Sherlock Holmes and Human Skulls

Are you a fan of BBC’s Sherlock? Interested in the science behind detection? Join the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Beechview on Thursday, February 20 from 5:00 to 7:30 PM for an exploration in real life forensic science with a hands on diagnoses of human skulls! Plus, stick around afterwards for a screening from the third season of Sherlock.  Presented by Barbara Paul, a Mobile Science Lab Education Facilitator from the University of Pittsburgh.

Contact the Beechview Library at 412-563-2900 for more details.

What the heck is going on?

Boredom happens.  Luckily, there’s a relatively painless (and FREE!) antidote located right in your neighborhood… the Library! Whenever you feel the symptoms of boredom setting in – e.g. an uncontrollable urge to don purple pants, paint yourself green and have a massive freak-out to smash up the endless nothingness and monotony that’s hijacked life – walk, run, or jet pack to the Library ‘cos there’s probably something cool going on.

Here’s a small taste of the awesomeness going down throughout the city this week (I recommend throwing on some shades now ‘cos this stuff is red hot):

Tuesday, May 28th

CLP Brookline

Teen Lounge: Marshmallow Zombie Attack

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

 
CLP Carrick

Teen Thing:  DIY Puff Paint with Shaving Cream + Chairpocalypse story development

4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

 
CLP East Liberty

Movie Nite!

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

 
CLP Main (Oakland)

CLP Teen Gay Straight Alliance: Bi-monthly Meeting

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

 
Wednesday, May 29th

CLP West End

Teen Lounge: String, Hammer & Nail Art! : Loud and awesome

4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

 
Thursday, May 30th

CLP Beechview

Teen Advisory Council Meeting

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

 
Friday, May 31st

CLP Allegheny

After School Gaming (Xbox 360-Kinect, PS3 and Wii)

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM

 
CLP Main (Oakland)

Bad Movie Fridays!

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 
The nifty EVENTS slider on the Teen page has got you covered with all the action going on all the time.  You can always stop in and check with your local Teen Librarian to see what’s going down too.  And remember to do your part in the fight against boredom – bring all your friends!

 
Boredom Slayers:

                

Jon : Carrick

Scripts? Who needs scripts? Hone your performance skills at the Beechview Teen Improv!

If the idea of performing off-the-cuff in front of a group of your peers sends your mind into a tailspin, it’s okay! We have books about that.

Like comedy? Like acting? Do you ever watch Saturday Night Live and think, “I could do that”?

If you dream of being the next Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig, or Jay Pharaoh–or if you’re just looking for a fun thing to do that will make you way more entertaining at parties–you should definitely check out the Beechview Teen Improv.

CLP – Beechview will supply the venue, as well as different interactive games and activities that will get your mind into an improvisational mood. All you need to supply is yourself, your wit, and your willingness to look a little silly.

This fun event will be happening from 3:30 – 5:00 PM this Friday, May 24th. Hopefully, you’ll be happening along with it! For more information, call 412.563.2900 or e-mail beechview@carnegielibrary.org.

~Joseph
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main

Spring Break!

It’s time for Spring Break!  Time to put the text books away for a few days and have some fun!

•  Take a Hike

There are numerous hiking trails in the Pittsburgh area.  Take a look at the trail map before you start out.  If you take the same trail over a long period of time, you will be able to take note of the seasonal changes.  To enchance your hiking experience, you may want to keep a nature journal.  Don’t forget to take a camera with you.

Emerald View Park

Here are some hiking trails to consider:

Emerald View Park–Mt. Washington

Frick Park–East End

Riverview Park–North Side

Three Rivers Heritage Trail System–The River Front trails include the North Shore Trail  the South Side Trail the Eliza Furnace Trail and the Pittsburgh Riverwalk.

• Create Something

Art Club, Teens–Main.  Wednesday, March 27, 2013 @ 3:00 PM, Get creative with Peeps Brand marshmallow chicks.

Teen Lounge–CLP Brookline.  Make a Monster Bookmarks on Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 3:30 PM.  We’ll be making monster bookmarks that both eat the page and keep your place at the same time.

Teen Thing–CLP Carrick.  Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @4:30 PM.  Carrick Library’s the place to be every Tuesday afternoon,  if you’re into cool art projects, epic games, music, candy and just chilling out.

