myself a die-hard fan, but Harry Potter just provides a comfort like no other story. I never get sick of it.

I have a little theory about this. First, it seems like most of the kids in my generation feel the same love towards the series. Most of the kids were quite young when they started reading it. Coupled with the fact that it truly is an excellent story, it is fast paced, tear-jerking (I hope that's not just me), drawing fans across all age groups, we grew up with Harry. You know how they say a kid can learn a language before the age of five? I think it's like that. Harry has become the story of many people's childhood. We feel reliant and attached because somehow the books have affected our development. Certainly if you stuck with the series from a young age the ideas from the books captured your imaginations to the point that some adventurously hopeful piece of you wished for a letter over your 11th birthday candles. Then as the books grew, so did you.

This little theory can be applied to adults that love the books. Development of the books and movies spanned over a decade. Those fans fiercely dedicated, and even those casually interested, stuck with Harry Potter through all those years. Someone who cared enough through all that tmie to keep reading J.K. Rowling's cherished stories for so long, grew to some extent during that time. All with Harry as an adventerous companion.

People love Harry Potter, especially from my generation, because we've grown almost reliant on it. We've woven ourselves into the stories. We have changed, grown, with Harry Potter. We love it because it would be against our nature not to. It reminds us of a younger self. Because the books are so intriguing, exciting enough to draw huge audiences, people will continue to read, watch, and experience Harry Potter. And they'll continue to love it because of the time they have devoted to it.

This theory might be totally whacko. It might apply only to me. But just think about it for a second. Does it apply to you?

Teen Novelists' Conference - News Flash for Sep 6, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:04:19 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Spend Thursday, October 18 (MEA School Release Day) learning about different aspects of writing and publishing from published authors at the Loft's Teen Novelists' Conference. This event is free for teens ages 13-17 but registration is required and opens on September 18 at 10 a.m.

Teachers include John Corey Whaley whose books such as Where Things Come Back may be found at the library.

The Sound of Free - News Flash for Aug 28, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 13:20:13 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

There's only one sound I love more than the sound of music: the sound of free. I love hearing that word. It makes everything sweeter . . . like the sweet deal of free music from the library. I'm not talking about checking out CDs (though that is pretty sweet). I'm talking about free music you can download through Freegal. The music you get from Freegal isn't a loan or a rental. There's no digital rights management (DRM). These songs are yours, to keep, forever. Each week you can download 3 songs from Freegal's huge catalog. It's a great way to sample new artists or genres, or find something by one of your favorite bands. How do you like the sound of that?

What Annoys Me - News Flash for Aug 16, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:29:29 CDT

Victoria of Teens Online

After an extremely frustrating day, I decided to write a list of a bunch of things that annoy me. Enjoy!

Drivers who don't know how to use their turn signals
Conspiracy theories
People who are unnecessarily rude
People who hang out with you, then text the whole time
Dining with a picky eater
When you bite into a jellybean and it's not the flavor you thought it would be
Bad singers
When my sister listens to bad singers on repeat and doesn't let me change the song
People who don't know the difference between its/it's and they're/their/there
Slow internet connection
Advertisements, in general
Teenage language students who can't say "bonjour" properly
People reading over your shoulder
The recession
Everyone's obsession with Michael Jackson
Overly packaged knives, toys, or other things
People who don't speak proper English
Other people's inside jokes
Breaking a nail
People who are mean to little kids
Watching TV live
People who smoke in public areas
Calls from collection agencies when you have no debt
When you see an empty parking spot, but then it's handicap
When you burn your food

Hope you enjoyed :p

Tips from a Former Festie - News Flash for Aug 14, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:00:14 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

For me, the end of summer always meant two things. Last week Jody wrote about the first thing: the State Fair. But there's another place where you can brave the crowds and the heat while eating great food. I'm talking, of course, about the Renaissance Festival.

Me and the Fest go way back. Yep, when I was in high school, I was one of those people. Donning a doublet and boots, I worked at the Festival for four summers. I started by convincing people to catapult frogs (fake wooden frogs, I must add) for a dollar a try. I wasn't very good at it. Then I moved on to the Royal Guard, where I was a pawn in the Human Combat Chess match. I didn't make a very good pawn either. I frequently fled the board. (You would too if the Mother Superior was coming after you with a club.)

