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DECEMBER 31, 2010
SMS [Shine] by Dave Crowder Band
Library Girl (original song)
This might be the most amazing music video I've ever seen.
Do you know of one even more amazing? Leave me a link in the comments!

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 30, 2010
Introducing Shelly, Teen Librarian at Arvada Library
Shelly getting her hair dyed!

Favorite Teen Book
One of my favorite books this year is The Light by D. J. MacHale. It is Book 1 in the Morpheus Road series.

Favorite Teen Book From the Past
There are so many to choose from! I think one of my most favorite books is The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip.

Favorite Movie
The Matrix or Underworld

Music I Like
Symphonic Metal and New Age

Favorite Sports to Watch
Ice skating and gymnastics plus the winter events at the Olympics

Favorite Sports to Do
Hiking and swimming

Favorite Food
Mexican stuff

Places Outside the U.S. I'd Like to Go
Just about anywhere!

Places I Have Lived
Born in Denver! Around the metro area I've lived in Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Golden, Glendale, and Westminster. I've also lived in Topeka, Kan.; San Antonio, Texas; Detroit, Mich.; Urbana, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumberg, Ill.; and Heilbronn, Germany.

Do I Have a Pet
I have three cats at the moment - Cocoa, Thomas, and Mina. They are all rescued kitties.

If you have other questions for me, you know where to find me!

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posted by Shelly, Arvada Library

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DECEMBER 28, 2010
Are you studying for the ACT?

You can get more information about the test, as well as tons of other information about planning for college here. And we have tons of study guides for the ACT and SAT. But the ACT website has a handy little tool for those of you getting ready to take this multi-subject test. It’s a Question of the Day feature. Every day you’ll get a new question, straight from the ACT exam. Get today’s question here!

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posted by Jenny, Teen Services Librarian at Golden Library

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DECEMBER 27, 2010
I thought this was cute.

Library Girl (original song)
Then again, I AM a library girl...

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posted by Nikki, Columbine Library

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DECEMBER 26, 2010
I wonder if my turtle could do this?

Turtle Agility
This is for anyone who has the misconception that turtles are slow.

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 23, 2010
Afternoon at the movies... at the library!

Afternoon at the movies... at the library!
Instead of just lounging around during that lazy week between Christmas and the New Year, why not take in a movie? This Winter Break, teens can come to Standley Lake Library to lean back, have some popcorn and enjoy an afternoon at the movies. We'll be showing The Princess Bride! Reservations are not required. Space is limited, so be sure to show up early!

Standley Lake Library
2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 22, 2010
Last Minute Holiday Gifts
Need to find a last minute gift for your friends or family? Short on cash? Here are some crafty things you can make before it's too late.

Birds Nest Bowls from Shredded Paper

A Jar of Nothing (for the person who always answers "nothing" when asked what they would like as a gift)

Handmade Ornaments 

Handmade Snow Globe

Gift Wrapping Ideas, now that you have slaved away over the perfect gift make sure to give it a festive wrapping.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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DECEMBER 21, 2010
All That Jazz!
Photo by Andrzej Barabasz

Jazz is the one true American art form. Jazz music has significantly evolved over the years, fully encompassing creativity and spontaneity. The trademark of jazz is improvisation: no performance is the same. Its roots can be traced back to the southern U.S., where African Americans are credited for its beginnings. 

Since then jazz has evolved into bebop, Latin jazz, free jazz, jazz fusion, acid jazz, and finally new jazz. Musicians are constantly experimenting between big-band styles and smaller “combo” setup. Jazz is flexible: the only musical genre without a clear-cut definition or rules. “Jazzers” have true freedom to push the envelope of established music and create something completely new. In this way, jazz is a living art form, and to hear it is to experience history in the making.  

Denver is a hotspot for new jazz and famous jazz musicians. There are many jazz clubs around town, cool low-cost places where you are guaranteed to hear new, exciting styles of jazz music. Some well-known jazz venues include Dazzle, the D Note, and the Mercury Cafe.

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posted by Emily Belmar TAB Member

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DECEMBER 17, 2010
Kinetic Typography and a Changing Language
D&D Insider Presents: Red Box Ninjas
I like this video for two reasons:

1. As a kinesthetic learner (meaning I have to move to retain new information), I like the motion of kinetic typography. I pay attention because I wonder what the shapes are going to look like in the end.

2. I am always interested in how language is changing and how it’s the teenage generation that pushes new words into acceptance. This essay on language by Stephen Fry discusses why it's not a bad thing.

For more about this kind of animation, search "kinetic typography" in YouTube. There are videos on all sorts of topics using it.

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 16, 2010
50 Most Hated Literary Characters in History??
All I can say is thank God Dolores Umbridge is on this list.

What do you think? Who is missing? Who is on here that shouldn't be?

 

 

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(2 comments)
posted by Nikki at Columbine

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DECEMBER 13, 2010
Standley Lake Teen Time: Dance Dance Revolution
Dance Dance Revolution

Celebrate the end of the semester by dancing your feet off in a game of Dance Dance Revolution! We'll have multiple games going with multiple pads! Standley Lake Library Drop by between 3:00 and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16th.

Hope to see you there!

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posted by Jenna at Standley Lake

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DECEMBER 10, 2010
Red Box Ninjas
Do we have any table top gamers out there? If so, you are likely to find this one particularly humorous. What's your best story of players not being able to stay in character?

D&D Insider Presents: Red Box Ninjas

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 9, 2010
Did you love SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater?
ShiverIf you haven't read Shiver yet, I recommend you get it on your list!

Either way, be sure and check out the paper doll characters that Ms. Stiefvater created to go along with the novel. Awesome!

