Saturday, January 24, is the first-ever National Readathon Day! Make #timetoread and join other readers across the U.S. who will be reading for four hours straight (noon-4 p.m.) to raise funds and awareness for the National Book Foundation's literacy programs. You might take for granted how easy it is for you to read this sentence, but millions of Americans struggle with basic reading skills. So flex some mental muscle and make #timetoread! I'll be reading The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton. What will you be reading? |
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Have you ever heard of iCONN.org? It's a great resource provided by the Connecticut State Library for people who live in Connecticut. It provides FREE, 24-hour access to essential library and information resources, including:
This week (September 21-28) is Banned Books Week. The purpose of this annual event is to celebrate the freedom to read and to call attention to books that have been challenged or banned because of their content. A challenge means that people are trying to remove or restrict access to a certain book. If those people win, the book is banned and removed from public spaces, like libraries and schools. The three most common reasons books are challenged are:
1.) the book is considered to be sexually explicit, 2.) the book contains offensive language, and 3.) the book is considered to be unsuitable for a certain age group. My parents always encouraged me to think critically about what I was reading, and to read what I thought was good and reject what I thought was bad. But the decision about good and bad is a personal one. I strongly believe that it's up to the individual reader to decide what is good and bad, rather than having someone else decide. What do you think about banned and challenged books or censorship in general? I would love to hear what you think! For more information on Banned Books Week, click here. The August 24 issue of The New York Times Book Review published an interview with Malala Yousafzai, author of
I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. In the interview, Malala is quoted as saying, "Books can capture injustices in a way that stays with you and makes you want to do something about them. That's why they are so powerful." For me, this rings true. Books... words... ideas... are so influential because they linger in our thoughts and in our minds. But in my opinion, it's not enough to simply think about the issues, we should also do something.
Well three more summer weeks have past and we have picked three more winners in Southington Library's Summer Reading Program for Teens.
Congratulations to... July 28 - Kelly A. won a $25 Amazon gift card August 4 - Donna M. won a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card August 11 - Jared C. won a $25 Amazon gift card There are only two drawings left -- August 18 and 25 -- who will win? For each book, audiobook, comic book, and magazine you read this summer, fill out an entry form (located near the Information Desk) to be entered into the weekly drawing. And don't forget that ALL entries in the Summer Reading Program for Teens will be entered into the August 25 Grand Prize Drawing for a Kindle Fire. Read On! I just found out that August is Happiness Happens Month!
Every day this month, take time to reflect on what makes you happy. At the end of the month, you'll have a list of 31 people, places, things, and events that bring a smile to your face. And chances are, if you focus for a month on what makes you happy, it will become a year-long habit. So focus on the positive, and be happy! Here's my list so far this month... 1. My Family 2. My Friends 3. Sitting in my lounge chair on my deck, reading a good book 4. Books! 5. My Job at Southington Library 6. Air Conditioning What's on your list? We are well into the third week of Southington Library's Summer Reading Program for Teens. Lots of teens have been filling out entry forms (located near the information desk) for each book, audiobook, comic book, and magazine they've read this summer. And Southington's teens have been reading a lot... that's great!
Congratulations to the three winners thus far... July 7 - Alexa T. won a $25 Dunkin' Donuts gift card July 14 - Aaron J. won a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card July 21 - Allie S. won a $25 iTunes gift card Who will win the drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card next Monday, July 28?! Or the grand prize drawing for a Kindle Fire on August 25?! As the saying goes, "You've got to be in it to win it." So keep reading and filling out those entry forms! At the Library last night, George Pulley Jr., a science instructor at Alta School here in Southington, presented a hands-on, interactive science program for teens. The program was fantastic -- informative and fun! Mr. Pulley brought his classroom's pet tarantula and taught us about the arachnid. Did you know that a tarantula's venom is not fatal to humans? Unless you're allergic to bee stings... if you are, the tarantula's venom can cause a dangerous allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) that requires immediate medical attention.
Under Mr. Pulley's supervision, attendees also performed experiments related to inertia and torque, the electrical conductivity of water, and surface tension. For the finale, we all walked to the Library's parking lot and watched Mr. Pulley launch a model rocket. Definitely very cool! Thanks Mr. Pulley! I was recently reading an interview with Shailene Woodley in the June 9, 2014, issue of Time magazine. The interviewer (Eliana Dockterman) asked Shailene for health tips she could share, and she responded, "I've realized that worry is the product of a future that we cannot guarantee and guilt is the product of a past we cannot change. Once that clicked in, it became easier to live this lighter life. And the happier I am, the healthier I am and the better I look and feel." Wow! I think those are really important and profound words to live by... what do you think? Some people have been asking, so here's a little bit of info about me... Name: Julie Rio Age: Old enough to know better! Astrological Sign: Libra Job: Southington Library Reference/Teen Librarian Favorite color: Blue... any shade Favorite ice cream flavor: Edie's French Silk Favorite food: Pepperoni Pizza Favorite books: The Shining by Stephen King and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Favorite movie: When Harry Met Sally with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan Favorite TV show: Bones with Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz Favorite pasttime: Reading, of course! What makes me happy: Spending time with my family and friends What bums me out: Mean people |
librarianNicole Kent is the Archives
November 2018
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