New Programs in Lake Placid

Well, it's halfway through the first week of school, and it's nice seeing our teens back from vacation. Hopefully all refreshed and ready to tackle the new school year? While you've all been away we've been cooking up some fun programs for after school. For those of you in the Lake Placid area, we have two new events:

Introducing the Crochet Circle. Starting Sept 13 it will be meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring a crochet hook and some yarn and join the circle!

Beginning Sept 15 we'll also be hosting an Origami Critters event at 4:00 pm. We'll have a small variety of origami paper to fold, or feel free to bring your own favorite prints! Again, all ages welcome. 

Both of these events will be held at the Lake Placid Memorial Library. For more information feel free to use the contact form above or call 699-3705.

Winning Contest Entries

Congratulations to Margo, the winner of both the movie making and blogging contests! Her movie, filmed in the Sebring Public Library, reveals fun ways to spend time in the library. In her blog she provides all kinds of useful advice on travel, as well as sharing some of her own summer travel experiences.We are really impressed with Margo's creativity and the effort she put into her entries. Thank you for sharing them with us, Margo!

Please enjoy Margo's movie and browse her blog, Summer Travel Tips and Ideas.

Thanks, also, to all the teens who participated in our summer contests. It was a lot of fun looking through all the entries. We hope to see you at future library programs!

Movie Contest

Teens 12-19 are invited to make their own short movies to enter in Sebring Public Library's You Are Here movie contest. One winning movie will be chosen on August 13, and the creator will be awarded an Amazon gift card, Top Summer Movie certificate, and will be featured on the library's teen blog, YAccept.

Your winning movie must:

• Be no longer than 90 seconds.
• Contain all original content, produced by you.
• Give credit to sources of any non-original content. Ex., if you decide to use Katy Perry's “Firework” as the background music for your 4^th of July video, be sure to say so in the credits.
• Be in a YouTube-supported format (.MPEG4, .3GPP, .MOV, .AVI, .WMV, etc.) if not submitted as a URL to an already uploaded video.

We recommend that your movie at least loosely connects to the You Are Here theme OR is a book trailer for something you've read this summer. You are welcome to work in partnership with friends, but keep in mind there is only one gift certificate!

There are several options for how to submit your movie. If you have uploaded it to a video-sharing website (YouTube, Veoh, etc.) simply email the full URL to andrea at myhlc.org, along with your name, age, school, and home library. Alternatively, bring your movie file on a USB drive, CD, or DVD to either Sebring Public Library or Lake Placid Memorial Library. Once your movie has been approved it will be embedded on YAccept for others to watch and comment on. If your movie is chosen as the You Are Here winner you will be able to pick up your prize at the Sebring Public Library's circulation desk after August 13. All movie submissions must be received by August 6 in order to be considered for the contest. 

If you need help learning the basics of Windows Movie Maker, this video has some useful tips.  

Also, below are some of my favorite book trailers to help get the creative juices flowing: 

2009 Inkys Award Winner

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Graphic Novel Trailer

Simple and Brief Trailer

Happy movie making!

Blog Contest!

Last week we held a blogging workshop as the second event in our You Are Here summer library program. I was really happy to have such a great turnout, and it's been fun meeting so many of our area teens! While a couple had tried it before, most of the teens were experiencing blogging for the first time. We talked about the different types of blogs and the various purposes they fulfill before diving into a basic intro on how to set up an account and use Google's Blogger interface. It was a lot of fun and I hope many creative blogs will be built as a result.

For those of you who weren't able to attend, Sebring Public Library will be hosting a teen blogging contest as part of the summer You Are Here program. Below I have posted the guidelines for participation, as well as a few basic Powerpoint slides to help walk the newbie through starting a Blogger blog. Of course, you are welcome to use any blogging service you choose! I only chose Blogger because it is the one I am most familiar with.

You Are Here Blog Contest

Teens 12-19 are invited to make their own summer blogs to enter in Sebring Public Library's You Are Here blog contest. One winning blog will be chosen on August 13, and the creator will be awarded an Amazon gift card, Top Summer Blog certificate, and will be featured on the library's teen blog, YAccept.