Still, I had fun and I love going back. If you're heading there, here's some tips from a former insider:

If you arive at opening, you'll probably be tempted to start at the front of the Fest and move to the back. Beat the crowds (at least for a bit) by heading to the back and move to the front. Personally, I always like to start around Witchwood Stage.
Prepare for the conditions. I don't just mean a late-August heat or a late-September chill. During the first few weekends, there's plenty of grass so the ground isn't too bad, rain or shine. But later in the Fest, it's a different story. By then you should expect dust (if it's sunny or windy) or mud (if it's rainy). I've seen more than a few people lose flip-flops to the mud, so be prepared.
Buy your tickets in advance. Advance tickets are cheaper than those bought at the gates. You can even get the tickets on your way there by stopping at a Walgreens, SuperAmerica, or other participating locations.
Get yourself in mood for the Renaissance by reading some great historical fiction. Of course, a bit of magic isn't out of place at the Festival so maybe some fantasy is more to your taste.

So put on a frilly shirt and head out to Shakopee for summer's last huzzah. The past awaits you!

State Fair, August 23 through Labor Day - News Flash for Aug 13, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:39:36 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

Since 1859 the Minnesota State Fair has been the great Minnesota get together. It has a rich history and is run by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, supporting itself on its annual net income. It's also a great celebration!

Here are some things to check out this year at the Fair.

Work there. It's a great short-term job
Get a discount on admission with your library card on Wed., Aug. 29 for Read & Ride Day
Take an Express Bus for $5 round trip or Park & Ride for free
Download the State Fair app
Check out the New attractions & exhibits for 2012
Check out the New foods for 2012
Look under "entertainment" on the homepage for a list of concerts, both free and ticketed

The State Fair marks the end of summer. Hope you had a great time and will have the opportunity to check out this last hurrah before school starts!

Frolf! - News Flash for Jul 31, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:53:08 CDT

Laura of Teens Online

I feel like I'm not the only teen whose summer gets drab around mid-July. I've gone to the beach. Everyone seems to be out of town. I'm not out of town yet, or I just got back. Also it's HOT. I feel like a bum sitting inside coveting cool air and TV, but just walking outside is almost unbearable.

No, I don't have a magical air cooling bubble (although that would be awesome). When the heat cuts a little, I have a little idea. Try frisbee golf. Frolf is a sport that can be played at many golf courses around the metro area. Theodore Wirth has an 18-hole golf course. If you live in the Cities, Wabun Park by Minnehaha falls has nine holes (of mostly shade, in case you're interested). Frisbees can be purchased at Play it Again sports, online, or another sports utility store. They cost between $5 and $20.

Frisbee golf is almost just like regular golf, but the game goes faster. You can play it with a big group of friends or by yourself. It's a challenge at first, throwing the disc hard enough or in my case, in the right direction. But it's fun. Good old outside, not watching TV, hanging with your friends, doing something different fun.

Also it's fun to say frolf. Frolf. Frolf. Frolf.

Summer Brain - News Flash for Jul 23, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 11:18:00 CDT

Victoria of Teens Online

At the end of the school year, I had a million goals.

I was going to read a bunch of classics to be extremely prepared for AP English next year.
I was going to work through a French workbook to keep up on my French verb grammar.
I was going to clean the mess that is my closet.
I was going to beat Windwaker and Phantom Hourglass.
I was going to hang out a bunch outside and get an amazing tan.

Instead, I got summer brain. Summer brain is an affliction suffered by many a high school student. Its symptoms?

All consuming laziness
The inability to sleep less than 10 hours a night
The inability to focus on anything for longer than half an hour

There is no way to treat summer brain. Once you come in contact with this deadly virus, your brain is infected for at least two months. After these two months, you might experience

Depression over the prospect of school
A rush of summer homework
A pair of angry parents

Have a great summer!

S'more Ideas - News Flash for Jul 16, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:39:26 CDT

Laura of Teens Online

S'mores. Some people say that the marshmallow has to be burnt. Some people say you have to use at least three sections of a Hershey bar.

Has anyone ever had an inside-out s'more? A s'more with a strawberry? Or maybe one made with cookies instead of graham crackers? Maybe with those funny flavored marshmallows? Or tried a s'mores pop tart? Spread peanut butter on the crackers? Tried a triple-decker s'more with something different in each layer? Dipped it in chocolate? Added sprinkles?

