The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg

Looking for a great graphic novel about friendship and radical art? Try the Plain Janes! Listen to a booktalk here:


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Date announced for CLP Teen Awards

December 14th, 2007.
5:30-7:30 pm.

Drop by for the coolest library awards ceremony in town.


Click Here to take survey

Minutes from Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance - Saturday, August 18,2007

Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance Saturday, August 18,2007

Andy Warhol Museum

Event: GLBTQ Night
When: Friday, September 14, 2007 (6:00 p.m.)
Where: 117 Sandusky St Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (412) 237-8310

What we’ll be doing:
· Rainbow bracelets
· GLBTQ buttons
· Showing short video on GLBTQ teen books & movies

Podcasting Ideas

GLBTQ Hotspots (hang outs)
GLCC Tour
Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance Meeting

GLBTQ History Month

When: October (February in the UK)

What we’ll be doing:
Buttons of well-known GLBTQ people (both past & present), and Gay pride!
Posters & Flyers – of GLBTQ people (both past & present). Including small bullet points of their general contributions, and orientation.

Here is a tiny sample list of GLBTQ People: (more coming!)
Deborah Wilson (MAD Tv)
Lance Bass (Musician)
Glen Burk (Professional baseball player)
Ms. Jay (America’s Next Top Model)
Tyra Banks (Model, Tv host)
Jeffery Star (Transgender singer and performer)
John Waters (Movie director)
Elton John (Musician)
Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady)
Frieda Kahlo (Artist)
Alexander the Great (Macedonian ruler)



Publications:
Monthly compilation of interviews with local GLBTQ people

Miscellaneous:

Books recommended (so far) for Andy Warhol film:
Hello, Groin
The Geography Club Series
Rainbow Boys Series
The Center of the World (Die Mitte Der Welt)
Luna
Hard Love
The Full Spectrum
GLBTQ* Survival Guide for Queer & Questioning Teens

Movies recommended (so far) for Andy Warhol film:
But, I’m a Cheerleader
D.E.B.S.
Adam & Steve
Fire
Kinky Boots
Brokeback Mountain
To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything

World Map
Color in every country/state that has legalized Same Sex Marriage.

Next Meeting: Saturday, September 1st, 2007 (2:00 p.m.) @ Kiva Han Cafe

First Annual CLP Teen Awards

We're having our first ever CLP Teen Awards in 2007. You can now enter your nominations in the following categories:


1. Teen Fiction Book
2. Teen Non-Fiction Book
3. Manga or Manga Series
4. Graphic Novel or Graphic Novel Series
5. Music CD
6. Video Game*


Enter your nominations now. Happy Voting!

Click Here to take survey


You have until the end of September to nominate titles. Our next round of voting will feature the top results in every category. Then, we'll reveal the winners at an Awards party in December. We'll be releasing the date soon!

*Just added!

Eli Reviews Stan Lee’s Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book 2

Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Wonderwoman, The Flash, Robin, and Shazam are all your favorite DC heroes. Now put them in the hands of the greatest comic book dude in the world and you’ve got yourself one SSSSSSUUUUUUUHHHH-WWWWWWWEEEEEEETTTT comic. Now in the last book Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Wonderwoman all were warped by Lee and the marvel team, so just add the flash (also featured in this book) and bam you got yourself the first Marvel JLA issue. Loaded with explanation and villains, JLA is a fun read.

But don’t stop there. What about the ever loved, ever cool side kick of Batman, Robin. I won’t give it all away but here’s the gist of the comic, Robin is controlled by the big baddie of all the Stan Lee DC comics. Fallowing Robins fateful (or not as much of one as they have in DC) turn to the to good, Shazam steals the spotlight for the final comic of this book. In well I think its in the middle east (because of all the sand), A young man, Rob, finds Merlan and the story launches. The drawing of Shazam is pretty sweet so check it out.

After all the comics are said and done, Stan Lee adds in goodies and bios that explain a lot. If you’re a DC/Marvel fan you enjoy checking this book out. Don’t forget this is book 2, so read book one first.

Zoe, an art club regular, created this lovely drawing for your viewing pleasure, and for her own fine forgiveness pleasure! Ask us how we can help you reduce your fines.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is still reeling from the wizard rock

Now that the 7th book's over, the party's just begun. I hereby give you The Remus Lupins, who strummed, drummed, sang, and saxed on July 31st:





Don't forget to check out Harry and the Potters, on Sunday, August 19th @ 5:00 PM

Zoë reviews Leepike Ridge, by N.D. Wilson

Tom Hammond, 11 years old, but he feels older, due to the fact that his father has been gone for three years. Elizabeth Hammond, Tom’s mom, who is finding the strain of being a single mother difficult. Tom runs away from home when his hated Elementary School teacher proposes marriage to Elizabeth. He gets swept up by a creek and winds up deep under Leepike Ridge. I thought the book was well written, and that it was captivating. I was intrigued. I can’t wait to read more!

Guitar Hero Rocks! Guitar Hero II Tournament Ruled!

Scientists unleash a new & exciting task for robots... playing Guitar Hero 2

If the Terminator could headbang, it would probably be a direct descendent of the Guitar Heronoid, a robot created for the purpose of, well, SHREDDING ON GUITAR HERO. It uses image processing code to "follow" the path of the little nodes on-screen and responds accordingly. Check it out in action.



Thinking of your own robotics projects? Check out our over a hundred books on the subject.

Oh, by the way, we are still having the Guitar Hero 2 tournament on Monday. It starts at 12:00 PM. Even if you aren't registered, we have door prizes for just showing up. Yes, that ties in with my new library theme: "Our giveaways. Let me show you them."

Today at Art Club we made duct tape wallets. As you can see below, we had lots of fun.




