Don't Blink!

I am not a Dalek.  I am a human.

Soufflé Girl here!  Not really.  Just little ol' me in a snazzy cosplay get-up.  But I do have a whisk in my belt and that has to count for something.  At least once a month we host after hours lock-ins at my library for the teens.  Sometimes, like our Doctor Who program, I spend hours scouring the internet looking for great program ideas only to let the kids get hopped up on sugar and run around.  It happens. How can you resist when one of your teens' mothers bakes cupcakes with adorable Doctor Who fondant pieces on top?  Especially when you've already made marshmallow Adipose creatures and Ood cupcakes? The phone with the close-up shot of the Adipose is presently missing, but you best believe I will ETA this johnson once I am reunited with it. 

Now, not every library program is going to have such fancy cupcakes.  Guess what?  The teens don't care.  I promise.  I only have fancy snacks from time to time because unlike the majority of the librarian population, I loathe baking.  Those Ood cupcakes?  Yeahhhh... I bought a 24 pack of unfrosted cupcakes and let my teen volunteers decorate them.  They love cupcake decorating and helping to bring lock-ins to the next level because they get to take ownership when the snacks are complimented.  It's pretty much a win win win.  You can also make regular snacks fit your theme with a little imagination.  For this lock-in I had Candied Companions (Sour Patch Kids) and Still-Not-a-Ginger Snacks (pretty much orange foods like Cheez-Its and Nacho Doritos, but you can also use gingersnaps). 

While planning this event I encountered several Doctor Who parties featuring a Weeping Angels Red Light/Green Light game, so of course now that I'm writing up the program I can't find a single source.  I had to edit the game, so I don't feel as guilty about not linking, but still... just pointing out that this isn't original.  Those games called for the traditional rules of Red Light/Green Light where the person that is "it" (or in this case "The Doctor") merely turned around and everyone had to freeze.  We found after a few rounds that it was not challenging enough for the teenagers so we took it up a notch. Since the Weeping Angels move freely in the darkness, my colleague flicked the lights off when the teens were expected to move and once the lights were back on they had to freeze immediately.  It was a lot more fun and provided a much more "realistic" Doctor Who experience than traditional Red Light/Green Light. 

 

Can we just stop for a moment and think about how much we all love photobooths and photo backdrops?  They're the best.  You can instantly turn transitory moments and lulls in program momentum into a fun time simply because you have a photobooth! This one was very low budget and took about 20 minutes to whip together.  I know that some people really take their TARDIS building very seriously, and I don't want to knock that, but ain't nobody got time for that.  The plastic tablecloths you get from most any dollar store out there is decently close to TARDIS blue.  Painter's tape is very close, but light enough to provide a bit of contrast to make panels for the door. My anal retentive handwriting skills lost out in favor of letting a teen volunteer write "Public Call Police Box" on black construction paper with white chalk to get the background done quickly and still looks phenomenal.  You can also print out one of these bad boys, slap it up there with some white squares and you're set.  Easy peasy TARDIS squeezy.  

For more Doctor Who party ideas, check out my Whovian board on Pinterest!

Hungry Hungry Hunger Games

 

If you're able to score multiple Hungry Hungry Hippo marble consumption arenas, you can host a rather noisy tournament and have multiple groups of teens compete at once.  If not, teens can watch the action unfold while they wait their turn.  You might want to consider advertising a Capital Couture Cosplay Contest to spice it up.  This prevents the teens from getting too bored as they will be in character.  Besides, once you get to round two everyone will be oddly fascinated by the eating contest... let's be real.. 

                                                      #swag - (via)

Divergent Program Ideas

The Divergent series by Veronica Roth might be put to bed, but I haven't seen that book on the shelf since I purchased it in 2011. An early favorite, this series packs enough adventure for thrill seekers, a dystopian society to die for, and there are more than enough sparks on the romance front to keep all entertained.  That said, I've had multiple teens begging me for a Divergent program.  For whatever reason it hasn't materialized, but I am definitely going to hit that up this summer and watch the sparks fly. 

