Happy Holidays!

Hope everyone out there has a great holiday! A reminder-the library closes today at 12 noon and reopens on Tuesday, 12/26 at 10 AM. And if you go to the movies this weekend, stay away from Eragon, especially if you liked the book. Come visit next week!

Less than a week till ERAGON: the movie!

ERAGONopens nationwide this Friday, December 15! We're having a book chat on the title on Thursday at 3:30 and then seeing the movie as a group on Friday!

Magic and D&D at the Library

So we're thinking of getting the groups back together again. Magic will tentativly meet on Tuesdays at 2:30 in the LOFT.

D&D will meet on Sundays at 1 in the LOFT.

These are great programs for beginners as well as experienced players. For students in grades 5-12.

Another Contest!

This one is cool!

Baker and Taylor is sponsoring a Teen Readers Sweepstakes.
All you have to do is vote for your favorite title from a list of YA books! Click here for the website. For more info and to get your ballots, see the display in the YA room at the library. We could win an author visit! Ballots must be mailed in together, so return them to me aftet you've filled them out. Also, you can only enter once. The contest ends on February 28, 2007.

New contest!

The library is holding a contest to design a graphic for our new "Kids Only" library cards! It can be hand drawn or computer generated, but it must fit into a space no larger than 3 1/4" x2 1/4", and use no more than 2 colors. Entries are due by 5 PM on November 30 . They can be submitted at the library or by emailing Linda Johnson at ljohnson@cwmars.org. Your design could be featured on Shrewsbury kids' first library cards!

Trick or Treat!!!

So we always do this thing for kids on Halloween called the Big Boo! They come in costume for a storytime. But, I've never done anything for teens on Halloween. So this year, I am. If you come into the library on Halloween--for books, homework, hang out--whatever, you'll get a nice little treat from me. Now, here's the catch. I'm not posting this anywhere else besides here and on MySpace. I want to see how many of you actually read this thing. Special thanks to whoever put this great suggestion in the YA suggestion box in the YA room (see, I do read them!)

Picture taken from Photo Creations by Jim Watters.

Arrggh!

Is there anything more annoying than homework? Yes, there is--homework that you can't figure out! We've just subscribed to a very cool service, Live Homework Help! It's an online real time chat with a licensed tutor! Every day, from 4 PM-10 PM, you can log on with your library card and received expert help for all your homework needs! Plus, it's FREE!!! Give and a try and let me know what you think.

Teens Rock the Common!

Our first concert on the common was a success! Over 150 people of all ages rocked out to SHS's own Midway and Intermission! Special thanks to the bands, Dan McGuire, the Shrewsbury Board of Selectman, and the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury for being a part of this great program. For those of you who missed it, too bad! What a great show. Don't worry...we'll do it again next year!

LAST WEEK!!!!!

This is it!!! The last week to get your entries for the teen summer reading program Get Your Game On! The raffle closes at 5 PM tomorrow,August 17!
Winners will be drawn on Friday at the concert on the common! Don't worry if you can't make it; I'll call you if you're a winner.

Hello from Cleveland!

2 of your friendly neighborhood librarians here at Digipalooza 2006! We're learning about all the cool new digital downloads that will soon be available at SPL. We've already got ebooks, downloadable audiobooks, so what's next? Movies, of course! Starting this fall, fingers crossed, you'll be able to download movies from home with your library card! Click here for more info.

PS2 in the LOFT!

I know, I've been talking about it for what seems like forever. But it's finally here! A PS2 in the LOFT! Come by this summer, or after school, kick back and relax in the LOFT, upstairs in the library. New furniture and a PS2-- and set up just for you guys. Of course there are a couple of rules: You can only play library owned games (yes, we do have a circulating game collection), you have to share the PS2 with others, and there's no memory card avaiable. I also am in desperate need of title suggestions. Post them here or email me. I'm also grateful for any donations of games.

WOWeee!!!!

80 Friends on MySpace! Did you ever think the library would have so many cyber-friends? You should join our friends list too!

A bit busy

Have you been to the library lately? If so, you know how busy it's been. Sorry I haven't posted in a bit. I'm already hard at work on some GREAT programs for this fall. How about an visit from a famous author? Working on that. Or a very cool spin on a book club? That's in the works too! And of course, Spirit of Shrewsbury is coming up! We'll be hold ing a basket raffle to raise money for teens again. Last year, we bought furniture and a PS2 for the library. What should we by this time? P.S. I promise, the PS2 is on it's way. And how could I forget about DDR?!? We'll be hosting some of those too!

Concert on the Common!

Mark your calendars! Our end of summer program this year is a concert on Shrewsbury Common, featuring Shrewsbury High's own Dan McGuire, with special guest Calvin Betancourt. We'll also be drawing our teen summer reading program raffle winners!

Friday, August 18 at 2 PM (rain date August 22)

Check out Dan and Calvin on MySpace.

Another great new Mag!

We now have a subscription to Sci Fic Magazine. This very cool mag can be found the in the YA room. Have a great 4th!!!

