Teens Blog
Happy Halloween! While you're stuffing your face with candy tonight, don't forget that KPL has an extra bonus treat in store for you: Meet two of your favorite authors, Holly Black and Robin Wasserman, at the Authors @ The Zoo event at 6:30 PM this coming Thursday!
Holly Black is a bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. She is the creator of the Curse Workers series (White Cat, Red Glove, and the forthcoming Black Heart), The Spiderwick Chronicles, and the collections Geektastic, Zombies vs. Unicorns, and others.
Robin Wasserman is a self-described "writer, chocoholic, certified procrastinator, TV addict, sometime cupcake baker, and all-time world champion klutz." She's also the author of the Cold Awakening trilogy (Skinned, Crashed, and Wired) along with Hacking Harvard, the Seven Deadly Sins series, and the forthcoming Book of Blood and Shadow.
There will be time for Q&A and books for sale courtesy of local bookstore Bookbug, so don't miss it!
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Authors @ The Zoo
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http://www.kpl.gov/teens/authors-at-the-zoo/Fall is always a great time here at KPL. Oh sure, you gotta go back to school, but the air is cool, the leaves are changing colors, and we've still got a ton of stuff going on at the Teen department! We kick Teen Read Week off in two weeks, but you can already show off your creative side with Picture It, going on now through the 26th! Then, help benefit the Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes by reading for the fun of it at the annual Read-A-Thon! Pick up a pledge form at the Teen Desk.
Finally, mark your calendar, make a note in your to-do list, or do whatever else it is you need to do to remind yourself about our Authors @ The Zoo event at 6:30 PM on November 3rd! We're super-excited to have two of our favorite authors coming to visit the library: Holly Black, creator of the Curse Workers series (White Cat, Red Glove, and the forthcoming Black Heart), The Spiderwick Chronicles, and the collections Geektastic, Zombies vs. Unicorns, and others; and Robin Wasserman, author of the Cold Awakening trilogy (Skinned, Crashed, and Wired) along with Hacking Harvard and the forthcoming Book of Blood and Shadow. It's going to be a metric ton of awesomeness, so don't miss it!
Got a rusty, junky old bicycle but don't have the money or time to get it fixed by the pros? Don't sweat it! Sign up for the Open Roads Bike Tech program and learn how to fix it yourself. Take that old, run-down bike and make it something to be proud of, and learn valuable skills at the same time! Open Roads teaches kids to fix and refurbish tired, old bikes, giving them a new life. Hear how you can get involved and learn new skills at this special workshop at KPL. Open to ages 11-15. Sign up here!
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Open Roads Bike Tech
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http://www.kpl.gov/5-12/open-roads.aspxIf you missed the last Cartooning with Kenjji program at Oshtemo, don't sweat it: we've got a great series of videos showing Kenjji doing what he does best! Check it out:
If you're having trouble with this video, the whole playlist can be accessed on YouTube.
Summer will be here before you know it! The last day of school for Kalamazoo Public Schools is June 15th, and that's also the first day of Summer Reading Games here at KPL. This year's game is easier than ever, so stop in at the Teen desk or any branch library, pick up a game board, and then start reading! The more you read, the more prizes you'll earn. Don't forget to come down to the library for Summer programming, too- we've got all sorts of activities to keep you entertained. Here's just a few program highlights for teens:
There's literally tons more stuff to do this summer, so be sure to check our calendar regularly to make sure you don't miss out. Even better, certain programs are special prize drawing programs where you can nab all sorts of cool stuff- but you've got to show up to win! Signup begins June 15th... don't miss out!
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Teen Summer Reading
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Hey, J-Pop fans! We need more ideas about what kinds of things you like to read and watch. Take a few minutes with this short survey and let us know what you want to see at the library!
UPDATED: Based on the number of votes, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood narrowly beat Akira for the next J-Pop viewing! But fear not- we have tons of anime to watch so we'll definitely get to your favorites.
UPDATE: Space is totally full for the hands-on portion of the program on both days! We'll still have some room for people to watch the artists work, so if you're interested come on down!
Attention all manga and anime fans! Ever wondered how to draw your own manga like the pros? Come to Central on Friday, March 11th at 3:30 PM, or the Kalamazoo Institute of Art on Saturday, March 12 at 1 PM to see a hands-on demonstration with award-winning Japanese manga artists Kohei Nishino and Tsugumi Nishino!
The duo, who create work under the collective name Konohana Sakuya, have been making manga and anime together for many years and have collaborated on some of the most popular titles in Japan. Since August 2004, they've had their latest work, "The Lights", serialized in the monthly version of Shonen Jump Magazine. Learn how to do brush and ink illustration at Central, and screentone shading at the KIA.
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Hands-On Manga Workshop
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http://www.kpl.gov/5-12/hands-manga.aspx
Attention teen filmmakers: You now have exactly 19 days left to submit your films for this years' Teen Filmmaker Festival, presented by Kalamazoo Public Library, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Public Media Network! You'll need to submit films and entry forms to the Teen Services Desk at Central Library by 5 PM on Saturday, January 22th, so there's no time to waste. You can also mail your films to: Teen Services Department: ATTN: Teen Film Fest, Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Make sure your envelope is packaged securely so your film doesn't bite the dust on the way here.
You can read up on all of the official rules and download an entry form on the official Film Fest page, and don't forget to check out clips of last years' winners at the KPL YouTube channel! Take a look at our list of tips and tricks for first-time filmmakers, and don't miss our list of Frequently Asked Questions for more answers!
Editor's note: Welcome our newest Teen page blogger, TAB member Rebecca Henning! This is her first blog post, and while it's been a long time coming due to various technical glitches, I think it's worth sharing with all of you. -Stewart
On October 23, teens and tweens showed up to the teen section of the Central library, to read for a good cause. Participants read to raise cans and other dry goods for Loves and Fishes. They provide food for the needy, and are a great hope to those who need it. They read from 10 am to 4 pm with a one hour lunch and photo session where participants got their own READ poster, like the ones in the teen section!
Teens/tweens who arrived at the read-a-thon where all ages from grade six to grade twelve. Jamera Jackson from Hillside Middle School says that she came because "I like to read, want to have fun, and get new books." She says that she loves girly girl books and her favorite book is What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones (which is actually a book of short poems that tell a story and one of my favorites). Now on the other end of the wide spectrum of people that arrived was Noah Gross who is also in the sixth grade at Hillside. His favorite genre is fantasy and favorite book is Ranger's Apprentance by Jhon Falgan. There were also some high scholars there like Elizabeth Austin who is a junior at Loy Norrix High School. She loves all fiction and her favorite book is Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows, by J. K. Rowling (another of my favorite books).
Overall the read-a-thon was a success, bringing food to people and people to books, something everyone can enjoy.
If you like to read, you won't want to miss this annual event at the library on Saturday, October 23. Bring your friends and join other teens (middle or high school) who also like to read. It's time for the Read-A-Thon. In addition to getting to read for up to six hours without anyone telling you to "put that book down," the people who sponsor you will donate non-perishable food items for every hour you read, which will then be donated to Kalamazoo Area Loaves and Fishes. (Pick up sponsor forms at the Teen desk.)
Even though the Teen area will feel like your favorite place to read at home...pillows, comfy chairs, maybe even a little reading music, you're still welcome to bring your own reading "accessories" to create the optimal reading experience.
Snacks, prizes and lunch will be provided
You can even have your picture taken for a READ poster. (If you are under 18, make sure to bring this form, signed by a parent or guardian.)
Bottom line: You get to read, hungry people get to eat...it's a win-win.
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http://www.kpl.gov/teens/events/read-a-thon.aspx