Teens 4 Change: Making a Difference in Pittsburgh

Last Tuesday, I was happy to attend a celebration held right in my library for a group of teens who have been working on quite the extracurricular activity for the past 7 months.  The 10 teens make up the committee of Teens 4 Change.  Teens 4 Change is a program put on by the Three [...]

Local Teen Origami Superstar Scott Stern

The first time I tried origami was in March at our Teen Summer Reading training at the spacious Penn Hills Library. I only made a peace crane, but it was still challenging.  Origami requires some seriously tricky creativity, all in the name of beauty. I respect things that are complicated and ultimately impractical, so I [...]

New Year, New Inspiration

Most of us have resolutions for the New Year, and they can be pretty grim, and involve sticking to some sort of diet or exercise plan, or achieving some goal that will require time and effort.  These can all be well-intentioned and “good for you”, but I urge you to consider a resolution that just [...]

That’s Not Cool

There has been some excellent coverage here on the blog about the recent, tragic spate of suicides caused by bullying.  If you haven’t read them yet, you should!: Make it Better – a message to everyone Think About It What I’d like to call your attention to today is a website where you can catalog [...]

Social Networking for You

We all know about Facebook and MySpace.  But have you heard about Smart Girls at the Party or iTwixie, or Nerdfighters?  Smart Girls at the Party was partially created by Amy Poehler.  Yes, the same actress and comedian who stars in Parks and Recreation  on NBC and was a cast member on Saturday Night Live: [...]

BRICKS

Charissa Hamilton-Gribenas is a Pittsburgher who lost her husband to Hodgkins Lymphoma.  He was only 31, and she realized that there was a need for real stories and support for young adults fighting cancer.  With the help of the Sprout Fund, she was able to publish a book of 15 stories about young adults and [...]

Let Your Voice be Heard about Libraries

As the teen and children’s  librarian in one of the libraries that  almost closed last year, I know very well the power of the collective voice. Last year, people held rallies, sold lemonade or keys, wrote letters and came to meetings to prevent my library and three others from being deep-sixed. But.. It’s not over. [...]

Is Feminism Dead? Find Out with the Guerilla Girls @ CAPA Friday Night!

Do you consider feminism a dirty word? If not, then you may know The Guerrilla Girls, authors of books like The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art and Bitches, Bimbos, and Ballbreakers: The Guerrilla Girls’ Illustrated Guide to Female Stereotypes. Whether you know them or don’t, they’ll be at PITTSBURGH CAPA, [...]

Be Counted!

  Did you know that only 67% of Pittsburgh’s population was counted in the last census? Do you know what that means? Let’s put it differently: What would it mean if you brought home an exam with a grade of 67%? When you or your parents fill out a census form, you’re making a statement [...]

PEACEMAKERS in Pittsburgh

Every day, violence on the streets and in school affects the lives of more and more Pittsburgh teens. Like in books such as Sharon Flake’s Bang!, Ron Koertge’s The Brimstone Journals, Todd Strasser’s Give a Boy a Gun, Matt Whyman’s Boy Kills Man, Walter Dean Myers’s Autobiography of My Dead Brother, or Paul Volponi’s Rooftop, [...]