3rd Annual Baseball Cookout

This Friday, July 7 at 12 noon. Our annual celebration of one of our favorite sports, baseball, and our favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the Worcester Tornadoes!!!! Stop by for free hot dogs, raffles, and a surprise guest!!! Wear your favorite team's gear.

Summer Reading Program!!

Did you sign up yet? What are you waiting for????

New Magazine Subscription

Just wanted to let you all know of a new magazine subscriptions we have! Shonen JUMP, a fav of many, has finally made it to the library, thanks to the generosity of That's Entertainment!You can find them in the YA room and they can be checked out for a week. Be sure to send an email to That's Entertainment to say "Thanks!"

Summer Events!

2 exciting summer events to tell you about! Every Thursday this summer d20 will continue their meetings at the library. So if you're a skilled Dungeons and Dragons player or just starting out, stop by and play! Thursdays at 2. Also coming every week, Magic: the Gathering. Our tournament was so successful, we're making the group a weekly event. Wednesdays at 1. Email Sarah for more info.

New Furniture

The trip to IKEA is tomorrow! Here's some pics of what I hope to get. With any luck, they'll be in stock, purchased, and set up sometime next week. Stop by and let me know what you think!

SPLAT Basket Raffle

Our second annual Spring Basket Raffle is under way! We're raffling off baskets to raise money for teen programming! What kinds of programming? Glad you asked! Our teen read week author visit, summer reading programs, and new furniture (I'm picking it up next week!) are all possible because of contributions made to our spring and fall basket raffles. To get involved, email me!

Back from Joisey

That's it. I can die happy! Sharon and I drove 4 hours to Princeton, NJ (awesome hometown of a certain Ivy League university) and met Anthony Horowitz, author of the super hip Alex Rider Adventures. What a great guy! He spoke about his next two books and the upcoming film version of Stormbreaker the first Alex Rider book. He also signed books for all attendees and I presented him with a SPLAT t-shirt, which he loved. He was so excited and said he remembered our program from the letter I wrote to him last fall.
Sharon and I also checked out the Princeton Public Library and chatted with a few librarians. What a beautiful building! It's three levels, with a cafe, HUGE aquarium, outside deck, and a very helpful staff. I received some great new programming ideas from them!

Anthony Horowitz visit!!

Exciting news!!! Anthony Horowitz, he of Alex Rider Fame, is visiting bookstores in New Jersey!!! Since yours truly has no big plans this weekend, I'm going the NJ to see him! This is, as children's librarian Sharon Terry puts it, my "William Sleator moment" (Sharon once embarrassed herself in front of one of her favorite authors, William Sleator) So excited to meet on of my fav authors! I'll post pics next week! The first Alex Rider movie, Stormbreak, comes out 9/1/06! Who's gonna camp outside the theater for tix with me? JK-I'm not that obsessed!

Check out the movie's official site!

NEW CDs!!!

We just got in an order of new CDs:

Teddy Geiger
Daniel Powter
P.O.D.
Weezer
All American Rejects
Chris Brown
Pink
Natasha Bedingfield
Coheed & Cambria
Atreyu
Pussycat Dolls

Of course, the're so popular, you won't find them on the shelf. Click here to reserve titles.

SPL is on MySpace!

Hey! We're catching up with the rest of the world. SPL has it's own MySpace page!

MLA Legislative Day

Today, a bunch of us went to the Massachusetts Library Association's Annual Legislative Day at the State House to talk with legislators about the importance of funding for public libraries. Ellen Dolan, SPL's director, Debbie Alger, ILL Librarian, Pat Haglund, Tech Services Librarian, Amelia Peloquin, Electronic Resources Librarian, and I spoke with Senator Augustus and Representative Polito about state funding for new buildings, technology needs, and State Aid.

So what does this all mean to you? Well, with their support, we can continue to have ILL services, computer networking, and maybe a new addition to our building! Check out the Massachusetts Library Association to read about their importance to MA public libraries!

It's gettin' hot in herre...

Ok, so summer is still months away, BUT, I'm busy planning programs for the summer months now. And I need your help. What should we do? Should we have more book groups? Craft activities? Movie nights? Author visits? Concerts? I'm looking to you for help. Let me know what kinds of programs you'd like to attend at the library. Post your ideas here or email me.

Hoo-Hoo-Hoot

Book Chats are back! Get ready for the movie by reading Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. March 16 at 4PM. Pick up your copy at the Front Desk and join us for some fun! The movie comes out April 7th. For students in grades 5-12 only. Check out the movie's website here.

PS2 gaming

The library has PS2 games! We have over 30 games circulating in Shrewsbury. Check out the list here. Want to suggest a title? Add your comments! Hey, and we also welcome game donations.

So what's SPLAT?

Hate the library? Think you can make it better? Join SPLAT to suggest materials, programs, and changes that will make the library a cool and welcoming place for teens. Plus, your participation will look great on your college apps. Click here to fill out an application