Teen Art Studio–CLP Beechview.  Saturday April 6, 2013 @ 1:00 PM.  If you’re an aspiring artist, this is a pleace to work on your projects, enjoy access to art materials, meet other young artists and showcase your creations.

• Watch a Movie

The Croods looks to be a fun movie choice for spring break.  If you are looking for free movies, the library has lots of choices for you.  You can borrow up to 5 DVDs with your library card.  You may need to reserve new releases.  The library also offers a lot of free movie programs especially for teens.  Some upcoming movie programs include:

Time Time:  Movie Time–CLP East Liberty.  Tuesday, March 26, 2013 @ 4:00 PM.  Joins us for a movie and fresh popcorn.

Teen Movie Night–CLP Beechview.  Thursday, March 28, 2013 @ 4:30 PM.  Watch new movies on our big screen.  Snacks are available.

Bad Movie Fridays.  Teens-Main. Friday, March 29, 2013 @ 3:00 PM.  Some movies are so bad, they’re good.  Join us for the best of the worst.  We’ll be celebrating Teen Tech Week all month by viewing films featuring once cutting edge, but now old school technology.

~Marian

CLP–Mt. Washington

Enjoy your spring break and perhaps the last snowy days of the season.  It’s the perfect weather for visiting your library!

Call Carson Daly! It’s Time to Kick Off the Library’s Own “TRL”

Tired of the same old book discussion? Join the crowd–the crowd at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Teen Reading Lounge events, that is!

Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Teen Reading Lounge is a way to talk about books while learning fun new skills, engaging all parts of your brain while getting you active in the PA Core Curriculum standards your parents & teachers are probably be talking about.

The following Teen Reading Lounge events are currently scheduled. Make sure you call one of the numbers above and place a VOTE for your #1 way to rock literacy. And keep checking our events page for TRL at our Allegheny, Beechview, Brookline, Carrick, and Hazelwood locations:

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TRL (Teen Reading Lounge) Kickoff Party!
Monday, February 18, 2013
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has been chosen to sponsor PA Humanities Council Teen Reading Lounge, an interactive book club designed exclusively for teens! CLP-Brookline will be holding a kickoff party on Monday, Feb.18 at 3:30 PM to introduce you to this amped up book club, which includes: free books, food, parties, creative activities and plenty of teen opinion on what makes these books good or bad. For 3 months we’ll focus on COMIC BOOKS and GRAPHIC NOVELS.

Space is limited, so be sure to register by calling 412-561-1003 or complete online registration form. When registering, please commit to be an active participant, with intent to attend the majority of the sessions. Participation is reserved for teens age 12-18.

TRL Sessions will be held Mondays bi-monthly:

February 18th Kickoff Party
March 4th
March 18th
April 8th
April 22nd
May 6th
May 20th Final Party!

Event web site: http://www.facebook.com/events/584593388221702/
Location:
Brookline
708-710 Brookline Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15226

Contact:
Georgiana Deming
412-561-1003
demingg@carnegielibary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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Teen Reading Lounge – Kick Off Party
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Help us kick off this exciting, new, non-traditional book club featuring three graphic novels. Teens who sign up will receive copies of the books to take home.
Meet back at the Library two evenings a month with other North Side teens for a discussion session and a hands-on exploration of the book’s themes. This
special series is supported by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and will run from February through May. Contact the Library for more details.
Event fee: Free
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Location:
Allegheny
1230 Federal Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Contact:
Tim Yates
412-237-1890
yatest@carnegielibrary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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Teen Reading Lounge Kick-Off Party
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

It’s the official TRL Kick-Off Party to celebrate the start of our new, non-traditional teen book club! Get your FREE copy of the program’s first graphic novel: Coraline, adapted from Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name. Eat food, meet the other TRL readers and learn about the awesome workshops and activites that are happening with TRL in the weeks to come!

NOTE: This is an exclusive AFTER HOURS library event, which means you must register with J.J., the Teen Specialist at CLP-Beechview, to get on the TRL guest list!
Event fee: Free
Location:
Beechview
1910 Broadway Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Contact:
J.J. Lendl
412-563-2900
lendlj@carnegielibrary.org

Registration is required for this event.

