DIY-YA: Teen Tech Week @ RPL

Richmond Public Library is celebrating Teen Tech Week again, and we are really excited because we have more branches involved. The theme for Teen Tech Week for this year is "DIY @ your library". Richmond Public Library always encourages their teen patrons to be expressive and creative by using upcycled materials to make re-purposed items. We have creative librarians and library staff who are welling to share their creative skills for awesome Teen Tech Week programs.  Here are our activities down below.

A lot of our programs have been geared towards career development for teens. It all started with our Teen Recyclable Craft Sale, which is held at Main in December and it has been very successful. This year we are working with the YA staff and teens at other branches to make the craft sale system wide.


We are setting a new trend for our teen programs and it is called "DIY-YA". If you are the type of teen who likes to be creative and explore new trends, check us out at RPL!

The People's Library: Rag Rug Sewing Workshop

The People's Library is returning to the Main Library in November to host a rag rug sewing workshop using donated fabrics and supplies. The finished rugs will be sewn together to create a large cicular rug, which will become part of the People's Library exhibit. The workshop will provide opportunities to share stories of home and domesticity, and to meditate on how history is imbedded in both the labor that creates an object as well as the way an object is used.

Join us for this community collaboration!

To learn more about The People's Library, go to our previous blog posts: The People's Library Project Opening and The People's Library Project.

The People's Library website: nomovement.com

Job Club 4 Teens

The Job Club 4 Teens is returning in a couple of weeks with the partnership of the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). This program started in May at the Main Library and continued at several branches for the teen summer reading program. Teens who participated in the workshops gained valuable information of what to do when it comes to looking for a job. The employees of the Virginia Employment Commission were very resourceful and provided guided advice for the teens that participated.

The program will be more structured for this upcoming session. We are breaking up the program in two parts.  There will be a fall and spring session where there will be a more directed focus on winter and summer jobs. Teens who are looking for jobs in general can come to the program too!

Here are some job related resources for teens. 

Snag A Job: Legal age to work

Virginia Workforce Development Center

Virginia Employment Commission

If you are looking for a job and need help with getting started with job-hunting as well as mock interviews, please join us September 25th at 5 pm.

The People's Library Project Opening

The People's Library Project is a collaborative, sustainable, and interactive community art project spearheaded by Courtney Bowles and Mark Strandquist.  The project opening is this Friday evening, and we hope you will join us to take part and protect our histories.

From the project website (http://www.nomovement.com/People-s-LIbrary):

"The People's Library* is an ongoing collaborative project featuring libraries designed, built and authored by community members. The project transforms and re-purposes discarded books into blank canvasses for the production and exchange of local histories.

In Richmond, VA, at the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library, a thousand blank books are being created for anyone in the community to check out, bring home, fill with their histories and bring back to the library to be included in the permanent collection. The resulting installation includes a thousand micro-monuments, becomes the real and symbolic meeting place for alienated publics, and offers sustainable, collective and critical alternatives for the form and function of public art.

While in some instances, public spaces and institutions have invited patron participation, it is often through internet based means. People's Library champions collective production as an avenue for face to face interaction between diverse publics. The project reflects the histories, needs, desires of local residents, and re-interprets public institutions as a space for production, meditation, and alternative education.

Individuals in youth programs at each library will co-facilitate a series of workshops. At each workshop, which are free and open to the public, participants will complete various tasks, engage in conversation about contemporary art, and learn functional creative skills[.]"

I had the pleasure of being present at one of the paper-making workshops with Mark and Courtney, and was impressed with their skill in working with young people.  So many pages were made, everybody had fun and got their hands dirty (almost everybody that is- I didn't want to stain my clothes, so I just took pictures!  Those are below).

Courtney and Mark were natural teachers.  I have witnessed their ability to articulate their project and its goals to children and adults alike, and this clarity and ease of expression, I think, underscores their passion and commitment to this project and the Richmond community.

So again - please join us this Friday 9/20 for the opening of the People's Library Project.  And stay tuned for more People's Library programming this November at Richmond Public Library!

