Movin' On Up

We have switched blogging platforms. Out with Blogger, in with Drupal! We'll no longer be posting here...so start checking Drupal instead. And be sure to update your bookmarks, etc.

Should you care? Maybe....if you're a total computer geek. As for the rest of you, you'll still be able to access all of our captivating blog entries and you'll still be able to comment. There shouldn't be too much of a difference. However, comments on Drupal can only be made anonymously for now. No, anonymous commenting doesn't give you license to spam us or disrespect each other. We ask that you continue to be nice and that you continue commenting. :) We're working on setting up the ability for users like you to create usernames, etc. Stay tuned for that enhancement!

The biggest bummer: all of the comments on previous posts weren't carried forward. However, they still live on Blogger. This is all the more reason for you to get comment happy!

The awesomest thing: This blog is the library's very first Drupal blog! ...Proof that we can always leave it to teens to be able to handle shifts in technology. Go you! Now, we'll wait for everyone else to catch up with us!

A Concert Ticket Raffle? At the Library???

It didn't happen at a radio station. It happened at THE LIBRARY!!!

Late last week, the clouds parted and concert tickets fell into the hands of some lucky library teens. Or, more likely, we received an anonymous donation of tickets to the American Idol and Jonas Brothers concerts. Talk about generous! The tickets were raffled off to one lucky teen from each library location, but, because there wasn't time to send the tickets (the concerts are this week!), each teen came to Main library to claim their prize (that's why all of the photos have the same background). Check out the photos of some of the teens with their tickets:



We puffy heart the anonymous donor. THANK YOU for this wonderful surprise and your contribution to Columbus area teens.

If you saw the Jonas Brothers or American Idols this week (ESPECIALLY if you were one of the lucky library winners), comment on this post and give us a review of the concert. How was it?

Grand Prize Winners of Teen Summer Reading Club

Remember how we told you that completing milestone 2 of the Summer Reading Club would enter you in a drawing to win a mini-laptop?

Well.....
On August 8 we randomly drew names (using a fancy pants computer program) and had the pleasure of calling up the two lucky (and thrilled!) winners. Calling grand prize Summer Reading Club winners is definitely one of the most fun parts of working at the library.

We even snapped some photos of the winners:

Alison
Home Location: Dublin Branch



Christopher
Home Location: Southeast Branch

Congrats Alison & Christopher! We hope your are enjoying your shiny new mini-laptops. I wonder who the big winners will be next summer???

Library Announces Budget Cuts

Due to the $8.5 million decline in state funding for Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML), our Board of Trustees has authorized a number of cuts that will be felt throughout the entire system. Effective September 6, 2009:

• All 20 branches of CML will be closed on Sundays (except Main Library)
• Hours cut at all locations. All branches and Main will be open:
  

  Monday through Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

  Friday and Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

  Sunday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. MAIN LIBRARY ONLY

• Materials budget has been cut back to 1988 levels
• Hours/pay cut for staff

After exhaustive consideration, we believe we have charted a course that will allow CML to provide the best customer service possible under these difficult circumstances.

We know that in these challenging times our customers need our library more than ever – as we help our community through Job Help Centers, Homework Help Centers and all the resources we make available. We are committed to doing our part to return Franklin County to health and prosperity.

So, we're still here, but in a more limited capacity. Times are tough but I know our city and all of you are even tougher. We'll get through this together. In the long run, we can win this. Don't you think?

Summer Reading Club is Winding Down...

But it's not too late to finish the club and earn prizes. And don't forget that there will soon be some raffle drawings for some awesome grand prizes! You could win a mini-laptop, an iPod shuffle or a Private Gaming Party for you and 10 of your friends at your local library.

Need I say more?

Well, I guess I can say more...
Not only is this your last week to finish up your milestones in the Summer Reading Club, but it's also your last week to attend some great SRC teen programs at the library.
I looked through our Events page and found these gems (imho opinion, of course!):

• Paper Crafting at the South High Branch
• Live Clue at the Hilliard Branch
• Book Haters at the Hilltop Branch

In Case You Missed the Premiere...

