Movies: Is It All About the Director?

Did you hear the news that Catherine Hardwicke will NOT be directing the Twilight sequel, New Moon? In her place will be Chris Weitz, who directed The Golden Compass and About a Boy.

What's your response to this news? Do you think this move will make New Moon different, better, or worse than its predecessor? Do you like Chris Weitz's other movies? He produced Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which gives him five bazillion gold stars in my book of people who rule.

Anyhow, I find it interesting that the director of a movie that has already grossed over $70 million got canned (I'm not saying Hardwicke created pure Oscar gold in her direction of Twilight, I'm just saying that movie made A LOT of money.). But did she really get canned? Or is this just normal Hollywood stuff? Think about it....

While all the Harry Potter movies made a crap ton of money, they hired a different director for so many of them. And you can see each director's "flavor" in the movies. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Can a director make or break a movie?

The Macs Come Marching In...

Apple computers will arrive at select library locations very soon! You heard me/read me right.

Find the shiny new beautiful hip slick chic amazing iMacs at:

• Dublin Branch Library
• Main Library
• Reynoldsburg Branch Library
• South high Branch Library

Your feedback helped us to determine the locations. Once they're installed and you get a chance to use them, please let us know what you think of iMacs; IRL or here on the blog.

And speaking of Apple products...
Guess what? Our digital books & media are now compatible with iPods!!! WOOT! But there's a small catch: you've got to turn off your iPod's auto-sync function in order to get it to work.

Now get out there and start enjoying all of this and more...the library has so much to offer you! Bye for now from the land where the library hearts Apple products.

Are You a Fan?

The movie will be here on November 21. It’s Twilight Time!

Join us as we celebrate the release of the movie Twilight, based on the book by Stephenie Meyer.

As you countdown to the release, come and enjoy:
Trivia Contest
“Blood” Punch
Snacks
Prizes

Thursday November 20th at 7:00pm

Main Library – Activity Room
96 S Grant Ave, Columbus OH 43215

History is Made

It happened. America elected its first African American President. I wonder what kind of impact this will make on our nation, on our world. Regardless of whether you agree with Obama on any or all issues, you gotta admit: this is a BIG DEAL.

I am trying to picture myself as a little kid right now -- how would growing up with a black president impact me?

I am also thinking of our grandparents and great grandparents -- those who grew up in a more racist society. What is going through their minds today?

What about Barack & Michelle's daughters, Sasha and Malia? What must they be thinking? Is it the macro stuff running through their brain (Holy crap! My dad is the President elect!)? Or are they thinking more micro (Which room in the White House will be mine? I hope I like my new school!).

And of course, what do YOU think about it? What's going through your brain as history is made?

Election Time!

It has been one crazy interesting presidential campaign season. So much drama! So many opinions!

It's also a rather historic presidential campaign. We have an African American man running for President and a woman running for Vice-President. I bet a lot of Americans never dreamed this could be possible.

Are you interested in this year's election? Why or why not? Do you think voting makes a difference?

Be sure to take the poll to tell us who you'd vote for!

What issues do you think are most important for young people today? What should be the focus of our next President's administration? There are so many issues to consider: the economy, the environment, the war in Iraq, health care, education, abortion, etc. The list goes on and on. One thing's for sure: different people are super passionate about drastically different things.

Which candidate do you think is the best choice for helping to make a better future for young people?

Rated #1 library in the nation. Again.

That's right. According to this survey, we're #1!

Two things that the survey measures to determine success: circulation (all the stuff you check out) and user visits (all the times you come to the library). That means we have YOU to thank for our victory. Every time you check out a book and visit the library, not only are you becoming even more of a super genius, but you're also making us look good. Better than good, the best! Now that's what I call a win-win situation. A well-used library is obviously a well-loved library. And we love your right back.

Why else makes Columbus Metropolitan Library the number one library in the nation? Our gaming programs? Our Teen Read Week Events? The awesome staff? Free Internet access? All the wonderful books and movies?

The Great Power Outages of 2008

When you are old and have lots of grandchildren, will you gather them around you one day and tell stories about the great windstorm of 2008 that left you without power for several days?