Teen Summer Reading Programs @ RPL

Teen Summer Reading
The theme for the teens is Groundbreaking Reads (click on this link to get to the online registration). Teens can register online for the Summer Reading program and keep track of the books they read. There are also informative links and book recommendations on the page for teens to explore. Books create an outlet to another world. There are so many genre of books to choose from...who knows what 'Groundbreaking Reads' you will find!

Summer Programs for Teens
This is another exciting time for the teens at RPL when it comes to programs. The YA Committee has put together some amazing programs for teens this summer. The series of programs focuses on career development for teens. This all started with the Job Club 4 Teens at the Main Library and the program has been very successful. This program was so successful that we will be having it at other locations during the summer. Main will continue the Job Club program during the year with topics relating to job seeking and with assistance from local employment agencies.

There are other unique programs such as Container Gardening for Teens and Aromatherapy for Teens. By providing these programs, teens will discover other avenues which may lead to additional career options.

We are also really excited about our partnership with Radio-One. There will be several workshops at various locations with popular Richmond DJs. The DJs will talk about their careers in radio and give the teens the insight of interviewing celebrities.

This is just some of the highlights. There are so many teen programs to talk about!  Check out the attached flyer for all of the teen programs:

You can access this flyer, get information about other summer programs, and obtain the Richmond Public School Reading Lists by clicking on this link to our website: The Teen Page @ RPL

These programs are filling up quick, so call to reserve a space TODAY!

The Teen Advisory Group at Main is also putting together two raffle baskets with items from the teen summer programs. Stay tuned for more information.

Summer Reading...Dig In!

Summer is almost here and the Library is ready.  Don't waste a summer day...READ!  Sign up to join the Summer Reading program at the Richmond Public Library, log books online and earn a free bookbag and book.  This year the sign up is online, so you may use a Library computer or sign up from home.  Look for the Dig Into Reading button on the Library homepage at http://www.richmondpubliclibrary.org/.
After you sign up, start reading!  Logging begins on Saturday, June 15, 2013, the official "kick-off" of Summer Reading. Check your local branch for special kick-off happenings. http://www.richmondpubliclibrary.org/eventSearch.asp

When you log books online you will also be entered to win tickets to "uncover" some of Richmond's treasures with a different drawing each week:

·   June 26: Summer ArtVenture Camp at Visual Arts Center of Richmond, ages 5-16

·   July 1: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Admission Tickets

·   July 6: Family Pack of 4 Tickets to a Richmond Flying Squirrels Game

·   July 13: Family Membership to the Children's Museum of Richmond

·   July 20: A pair of tickets for a Valentine Richmond History Center Tour

·   July 27: Free Family Admission for 4 to the Science Museum of Virginia

·   August 3: Tickets to the Redskins Training Camp on August 12 -

                     special 50 yard line viewing area for children and teens!

Continue reading and keep logging books for more chances to win. 

Richmond Public Library locations will be presenting story times for toddlers and preschoolers during the summer months.  There will also be exciting programs for older children and teens happening at each branch.  Pick up a Check-It-Out at your local library or view the calendar online at http://www.richmondpubliclibrary.org/eventSearch.asp.

Tech Trends for Teens: Free Graphic Programs for Digital Art

Using Free Internet Tools to Make Cool Digital Art

As we gear up for Teen Tech Week and the RVA Sticker Contest this week, take advantage of free graphic tools, drawing, and graphic programs to meet your digital art creative needs.

Artpad is an online painting tool that allows you to see the paintbrush. You can change colors, brush sizes, paint opacity, and you can even splatter paint or write on your drawing. It will let you replay your drawing and save it or any frame from the replay.

Brushter is a free online painting website with a twist. Its paintbrushes all produce textured strokes. Like other painting websites, you can choose your colors, shades, and widths. You need the Adobe Shockwave Player to use it. This tool is produced by the National Gallery of Art.

Do Ink is a drawing and animation application that allows you to use vector-drawing tools to create your pictures.In addition to the traditional drawing tool, you also get art props that will add to the drawings you create. Do Ink is available only in a downloadable form for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

Draw Island allows you to paint or draw. It is unique in that you can create animations with this tool as well. However, the animation feature currently works only if you use Firefox (Mozilla) asyour Web browser.

