Teen Time: Black History Month Edition

So, you may have heard that February is Black History Month and the teen specialists have created several events just for teens to help you celebrate the abolitionists, activist & innovators who changed history.

The Northside is the place to be on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 if you want to speak your mind or acquire some quilting skills.

Open Mic Night 4:00PM – 7:00 PM

Electret Condenser Microphone
Source: Google Images

Celebrate the innovation of Dr. James West, an African-American inventor who improved the microphone, by participating in our Open Mic Night to kickoff Black History Month. James West’s research in the early 1960s led to the development of foil-electret transducers for sound recording and voice communication that are used in 90% of all microphones (and cell phones!) built today.  Bring a poem you wrote, read from a favorite book or bust a rhyme! Cookies & hot chocolate will be served.

Location: Woods Run

Quilting & The Underground Railroad 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Look into the historical debate surrounding quilting and its significance in relation to the Underground Railroad. Also, create your own quilt square and combine it with other teens!

Location: Allegheny

If you are free on Thursday, February 7, 2013 head up to Mt. Washington!

African-American Hero Buttons 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Make your own button to celebrate an African-American Hero: Artists, Civil Rights Leaders, Inventors, Military Leaders, Scientists, oh my!
All materials will be provided. For grades 6-12. Refreshments will be provided!

Location: Mt. Washington

Have you always wanted to rock your natural curls but aren’t quite sure where to begin? Maybe you’ve proudly sported your Afro for years, but are still struggling to find the right products. Head over to Woods Run on Saturday, February 9, 2013 for a presentation on natural hair care.

Natural Hair Care Class 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
In this class we will explore healthy hair practices for those interested in natural hair, discuss simple yet effective hair regimens and affordable products and the best way to protect your hair during the cold months. Please bring questions and concerns.

Presented by: Whole Foods Market, East Liberty

Location: Woods Run

The Teen staff at Main has a whole day planned full of literary awesomeness and crafting!  On Saturday, February 16, 2013 come for book club, then stay for a quilting workshop.

Booked for Lunch: Panther Baby and The Rock and the River: A Book Club for Teens 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Bring some snacks or a lunch and join us for this month’s book discussion.  In celebration of Black History Month we’re choosing two related titles.  You can read one of the books or both, it’s up to you!

 The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon takes place in 1968 Chicago.  Fourteen-year-old Sam Childs is caught in the middle of a family fight.  Sam’s father works with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and believes in a nonviolent approach to seeking civil rights for African-Americans.  Sam’s older brother thinks Dr. King’s movement is taking too long to bring about change and chooses joins the Black Panther Party.

In Panther Baby Jamal Joseph shares his true-life experiences as one of the youngest members of the Black Panther Party.  Joseph joined the Panthers as a high schooler and eventually landed in prison because of his connection to the organization.  Years later, during another stint in prison Joseph earned two degrees and began writing plays.  Joseph eventually became the chair of Columbia University’s film division, a university he once encouraged students to burn to the ground.

Location: Teens – Main

Teen Quilting Workshop 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Blocks, Strips, Strings and Half Squares. Mary Lee Bendolph (2005). Cotton. 84″ x 81″ Courtesy of Matt Arnett. Photo by Pitkin Studio.

From the Underground Railroad to the Gee’s Bend Quilts, quilting is an art form that has deep roots in Black history and culture. Teens are invited to this hands-on quilting workshop to celebrate Black History Month. All materials provided. Participation is limited and registration is required.

Location: Teens – Main

Ready to test your knowledge of Black History while chowing down on pizza? Head to the Hill District on Saturday, February 23, 2013 for trivia and food!

Black History Teen Trivia Challenge 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Teens, test your Black History knowledge-Jeopardy style! Pizza for participants courtesy of Vocelli!

Location: Hill District

There are many more events planned for this month. Please check out the entire list!

lauren @ WoodsRun

Sticks and Stones (No Name Calling Week)

January 23 – 27 is No Name Calling Week , a national initiative started to combat bullying in schools and help prevent teen suicide.

Reading the stories of others offers insight, comfort and a much needed escape when faced with bullies, drama, and stress. The Library carries many titles that tell stories of bullying, harassment, survival, and triumph.

Check out the books below to see if one of them speaks to you! And always know there is a Teen Specialist at every CLP location if you need someone to talk to!

Have you ever felt different because of how you look? Age. Weight. Gender. Complexion? The Skin I’m In by Sharon Flake talks about the self-esteem issues black girls face when they are darker skinned. Maleeka is self conscious of her complexion until her whole life is changed when she meets a teacher with a rare skin condition. Check out this book if you want to hear about how Maleeka finds love with a boy named Caleb, overcomes her bully Charlese, and learns to love the skin she’s in!

Darell Mercer moves from Philadelphia to California. There he finds a new life, a new school, and a new bully. After spending months in fear, he is faced with a big decision. He can either keep running from his bully or find some way to fight back. To find out what happens to Darell check out The Bully by Paul Langan.