As I've previously stated, my program ensemble is very important to me.  I spend a lot of time and effort with my wardrobe overall, so it is no surprise to anyone that knows me.  If you find yourself in a similar boat or want to really want to get in character, might I recommend checking out the Official Divergent Tumblr for costuming suggestions?  If I lived in the Divergent dystopia I know that I wouldn't hesitate to select Dauntless on Choosing Day, but feel the requisite wardrobe of black and leather might be a bit much for a teen librarian running a program, so I proffer an adorable Abnegation outfit.  Grey is my favorite color to wear and as librarians are supposed to selflessly help everyone that comes through their library's doors it seems most fitting.  Please click on the link and browse the inspiration for your chosen faction to spice it up!

On to the games!  While my high schoolers prefer acting games and being left to their own devices to relax, my middle schoolers are hyper and can't sit still to save their lives.  If I am not constantly rushing from one high intensity game to another, trouble flares up.  Not all of these games will work for your teens, which is why I provided three per faction.  I got a lot of ideas from looking over this fabulous link by the Divergent Lexicon. Check that link out for food ideas as well!

Dauntless Games

These games should be executed with caution as Dauntless activities are not for the weak at heart! We played Trainwreck at a Hunger Games lock-in a few years back and there were a few skinned knees and head on collisions, so please be careful! I still recommend it because it was hilarious to watch and the teens had a great time.

• Manhunt
• Capture the Flag 
• Capture the Pearl sounds a whole lot more exciting, but might not be suitable for every library.
• Trainwreck

Erudite Games

These will go over particularly well with my uber nerdy teens.  I really like the Divergent trivia I found on Goodreads and can't wait to dig into it.

• Divergent Trivia
• Trivial Pursuit
• Jeopardy

Candor Games

Spotting lies and seeking the truth are the name of the game for Candor.

• 2 Truths & a Lie
• Truth or Dare
• Truth be Told

Abnegation Games

Abnegation facilitates selflessness and teamwork, so try these team building games!

• Hands Down
• Blanket Flip
• Portal

Amity Games

Amity games are all about teamwork and not about who wins.  I highly recommend the link I provided for Charades, as it is actually a variation known as Charade Relay.

• Charades
• Catchphrase
• Amoeba 

Godzilla Movie Marathon... Now With Haiku!

Well.  I did it, guys.  I faced the inevitable reality that Summer Reading is coming close and the thought that I should probably start planning events yesterday.  I looked at a chapter from the CSLP manual yesterday, that has to count for something, right?  Right.

I'm in charge of bringing the Chapter Six: Science Fiction & Fun into life for the annual Summer Reading Program workshop hosted by the Ramapo Central Catskills Library System on Monday, so the next few posts are going to either be directly related or additional ideas building on the science fiction theme.  How on earth did the manual contributors miss a chance for a Godzilla movie marathon?!  First of all, the new Godzilla movie is scheduled to debut in May 2014, just before Summer Reading kicks off.  Second of all, have they seen Godzilla Haiku?  Have you?  No?  Check these guys out:

If you have a creative writing group I would like to first inform you that I'm super jealous because I've tried to start one at my library more frequently than Gretchen Wieners tried to make "fetch" happen and it still won't stick. BUT if you have alchemical processes working in your favor and have a successful writing group (or would like to start one) might I recommend making your own Godzilla haikus?   You can find stills of the old Godzilla movies and have the teens write their own.  There are many ways you could execute this and as it has been a while since I've had the opportunity to profess my love for bulleted lists, I will do so now to demonstrate the possibilities: 

• Passive Program: Create a bulletin board of 3-5 Godzilla still frames asking for Godzilla haikus.  Provide smaller examples from the tumblr so teens have an idea what you are looking for. Create a haiku printable (doesn't have to be too fancy) and provide a submission box so no one can read the poems already entered.  Label each Godzilla screenshot with a number or letter so that teens can easily communicate which picture corresponds with their poem, fully knowing at least one teen will mess up and yet another will ask you relentless questions no matter how easy you attempt to make it.  Once you have enough submissions, slap those haikus over the appropriate image with meme font, also known as Impact in white with a black outline.  If you do not have Photoshop, might I recommend using Ribbet?  
• During the Movie Marathon: This one is less exciting, but you are more likely to get a bunch of results. You can print out the Godzilla screenshots with lines underneath them so the teens can write them in as they watch the movies.  While you are almost guaranteed more haikus this route, you will miss out on the opportunity to use the completed product as a marketing tool for the movie marathon. 
• Teens as Content Creators: The ideal situation involves using Web 2.0 apps, like Ribbet, to allow the teens to create the content themselves.  You can either offer them some sort of SRP club credit for creating it online and emailing it to you or you can have a program using library computers that allows them to do it in a group all together.  The latter suggestion would not work in my library, so I am aware that it might not work for you.  I'm talking in ideals here people! 
• Contest: Using any of the above ideas or combination thereof, you can make a contest for the best Godzilla haiku.  Teens are competitive. Having a prize at the end of the haiku tunnel might help some reluctant poets enter the mix. 