You can catch them all on YouTube! Thanks again to Vital Film Works for partnering with the library on this awesome project.

I think the bloopers are some of my favorite parts. I also like the soundtracks. How about you?

Library Budget News

You've probably heard by now that the two year budget for state government was signed on Tuesday. Thanks to your letters and phone calls to state representatives, library funding was not cut as severely as we feared. Even though we're not facing the worst-case scenario, we're still facing funding cuts that are going to force the library to make some very tough choices.

Libraries have already made cuts to accommodate a 20% reduction in state revenue this year. The state budget that was passed on July 13 cut another 11% out of the Public Library Fund. We estimate the continued downward trend of state income to cost libraries at least another 4% this year bringing the total loss to 35%. As a result, the library will have to make significant changes and cuts to our operations while still offering the best service to our customers. Thank you for your support in this difficult time and we will continue to provide updates on this matter.

In the meantime, how can you make a difference?
There are many ways you can help the library in these difficult times. Our materials and collection are deeply affected by the budget cuts. So why not talk to your parents and Adopt-a-Book? This is a great way to show support while helping add a new book to our collection. See how you can Adopt-a-Book and learn about other giving options.

What's most important to you at the library? What services should we be sure not to cut?

TeenFilm School Movie Premiere: You're Invited!

We hope Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince won't be the only new movie you see this week!

Under the guidance of local production company Vital Film Works, join us to watch short films created by the teens in our community. The library is thrilled for the opportunity to pilot a program that provides access to technology and allows teens to be more than just “media consumers”…but actual media creators! The library continues to be the great equalizer: providing opportunities for teens to acquire social media skills in our ever-connected world.

Saturday, July 18, 2009
Linden Branch Premiere begins at 1:00 p.m.
Northern Lights Branch Premiere begins at 3:00 p.m.

I can't wait to see what our teens have created!

Vital Film Works is a collaboration of artists, storytellers and script writers that produce films, commercials, TV pilots, documentaries, and music videos.

THANK YOU, CUSTOMERS!

You've sent 35,000 emails to our legislators. Your voice has been heard by our state legislators and the Governor. The General Assembly has been deluged with emails and phone calls from library supporters. You are awesome!

Budget Update: Monday, July 6
The Governor and the legislature continue to debate the proposed budget.

Keep your fingers double and triple crossed in the hope that libraries are spared significant cuts in funding.

Love your library? Help save it! Be heard & make a difference.

On Friday, Governor Ted Strickland announced that in order to help balance Ohio’s budget, he plans to cut $200 million from Ohio library funding over the next 2 years. What does this mean?

Starting July 1, if the cuts are approved, the Columbus Metropolitan library may have to cut hours and close branches.

How can you help? If the library means a lot to you…if you depend on the books, the people, the homework help, or just the place to be…let your voice be heard! Time is short—we have only days to make a difference.

Find out ways you can help save our libraries.

Tell your parents, your friends, your neighbors…and encourage them to do the same.

Something New!: Great Reads

Introducing a new service: Great Reads newsletters. Just in time for some delicious summer reading. Sign up for the service and get lists delivered straight to your inbox! This is my first month giving it a try and I must say I'm already a huge fan. I'm discovering so much awesome stuff to read! A good mix of new stuff and stuff that slipped by me. I love it!

There are obvious categories such as "Teen Scene" and "Tween Reads." So, be sure to sign up for those. But also consider the bestsellers list, thrillers and suspense, etc.

What are you waiting for? Sign up now! You won't regret it!

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!

Domestic Violence: Rihanna and Chris Brown

Unless you've been living under a rock, I'm sure you're aware of the incident involving Rihanna and Chris Brown.