FlockDraw is an excellent choice for collaborative business drawing. It allows an unlimited number of users to participate for free. Think of a community whiteboard in an online format and you will have the essence of FlockDraw.

Gimp is a very powerful image manipulation program, great for photo retouching and image creation. There are other downloads, GTK and runtime environment, required for this program to work properly. This program currently runs on Linux, Windows (XP and Vista), Mac OSX, and some Unix-based systems.

Graffiti Plado allows you to bring the street to your art. Use spray paint on a wall-textured background to create your ideas and save them. You can adjust color, size of the spray, strength, and even whether or not you want to see and hear the spray can while you paint.

Pixia Originally a Japanese only edition, Pixia is a very nice paint tool with full layers of support and many other features. The English version website does lack information and support so you will probably need to search the web for information on learning to use this tool. This is currently a Windows only program and does support some drawing tablets.

Odosketch is interesting because the sketches it creates resemble pencil and watercolor. The tips of your brush create both thin lines and wide ribbons. When you select your color you can also select the width of the tip. Create your sketch free online and then save it to your hard drive or disk.

Onemotion is an online painting website. It allows you to adjust brush width and color, but its unique feature is that your speed controls the width of your line.

Open Clip Art  is a site where you can download free clip art.

Skencil  is an interactive vector drawing program for Unix and Linux operating systems built on the Python language. This program has tons of features such as gradient fills, bezier curves and you can bend text along paths to name a few.

Sketchpad is a free online paint tool, but the effects it can create are awesome. There are stamp, wallpaper, geometric design, and fill options. Its unique color adjusting method allows you to visualize your scheme more easily. It also has an option of painting in two tones.

Ultimate Paint is an image creation and manipulation program for Windows systems. This is a pretty compact and fast-running graphics program with plenty of features.

Viscosity is a unique abstract art creation site. Like other online painting and drawing websites, you can save your work on your computer. The difference is you begin viscosity with a mixed palette, which you drag your “brush” through. This tool is a little more difficult to use effectively, but it is also extremely enjoyable.

Wixie has all the traditional paint and drawing options, but adds in three-dimensional, crayon, and stretch functions. This website also allows you to choose the texture of your fills.

Information was taken from Mashable.com and Smallbiztrends.com

The People's Library Project

The People's Library Project

Beginning in March, the Main library will collaborate with VCU student Mark Strandquist on his research project titled "The People's Library." There will be several workshops held at the Main Library in the "Out of the Box" area located in General Collections. Workshops will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays through April. The workshops are free and open to the public.

The purpose of this project
Below is a description of the People's Library workshops from nomovement.com.

"People’s Library is an ongoing collaborative project that incorporates interactive sculpture and community created ethnographies.

The project features libraries designed, built and authored by community members. Utilizing donated books from individuals, public libraries, and thrift stores, the project transforms and re-purposes unwanted or otherwise discarded books into blank canvasses for oral histories, self-representation, and intimate reflection.

People’s Library offers sustainable, collective and critical alternatives for the form and function of public space.

The project is collaborative at every public stage of the project. While each book becomes a safe and personal space for intimate reflection, the books and installation are produced through collective and sustainable means. Each autonomous history becomes part of a larger whole. 

While in some instances, public spaces have utilized new media to invite patron participation, it is typically through internet based means. People's Library champions collective production as an avenue for face to face interaction between diverse publics. The project reflects the histories, needs, desires of local residents, and re-interprets public institutions as a space for production, meditation, and alternative education."---nomovement.com

Those who participate in this workshop will have the opportunity to complete various tasks, engage in conversation about contemporary art, and learn functional creative skills such as:

Papermaking: using pages from the discarded books, participants will blend, pulp and dry materials to create new paper.

Creative Content: participants will collectively formulate, choose and print the prompts to be included in each book.

Bookbinding: the re-purposed paper will be rebound into the covers of the discarded books.

The Bookshelf: participants will collectively design and construct the interactive sculpture that will house the books.

Card Catalog: participants will design, construct and implement a system for the books to be checked out by the public. This system will include space for the reader to reflect and react to their chosen book, the project, and the over-all experience.