Thirteen-year-old Vladimir Tod really hates middle school. Bullies harass him, the principal is watching him closely, and the girl he likes prefers his best friend. And Vlad has a big secret: His mother was human, but his father was a vampire. With no idea of the extent of his powers, Vlad struggles daily with his blood cravings and growing fangs while trying to hide his identity. On top of everything he is being stalked by a vampire hunter! Check out The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer and read all five books in the series to find out what happens to Vlad!

Much like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Loser List tells the oddball story of Danny Shine. He is a geek who loves reading comics, trading comics, drawing comics, and buying comics. Find out how he loses a best friend, gets humiliated in front of the whole school… and somehow still manages to save the day!

In 50 Cent’s book Playground he uses his life experiences to tell the story of a 13 year old bully named Butterball. In the story, Butterball finds himself overweight and unhappy in a new school. One day, in an angry haze, he fills two socks with D batteries and heads to a fight at the playground. You will have to read to find out what happens to Butterball and how he finds redemption.

-Michael @ CLP Hazelwood

For a Good Cause

Knitting: I’m honestly surprised I haven’t blogged about this already. I had to go through the archives to make sure.

 I’m a big fan of knitting in general. I could go on and on about the ins and outs of it, but what I want to talk about specifically today is charity knitting.

 There are many people who need knitted things, whether to keep warm or “just” for comfort in a time of crisis. You could make hats for the homeless, socks for soldiers serving overseas, blankets for children in the foster care system, hats for premature babies…the possibilities are endless!

The Knit-A-Square project accepts donations of 8” knitted or crocheted squares that are then made into blankets and given to AIDS orphans in South Africa. They also accept handmade hats and other items of clothing.

Project Linus accepts donations of handmade blankets and afghans to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.

Socks for Soldiers provides members of the armed forces with socks and other items to help them keep warm and also to brighten their days.

You don’t even have to go through an established charity: you can always donate your handmade items to a local clothes closet or homeless shelter.

Don’t know how to knit? No problem! The library has lots of resources to help you learn in no time.  Go here for how-to-knit books available in our catalog and here for CLP’s knitting resource list.

Not only that, but there are knitting groups that meet at the Main, Carrick, and Woods Run branches. Check them out!]

Want to knit for charity, but not sure what to make? For more free knitting patterns that you will know what to do with, check out Knitting Pattern Central.

~Eva, CLP-Allegheny

Rozlynn’s Review

Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

The book locomotion is about a boy named Lonnie Collins Motion. He is a fifth  grader in New  York.

His teacher tells him  to write a book  about his self in poetry form. Some of the stuff he writes about is his sister Lili and  how they were separated. They were separated because their parents  died in house fire. Now Locomotion lives with a lady named Ms. Edna. She is very nice person to Locomotion. TO FIND OUT MORE READ TO FIND OUT!!!!!! What’s next????

Review by Rozlynn

**The above reviews was written by Rozlynn as part of the Teen Fine Alternative Program.  If you’re interested in working off fines owed on CLP materials and are between the ages of 12-18, please contact your local CLP location.**

CLP Quick Flix – Contest Deadline Extended!

Did you totally mean to enter the CLP Quick Flix Teen Video Contest but time got away from you?  Did you film some stuff, but not get around to editing it?  Well, I have good news for you: we extended the deadline!  The new deadline is Friday, August 8th…but if you get it in by the end of the weekend, you’ll probably be okay.

If you already entered and are wondering who won, you’re going to have to wait a little longer: winners will be announced at the CLP Quick Flix Film Screening and Award Ceremony on Saturday, August 30th from 3-5pm at CLP – Main, Teen.

I’m looking forward to seeing your flix!

Karen

Gingerbread

“Gingerbread“ by Rachel Cohn is a book that has been called “unforgettable”, “NOT just another teen novel”, and was said to be great because ” Likeable Cyd will seem to like one of your buds.”

        What “Gingerbread” is about is a teenage girl that was at fancy boarding school in New England, but got kicked out, and sent back to her house with her mom, step-dad , Sid, and Nancy in San Francisco. They ALL drive her crazy, but lucky for her she had her little doll named Gingerbread that she’s had since she was a little girl.  Soon, Cyd got to out of control with rebelliousness,  and grounding didn’t even make her stop. So, her mom decided to let Cyd go to New York and meet her real father for the whole summer. This was a dream come true for Cyd!!! It isn’t what Cyd expects of them, and she isn’t what they thought of her either!

        It is really, and truly a great book, the brilliant narrative of the story will keep you reading! It was rewarded “Best Book of the Year selection by Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Barnes & Noble and
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books”. It was also said to be the best book since `76!

-CLP, Woods Run – Brittney, Teen Volunteer

National TV Turnoff Week

Tommorrow is the last day of national tv turnoff week.

Why turnoff?

According to www.screentime.org:

On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours).
Forty percent of Americans frequently or always watch television during dinner.
As US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, “We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history…This week is about saving lives.”

So, if you’re just finding out about this now it’s not too late to turn off. Why not make next week your own personal tv turnoff week?

Turn off your computer.  Turn off your tv and go outside! It’s beautiful out!

~Amy

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Woods Run