It's summer. Try something new.

YALSA Teen Book Finder App - News Flash for Jul 10, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:09:12 CDT

Michelle, mentor for Teens Online

At long last, there is an app for this! The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has created a FREE app to highlight teen-centered booklists and award winning teen titles. YALSA is a part of the American Library Association which specifically focuses on library services to teens.

The app can do all the basic search/browse functions: title, author, year, and subject (e.g. Fiction, Horror/Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Nonfiction, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Sci Fi/Fantasy), but also has neat features for searching by booklist and award winners. You can create your own list of personal Favorites, and share items you find on Twitter and Facebook. The app also features a Find It button to locate that book in a nearby library via WorldCat.

Fantastic perks:

Three new titles featured on the homepage everyday.
The Great Graphic Novels for Teens List is awesome.
The Booklists also include movies and audiobooks.

Some limitations:

The app only features titles honored each year by YALSA. It's meant to be a Best of the Best recommendation tool, not all inclusive.
Browse by Author sorts alphabetically by the author's first name. Weird.
The Find It feature is a little odd. All of Hennepin County libraries show up as one pin in Minnetonka.
The Facebook feature kept crashing on me, but that could just be Facebook or my iPad, and not the app's problem. Twitter worked perfectly.

Right now the app is only available on Apple products with an Android release planned for later in 2012.

Get it now! iTunes

More tools for finding great Teen Books:

The HCLib App: official library app for Hennepin County. FREE. Search the library catalog, access your account, find hours, locations, events, new title lists, and more. With BookLook, you can see if the Library owns a book by scanning the barcode with your phone's camera. You can access eBooks and eAudiobooks through the app as well.

NoveList Plus: library database. Free to use with your library card. Search for descriptions of fiction and nonfiction titles. Find author read-alikes, book lists, book discussion guides, and reviews.
TIP: Select the Teen button from the Recommended Reading Lists on the left sidebar.

Books in Print: library database. Free to use with your library card. Search the marketplace of in print, out of print, or forthcoming books, ebooks, audiobooks, and videos. Find reviews, tables of contents, full-text previews, cover images, author biographies, awards information, annotations, and publisher contact information.
TIP: Go to Advanced Search, and limit Audience to Young Adult.

GoodReads: website. Requires you to setup a free account. The largest site for readers and book recommendations in the world. A home for casual readers and bona-fide bookworms alike, Goodreads users recommend books, compare what they are reading, keep track of what they've read and would like to read, find their next favorite book, form book clubs and much more.
TIP: The Recommendations feature works like Netflix to match you with books based on how you've rated other titles.

High School Lessons Learned - News Flash for Jul 3, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:05:47 CDT

Sammi of Teens Online

It's hard to believe that July has already arrived! I still feel like summer vacation has just begun. The sad truth is that in 2 months, my senior year of high school will begin.

People say that high school flies by. I disagree. For me, high school has been a long process of self discovery and development. Over the years, I've accumulated an idea of who I am, my viewpoints, and lifestyle choices from my numerous diverse experiences and failures. However, my high school years would have been wasted if not for these important grain of knowledge.

First, never adjust yourself to fit into a group. If you are openminded and friendly enough, you will find a group of friends that are worth keeping; trust me. My freshman and sophomore year, I floated from different groups trying to find my niche. It wasn't until junior year when I stopped pretending to be something I wasn't that I found my group of best friends.

Also, find balance. I consistently find myself overwhelmed during the schoolyear due to my athletics, AP classes, and part-time job. It's hard to enjoy yourself when you don't even have time to relax. Be wise about your schedule, you don't have to participate in everything the school has to offer in order to have fun.

Lastly, have a good time. Life is short; enjoy it. The principle of High school is by no means a fun one; you're locked up for hours being forced to learn about boring subjects that you probably will never use later in life. However, if you stay positive, school can be a blast. Enjoy your classmates, your teachers, your subjects. As my principal says: make it a great day; or not. The choice is yours.

Starting my senior year is such an amazing thought. I know I can't wait for the great days to come.