Just imagine the senior citizen version of yourself recounting these tales:
School was canceled for almost the whole week!
We had to throw out almost everything in the fridge!
Even most of the libraries were closed!
No Internet, spotty cell phone service, and no TV for dayssssss!
I resorted to playing Scrabble by candlelight with my family!
An entire tree fell on our roof!
A tree fell on my neighbor's car!
Every Chipotle in town was closed!
I had to put my makeup on in the dark!
My mom made me pick up all the sticks in the yard!

What's the craziest thing that the windstorm did to you? Are you back in school yet?

2008 VMAs

Ah, the MTV Video Music Awards. So much to talk about this year. Or, are you so punk rock/emo/underground/whatever that you boycott the VMAs?

Did you love or hate all things Britney?
Whose performance was your favorite?
Best and worst dressed?
Was anyone robbed of their reward? Or were all the winners truly deserving of a moon man?

Did you freak out about the Twilight incident and promptly post something like this on YouTube?:


Or this?:


If there are any other VMA-related YouTube rants we need to know about, Please share!

Wii Entice You With Our Technology

Guess what? An Apple Computer could be coming to a library near you very soon! First we brought you the Wii, now we're bringing you iMacs. I know, I know, we're awesome.

But before we unleash an army of sweet Apple Computers on your unsuspecting soul, we want to find out what you think. Please take this survey!!! It will help us figure out where to install the Macs (sadly, not all library locations will get them this year...boo hoo!) and it will help us to figure out what kind of sweet software they should have.

Now's your chance to make your voice heard! Take the survey NOW! In order to do this well, we crave your input. Besides, everyone loves filling out surveys, right?

TIA!!!

"Sucked" In

As we enjoy, or for some of us, desperately cling to!, these last days of summer, I finally decided to give Stephenie Meyer a try. After all, of all the book reviews you (yes, I'm talking to YOU) submit on the site, it seems like every other one is from the Twilight series!

OMG. After only about 30 pages, I was thoroughly sucked into the world of Bella & Edward. I now see what I was missing! Why didn't I have the thrill and the privilege of falling in love with a vampire while in high school? Woe is me.

After finishing Twilight at breakneck speed, I frantically requested the sequel: New Moon. I am number 222 on the waiting list here at the library. Cue the world's saddest violin music.

I have heard the sequels aren't as good as the first, but I MUST READ MORE. I am a certified addict. While I wait for my number on the waiting list to get smaller and smaller, leading up to that glorious day when the book arrives for me, I will obsessively watch the trailers for the movie and continuously ponder all things Bella & Edward. Where will you be on December 12? You obviously know where I'll be. Are you worried that movie won't be as good as the book? I always worry about that when books get made into movies.

Oh, and for those of you who have been Twilight fans for a while, Breaking Dawn was released on August 2!!!

This feels like the biggest book phenomenon since Harry Potter. What do you think?

Summer Interns -- SHARE IT!

For those of you that are interning at the library this summer...

Comment on this post in order to share about your experiences at the library. Share what you've been doing with your friends. Share what you've learned and what you would like to learn. Share anything surprising about the library. Since beginning your internship, has your view of the library changed at all? What other wise insights do you have to share with us?

And the winner is....

GPX Crew! With 36% of the vote, it takes the cake. GPX Crew will be the official name of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's teen gaming league.

Thanks to everyone for voting! Stay tuned for more information as we continue to make gaming even more awesome at the library. Until then, be sure to Game On. Read.

Gaming League: Vote on Your Favorite Name!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! We have narrowed down the names and created this poll. Vote for your favorite! The winning name will be officially announced in early June...just in time for Summer Reading Club and summer gaming at the library!

Got mad love for Summer Reading Club?

It's summer; a time when those of us here at the library try our best to fill the void three months of no school has left in your life. How on earth are you going to fill your days without school? By coming to the library and participating in the Summer Reading Club! An advanced degree in rocket surgery is NOT required.

What IS required though, is for you to comment on this post! We want to hear all about what you like (and maybe what you don't like?) about Summer Reading Club. Pretend you're a paid actor giving a glowing review on a cheesy infomercial. We would love that!