One minute they were both scheduled to perform at the Grammys and the next minute we start hearing about how he assaulted her so badly that she ended up at the hospital and police are probably able to charge Chris Brown with assault with or without Rihanna's testimony.

As more and more details unfolded, something equally as sinister came along with it: the news that many teenagers believe Rihanna is to blame for the assault. WHAT?! When is domestic violence EVER justified? How could anyone be on Chris Brown's side?

Please share your thoughts on this important issue. Like the teenagers in this article, are you or is anyone you know desensitized to the brutality and unwarranted nature of domestic violence?

On a related and quite timely note, here's a British commercial starring Keira Knightley:

Week 4 of Express Play!

Can you believe it's the last week of Express Play?!?! Out month-long celebration of Teen Tech Week is coming to a close. Waaaaaa! Take a look at this final week of "Things" and don't forget to give a shout out to your favorite library.

Thing 9: StumbleUpon

Tired of stopping by the same old websites? Stumble on over to StumbleUpon, a bookmarking and social networking site that lets you discover websites based on your personal interests. How does it work? Simply create an account, install the StumbleUpon toolbar, check off your interests and Voila! You’re ready to stumble!

The StumbleUpon toolbar allows you to give each newly discovered site a “thumbs up” or “thumbs down,” and customizes future finds based on your tastes and preferences. Hitting the "Stumble!" button exposes you to some pretty crazy-interesting sites. It's addictive! StumbleUpon also bookmarks the sites you love on your profile, for easy access, anytime. No more bookmarks folder!

Don’t forget to share your best StumbleUpon finds with us. Post your favorites in the comments!

Thing 10: Google Docs

Google Docs is part of a growing trend – the availability of web-based applications. What does that mean? It means you’ll never be reliant on a flash drive or floppy disc again!

With Google Docs, you can type up a paper, make a slide presentation, or create a spreadsheet, and store all of your work online. Google Docs also allows you to share your documents with others. Anyone you choose can access your work from a computer with Internet access – at home, in the library or at school! So create that slide show for your Environmental Science presentation, share it with your study group, and let them add content and edit your work. Type your English paper on A Tale of Two Cities and save it online to complete another day! The possibilities are endless!

For this activity, navigate to Google Docs. Sign in if you already have a Google account, or click on the “Get Started” button if you don’t. Click on the “New” button on the left side and start creating! Share your work with others by clicking on “Share.” Tell your librarian or media specialist at school about Google Docs. They’ll be glad you did!

Well, that's all for Express Play. We hope you've learned a lot and that you've enjoyed participating!

Express Play! Week 3!

Week 3 of Express Play!, our celebration of Teen Tech Week, is here! Take a look at this week's "Things" and don't forget to give a shout out to your favorite library.

But first, take a look at one of the participants did with last week's image generator thing. Lolcats are the key to my heart!

Thing 7: Facebook

OK. We know you’re ALREADY on the most popular social networking site out there - Facebook! But did you know that the Library has an official Facebook account? For this activity, become a Facebook fan of Columbus Metropolitan Library. While you’re at it, post some fan photos to our Facebook page…we want to see our teen customers represented!

Don’t have a Facebook account yet? No worries! Go to Facebook and sign up! It’s FREE - all you need is an e-mail address!

Thing 8: Mango Languages

Struggling in French or Spanish class? Or just want to learn a new language? Try out Mango Languages - an interactive, online tool for learning everyday conversational skills in a variety of different languages. Simply click “Premium Resources” in the left-hand column and choose Mango Languages. Be sure to have your library card handy if you are using Mango Languages outside the library. Languages include Spanish, German, Russian, and more! You’ll need speakers or headphones for Mango Languages audio lessons.

Express Play! Week 2!

If you're new to Express Play! get up to speed by reading the first post about it. When you comment, don't forget to give a shout out to your favorite library!