We will be doing this event again some time soon. You can keep a look out for it and other fun stuff going on at the Teen Department by checking the events manager.

Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance IS ON!

After a few issues trying to get a space, we are ON for the Teen Sexual & Gender Diversity Alliance! Here's the scoop:

• Dates 'n times: 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, starting August 4th. It officially runs from 2:00 - 3:00 PM but can keep going if people are into it!


• The place to be: We're meeting on the second floor of Kiva Han (420 S. Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213)


• What we're up to:podcasting (making our own downloadable radio show), publishing a newsletter, political action, watching movies, making videos for Youtube, mutual support, develop special library programs (in celebration of LGBT history month, Day of Remembrance, or just generally fun stuff), book clubs, just generally fun & awesome things to do in the summer, and more!

Please come out, hang out, and help us get it started!

Volunteering: It's Hot Stuff

Our volunteers are hard at work scanning the shelves for out-of-place books (aka shelf-reading). From front to back, here's what they have to say

“It’s mind-numbing. ‘It makes my heart sore’ to see all the books. And I didn’t get a paper-cut, so I’m proud of myself.”

~Megan H.

“Sweetest thing ever!”

~Kevin L.

“It’s freakin’ awesome!”

~Chen Z.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Teen department thanks them for blood, sweat, and tears. If this looks good to you, fill out a volunteer application

.

Eclipse is coming out soon!

Karen and I saw this poster while at the American Library Association Conference in DC. As you can see, it was plastered over some R. Kelly ads. Interesting! This is the first time I have seen this type of advertising for a young adult book (but I don't get out much).

Holly

Books on Bikes!

Books on Bikes, our charity bike ride for teens, by teens went underway this past Saturday. As of now, we raised a total of $200.00 to buy books for youth shelters and community organizations in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, we'll have more info soon about how you can help put books in the hands of people who could really use them. For now, check out these pictures.

Riders Alana, Aaron, and Ben get pumped on pedaling.

Patrick and Ian bow to the machine.

Patrick wonders, "Hey, you just rode 8 miles! Why the heck aren't you eating all this food I bought?!"

Patrick rocks the party, cake style.

Patrick bows to Ben, winner of our impromptu "Civil War" scavenger hunt.

Thanks to everyone who came--and those who couldn't but still raised money for the cause! Thanks also to Bike Pittsburgh for supporting us.

Quick Flix - Teen Video Contest!

CLP Teen is holding a video contest, with quite an impressive list of prizes. Basically, we are looking for a 1-3 minute promotional video clip themed around Teen library resources and services. It can be funny, serious, tongue-in-cheek, whatever...it's up to you.

You could win:

• Grand Prize: Sony PlayStation Portable
• 2nd Place: MP3 Player + $50 iTunes gift card
• 3rd Place: MP3 Player + $25 iTunes gift card
• 1st Runner-Up: $10 Barnes & Noble gift card
• 2nd Runner-Up: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh logo t-shirt

For more information check out our quick flix page or contact Karen Brooks-Reese, Teen Services Coordinator, at 412-578-2599.

All videos are due by July 15, 2007!!! So now is the time to get your camera phones, digital cameras, and video cameras warmed up. Let the filming begin!

Pictures from the Extravaganza

Pictures taken at the Teen Summer Reading tents during the Extravaganza last Sunday.


Top Secret: Teen Summer Reading Tent with Free Giveaways


Teen shreds vocal chords at Karaoke


T-Shirt Deconstruction



Becca going crazy with the fun of T-shirt deconstruction.


Eli caught in the act



Joseph rocking out with Guitar Hero II



Taylor brutally conquering with eyes of steel.

Sable rocks Guitar Hero II

Guitar Hero II is a really great game!! If you like songs like Woman and Surrender u will have fun actually playing them. This game is just so awesome. If you have already tried Guitar Hero II you should sign up for the Guitar Hero II Tournament on July 30th.-Sable

Teen Media Arts & Literacy (Part 1)

I just wanted to share some of the results from our Teen Media Arts & Literacy class. The students worked hard, had fun, and learned a lot about the process of making videos. Here's what the first group created:



This movie is what's called an "actuality." Actualities are footage of unscripted people, places, and events as they happen. It actually takes a lot of work to learn how to train the camera.



This is us experimenting with bluescreen techniques, using our footage from the actuality.



For this exercise, we created our sounds first and then video. We weren't supposed to make them go together--just get something interesting. Then we mashed them all together.

If you want to learn how to make stuff like this, e-mail me (Joseph) at wilkj@carnegielibrary.org!wilkj@carnegielibrary.org

CLP Teen Sexual and Gender Diversity Club

On Saturday, the first pre-planning meeting of the CLP Teen Sexual and Gender Diversity Club went underway. Of course, CLP Teen Sexual and Gender Diversity Club isn't necessarily the name of the club (nor does it roll off the tongue), but I can't really use GSA since it's for more than gay and straight teens. Here's what we talked about:

• What will we call the group? Nobody had any ideas, and it's open to discussion.
• When will we meet? One teen suggested the first and third Saturday of each month, at 2:00 PM. How does that sound?
• Where will we meet? At the library? Kiva Han? Anywhere else around Oakland sound good to anyone else?
• What will we do? Here's what we brainstormed: podcasting (making our own downloadable radio show), publishing a newsletter, political action, watching movies, making videos for Youtube, mutual support, develop special library programs (in celebration of LGBT history month, Day of Remembrance, or just generally fun stuff), book clubs, just generally fun & awesome things to do in the summer, and more!

As you can see, we have a lot to talk about. Please feel free to post comments and suggestions here or e-mail wilkj@carnegielibrary.org.

Take care,
Joseph