We will be closed September 18-20th so that we can install and configure our new card catalog and circulation system. We are really excited that this system will be much easier to use, you can get more information and (if you have access to the internet from home or school) you can look up to see what we have online.
The online part is really cool, because you can actually go ahead and place a hold after you find a book, you can see information about other books like the one that you looked up, read reviews or other comments, and even see a picture of the book (if available).
LOL at MHS is a collaborative program between the Marshalltown Public Library and the Marshalltown High School and features programs over the A/B lunch period at least once a month. Often we have book discussions, visiting authors, or other arts presenters, and programs are planned with input from the students. LOL (Learn Over Lunch...or Laugh Out Loud...whichever you prefer) is open to ANY interested student and is held in Mrs. Susan Fritzell's room, room 106. Students should pre-register with Mrs. Fritzell or Joa at the library. Students may bring their own lunches, or pitch in ahead of time for pizza or other food that has been planned.
The first LOL is Friday, September 7 with a discussion of the Harry Potter series, including readers views on the outcome of the whole series with the finale book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Students may come to either A and/or B lunch, or may stay through both periods as their schedule allows.
I just finished reading The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci (illustrated by Jim Rugg) and really enjoyed it. Like many graphic novels, it was a quick read--but as someone who often finds this graphic format difficult to enjoy or be engaged, I thought this was really a great story and there was a pared down use of the boxes, dialogue balloons and text boxes that didn't overwhelm me.
The story is about Jane who moves to a small town from the big city after she is injured in an act of random violence. Her mother is nearly paralyzed with fear in response to what happened and Jane is trying to deal with her own fears, while still trying to live out her teen years...but motivated to find more meaning and "real-ness" in her experience than she had before.
She meets a "non-clique" group of girls, whose names all happen to be a variation of Jane (Jayne, Polly Jane, etc.) and inspires them to create the girl gang P.L.A.I.N. ( People Loving Art In Neighborhoods) and they undertake secret "art attacks" designed to make people think and to introduce their own definition of "beauty" into the world.
All the while, Jane corresponds to a fellow victim of the city bomb incident, who lies comotose in the hospital...and whose sketchbook originally inspired her with its cover words: "Art Saves."
Try it out...even if it is your first graphic novel read.