For real though, if there's a certain librarian who does the coolest stuff with you in the summer or if a certain book makes for the best summer reading ever, we want to hear all about it. Tell us why you puffy heart Summer Reading Club!

Help name the Gaming League!

The Gaming League at the Columbus Metropolitan Library needs a name. Rather than relying on us dorky librarians to come up with a name, we want you to do the honors! Post your name ideas in a comment and we'll take the best suggestions and turn them into a poll where YOU will vote for your favorite. Post as many suggestions as you'd like! I'm sure there are some genius names out there...just waiting to come to life.

But think FAST! You only have until Monday, May 26 to make a suggestion. Then look for the poll, where you can vote on the selected names, to run May 27 - June 1.

Special thanks to Game Crazy for donating the Teen Summer Reading Club grand prize to each location: a Nintendo DS! Their sponsorship of Teen Summer Reading Club and the Gaming League is invaluable.

Teched Out

Teched Out! Teen Tech Week Rocked!

If you were there, you know it already - Teen Tech ’08 week was a blast! From Wii boxing contests to Guitar Hero tournies to author chats, there were a lot of reasons last week to get to the library – and to get online. Congratulations to the winners of all the gaming contests, and check out the latest work by all those creative geniuses out there!

Tell us all about your Teen Tech week!

Got Game? You do at the Library! Teen Tech Week is March 2 - 8.

Teen Tech Week is THE time to hone your techno skills to the max! Play your favorite video games, join a Guitar Hero tournament, or chat online with your favorite authors. These are just some of the things we'll offer at Columbus Metropolitan Library during this action-packed week! So, read our blog often to get more details and updates. And, while you’re at it, check out all the other cool things we offer - online and at your local library!

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Teen Tech Week "Express It" Contest

Calling all creative types! Show off your talent in celebration of Teen Tech Week and you could become a guest blogger on the teen site.

We’ll be selecting the best “Express It” entries posted during the week of March 2 – March 8th. Two triumphant teen artists will win the honor of becoming our first teen bloggers…and their masterpieces will also be featured on our website after Teen Tech Week.

To enter, just upload your best poem, short story, digital art or digital representation of other media (photography, painting, drawing, photo of 3-dimensional work, etc.) Follow the “Express It” link and choose “Stories,” “Poems,” or “Images.” You must log-in to participate!

Contest Rules:

• Users must include an active email address in their profile to be eligible for the contest. You can’t win if we can’t contact you!
• All submissions must be the original work of the artist and must be submitted through “Express It.”
• The content of each piece must be appropriate for teens.columbuslibrary.org.
• Each piece must be contained in one post. We will not, for example, consider stories submitted in multiple parts.

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Teen Tech Week Author Chats

Teen Lit enthusiasts take note! Four critically acclaimed authors will be making an appearance on our teen site in celebration of Teen Tech Week. Don’t miss your chance to meet up in cyberspace with Walter Dean Myers, Terry Trueman, Holly Black and Sonya Sones.

You can access the chats from the comfort of your home PC, or if you aren’t into “chatting” alone, stop by one of our libraries to hang out and chat with your peers! (See locations below.)

Choose a time and date (listed below) to chat and click on the Chat now! link when you're ready!


Terry Trueman
Wednesday, March 5th / 4 - 4:45 PM (Group Chat @ the Hilltop Branch)
Chat now!


Sonya Sones
Wednesday, March 5th / 5:00 - 5:30 PM (Group Chat @ the Parsons Branch)
Chat now!


Holly Black
Thursday, March 6th / 4 - 4:45 p.m. (Group Chat @ Parsons)
Chat now!


Walter Dean Myers
Thursday, March 6th / 4:30 - 5:15 PM (Group Chat @ the Linden & Martin Luther King Branches)
Chat now!

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Teen Tech Week Events

Teen Art Show
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 10:00 AM
Parsons Branch
Teens: We Need Your Help! Come into the Parsons Branch and view our Teen Art Show. Then, vote on your top three favorites. The winner will be announced March 10, 2008.

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 3:00 PM
New Albany Branch
Hang out and play your favorite video games!

Teen Book Group
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 3:00 PM
Hilltop Branch
Read aloud & discuss teen books in a laid back atmosphere. After school snacks included.

