September 16, 2009

Happy International Chocolate Day!

Ok, so International Chocolate Day was actually September 13, but we celebrated it here at the Library last evening. Let me tell you, there was a TON of chocolate for the teens to feast upon. We served different kinds of chocolate from different countries, and the teens rated what they tasted. Here's a breakdown of how they liked them, #1 being their most favorite:

#1 Caffarel Milk Chocolate (Italy)
#2 Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate w/ Praline (Germany)
#3 Butler’s Mixed Berry White Chocolate (Ireland)
#4 Lindt White Coconut (Switzerland)
#5 Milka Dark Chocolate w/ Marzipan (Austria)
#6 Droste Pastilles Milk/White Chocolate (Holland)
#7 Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate w/ Whole Hazelnuts (Germany)
#8 Caffarel Milk Chocolate w/ Hazelnuts (Italy)
#9 Michel Cluizel Dark Chocolate w/ Orange Peel (France)
#10 World Market Dark Chocolate w/ Pomegranates (United States)
#11 World Market Dark Chocolate w/ Chili & Lime (United States)
#12 Vintage Plantations 65% Dark w/ Cocoa Nibs (Ecuador)
#13 World Market Sea Salt Dark Chocolate (United States)
#14 World Market Dark Chocolate w/ Chipotle Chili (United States)

A special thanks to the folks at Schakolad who provided our teens with some samples of their AMAZING chocolate creations. Next time you're over in Winter Park Village to see a movie, stop across the street and give them a try. You can also visit their Facebook page and become a fan.

August 31, 2009

School daze

Welcome back to another year of math quizzes and food from the caf, pep rallies and Lord of the Flies. Yep, school's back in session, and your friendly local library is here to help you survive the year. Here's three ways you can score that A:

1) Databases -- You know when your teacher assigns you research and tells you that you can't get it all off the Internet? Guess what...databases are NOT the Internet. Our Library pays money to have access to a giant collection of newspaper and magazine articles, biographies of famous (and not-so-famous) people, maps, photos, and so much more. You can access them at home too!


2) Your friendly librarian -- I promise. We don't bite. We do, however, love to help students find the info and materials that they need in order to complete school assignments. So don't be afraid to ask us for help. It's what we do.


3) Books for fun -- Yes, I know that school is a crazy amount of work, and it seems like sometimes you have time for nothing else. But remember, stressing out and not taking time for yourself now and then is a sure way to get overwhelmed by school and...well, life. Reading books for fun can help clear your mind and get you back on track. Not sure what to read? Try starting here.


There's a lot of other cool things we're doing at the library. Check out the full scoop on what's coming up. Good luck in school, and I'll see you at the Library.

August 5, 2009

Want one last entry into our grand prize drawing?

Take a few minutes to answer our survey and let us know what you thought about this summer. Completed surveys will give you one extra entry into the grand prize drawing, which will take place on Sunday, August 9. Good luck!

July 29, 2009

Pizza Taste-Off Results

Another year, another crazy summer at the library. This year we had more teens and tweens than ever sign up for the Summer Reading Program and attend activities at the library. The final event, The Pizza Taste-Off, was muy excelente. Below I've listed the top 3 winners in each category. Let's see if you agree.

Best Overall
1. Pizzeria Valdiano
2. Papa John's and Domino's (tie)
3. Little Caesars

Best Crust
1. Mellow Mushroom
2. Papa John's
3. Little Caesars

Best Sauce
1. Papa John's
2. Brooklyn Pizza
3. Domino's

Best Cheese
1. Domino's
2. Pizzeria Valdiano
3. Papa John's

July 28, 2009

Our Teen Film Festival entries

Take a look at some of the entries we received for our first Teen Film Festival at the Winter Park Public Library and tell us what you think. :)

Red Beans and Jam

Emma's Very Short Claymation Festival


Yolks On You


Wanted


The J&H Show

July 27, 2009

Mortal Instruments online!

Now through August 10, visit the Simon & Schuster Mortal Instruments series webpage, to read a FREE web-only version of City of Bones and get The Mortal Instruments Sample of the CITYs, a free introduction to the series that includes excerpts from all three books and a Q&A with Cassandra Clare.

The series page also features a book trailer video, interview videos between Cassandra Clare and bestselling authors Holly Black and Scott Westerfeld, downloadable wallpapers, excerpts of the audio books, and much more.

If you haven't yet read Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments books, I highly recommend them...especially if you enjoyed the Twilight series.

Happy reading, and I'll see you at the library.

July 23, 2009

First lines -- Win or Fail?

Here are the first lines of some books I have stacked on my desk for a project. Would any draw you in and make you want to read more?

1.The worst night of my life? My first--and last--date with Angela O'Bannon. (Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman)

2.Streaked with soot, the Tattooed Monk followed the wavering tracks of a lone fox into the woods. (Sign of the Qin by L.G. Bass)

3. I am commanded to write an account of my days: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. (Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman)

4. My first memory of myself I be drowning. (Born Blue by Han Nolan)

5. It started with a book. (King Dork by Frank Portman)

6. My mother has a very complex relationship with cows. (Please, Please, Please by Rachel Vail)

7. At the age of nine, Mary Jane Watson had already become a master of self-distraction. (Mary Jane by Judith O'Brien)

8. I'm going to tell you a funny thing that happened to my mother and me yesterday evening. ("The Umbrella Man" from The Umbrella Man and Other Stories by Roald Dahl

9. A long time ago, when Time was still winding its watch and Sun was trying to figure out which was was east and which was west, there was a king and queen. (Cupid by Julius Lester)

10. Silvano da Montacuto was not just young, handsome and rich. He was young, handsome, rich and in love. (The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman)

June 30, 2009

The Sounds of Summer

The latest issue of Rolling Stone (1082/1083) has a cool list of the songs that topped the charts on July 4th for the past 40 summers. I've listed the most recent 20 below. If you want to hear the songs, you can check out the CDs at the library or visit imeem to listen to the playlist. What's your favorite?

2008 - Katy Perry "I Kissed a Girl"
2007 - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z "Umbrella"
2006 - Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland "Promiscuous"
2005 - Mariah Carey "We Belong Together"
2004 - Usher "Burn"
2003 - Clay Aiken "This is the Night"
2002 - Nelly "Hot in Herre"
2001 - Usher "U Remind Me"
2000 - Enrique Iglesias "Be With You"
1999 - Jennifer Lopez "If You Had My Love"
1998 - Brandy and Monica "The Boy is Mine"
1997 - Puff Daddy and Faith Evans "I'll Be Missing You"
1996 - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony "Tha Crossroads"
1995 - TLC "Waterfalls"
1994 - All-4-One "I Swear"
1993 - Janet Jackson "That's the Way Love Goes"
1992 - Sir Mix-a-Lot "Baby Got Back"
1991 - Paula Abdul "Rush Rush"
1990 - New Kids on the Block "Step by Step"
1989 - Milli Vanilli "Baby Don't Forget My Number"