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~Joseph
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Main

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

Gamers are Readers Too

So, how many of you got new video games over the holidays? And how many of you have spent every waking minute absorbed in these games? I’m not even a gamer, but since Christmas morning, I have spent all of my non-eating, non-sleeping, and non-working time playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (a super amazing game, by the way).  Apparently, I have a husband (who is lost in his own world of Saint’s Row: the Third)… and animals… but I don’t think I’ve seen any of them for at least 3 days. So, I decided yesterday that I wanted to put down the controller and immerse myself in a good book; one that would tear me away from my new game (for a little while, at least).

I picked up Ready Player One by Ernest Cline– and though I haven’t finished it yet, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite books of the year. It is the best of both worlds, great literary fiction and video games. If you’re at all familiar with 80’s culture or share a deep affinity for John Hughes, as I do, you will love this book. It takes place in the not-too-distant future when the world is ravaged by an energy crisis, constant war, and where everyone just yearns to step out of reality and into OASIS. OASIS is an open-source virtual reality that offers the bonds of friendship, school, entertainment, and sometimes even some money (comforts that don’t exist in the bleak reality of 2044). Wade Watts (named so because all great superheroes have alliterative names), eighteen and overweight, spends all of his time in his OASIS avatar and is a self-proclaimed expert on all things James Halliday (OASIS’s creator). When Halliday dies, he leaves a message to the users of OASIS telling them that he has buried 3 secret keys within the worlds of OASIS and only the most knowledgeable will be able to find them. Whoever finds these keys will inherit his fortune of $240 billion. Wade, and a couple million other people, are on the hunt for these keys, and a better life.

This got me looking into other video-game themed reads, of which there are quite a few. Here are some of the ones that I thought looked fairly intriguing.

     

So, if your eyes are going blurry, your thumbs are cramping, and your Xbox controller is slowly melting away from overuse, pick up Ready Player One or any other of these great books about gaming.  Also, check out Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Teen Services website for their Get Your Game On booklist– which features even more titles to keep the gamer in you reading.

Happy New Year!

-Julie, CLP Beechview

Facebook News and Birthdays

So, today’s blog post is a two-parter. One has nothing to do with the other– but I was equally interested in both, so I thought I’d share both.

Part 1:
Facebook is all about sharing information. For the most part, we share it about ourselves. What we’re doing– where we’re going– who we’re with, etc. Most of the time, we end up oversharing. I know that no one cares if I’m watching American Horror Story or cooking a pot roast for dinner– yet I still find myself throwing up pointless status updates.  Nevertheless, Facebook has become a channel for people to also share stuff that really interests or touches them.

Whether it is informational, funny, poignant, etc., the Facebook news feed has become one of my go-to sources of information. Where did I first find out Michael Jackson had died? Facebook. That the shaking I just felt was an earthquake? Facebook.  Most recently, I first heard about the Penn State scandal from where? Oh, that’s right, Facebook.

Facebook has recognized how influential it has become in sharing information by releasing its list of top 40 “stories” that were shared on Facebook in 2011. The most popular news stories include posts that we would expect to see, such as satellite images from Japan after the earthquake and tsunami, outrage over the Facebook redesign, and Steve Jobs’ death. But, the list also contains some obscure stories that I’ve never seen before, like one involving a giant crocodile and the most typical face on the planet.

Here is the full list, and I’ve added some of the videos from the list to this post just because I think they’re awesome.

 

Did you happen to post any of these stories on your Facebook page this year?

Part 2
Today is my birthday! In honor of that, I wanted to share this neat page I just found called Birthday Calculator. You put in the day, month, and year of your birth and it brings up all kinds of cool information that I bet you didn’t know before– such as, did you know that I share my birthday with Britney Spears (I actually knew that…), Lucy Liu, and Gianni Versace? Also, that my age is the equivalent of a dog that is 3.71624266144814 years old– and my lucky day is Thursday! Check out Birthday Calendar and see what you find.

Have a great weekend everyone!

-Julie, CLP Beechview

Books make the world better

Over the past week, the staff here at Beechview has been slaving away preparing for our Customer Appreciate Day and Book Sale. We take in and shelter old books that people no longer want and hopefully, by the end of a few weeks, will have sent them on their way to a new home.  What’s that you’re asking? Why bother buying books when you can borrow them for free from your local Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh? Sure, I can see your point. But, maybe every once in a while, a book comes along that is so meaningful and special to you that you simply must own it. Or perhaps you enjoy having your own personal library at home, like I do. Either way, the library is a great place to buy books. Not only are you getting books with character– ones that have been read and loved by who knows how many people before you– but you are also supporting your library!