Teen Book Group
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 4:00 PM
Linden Branch
Reading can be a social event! Join us for the Linden Teen Book Group, a club in which teens read-aloud and discuss books of their choice.

Teen Gaming
Wednesday, March 05, 2008,4:00 PM
Franklinton Branch
Gaming just for teens. We'll be playing cool games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. Be sure to bring a friend and try out the Nintendo Wii!

Teen Gaming
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 4:00 PM
Northern Lights
Gaming just for teens. We'll be playing cool games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. Be sure to bring a friend and try out the Nintendo Wii!

Teen Tech Week Book Group Celebration
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 4:30 PM
Reynoldsburg Branch
Reading can be a social event! Join us for the Reynoldsburg Library Teen Book Group, a club in which teens read-aloud and discuss books of their choice. Snacks provided. Ages 12-17 years.

Teen Book Group
Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 7:00 PM
Southeast Branch
Reading can be a social event! Join us for the Southeast Branch's Teen Book Group, a club in which teens read-aloud and discuss books of their choice.

Teen Art Show
Thursday, March 06, 2008, 10:00 AM
Parsons Branch
Teens: We Need Your Help! Come into the Parsons Branch and view our Teen Art Show. Then, vote on your top three favorites. The winner will be announced March 10, 2008.

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Thursday, March 06, 2008, 4:00 PM
Gahanna Branch
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275)to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!

Teen Gaming
Thursday, March 06, 2008, 5:00 PM
Martin Luther King branch
Hang out and play your favorite video games!

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Thursday, March 06, 2008, 7:00 PM
Whitehall Branch
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275)to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!

Teen Art Show
Friday, March 07, 2008, 10:00 AM
Parsons Branch
Teens: We Need Your Help! Come into the Parsons Branch and view our Teen Art Show. Then, vote on your top three favorites. The winner will be announced March 10, 2008.

Celebrate Teen Tech Week-Teen Gaming
Friday, March 07, 2008, 3:30 PM
Whetstone Branch
Gaming just for teens. We'll be playing cool games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero. Be sure to bring a friend and try out the Nintendo Wii!

Guitar Hero Tournament
Friday, March 07, 2008, 3:30 PM
Linden Branch
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275) to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!

Teen Gaming
Friday, March 07, 2008, 3:30 PM
South High Branch
Hang out and play your favorite video games! Also remember to brings your cards as there are plenty of other teens that are willing to challenge you... whatever your game may be.

Teen Lock-In
Friday, March 07, 2008, 7:00 PM
South High Branch
Celebrate Teen Tech Week at the library after hours! We'll have food, gaming, computers and more. Ages 12-18.

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Saturday, March 08, 2008,1:00 PM
Main Library
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275)to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!

Teen Gaming
Saturday, March 08, 2008, 1:00 PM
Whitehall Branch
Gaming just for teens! Celebrate the end of OGT week by playing Wii games and Guitar Hero. Bring a friend and game at the library. Ages 12-17 years.

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Saturday, March 08, 2008. 2:00 PM
Hilliard Branch
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275)to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!

Guitar Hero 3 Tournament
Saturday, March 08, 2008, 2:00 PM
Southeast Branch
Please call 614-645-2ASK(2275)to register. Come join us for our second annual Guitar Hero Tournament. We've got the console and game, you bring the talent!
Age(s): Teen (12-17 years)
Other: Call 645-2ASK (2275) or visit the library to register.

Guitar Hero 2 Tournament
Saturday, March 08, 2008, 3:00 PM
Northside Branch
Join us as we celebrate Teen Tech Week with a Guitar Hero 2 tournament. We'll also have other games like Dance Dance Revolution and the Nintendo Wii. Snacks will be provided. Call 645-2ASK to register

Winter Break Is Over....Back to School!

No more sleeping in!

What did you do over winter break? Did you spend lots of time with family?
Encounter any family drama at your holiday gatherings?

And be sure to tell us all about what you got. Are you sporting some great new clothes (or an ugly sweater from Grandma) at school this week? Are you trying to figure out how to hide your new cellphone/iPod/gadget from your teachers? Are you working up a sweat playing your new Wii?

Belated happy holidays to all!