Week Two Earbud Winners

I'm just delighted and thrilled to see all the wonderful Teen Summer Reading reviews rolling in. We have over 800 reviews already. Let me just say WOW!

This week's winners are:

Emily Z. - Marysville Library
Hugo L. - Mukilteo Library
Makenna K. - Mill Creek Library
Stephanie S. - Mountlake Terrace Library
Ryan M. - Marysville Library
Sarah A. - Marysville Library
Brianne C. - Stanwood Library
EmilyAnne B. - Lake Stevens Library
Caitlin D. - Lynnwood Library
Leah S. - Mill Creek Library
Meredith B. - Oak Harbor Library
Julia M. - Mill Creek Library
Trevyn D. - Oak Harbor Library
Levan J. - Marysville Library
Tekoah H. - Arlington Library

Your Teen Librarian will contact you once they receive your prize and let you know when you can pick it up :)

Keep on reviewing. The more you review, the more chances you have to win!

Teen Advisory Boards

"What is a Teen Advisory Board?" "Does my local library have a TAB?" "How can I take part in my library's Teen Advisory Board?" You probably ask yourselves these questions several times a week, but aren't sure where to find the answers to these important queries. Well, friend, I'm here to help.

Teen Advisory Boards are nothing more than a group of teens who are interested in what's going on at their local libraries. Being a member of a TAB can mean a lot of different things; TABs provide an opportunity to:

1. Provide ideas for you library, including feedback or suggestions for programs or events.
2. Share and recommend new and favorite books.
3. Provide input on teen spaces in your library.
4. Get to know your local library staff and invest in your community library.
5. Learn about upcoming library events, volunteering opportunities, etc.
6. Have your voice heard!

At the Monroe Public Library, I'm starting a new Teen Advisory Board this summer. If Monroe is your local library, you're invited to the Trivia Night and TAB Blowout seen at the beginning of this post. There will be snacks, gift cards given to the top finishers in the Trivia Contest, and after the contest is over we'll be discussing starting a new TAB for the Monroe library. If Monroe is not your local library, there are many other Teen Advisory Boards throughout the Sno-Isle Library system. Your local teen librarian would love to tell you more about what's happening at your library!

Britney Meets Hunger Games?

Ok, this is totally ridiculous, but it really cheered me up and I thought it might make you smile too:



What is the funniest video you've seen lately? Bonus points if it is book related (however vaguely).

First Round of Summer Reading Winners

This year's Teen Summer Reading Contest is off to an awesome start! So far we have 360 reviews submitted from teens all over Snohomish and Island County...and most of you aren't even out of school yet.

Have you seen our awesome Sno-Isle Teens earbud pouches? How can you qualify to win one? Just review the books you read this summer, and we will randomly select 15 reviews every week!

This week's winners are:

• Maxine V. - Marysville Library
• Margaret D. - Oak Harbor Library
• Alexia W. - Mill Creek Library
• Monina N. - Mill Creek Library
• Megan H. - Sultan Library
• Lena P. - Snohomish Library
• India S. - Edmonds Library
• Victoria E. - Edmonds Library
• Vanessa C. - Marysville Library
• Faith F. - Marysville Library
• Samantha C. - Mill Creek Library
• Marina M. - Mill Creek Library
• Zina D. - Mukilteo Library
• David W. - Arlington Library
• Adnan M. - Lynnwood Library

Your Teen Librarian will contact you once they receive your prize and let you know when you can pick it up :)

Teen Books Aren't All Depressing, Right?

If you follow Twitter or read the Wall Street Journal or pay any attention to book blogs, you might have noticed the web was all a flurry with #yasaves all weekend. So what gives?

On Saturday, June 4th, Megan Cox Gurdon, a writer for The Wall Street Journal wrote an article about how nearly all teen books were depressing and dark and about things like self-mutilation and hate crimes and kidnapping and that they might cause teens to self-destruct. You can read the whole article here.

I know what you're thinking- this is nuts, right? If you've been into a library or bookstore recently you'd know teen books aren't all about dark stuff and vampires. Sure there are books that reflect the harsh realities that we (and teens) face, but there are plenty of books out there that are funny or feel good books. Authors like Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Maureen Johnson, E. Lockhart, Don Calame, and Adam Rex.

What are your favorite funny or feel good books?

Summer Jobs for Teens

From the fabulous Kathleen at the Mukilteo Library:

This probably isn't news to you, but summer jobs are really hard to find. The Seattle Times reports that this may be the worst summer for finding jobs since the Great Depression in the 1930s . But even without a job, you can do important work this summer as a volunteer. Every time you volunteer in your community, you make it a better place to live for you, your family and your friends--and it looks good on your job and college applications, too!

The Sno-Isle Libraries offer many volunteer opportunities for teens; check them out at here. You could be a Book Buddy who helps a child become a better reader at the Mountlake Terrace and Mukilteo Libraries, a Gadget Coach at the Marysville Library or a member of a Teen Advisory Board at most of our libraries. There are other volunteer opportunities, too. Ask your teen librarian about ways you can help the library and make your summer a lot more interesting.

Summer Reading is Here

Like me, maybe you are still wearing winter boots and sweaters one day, then pretending it is warm enough for sandals and shorts the next, and cursing the grey rainy skies. Where is summer? It is June 2nd already...I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some WARMTH.

Well, here at Sno-Isle we have no power over the weather, but we are happy to declare that as of yesterday summer has officially begun...the Teen Summer Reading Contest, that is! Are you ready?

Read, Review and Win Prizes

For each teen or adult book you read or listen to this summer (June 1 to Aug. 15), submit a review here.

GRAND PRIZE: Earn an entry in the drawing to win a 16GB iPad 2 for each review you submit.




LIBRARIAN'S CHOICE AWARD: Win an 8GB iPod Touch if the teen librarians select your review as the very best one of the summer.




WEEKLY DRAWINGS: Your review also enters you in weekly drawings to win a Sno-Isle Teens pouch with ear buds! Plus other prizes depending on your community library.

Grand prize drawing and Librarians' Choice announcement take place on Aug. 25, 2011.

Prizes funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.