First Friday @ MAIN
In celebration of Youth Arts Month, there will be a demonstration and hands-on workshop during the First Friday reception at 6:30 p.m. 

More information about this project can be found at: www.nomovement.com.

Reading YA with Amanda

It is a new year and there are some incredible new YA books for your reading pleasure. There is something new for everyone, every interest and every mood! Keep checking back here since there are more great books still to come.



Been waiting patiently for Cinder's story to continue in the Lunar Chronicles?

Scarlet: the Lunar Chronicles, part 2 by Marissa Meyer

Linh Cinder grew up a cyborg and a stepchild in New Beijing, not sure which one made her life worse. But after her stepmother donated her body to science, it is the doctor's discovery that she is the lost Lunar Princess Selene that puts her in the most danger of all. Being the missing niece of Queen Levana only puts her in more danger as the Queen continues her pursuit of domination of the Earthern Union. Now, in prison, can she escape and reconnect with Dr. Erland? A world away in France, Scarlet Benoit's grand-mere has been missing for two weeks and the police have given up looking for her. She meets a man named Wolf, who seems to know more then he says, but she can't ignore the attraction she feels. He agrees to take her to Paris, where her grand-mere is being held for a past she won't share. But it is not until she tries to escape that Cinder and Scarlet's worlds collide and they realize just how much is at stake. 

Meyer, Marissa. Scarlet: The Lunar Chronicles. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-0-3126-4296-9. (hardback). Ages 12+.

Meyer, Marissa. Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-0-3126-4189-4 . (hardback). Ages 12+.

 
Are you addicted to Downton Abbey?

Cinders and Sapphires: At Somerton, Book 1 by Leila Rasheed

It is 1910 and the Earl of Westlake and his daughters, Ladies Ada and Georgiana, have spent the past decade in India, where their father has been the lieutenant governor. Now, forced to return to their home, Somerton, in the wake of political scandal, the family has to adapt in more ways than one. The staff at Somerton are in a rush trying to ready the home for the Averleys'  arrival. Then news comes of a wedding and the Lord's new wife and her children. Rose is trying to quickly learn the ropes as the new ladies' maid, but refuses to accept the advice she has been given to take advantage of her situation. Lady Ada feels the weight of her family's troubles on her shoulders. How can she choose between her dreams and ambitions and her family?
Rasheed, Leila. Cinders and Sapphires: at Somerton, Book One. New York: Hyperion, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1-4231-7117-1. (hardback) Ages 12+ 
In the mood for a murderously good laugh?

Who Done It? An Anthology conducted by Jon Scieszka (and YOU the reader)

A Serial Act of Criminal Literature to Benefit 826NYC

"You are invited to a gathering" reads the invitation sent by editor Herman G. Mildew to his clients. But Mr. Mildew is obsessed  not only with cheese and pickles, but also with being the most hated boss that ever existed. When we arrive at the party, Mr. Mildew is dead and every author and illustrator present is a suspect. Now they each have to convince us of their alibis, when every one of them had desire and motive. It is up to us to aid Jon Scieszka in his investigation. We must sort through the first person accounts of over 80 of the best names in YA and children's fiction. Each one has a story to tell and something to hide. One that may prove that, in the end, they all did it!

Scieszka, Jon (Ed). Who Done It? An Anthology. New York: SOHO Teen, 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1-6169-5152-8. (hardback) Ages 12+

Looking for the next Hunger Games?

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Children are mysteriously dying all around the United States. But those who live meet a fate much worse fate than death. Parents are afraid of their own children and turn them in to the government. Most are carted off to camps claiming to rehabilitate them, but others are forced to run on their own with no adult support. It was Ruby's tenth birthday when her parents sent her away, and for six years she lived in one of the camps not really knowing what she truly was. When the truth comes out and she is presented with the opportunity to run, she takes it. Something doesn't feel right and she escapes. Not trusting any adult, Ruby becomes the fourth member of a group of kids looking for a safe haven. Fighting for survival, they quickly learn that nothing is what it seems and the only ones they can trust are each other.

Bracken, Alexandra. The Darkest Minds. New York: Hyperion, 2012. ISBN 13: 978-1-4231-5737-3. (hardcover) Ages 12+