Thing 4: Library Instant Message Service

When you can’t get a ride to your neighborhood library and don’t want to waste your minutes on a call, don’t fret! Contacting the library just got a lot easier! Use our Instant Messenger Service for all of your homework questions and information needs. You can even add us to your IM contact list and text us from your cell phone! Find this service by clicking on the "Ask It" link on the left of any of our pages.

Thing 5: Share your Photos!

Don’t know what to do with all those digital pictures? There are many photo sharing websites that allow you to organize your photos and share them with family and friends. For this exercise, choose one of the photo sharing websites below and take a tour to learn more. Create an account and download some photos.

Flickr is one of the most popular photo sharing websites. Flickr allows you to create an account, organize and share photos, and search for that perfect picture you need for a special project. Take Flickr’s virtual tour to learn more.
The library uses Flickr for the “Express It” photo-sharing feature on this website. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, upload a picture to share in our “Express It” slideshow!

More photo sharing sites that allow you to create cool things, like photo albums, calendars, mugs, and magnets.:
Photobucket
Picasa
Shutterfly
Snapfish
Tabblo

*** If you are sharing a photo of some one else, it's always a good idea to get their permission before you publish it online.

Thing 6: Image Generators

Do you like creating silly images of you and your friends? Have goofy pictures of your pets? Try out these great, free, online image generators. They’ll allow you take your photos and twist them around in hilarious new ways. You can even create new images from scratch!

After exploring the sites below, show us what you come up! Share your images with us on our "Express It" page or post them in a comment.

LOLCATS Generator
BabyMaker 3000
piZap
Soft Drink Generator
Mr. PicassoHead
Paint!
MORE Image Generators
Even MORE Image Generators

Welcome to Express Play!

Express Play! is an online program that celebrates the third annual Teen Tech Week! Teen Tech Week is all about connecting teens with technology. Express Play! encourages you to explore a variety of fun, new Internet sites and Web 2.0 technologies.

What the heck is Web 2.0? Simply put, this term describes the growth of technologies that promote online creativity, collaboration, information and media sharing, and social networking. If you’ve used Facebook, YouTube, or this blog, then you’re already a Web 2.0 user!

How to participate: Whether you’re a tech guru or the last-to-know about the latest tech trends, Express Play! has something for you. Throughout the month of March, check this blog for new “things” and follow the links provided. Explore, play, and let us know about your experience by sharing your comments, linking us to your blog, etc. And be sure to give a shout out to your favorite library location! What are you waiting for? Start playing!

Thing 1: Register on our new Gaming site – GPX Crew @ CML!

Time to show off your skills in a Teen Gaming tournament at your neighborhood library! You can check out our tournament schedule AND register to participate at our NEW Gaming site – GPX Crew at CML.

For this activity, create a GPX Crew account by following the links on the left of the GPX page. If you’re feeling competitive, sign up to participate in one of our Teen Tech Week tournaments. Your scores at future competitions will be recorded by staff so you can track your progress on our system-wide leader boards!

Thing 2: Blogging

Millions of people worldwide maintain blogs, with thousands more joining the blogosphere daily. So what is a blog? Depends on the blogger! Basically, a blog is an online journal that can be easily updated as frequently as the blogger wants. Blogs are a great form of self-expression: some are private and function like a diary, while others publicly chronicle everything from their creators’ pop culture obsessions to their commentary on daily events. Blogs are multimedia forums, allowing bloggers to post pictures, videos, podcasts, and links to other sites, as well as their own musings on whatever. And blogs can connect users to others around the globe who share their interests. Got something to say? Blog it!

For this exercise, read through these safety tips for bloggers and then create your own blog. Try using one of these free blog hosting services: Blogger or WordPress.

(THIS is a blog, by the way, so practice your blogging skills here by commenting about your experience! Commenting on blogs is part of the fun!)