Summer Reads - News Flash for Jun 28, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:35:00 CDT

Victoria of Teens Online

Summer is here! It's time for us to don our swimsuits and tan our bodies to the tune of good, breezy, summer reads. Here are my recommendations.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. This book features angels, demons, a love triangle, 19th Century manners, and an extremely feisty heroine. Count me in!
Paper Towns by John Green. A fun but occassionally poignant book about a teen-aged boy and his love for his "popular" neighbor. The ill-fitting pair decide to go and play a complex string of pranks on her old friends, and the book becomes an emotional roller coaster from there.
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell. A beautifully written book about King Arthur and his court from the point of view of the daughter of one of his knights. Since it is written in verse, it is easily read in even one sitting. Highly recommended.
Emma by Jane Austen. A fun and fluffy "classic" from the brilliant mind that gave us Pride & Prejudice. A young socialite decides to play matchmaker for her entire community, which has disastrous consequences for everyone. The scene stealer, however, is Emma's neighborhood friend, the kind, fun Mr. Knightly.
Matched by Ally Condie. A cool, chill dystopia about a world where we are "matched" with our mate for life by a computer, and the girl who fights against the system. Fun and romantic.

I hope you pick up one of the books for your summer reading! Have a great summer, everyone!

Summer Internships - News Flash for Jun 19, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:12:14 CDT

Iman of Teens Online

One thing that some teens do over the summer is volunteering. This is one fun way to spend your summer by helping others and doing something you love. Not only does this help the community, but there also are many things one can gain from this experience. Those who volunteer at the Science Museum, one example of many, receive training in not only the subject area which was in a list of possible volunteer position, but also special interpretation training on how to read a person's interest level and how to present the information depending on your audience. If interested in the medical field, perhaps working in a local hospital would benefit you so you can get an inside look a hospital behind the scenes. Sometimes volunteer positions come with benefits. In the Science Museum example above you get free parking during your shift, free admission for you and up to 10 friends at the museum as well as a limited number of movie and special exhibit tickets per fiscal year. If this sounds interesting, consider filling out an application to volunteer at a zoo, museum, hospital or other opportunity that interests you if you need something to do over the summer.

Lost About Downloads? - News Flash for Jun 12, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 13:27:32 CDT

Sammi of Teens Online

A few weeks ago, I began watching the old television series, "Lost". For those of you who have ever watched it, "Lost" is about a group of people who become stranded on a seemingly deserted island after their plane crashed. The plot may sound cliche, but "Lost" is absolutely amazing. I have been hooked to it day and night for the past two weeks.

My friend has started watching it as well. Though we both own Netflix, my friend occasionally watches it online. This got me thinking; do we have a right to view television shows or other copyrighted productions online?

For example, I love the rapper Kid Cudi. Some of his albums are on iTunes, but his mixtape is not. Is it wrong for me to download his mixtape off of a music-sharing sight? I'm unable to buy it on iTunes, and I'm still promoting his music by sharing it with my friends. However, I'm not paying him anything for his work.

Where is the line drawn? Should I be able to watch music videos on Youtube? I'm not paying a cent to watch it, but if someone else posted it, does that make me watching it ok?

There are many fine lines between legal and illegal when it comes to the Internet. Different places have different rules, some sites are copyrighted differently, loopholes exist for certain laws, many common misconceptions occur... It's hard to tell what is right and what is wrong.

So what is legal and illegal? I looked into some common beliefs regarding the legality of web surfing.

Is it legal to download music off of Youtube?

Yes. Because Youtube is a legal source, converting media files is perfectly legal. However, selling the music would be absolutely illegal.

Is it legal to watch tv shows online for free?

Yes. Again, because the site is a legal source, watching tv shows online is legal. However, hosting, creating, or sharing the video is considered a crime.

Is it legal to burn CD's?

Technically it is only legal if you are burning the CD to be used as a personal backup. Sharing the CD with friends is illegal. Borrowing a CD and burning your own playlist is also illegal.

Hopefully this cleared up common downloading misconceptions. If you ever doubt the legality of a downloading/viewing act, please research the act before you commit it. People have gone to jail for theft from illegally downloading music.

Blockbusters! - News Flash for Jun 5, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:09:06 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

The season of the blockbuster is here! For lovers of big-budget extravaganzas, summer is a magical time. There's nothing better than beating the heat by going to the movies and letting the Dolby Surround Sound wash over you. This year promises to be one of the best in recent memory. We've got superheroes, Scottish princesses, and even a super president to look forward to.