After you've printed and cut out the dolls & clothes, you can design some new clothes and play a little game called WWGW? (what would Grace Wear?) and WWSW? (what would Sam wear?) Hmmmm, what would Sam wear in the winter? Fur? Oh no, is that a spoiler?

I better end this before I give away anything else!

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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DECEMBER 8, 2010
Horror!!!
Check out these frightening reads available at your library!

The Forest of Hands and TeethThe Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Mary has grown up in a small village surrounded by a chain link fence. Why the fence? To keep out the hordes of “unconsecrated,” aka zombies, surrounding the village. When the village is breached Mary must decide to follow the path leading to an unknown destination or to flee to safety of the trees.

FallenFallen by Lauren Kate
Luce is sent to the Sword & Cross boarding school as the alternative to prison after the mysterious death of her last boyfriend. On her first day she meets Daniel Grigori. Will he be the key to the dark malevolent shadows that have haunted Luce throughout her life? 
 

SleeplessSleepless by Thomas Fahy
After students from St. Opportuna High return from a school trip to repair damaged homes in New Orleans they begin to have nightmares and start sleepwalking. Emma and Jake must unravel the mystery of the nightmares before more students end up dead. What really happened in New Orleans?

Thirteen Days to MidnightThirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman
Jacob discovers he is invincible when he survives a car accident that kills his foster father. Jacob also finds out he can pass his powers on to other people in death’s path but for every life saved, someone else must die.



Three Quarters DeadThree Quarters Dead
by Richard Peck
At first Kerry is thrilled when she is asked to join the popular clique at school. After the top three members of the clique are killed in a car accident Kerry starts receiving eerie text messages from the dead girls on her phone.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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DECEMBER 7, 2010
Jenny, Teen Librarian at Golden Library
Jenny, Teen Library at GoldenFavorite Teen Book
I just finished After by Amy Efaw because I’d wanted to read it after I saw this totally awesome and disturbing diorama at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference. And since Amy will be here next month for the Teen Writing Workshop, I figured there’s no time like the present.

As a relatively new mom, it was a really intense read. A week later I still find myself thinking about Devon and her choices and fears. Mostly I hope the girls I know will give me and others the opportunity to help them if they ever find themselves in trouble.

I also love the Chaos Walking trilogy and am really looking forward to Monsters of Men . So if you’ve got it, hurry up and finish!

Favorite Teen Book From the Past
Agony! How can I choose??? The Great Gilly Hopkins , A Swiftly Tilting Planet , The Westing Game , The Outsiders , Catcher in the Rye (I suppose it’s cliché, but I do so love this book), The Witching Hour , Anne of Green Gables and The World According to Garp . I had very eclectic tastes as a teenager. I still do.

Favorite All Time TV Show
I really love TV. I think I would have to say that Absolutely Fabulous is my very favorite show. But I also enjoy watching endless re-runs of The Simpsons, Seinfeld, The Office, and Family Guy, as well as new shows like Weeds, Breaking Bad, CSI, Criminal Minds, Glee. Did I mention I love TV?

Favorite Sport to Watch
Irish rugby. What in intense sport!

Favorite Sport to Do
Meh. I’m learning to knit. Can I count knitting as a sport? I like swimming but I don’t get to do it often. I’ve actually taken up knitting so I don’t feel so bad about all the tv I watch (see above).

Favorite Food to Make
New England boiled dinner. Easy, salty and delicious.

Favorite Food to Eat
Shepherd’s pie. With beef, not lamb. I don’t eat baby sheep.

Places Outside the U.S. I Would Like to Go
Europe, generally. I’ve been to Ireland, France, and the Netherlands, and I’d go back in an instant. But I’d also like to see England, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Vienna, etc., etc. And St. Petersburg. And British Columbia. I’d like to go to Australia, but I have a rule about travel: I have to spend one day at the destination for every hour of flight time it takes to get there. So I would need a bit more vacation for Australia.

Places I Have Lived
New York, Florida, Colorado, California, Colorado (again), Illinois and Colorado (again). 

Do I Have a Pet?
A dog, a cat, a baby/toddler and a husband

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posted by Jenny, Golden Library

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DECEMBER 6, 2010
Need Homework Help?
Homework HelpNeed some help reading a tough novel for school? Check out the library’s webpage for Cliff’s Notes

 

Put it in your favorites folder for safe keeping!

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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DECEMBER 3, 2010
All we wanna do is eat your brains… in ASL
The History of Nikola Tesla - A Short Story
Internet celebrity Stephen does American Sign Language to songs, in this case Jonathan Coulton's Re: Your Brains. If you're interested in what the signs mean, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQYjZc7gKXc click through and check out the more info under the video.

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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DECEMBER 2, 2010
Name our Teen Blog!
We need a new name!

Sure, JCPL Teens is descriptive enough, but it's a little utilitarian, don't you think?

Some of our favorite blogs have clever names, like The Fictionistas, Hip Librarians Book Blog, In the Library with the Lead Pipe and Persnickety Snark. Would a blog by any other name be as awesome?

Help us out! We'll be accepting suggestions (submitted as comments to this post) until Jan. 1. After that, we'll hold a contest to choose the winner. Get creative! Get clever!

"The name we give to something shapes our attitude to it" - Katherine Paterson

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posted by Jenny, Golden Library

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DECEMBER 1, 2010
Who is that song about?
I’m not necessarily a big Taylor Swift fan, but I do know that she writes songs about people in her life and experiences she’d had. And I like to know the true story behind those songs. If you’ve heard Swift’s new album, Speak Now, perhaps you’d like to know who each of the songs are about too!

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posted by Nikki, Columbine Library

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