Infamous Insider - what's hot this week @ Sno-Isle

Welcome to Infamous Insider - the weekly feature that gives you tips about what's going on at the library - new items in the collection, indispensable online resources, or fun events you won't want to miss.


The Scar Boys : a novel: Written as a college admission essay, eighteen-year-old Harry Jones recounts a childhood defined by the hideous scars he hid behind, and how forming a band brought self-confidence, friendship, and his first kiss...

Not only does this look like a great book, there's a Spotify playlist so you can listen to the songs each chapter is named for.

Learn more about The Scar Boys at author Len Vlahos' website.


While we're on the subject of music, we have exciting news about Freegal, our music downloading service.  Not only can you continue to download three songs a week (and keep them!), you can now listen to streaming music for up to three hours a day.  You can even create playlists of your favorites.  But wait - there's more!  Freegal now offers video downloads too - one video counts as two songs toward your weekly limit.

I don't know about you, but I like free music!

EVENT ALERT - Divergent Pre-Release Party @ the Mukilteo Library

Friday, February 28th, 1:00 pm

Celebrate the upcoming movie release of Divergent, based on the book by Veronica Roth. Which faction will you join, and will you survive the initiation? Get together with other teens for book-related games, food, crafts, trivia, and more.

Hunger Games parties this week!

Is there anyone reading this blog who isn't excited about The Hunger Games movie coming out this week???

I'm super psyched and can't wait to share the excitement with local teens.  Marysville had an awesome HG event Saturday, and there are two more Hunger Game parties this week...on opposite sides of our library system!

For those of you on the island, or up North, Oak Harbor Library is hosting an Hunger Games Party this Thursday the 22nd from 3-5pm.

For those of you down South, you are invited to come to my pre-movie watching (for those of you not hitting a midnight show) party at the Mountlake Terrace Library Friday the 23rd from 1-4pm.  We will be having Hunger Games Jeopardy, a Peeta's Cupcake Decorating Contest, and a costume contest...plus time to play lots of games, too.  Prizes include a Hunger Games poster, a HG string bag, and HG earbuds!

What are your plans?  When are you going to the movie?  Will you dress up?

Black Friday Craftacular

With money tight this year, and many teens  having trouble finding jobs, Black Friday may be a grim day for shopping.   But Sno-Isle Libraries is offering a fun, free, gifting alternative for teens and families the day after Thanksgiving this year! Six of our libraries are offering free craft programs:

BRIER LIBRARY - 1:00 p.m. Fun crafts for the whole family.
SULTAN LIBRARY - 11:00 a.m. Fridge magnets and bird feeders.
MILL CREEK LIBRARY - 1:00 p.m. Buttons, duct tape creations, gift bows,and holiday cards.
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE LIBRARY 1:00 p.m. Duct tape creations.
MUKILTEO LIBRARY - 1:00 p.m. Angry Bird pom poms.
OAK HARBOR LIBRARY - 2:00 p.m. Duct tape creations.

I love making duct tape wallets and have been using mine for years!  I've never made these Sesame Street ones, but would love to give it a try.  Maybe I'll see you at Mountlake Terrace Library?

All programs take place this coming Friday, November 25, 2011.

Monster Pops!

Turn your typical dessert into a delectable monster on a stick. Think cake pops, monster-style. It's time to play with your food and make it awesome. And horrifying. Or cute. It's up to you.

Thursday, October 27 at 3:30 pm at the Lynnwood Library. Preregistration required. Register here.

More Music Mashups!

Here are more music mashups for you to enjoy!





Interested in creating your own music mashups? Learn how at the Arlington Library on Thursday, July 7th at 1:30 pm.

Music Mashups

Music Mashup - a song or composition created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs, thereby creating a new song.

What do you think of these mashups?





If you'd like to learn how to make mashups, come to the Arlington Library on July 7, 2011 at 1:30 pm for a music mashup workshop!

Learn to Salsa!

Like to dance? Have nothing to do this Friday night? You should...

Experience the Salsa - a fun and fiery Latin dance! See a demonstration and learn the basics from Wendy Messarina Volosin, a salsa dance instructor.