For my money, I think I may have already seen the best summer movie of 2012. I know the official title is Marvel's The Avengers but let's get real here. It's Joss Whedon's The Avengers. Fans of Buffy and Firefly know what I'm talking about. Joss is a master at blending action and humor while effortlessly juggling many plots and characters. The Avengers takes the superhero movie to the next level. The Amazing Spider-Man and The Dark Knight Rises look amazing (and dark!) but they'll have to work hard to wrest the mantle of Best Superhero Movie of 2012 from Nick Fury's band of misfits. (If you just can't get enough superpowered action, check out this superheroic book list).

But summer movies aren't all Batarangs and spandex. With Brave Pixar finally gives us a strong female hero (and one that could put most Disney princesses to shame). Rock of Ages brings the ?hair metal? musical to the big screen. And Abraham Lincoln fights vampires. Yes, you read that right: Abraham Lincoln fights vampires. Based on the novel of the same name, ?Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? tells of an alternate history where our 16th President was also a merciless scourge of the undead. I can't wait to see old Honest Abe dusting vamps in a stovepipe hat. (For more books that have been made into movies, check out our Books to Film list.)

Sure, there's bound to be some flops. But that's part of the enjoyment. We wouldn't appreciate The Avengers as much if we didn't sometimes have to endure a sinker like Battleship. So, tell me, what summer movie are you most looking forward to seeing?

Songs Too Important to Lose - News Flash for May 30, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:27:47 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

The Library of Congress is preserving meaningful recordings in its National Recording Registry, including local musician Prince's Purple Rain. You can recommend songs or albums to be preserved by the National Recording Preservation Board for 2012 now.

What songs or albums would you nominate?

Summer Jobs - News Flash for May 22, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:12:49 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

It's here at last. You know what I'm talking about: Summer. No more classes. No more homework. No more dragging yourself sleepily to first period English. (Seriously, whose idea was it to start school so early in the morning?) Now you can fill your days however you want. You can go to the mall or Valleyfair or a Twins game. There's just one problem. Things cost money... which is a huge drag. Even the things which seem free--like the beach--can have hidden costs. Sunscreen and snacks aren't free, after all. A summer job might be just what you need to turn your extra time into extra money.

Whether you've had a job before or you're looking for your first job, our Jobs & Money subject guide can help you find work. Find the best job search engines. Connect with local organizations like AchieveMpls that offer teens summer jobs, or check out the Self Employment guide to be your own boss. And if you want additional help landing the perfect summer job, come to Jumpstart Your Summer Job Search on June 15 at the St. Louis Park Library.

A summer job can help you build valuable skills, explore career options, and make connections in the community. Plus it will keep money in your sunscreen budget all summer long.

Graduation Blues - News Flash for May 18, 2012

Hennepin County Librarians — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:54:39 CDT

Jody, mentor for Teens Online

It's okay to feel ambiguous about graduating. It's a time of huge transitions within your family as you get ready to fly mostly solo. Feeling a little fear and anxiety mixed into the happiness of achieving a major accomplishment and the sense of new adventures around the corner is totally normal.

If you're still looking for your next step, be sure to check out our College Information subject guide which includes information about Community Colleges as well as Study Abroad opportunities. Looking to earn some money? Explore our Jobs & Money subject guide and use our Job Search Engines to find work, look at Exploring Careers to figure out what education you will need for your dream job, or maybe even how to start your own business in Self Employment.

You will have choices to make all your life but support from family and friends will help you, and you can always go to the library if you're looking for good information to make informed choices.

From Page to Screen - News Flash for May 5, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:29:40 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

Hollywood hungers for story ideas. Again and again, makers of movies (and television) turn to books for inspiration. Looking at current and upcoming releases we see The Great Gatsby, Ender's Game, and Catching Fire to name a few. The members of Teens Online have selected their favorite stories that have made the leap from page to screen. Click on the presentation below then share your favorites in the comments.

From Page to Screen from oxborolibrary

From Page to Screen - News Flash for May 12, 2013

Hennepin County Librarians — Sun, 12 May 2013 16:04:45 CDT

Tony, mentor for Teens Online

From Page to Screen from oxborolibrary