Guidelines for determining the winning blog will include:

• Aesthetic Appeal This means the blog's layout, graphics,and other visual features.If you've used a pale yellow font on a white background, chances are the ensuing eye-strain is going to keep me from following your posts.
• Content We'll be looking at what the actual posts are about. The sky's the limit here, but it would be nice if the blog was at least loosely organized around the You Are Here theme.
• Post Frequency Regular updates are a must. Afterall, it's easy to forget a blog that never has anything new. No specific requirements on how frequently to post, but keep in mind we're on a limited timeframe. We'll start reviewing blogs a week before selecting the winner.
• Creativity This looks at the combined effect of the aesthetic appeal and content. How interesting is the overall blog?
• User Friendly Is the blog well organized, easy to navigate? Can I quickly find that interesting post you wrote three weeks ago that's long since been archived?

To submit your blog email the full URL to andrea at myhlc.org, along with your name, age, school, preferred contact information, and home library. Once your blog has been approved it will be linked to YAccept for others to discover and follow. If your blog is chosen as the You Are Here winner you will be able to pick up your prize at the Sebring Public Library's circulation desk after August 13. All blog contest URLs must be submitted by July 16 in order to be considered for the contest.

Blogger How-To 

School's Out!

Well, school's been out for a week now, and I'm happy to say I've seen a lot of you guys in the library! (I've also noticed a few faces missing. Can't wait to hear the travel stories when you get back!) Has anyone started summer reading yet? I know there are a few more days before we officially celebrate the You Are Here kick-off, but I couldn't wait to begin.

I've had Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games on my list for ages. Set in a futuristic North America that is under tyrannical government control, it follows the story of Katniss as she volunteers to take her sister's place in what is known as the Hunger Games—an annual “game” in which the 24 participants are forced to fight to the death on national television. If it sounds intense, that's because it is. So far I've listened to the audio for both Hunger Games and the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire, and I'm just about tearing my hair out waiting for the final book to be available on Overdrive. If I don't get off the Waiting List soon I might have to cave and check out a physical copy of the book to read.

In the meantime I'm tiding myself over with another series that's been on my list forever, Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl. Artemis is the most dastardly criminal I've encountered in quite some time—and he's only twelve! It's hard to cheer on his efforts to restore the family riches by whatever means possible, especially at the risk of starting an inter-species war, but it's impossible not to admire his brains and his spunk. Again, I've been listening to the audio version on Overdrive, and the narrator is absolutely one of the best I've heard. I'm still not sure what nationality he is, since he switches accents so seamlessly.

Those are the major ones I'm tackling at the moment. I'd love to hear what you are reading, planning to read, or what you think about the books I've just finished. Send me an email via the Comments form or stop by to say hi at the Lake Placid Library!

Day 3 of Registration

It's been three days since we opened registration for the teen summer program. So far we've had a few brave souls sign up and many inquisitive questioners. Keep those questions coming! In the meantime, here are those program dates I promised:

6/25, 3pm: Summer Program Kick-Off

6/30, 3pm: Blogging Workshop

7/2, 3pm: Geocaching at the Library

7/7, 3pm: Make a Movie Workshop

7/9, 3pm: Anime and Origami

7/14 & 7/16: Reader's Theatre... Readers arrive at 3 pm. On 7/16 the performance will begin at 3:30.

7/23, 3pm: Life As We Knew It Discussion

7/30, 8pm: Library Lock-In

Also, in addition to the reading program drawing for an mp3 player there will be two more contests this summer. The You Are Here Summer Blog contest and the Summer Movie contest. Winners from these two will receive an Amazon gift card and feature post on YAccept. 

You Are Here Events

Alright! I mentioned it before and now it's finally here: summer program special events!

In case you missed it, Sebring Public Library is offering a teen summer program that will run from June 25-August 13. In addition to a reading program in which local teens read for prizes, we'll be having all kinds of free special events. Here's what we'll be offering for your summer boredom-alleviating pleasure:

• 6/25 Summer Program Kick-Off – Join us for pizza and discover some fun summer reads as we kick off the teen summer library program. No cap.

• 6/30 Blogging Workshop – Learn the basics of blogging by building your own summer You Are Here blog. The blogs will be linked to the teen library blog and entered in a contest to win an Amazon gift card. If you are unable to attend the event you can still submit your You Are Here blog to enter the contest. Just ask a librarian for details! Capped at 10.

• 7/2 Geocaching at the Library – For the uninitiated, geocaching is a treasure hunt that uses GPS to zero in on hidden treasure, aka “cache.” We'll design and hide our own cache, as well as search for one hidden around the library. Capped at 15.

• 7/7 Make a Movie Workshop – We'll be using Windows Movie Maker to make a short book trailer or summer vacation montage. You may choose to have your movie posted on the teen blog and entered in a contest to win an Amazon gift card. If you are unable to attend the event you can still submit your movie to enter the contest. Just ask a librarian for details! Capped at 10.