Thing 3: Twitter

Bored with MySpace and Facebook? Try Twitter -- a micro-blogging site where you answer the question “What are you doing?” in 140 characters or less. It’s a way to share information and find out what your friends are up to, without reading long emails. It’s kind of like texting on the Internet, and you can even have “tweets” sent to your phone! Once you set up an account, you can follow other users’ “tweets” and they can follow you. Visit Twitter, and click on the “Watch a video link” to learn more.

For this activity, go to Twitter and set up an account. Click on “Find People”, search for “columbuslibrary”, and start following us to find out what's going on at the library! If you enable columbuslibrary “tweets” to be sent to your cell phone, you can find out about our teen events no matter where you are!

Check back here throughout March for more "things!"

27 Days 'Til Spring!!!

Raise your hand if you're sick of winter. I know you're out there. I see you walking around with flip flops on the moment the temperature rises above 40 degrees or so.

While I am so ready for the cold, dark days of winter to be gone, I won't be breaking out my flip flops until it's about 70 degrees or so. After all, I'm not as invincible as a teenager. My toes get cold and I need two pairs of socks. Hmmmm....I wonder what Meals on Wheels will bring me for dinner this weekend. JK.

Anyhow, I am encouraged by the (no pun intended) budding signs of spring. There's a crocus flower peeking out of the ground. I can hear more birds chirping. It's getting lovelier by the day (besides the cold today and the bit of snow we're supposed to get tonight...SOMEBODY MAKE IT STOP!).

But perhaps you are one of those weirdos who prays for the cold and snow to last as long as possible so you can spend every weekend possible snowboarding at Mad River Mountain? Overall though, even for the snowboarding obsessed, don't you think this winter has been hard on us? Surely, you have some make up snow days. Has your spring break been stolen from you -- do you have make up days over spring break or at the end of the year? Man, it sucks.

What is your favorite season? What are you most looking forward to this spring?

Valentine's Day: Love it or Hate it?

It seems like everyone loves Valentine's Day if they're in a relationship but hates it if they're single. Is that how you feel?

While there is some history and story behind why we celebrate Valentine's Day, doesn't it really just seem like an excuse to spend too much money on flowers, candy, and decorations? Don't get me wrong, I could buy every Valentine's Day inspired household item at Target, but only because it's SO CUTE. I would happily decorate with hearts and red and pink YEAR ROUND. But I digress...

Do you have plans this year? Or do you plan to boycott? Is it the Holiday you love to hate? This Valentine's Day, do you plan to cheese it up like this, or do you plan to "celebrate" in a slightly different manner? The choice is yours and we want to know! Please share!

GPX Crew is Here!

Your gaming experience at the library just got a whole lot better. Our Gaming Tournament site, your place for all things related to gaming at the library, is here!

Now is the time to create an account on the site. We are gearing up for lots of tournaments for Teen Tech Week, March 8-14. So, get your account set up and get ready to rumble! If you want to know more, talk to the Teen Services guru at your friendly neighborhood library location.

Decide who's the best at your Library location and the best in the whole Library system, and eventually pit yourself against the best library gamers in the country. With your participation, the possibilities are limitless!

At GPX Crew, you'll be able to:

• Interact on a gaming only page
• Discover new gaming events
• Sign up for tournaments
• See results and scores posted online
• Create a gamer profile that automatically tabulates your scores, rank, etc.

We are super stoked to see you out and about on the new site!

Resolutions: Do You Make Them?

Happy New Year!

Today probably finds you back at school after a nice long break. But I'm sure it wasn't long enough, was it? If you're anything like me -- you probably feel like you need a vacation from vacation!

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? If so, what were they? If I had to guess, I would say your collective resolution is to share more poems on the Express It page because poetry submissions are totally off the hook right now!

Or, do you rebel from the tradition by not making any resolutions at all? AND, there's another problem: January 1st probably doesn't feel like the beginning of a new year to most of us. The new year begins in August or September when school starts!

I'm trying to think of a resolution for the Teens' Website. Can you help me come up with one? What can be improved upon? What needs changed? In 2009, what is the frontier for this website?