Teen Writers

You're a writer?

Check out this blog post from Class of 2K11.  There's a lot of great stuff out there to help you get going, and to help you keep going. 

You're a writer and you're looking for some things to DO this month?

Franklin Lakes Library is hosting a Teen Poetry Coffeehouse and Open Mic Night.  All teens are welcome to bring some favorite or original poetry to read aloud, or just bring your friends and family and hang out with a cup of tea and some snacks.  We'll be honoring the winners of the Teen Poetry Contest at that time, too! (Winners will be announced here on this blog tomorrow!)

Plus, there's a five-week Teen Writers Group on Thursday afternoons at the library beginning on April 28.  (You can register online or shoot me an email: kate_thelibrarian [at] yahoo [dot] com.)

Just contact me for more info, or find the programs listed on the library's Calendar of Events!

CD Clocks

We wrapped up Crafternoons by making clocks using CDs as part of the "decoration." We ordered the pieces from Oriental Trading, but I think I could have figured out a way to make it even cooler by just buying the clock hardware (the hour/minutes/seconds hands and the workings to make them keep time!) and allowing the kids to be creative with a clean slate. Still, all-in-all, what matters is that I think we had a pretty wonderful summer of creative expression! Looking forward to tonight's End of the Summer Celebration with Didgerdoo Down Under!

Scrapbooking & Collage

...And the revealing of what we've been working on for the past few weeks at one of our Express Yourself! Summer Reading Program programs. Basically, for an hour a week, we offered a complete artistic free-for-all. Seriously good times.

(Mine isn't complete. It will eventually be a photo album of sorts for the 3 newest girls in my life and their parents.)

Wii!!

Anyone in grades 4-12 is invited to play Nintendo Wii at the library the second Friday afternoon of each month, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Check the library's calendar for a schedule of dates/times, or stop into the library to pick up a flyer.

Marble Magnets

Despite Taylor's confusion/suspicion/hesitation, our marble magnets came out pretty cool. And they were super easy to make (just the way I like it). The inspiration and instructions came from the blog, Not Martha.

Before:


After:


In an ideal world, I would have had more magnets (especially because we had lots of marbles and a few minutes leftover)... hmm, and a better camera.

Summer Reading Program SCHEDULE CHANGE: Creative Writing

FYI for all those interested: due to a lack of sign-up, Creative Writing sessions will not take place on Tuesday Eveninings; instead, please join us in the Local History Room on Thursdays for Scrapbooking & Collage Making from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Creative Writing from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Questions? Email me at kate_thelibrarian@yahoo.com, call the library at 201.891.2224, or check the library website.

Beads by Bethany

Next week the library welcomes Beads by Bethany, a jewelry designer, Science teacher at West Essex Junior High School, and advisor to the Junior High Jewelry Making Club. On Monday at 4:30 p.m., we'll be making necklaces with glass and pearl beads. You can register for this program by calling the library or online.

Book Boxes

...made from discarded library books! I think that our favorite part was ripping the pages from the attached covers -- gasp! There's just something about destroying something sacred that feels so gratifying. :) This is what we started with:



And this was the result... Fun times!

Duct Tape

We had an awesome time with Duct tape at one of the Crafternoon programs as part of the Express Yourself! Teen Summer Reading Program at the library. There is so, so much you can do with Duct tape (pretty much anything, really!). Here are some pictures of Taylor making this totally functional, practical bag:



For some great ideas for Duct tape projects, try some of these links:
www.ducktapeclub.com (check out their Ductivities; also, you can purchase some great colors of tape from this site)
http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com (this is where we found directions for the bag that Taylor's putting together)
http://www.seanm.ca/duct-tape/wallet.html
Also, I can't get enough of Hardwear Jewlery where they also have directions from some jewelry you can create using Duct or electrical tape.

Hardwear Jewelry...

...was so fun yesterday afternoon! Using the book Hardwear : jewelry from a toolbox by Hannah Rogge (a contender for the 2010 Garden State Teen Book Award in the nonfiction category, by the way), we kicked off the Teen Summer Reading Program at Franklin Lakes Library. We made earrings from washers and anklets and necklaces from different sized nuts. We could have done so much more with all types of supplies that can typically be found in a hardware store, but we ran out of time. We were surprised at how absolutely easy the projects where (the ones we tackled anyway), and the best part was that I got all the supplies at Michael's craft store or from my dad's workroom! The different textures and colors (from some of the older hex nuts, especially) actually made the jewelry pieces that much more interesting. I destroyed my nails (because I was too cool for the needle-nose pliers), but love my new anklet. (Click on the pictures for a closer look... be warned: it's pretty close-up.)




Hardwear : jewelry from a toolbox is available at the library.
Call number: YA 745.5942 ROG (shelved with adult nonfiction)

For more information on upcoming teen programs at the library and the Teen Summer Reading Program, go online to the library's calendar of events.

Volunteer Appreciation Reception

Franklin Lakes Library thanks our volunteers!

Here are just a few pictures from this Saturday's Appreciation Reception.

Some of the boys... I believe Peter was crowned champion of the games...

Some people are at least pretending to listen to me as I thank them for all of their hard work. :)

Adult Services/Reference Librarian Linda with Jennifer (and her mom) and Kevin, our super-volunteer with well over 50 hours.