Date: Friday, April 15, 2011
Time: 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Arlington Boys and Girls Club, 18513 59th Avenue NE, Arlington, WA
Cost: Free

Not sure what the salsa is? Here's one of my fave youtube clips to give you an idea:

Free Songwriting Class this Weekend

If you love music even half as much as I do, then you have probably thought about writing a song. After all, there are so many terrible ones out there that seem to become giant hits, and there is so much in your heart waiting to burst out into music, right?

But truthfully, it can be really hard to get started. I've been in a couple of bands over the years (or at least have jammed with friends many many times), and only have one song to show for it. So how is it done?

This weekend, we have a FREE class with singer-songwriter Levi Burkle! He will get you started by creating an original song where everyone gets in on the act. By the end of the workshop, Levi will perform the song for the group. Previous musical experience not required. Just bring your imagination and your rock star dreams.

Mountlake Terrace Library - 1pm - Saturday April 9th, 2011

Hope to see you there! - Dawn

Double Author Visit at Third Place Books

Next week (Thursday April 14th, 2011 at 7pm) Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park will be hosting not one, but two awesome teen authors! From their newsletter:

Holly Black is the bestselling author of the Spiderwick series. She is here with her new book Red Glove (Margaret K. McElderry), the sequel to White Cat.

Curses and cons. Magic and the mob. In Cassel Sharpe's world, they go together. Cassel always thought he was an ordinary guy, until he realized his memories were being manipulated by his brothers. Now he knows the truth - he's the most powerful curse worker around. A touch of his hands can transform anything - or anyone - into something else.


Cassandra Clare made her fiction debut with City of Bones. She is here with the highly anticipated fourth book of her Mortal Instruments Series, City of Fallen Angels.

Who will be tempted by darkness? Who will fall in love, and who will find their relationship torn apart? And who will betray everything they ever believed in? Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

In the heart-pounding fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series, the stakes are higher than ever.

Tickets & Books Available 4/5/11
SIGNING LINE TICKETS REQUIRED

Doesn't that sound just fantastic? If you go, please report back and let me know how it goes? I've already got plans that night :(

Find Poetry in Unexpected Places

As an occasional dabbler in poetry, I like writing exercise that give you a good kick to get going. Nothing is better for this than writing Found Poetry, where you look around at already existing word groupings, and pull or break them apart in new and interesting ways. Can you make a poem off a box of cereal? Yes! How about from an instruction manual? Totally! What about an issue of the New York Times? Certainly...plus, you can be featured on their website, if you enter their Second Annual Found Poem Challenge! Be sure to check out the website for all the rules and examples of last year's winners. Over 200 people entered last year. If I was between 13 and 25, I would totally do it, but alas, I'm old. ;)

In the meanwhile, if you think this sounds fun, but need a little boost to get going, or prefer writing with a group, come to the Mountlake Terrace Library this Wednesday at 4pm where we will have a free creative writing class focused on this topic: Recycled Words - Found Poetry.

Hope to see you there!

Dawn

Make Something Glowy: LED Throwies

Want to make something silly and fun? Come check out this simple, yet awesome how-to class:

Teen Altered Objects: LED Throwies
Celebrate Teen Tech Month with creating colorful LED lights that can stick to almost any metal surface.

Tuesday March 29th, 2001 - 4pm
Date: 3/29/2011
Lynnwood Library

Supplies provided by Friends of the Lynnwood Library.

After Hours at the Edmonds Library

Looking for something to do this weekend? This Friday night, come to the Edmonds Library for a teen-only after-hours game night!

After-Hours Game On!
The library will be open Friday night to TEENS only. Join us for Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Wii, board games and other activities. If you are between the ages of 12 to 18, don’t miss your chance to be loud in the library! Free food too!
Supported by the Friends of the Edmonds Library.
Friday, Mar 25
6:30 pm

Make a Micro Robot

This week at the Arlington Library, you can learn how to make a brushbot! What is a brushbot, you say? It is a tiny little robot made out of a toothbrush. What can they do? Well, race each other. Or paint a picture. Or polish a very small space?

Brushbot Races!
Create a micro-robot out of a toothbrush, then race the bot in a battle for prizes.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 - 3:00 pm
Supported by the Friends of the Arlington Library.

