Teen Crafternoons

Come get your craft on this month! 

We have two crafternoons planned, and the first event takes place this Thursday, 11/15 from 3-4:30 pm in the Children's Activity Room. We'll be decorating glass candle holders.

image via http://raspberryballoon.blogspot.com/2012/05/whimsical-votive-holders.html

This event is FREE and snacks and supplies will be provided (thanks to the Friends of the Newburyport Public Library)!

Hope to see you there!
 

Creepy Crafts: Ghostwriter

Hey teens and tweens! Don't forget: Today is our first Creepy Craft event! Stop by the Children's Activity Room between 3 and 4 pm to check out this totally FREE event.

We've got something both disgusting and delightful planned....we'll be making severed finger pens!

Banned Books Week

Happy Banned Books Week!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week, the national book community’s celebration of the freedom to read. Every year, tons of books get challenged by people for a variety of reasons. Book challengers want certain books removed from library shelves and school readings lists because they feel the books are inappropriate in some way. 

The American Library Association acknowledges that books usually are challenged with the best intentions—to protect others (usually children and teens) from difficult ideas and information. However, ALA believes that all people should have the freedom to decide for themselves what they should and should not read, so every year during Banned Books Week, librarians, authors, and booksellers go out of their way to encourage folks to read whatever they want! 

Books that get challenged tend to be some of the most interesting books out there! The list of the most frequently challenged books of the last year includes awesomely amazing books like The Hunger Games, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Celebrate Banned Books Week and your freedom to read by checking out a banned book, and participating in our Banned Books Week programs for teens:

• Enter our Banned Books Week raffle by taking the quiz located at the Teen Loft book display case. You could win a fabulous prize!

• Come to our Scandalous Cinema film screenings. We're showing 2 movies based on banned books:
• Thursday, Oct. 4 / 12:00-3:30 pm : Stop by after your half day of school for pizza and a movie. We'll be showing a classic movie about a boy wizard with a lightning scar...
• Friday, Oct. 5 / 6:00-8:00 pm : Check out our teens only, after hours movie event! We'll be showing a hilarious movie starring Emma Stone, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. 

Did I mention that these events are entirely FREE? Well, it's true. Free movies, free food, free books! Support Banned Books Week, stick it to the man and have an awesome time!

Teen Advisory Board

The first meeting of the Teen Advisory Board has finally been scheduled! We will be meeting on Friday, October 12 from 3-4 pm in the Children's Activity Room.

All interested teens in middle school and high school are welcome to attend!

We want YOU to help us plan teen programs, tell us what stuff to buy for the Teen Loft, and help out with children's programs.

It's a great opportunity to meet people, earn service hours, and make a difference in your community.

If you'd like to help out but you aren't in middle school yet, let me know! We are also forming a Tween Advisory Board for 4th-6th graders. If you'd like more info, stop by the reference desk, or give me a call at 978-465-4428. Ask for Jessica, the Teen Librarian.

Looking forward to meeting you all!

Half Day Craft Day

Got any afternoon plans on your half day of school this Thursday, September 20? Head to the library for our Altered T-Shirt program. Drop in between noon and 1 pm, or later between 3 and 4 pm--whatever floats your boat!

We'll be jazzing up plain t-shirts with fabric paint and bleach pens, having snacks, and being awesome. Stop by!

(via http://sogeekchic.com/post/9858415307/ijusthadtosharewithsomeone-love-this-idea-this)

 

 

All teens are welcome! We'll be downstairs in the Children's Activity Room.

Back to School Craft Program

Heads up: Be sure to stop by after school next Monday, September 10, between 3 and 4 pm for our Back to School Craft program!

We'll be making locker magnets, having snacks and generally being awesome. Check it out!

Labor Day

Hey gang, FYI: The Newburyport Public Library will be closed Saturday, Sunday and Monday for Labor Day. 

When we open back up on Tuesday, September 4th, the Teen Loft will be back up and running, the computers will be ready to go, and all the construction should be finished. Yay!

Stop in today to pick up something to read or watch over the weekend. And if you haven't done your summer reading yet, we've still got plenty of your required books left.

Have an awesome last couple days of summer break!

Construction update

Things are a little crazy this week at NPL! We're getting new carpet on the second floor so we've had to make some changes this week.

1. There are no public computers available this week. I know it's a bummer but it's only for the week. If you need to use a computer or printer you can go to a nearby MVLC library such as Amesbury, Salisbury, Rowley, Newbury or Haverhill. Give us a call for directions or to check on hours at 978-465-4428).

2. There is no public access to the Teen Loft. However, staff members will be able to grab books for you if you need them!

3. Summer Reading books are now stored in the Children's Room on the 1st Floor.

4. To look up books or make requests, please go to the 3rd floor reference desk.

Thanks for your patience during this week of chaos!

New books!

We just got a new order of books for the Teen Loft! Here's a sneak peek at the goods:

* The Forsaken by Lisa M. Strasse

 After the formation of the United Northern Alliance--a merger of Canada, the United States, and Mexico into one nation--sixteen-year-old Alenna is sent to an desolate prison island for teenagers believed to be predisposed to violence.
 
*Guitar Notes by Mary Amato

Tripp, who plays guitar only for himself, and Lyla, a cellist whose talent has already made her famous but not happy, form an unlikely friendship when they are forced to share a practice room at their high school.

*The Vindico by Wesley King

When supervillains of the Vindico realize they are getting too old to fight the League of Heroes, they kidnap and begin training five teens, but James, Lana, Hayden, Emily, and Sam will not become the next generation of evil without a fight.

Hello!

Welcome to the brand spanking new Teen Loft blog!

This will be a space for me to keep you posted on upcoming events here at the library, new teen books and websites, and other stuff that might be of interest.

Is there anything in particular you'd like to see here? Book reviews? Polls? Links? Are you interested in contributing anything? Let me know in the comments!