• 7/9 Anime and Origami – What better way to get out of the summer heat than by watching anime and folding origami at the library? We'll be serving Japanese snacks and tea as well. You know you want to. Capped at 15.

• 7/14 & 7/16 Reader's Theatre – Just like it sounds, Reader's Theatre is a performance without the memorization. Readers focus on dramatic delivery as they read from their chosen script. Those interested in being a reader may register, while the performance will be open to anyone who'd like to watch.We'll choose our scripts and assign character roles on the 14th and perform on the 16th. Readers must show up for both days! Capped at 20.

• TBA Life As We Knew It Discussion – Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Come share your thoughts Susan Beth Pfeffer’s popular novel over pizza and drinks. Capped at 20.

• 7/30 Library Lock-In – Wrap up your summer with a night at the library. We’ll be swapping summer stories, watching movies, playing a few friendly video game competitions, and enjoying pizza. Capped at 30.

Okay, yeah, I still haven't set the exact times. Expect that info to be posted within the next couple of days. Registration for these events will open June 1. Please note that while registration for the summer reading program is available online at YAccept as well as at the library, registration for the special events is only possible at Sebring Public Library's circulation desk. This is mainly due to most of the events being capped at a set number of participants. As always, feel free to ask me any questions via YAccept's handy contact form located at the top of the page. You can also give me a call or come speak to me in the flesh at our Lake Placid branch.

Hope to see you soon at the kick-off event!

Harry Potter and Other Books-to-Movies

Alright, HP fans, with the first trailer premiere of the last movie installment out I couldn't not say something about Harry Potter, could I? The official trailer's been up on YouTube for only two days now, and as I type this there have already been nearly 2 million views. Wow. The excitement and anticipation is sure to build over the next few months.

I'll admit, I'm a little sad that the end is so near. I've been reading the books and watching the movies for over ten years now--almost half my life! I know there are plenty of other good books that will step in to ease the emptiness once HP is gone, but I'll still miss it. For now, though, here's the trailer:




Harry Potter's not the only exciting book being adapted into a movie either. Sara Gruen's popular Water for Elephants about a veterinary student who joins the circus came out on the 22nd. I haven't had a chance to see it yet, but it's got a lot positive ratings from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch the trailer here.

Coming out on May 6 is Thor, which is based on Stan Lee's comic book character from The Mighty Thor. The casting--Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, and Natalie Portman--promises a satisfyingly action-packed experience. Okay, so I'm actually not too sure about Hemsworth. Haven't seen him in much. But how can you go wrong with the other two? Here's the trailer.

Finally, in July Cowboys & Aliens will be released, which I was surprised to learn is adapted from a graphic novel written by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley and drawn by Dennis Calero and Luciano Lima. Hmm. . . lots of visual novels to movies this year! Trailer. 

Announcing SPL's First Teen Summer Library Program

2011 Teen Summer Library Program

Sebring Public Library is happy to announce its first teen summer library program. Teens are invited to read for prizes as well as to take part in the special events that will be offered throughout the summer.

How does it work?

Teens who register for the reading program will be given a form to keep track of the hours they spend reading. Reading could mean books, magazines, blogs, newspapers, or even listening to audio books! Once they've completed 40 hours of reading they can bring the form into the library to be verified by a librarian, and their names will be entered in a drawing to win an mp3 player. By completing extra reading teens will be given the chance to have their names entered more than once.

Who may participate?

Teens from 12 to 19 are encouraged to sign up for the reading program. If you are younger than 12 but still want to participate, we also have a children's summer library program. Just ask a librarian for details! Sebring Public Library is also looking for volunteers of all ages who enthusiastic about helping out.

When can I register for the reading program?

Now! You can register at the circulation desk in Sebring Public Library. Alternatively, you can fill out an online registration form on YAccept. Just click the Register Now! link in the upper right of this page.

What about the special events?

Glad you asked! We'll be offering a range of fun events for teens this summer. These events will require separate registration from the reading program, since most will be capped at 15 participants. Registration will be available at Sebring Public Library's circulation desk starting June 1 and will close July 16. If an event is full you will still be able to put your name and phone number on a waiting list in case a spot should open up. 

More details about the special events, recommended reading, and the possibility of earning school credit will be posted soon. 

YA Member Survey

Last month we posted a survey for you to fill out in the library, online, and at Sebring Public High School. We received some awesome feedback from you all! Here's what you all had to say about how you use Sebring Public Library:

 

Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey, and to Mrs. Rankhorn for letting us bring copies to her media center.