Tonight:Teens Only After-hours Gaming

Friday Night Gaming for Teens
Wii, Rock Band, board games, card games. Come play your favorite games with your friends! Pizza and snacks provided by the Friends of the Mill Creek Library.

Friday March 18th, 2001 - 7-9pm
Mill Creek Library

* Attendee must be between the ages of 11 Years and 18 Years old.
* Attendee must be between the grades of 6 and 12.

Learn How to Do Clay Animation - Tomorrow!

Teen Friday: Clay Animation Workshop
Create a simple clay character, then metamorphose it into other characters and shapes while operating a digital camera. At the end of class, all of the students' work will be “premiered” on the big screen. Finished work is placed on the site: www.cancancancan.com.
Presenter: Lukas Allenbaugh

Freeland Library
Friday, Mar 18, 2001 - 2:00 pm

Funded by Friends of the Freeland Library.

Skype the Author: Adam Rex

Two of my favorite books this last year were written by one man. One is a spoof on all things teen supernatural vampire romance. The other is the funniest science fiction book you may ever read.

This Thursday you can meet Adam Rex using the Powers of the Internet! Just come to the Mukilteo Library for our live online author chat.

Skype the Author: Adam Rex
Celebrate Teen Tech Month by using technology to meet one of our favorite authors Adam Rex by Skype! He is the author of both the delightful The True Meaning of Smekday and the hilarious Fat Vampire.
Thursday, March 17th, 2011 - 4pm
Mukilteo Library

Kathleen, our teen librarian at Mukilteo Library recommends checking out Rex's website for TTMoS. So fun!

Super Smash Kart Tournament This Weekend

Are you a Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros master?
Now is the time to show off your stuff!

Super Smash Kart Tournament
The Ultimate Competition and a chance to show off your skills! Compete against other teens in tournaments for Super Smash Bros. and MarioKart. Prizes will be awarded. Doors open at 1:00, Tournament starts at 1:30. Sign up at the door or early online.

Saturday March 12th, 2011 - 1-5pm
Marysville Library

Something Special for Sci-Fi Movie Fans

Do you love old science fiction movies where aliens invade the earth? Ever wonder why they became so popular in the 1950s? Do we have a treat for you!

Alien Encounters: Sci-Fi Movies and the Cold War Experience
Robert Horton will examine the underlying political and social anxieties that resulted in the alien-invasion scenarios of 1950s science fiction films. Using clips to illustrate, he will discuss titles that provide angles on Atomic Age concerns. Comparisons will be drawn with today's films, demonstrating how pop culture always reflects its era.
Thursday March 10th, 2011 - 7pm
Monroe Library

Supported by a grant from Humanities Washington, the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation, and the Friends of the Monroe Library.

Free Ditgital Photography Class

Happy Teen Tech Month everyone! All month we will be celebrating teens using technology in innovative and creative ways, and exploring new things on the web.

Tomorrow, Wednesday March 2nd 4-6pm we will be offering a FREE photography class for teens at the Mountlake Terrace Library.

How to Take Awesome Digital Photos
Learn simple ideas to take better photos with your digital camera or phone from professional photographer Valentina Vitols. Learn to create killer compositions in photos that tell great stories and portraits your friends will want to use on their profiles.

Space is limited, so register ASAP!

Great Readers Wanted

Every year the Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA, part of the American Libraries Association or ALA)releases the The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Or as I like to explain it to folks, it is like the Newbery Award, but for teen books. Librarians love to speculate what will win, and it is always fun to see what makes it.

The last few years the staff of Sno-Isle Libraries took part in a Mock Printz discussion where we get together and talk about some of the books we felt had the best chance. This is always great fun, but we decided this year we want to open it up to teens and other community members who love teen books as much as we do.

So, if you love teen books, I'm formally inviting you to take part in our Mock Printz Discussion Thursday January 6th from 5:30-8:30 pm at the Mukilteo Library. We have 10 books we will be discussion and participants are expected to have read at least eight of the ten books. Think you can get through them by then? Here is what we will be talking about:


1. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
2. A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner
3. Happyface by Stephen Emond
4. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork
5. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
6. Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
7. The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
8. They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American
Terrorist Group by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
9. White Cat by Holly Black

10. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

This should be a ton of fun for teen book lovers.

Hope to see you there!