This brings me to another successful used book venture, Better World Books. Better World Books was created by a few Notre Dame grads and has grown into a company that has raised over $10.3 million for literacy and libraries. Now, Better World Books does make a profit, don’t let them fool you. But they still actually make an effort–one that is greater than the typical efforts of “corporate america”– to donate to charity. According to their website, for every book you buy from them, they donate one to a person in an impoverished country. Since we are all book lovers and enjoy both giving and receiving books, keep this company in mind during your holiday shopping. And for all of you in college or going to college soon, they sell textbooks at not too horrible prices! Anyway, it’s a pretty cool concept and I hope they are genuinely following through with it. Here is a breakdown of their global impact, in case you’re interested.

 In addition to their support of literacy, BWB has diverted 26,000 tons of books from landfills—they have pledged to NEVER throw a book out. They have re-used or recycled 70 million pounds of books (which comes out to around 57 million books!) and have reclaimed and recycled more than 720,000 pounds of metal shelving from libraries.

Since BWB makes an effort to make their environmental footprint smaller, we probably should as well. Did you know?…

• Only two human-made structures on Earth are large enough to be seen from outer space: the Great Wall of China and the Fresh Kills landfill, located on the western shore of Staten Island!
• Every year we fill enough garbage trucks to form a line that would stretch from the earth, halfway to the moon.
• An average child will use between 8,000 -10,000 disposable diapers ($2,000 worth) before being potty trained.

(Scary facts courtesy of justilivegreener.com)

Check out these books to learn more about what you can do to help:

                                

-Julie, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Beechview

The Sexy Kitten Shakedown: Happy Halloween

Halloween was originally a Celtic (Druid) holiday, called Samhain (pronounced Sow-in), celebrated more than 2,000 years ago. It was a festival to celebrate the death of the earth, taking place at the end of summer, and its eventual rebirth, in spring. The Celts celebrated by creating huge bonfires, which were said to discourage the sun from disappearing, as well as burning crops and performing animal sacrifices. The Druids also believed that the veil between the worlds was at its thinnest on this day, leading to more accurate divinations, and to more ghosts and spirits roaming the countryside.  For the latter reason, the Druids dressed in costume to prevent being possessed by any of these meandering spirits. By dressing as ghosts, witches, goblins, as well as sporting animal skins and heads, they were said to fool the spirits into believing they were already one of them.

This celebration has persevered through the millennia. In the 19^th century, Halloween was a day for skullduggery, mischief-making, and general scariness. Eventually, in the early to mid-20^th century, Halloween evolved into a community oriented event (ala trick-or-treating). The country started seeing more block parties and community events associated with this holiday. It became a day for children, teens,  and adults to celebrate youthfulness and fun (Halloween party at the library, anyone?).

Which brings me to my next point, or not…really, but I still need to ask– where did the sexy kitten come from?  Today’s Halloween has this uncanny knack for turning things that aren’t typically attractive into something suggestive. For example, pirates. What is sexy about a group of people who lived on a ship, didn’t bathe regularly, surely didn’t brush their teeth (if they had any) and habitually came down with bouts of scurvy?—not much.  Then why does nearly every costume for women, and even men now, turn into sexy witch, sexy devil, sexy gangster, sexy nun (wait, nun? NUN?!?).

One of the best things about Halloween is the chance to use your creativity to its max! So put away the ears, tail, and eyeliner whiskers, because there are tons of really groovy costumes out there that just require some time and TLC.  Here are a few of my personal favs (click on then for DIY instructions).

                    

Of course this post wouldn’t be complete without me telling you how awesome and gratifying it is, to me as a librarian, when people go dressed as their favorite literary character. If you’re finally sick of dressing like Edward Cullen or Hermione Granger, check out this awesome article (thanks Joseph!) which tells you how to channel your inner Clay (from 13 Reasons Why) or Katniss Everdeen: Girl on Fire. If none of these grab your attention, try one of the books below that can be found at or ordered to your local Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh!

                        

Happy Hauntings– Julie, CLP Beechview