Saturday, April 2, 2011

Recent Returns

The Stuff of Life: A Graphic Guide to Genetics and DNA by Mark Schultz -- a fun little tale about Bloort, an alien scientist, who is researching the genetics of life on earth in the hopes of finding a solution to his planet's "little genetic disorder". As he lays out his discoveries to King Floorsh 727, you'll learn all about DNA, the genetic code, and the origin and development of life on earth. Fun! 4 circs for this dandy graphic novel.

Rise of the Darklings: The Invisible Order, book One, by Paul Crilley - When Emily, an orphan in Victorian London, who struggles to support herself and her little brother, discovers that she can see into the Faery realm, her whole life changes. For soon, the Invisible Order learns of her ability, and they will do almost anything to gain control of her power. But who should Emily trust? The Seelie who asks her aid, the Order, who at least are human, or the Unseelie who want what they claim was stolen? 1 circ for a brand new book.

Walk Across the Sea by Susan Fletcher -- In 19th Century California, the chinese are seen by the local whites as a threat, to their jobs, and their way of life. but when Eliza first meets Wah Chung, he rescues her from a treacherous wave. When the townsfolk band together to expel the "heathens", Eliza must decide whether to agree with her father and the other townspeople, or make an unpopular decision to do what she knows is right. A good look at an important historical period. 7 cirs.

Words in the dust by Trent Reedy -- Zulaikha is called "donkeyface" by the boys of her village, because of her cleft lip. But when she writes the words she has learned, she knows that she can live up to the meaning of her name, "a brilliant beauty". Then the American soldiers tell her they can help her get surgery that will repair her lip; and a woman named Meena offers to teach her to read. Can Zulaikha grasp her chance for change? Or will the realities of life in an Afghan village ruin her dreams? Based on a true story. 0 circs for this book (which came up just this week).

Kampung Boy by Lat -- the life story, in graphic novel format, of a Malaysian boy growing up on a rubber plantation. From the day of his birth, when his father greeted him with great pride, to the day he departs home to attend a far away school... a wonderful look at a boy's years growing up, learning about life and family and religion and the world. 4 circs.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Nonfiction:
America's Recession by Corona Brezina -- Roots of the recession -- Addressing the crisis -- Economic effects of the recession -- Living through the recession -- The path to economic recovery.
Robotics Careers: Preparing for the Future by Simone Payment -- Shows the reader how to transform an interest in robotics into a life-long pursuit. Four major robotics careers are covered: robotics researcher, computer scientist, robotics engineer, and robotics technician.
How to Build a Prize-winning Robot by Joel Chaffee -- Robotics competitions are among the most competitive school extracurricular activities around, and the loyal and enthusiastic hobbyists take each competition to a new level of excitement. This book explains how to build a competitive robot, and it encourages readers to take a try at this thrilling pastime.
Robots Through History by Jeri Freedman -- Shows the fascinating development of robots through the ages. Readers will learn about the invention of the earliest robot-like mechanical devices, the advent of electronics, the first instances of robot automation, and the development of artificial intelligence.


Fiction:
Recovery Road by Blake Nelson -- While she is in a rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol abuse, seventeen-year-old Maddie meets Stewart, who is also in treatment, and they begin a relationship, which they try to maintain after they both get out.
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon -- Chronicles of Nick #2 -- He might have survived the zombie invasion, but Nick Gautier is anywhere but in the clear. Now, with several entities pulling him in all directions, Nick must discover how to raise the dead in less than a week, otherwise he will meet his own demise.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys -- In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note.
Chime by Franny Billingsley -- In the early twentieth century in Swampsea, seventeen-year-old Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around their town, feels responsible for her twin sister's horrible injury until a young man enters their lives and exposes secrets that even Briony does not know about.

Graphic Novels:
Shonen Jump for May 2011 -- we have not yet received the previous two issues, but we're working to get them replaced. Sorry!

New Books

Nonfiction:
America's Recession by Corona Brezina -- Roots of the recession -- Addressing the crisis -- Economic effects of the recession -- Living through the recession -- The path to economic recovery.
Robotics Careers: Preparing for the Future by Simone Payment -- Shows the reader how to transform an interest in robotics into a life-long pursuit. Four major robotics careers are covered: robotics researcher, computer scientist, robotics engineer, and robotics technician.
How to Build a Prize-winning Robot by Joel Chaffee -- Robotics competitions are among the most competitive school extracurricular activities around, and the loyal and enthusiastic hobbyists take each competition to a new level of excitement. This book explains how to build a competitive robot, and it encourages readers to take a try at this thrilling pastime.
Robots Through History by Jeri Freedman -- Shows the fascinating development of robots through the ages. Readers will learn about the invention of the earliest robot-like mechanical devices, the advent of electronics, the first instances of robot automation, and the development of artificial intelligence.


Fiction:
Recovery Road by Blake Nelson -- While she is in a rehabilitation facility for drug and alcohol abuse, seventeen-year-old Maddie meets Stewart, who is also in treatment, and they begin a relationship, which they try to maintain after they both get out.
Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon -- Chronicles of Nick #2 -- He might have survived the zombie invasion, but Nick Gautier is anywhere but in the clear. Now, with several entities pulling him in all directions, Nick must discover how to raise the dead in less than a week, otherwise he will meet his own demise.
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys -- In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are pulled from their Lithuanian home by Soviet guards and sent to Siberia, where her father is sentenced to death in a prison camp while she fights for her life, vowing to honor her family and the thousands like hers by burying her story in a jar on Lithuanian soil. Based on the author's family, includes a historical note.
Chime by Franny Billingsley -- In the early twentieth century in Swampsea, seventeen-year-old Briony, who can see the spirits that haunt the marshes around their town, feels responsible for her twin sister's horrible injury until a young man enters their lives and exposes secrets that even Briony does not know about.

Graphic Novels:
Shonen Jump for May 2011 -- we have not yet received the previous two issues, but we're working to get them replaced. Sorry!

Friday, December 4, 2009

videos

Now, while I don't do a lot with photos, I love Youtube. I would LOVE to make a video about teens in the library!

I also do origami for pleasure and as part of my job as the "craftsy librarian". In fact, I'm going to make some snowflakes, later today, using this video as my instructions/

Using Photo hosting sites, posting images to the Blog


I'm very familiar with Flickr and Picasa, using them fairly extensively at home, but have not used them much for the library. I created this little "avatar" for myself that goes on our Teen Blog.

I do wish I posted more pics of teen events. I know they're popular when I do post; my real problem is that pictures don't fascinate me... I'm a textual person. I have to remind myself of the "worth a thousand words" every so often.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Delicious

I had looked at, and briefly used, delicious, years ago, but I never put it to real use. I'm not sure why. I like having my bookmarks available multiple places, as I do use several different computers at home and at work, but I am sort of afraid to mix the two. My work interests and my personal interests are so different that they don't overlap a whole lot...

Anyway, I'll give delicious another go-round, and try to tap more into the social aspects of it.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Method 4 - RSS

I've been using blogger as my RSS reader for a couple of years now. I have a real fondness for RSS. It makes keeping up to date so much simpler.

What I really need to do is figure out a way to add an RSS feed link to my teenscene weblog. I keep meaning to make the time to do it, but haven't yet. Anyone know how hard this is to do?

Some of my favorite feeds? LISnews, Unshelved, Readergirlz. The library-related ones, anyway. I also read a lot of science and skeptic's site feeds, but that's personal interest...

Oops, time to open the building... gotta go!