Make Waves: Sea Glass Candy Recipe

Those of you looking for aquatic themed activities for your library this summer might want to check out Not So Humble Pie's Sea Glass Candy recipe. As far as equipment goes you only need a stove-top (or hot plate), a sauce pan, candy thermometer metal pan and a mallet. If you can muster those items up--not to mention the limited ingredients--you should definitely consider this for your summer reading program because it looks like it is going to be a smash. ... Sorry--I had to. (Thanks Craftzine!)

Express Yourself

Rutgers steals money for various things I never use and then calls it tuition. Usually I just shrug my shoulders and ignore it. What was that? $11 for a grammatically incorrect paper I never read because it makes my eyeballs bleed? Sure, why not. However much you want to take from my lazy non-gym using ass? Please! My wallet is yours.

Well not this time! I am going to use the entirety of my printing budget this year if it's the last thing I do! I made the booklist you see below last night in Fireworks and plan on printing them out with the remainder of the unused printing fund. Mwahahaha I = evil genius. Or a dork. Either way, check out my new booklist!!!!!!!exclaim!!!

Express yourself @ Your Library

Schiorgasboard of program ideas for this year's young adult summer reading theme:

• Zee shows us how to paint with coffee by making a neat replica of Westerfield's Extras
  
• This is more of an (anti)Valentine's day craft, but whatevsky. It's awesome, you need to see it--works out like magic. Thanks, SuperPunch! You're the greatest!
• I associate LOLcatz with library science. I never saw them before grad school, now they are everywhere. Therefore, it is a splendid idea to make LOLcat purses as a teen library program, no?
• Perhaps instead of having a bland ::point::click::enjoy:: style photography program, spice it up by having teens bring in or print their digital photos, then turn them 3-D?
• What do teenage girls love more than earrings? RECYCLING! ... They don't? Whatever, because now they can make free earrings and recycle at the same time and there's nothing they can do to stop it. ... besides not go to the program, but why on earth would that happen?
• Fabric boxes seem super easy and super-duper awesome!
• We have a knitting club at my library, but you might have a sewing club. Or you could potentially have a sewing circle. Either way, if you wish to have a sewing program, this blog post of sewing term definitions is a must have print-out. Thanks U-handbag!

Unless otherwise noted, links come from Craft: blog.

Home Run Strikes Out

Home Run claims to be a story about Babe Ruth, but it is more Babe Ruth than story. This is on the summer reading list for 3rd graders, and I am struggling to find a reason why. The illustrations are great and imaginative and all that, but that is all this book has going for it. Yesterday, two kids tried to fill out their story map graphic organizers for this tale and were unable to figure out a problem, and in turn, the solution section. I took the book and read through it, then had the children's librarian read through it and neither of us could find a problem either. The book literally might as well say:

Babe Ruth was awesome (turn the page)
Babe Ruth was awesome (turn the page)
Babe Ruth was awesome...

I'm sorry, but I need a little something more with my summer reading, I don't know about you.

Summer Reading Review (SRR): Summer Reading is Killing Me! (Time Warp Trio)

Oh NB schools, you know your students well. Of course they'll read a book from the summer reading list entitled, Summer Reading is Killing Me! For those of you unfamiliar with The Time Warp Trio book series, lemme sum it up for you. For his tenth birthday, Joe's uncle gives him a very special book (which, any uncle of a ten year old should know better than to give him a book, but that's another story entirely). Unlike all the other books Joe has ever encountered, this book takes him and his two closest friends, Sam and Fred, on dangerous adventures throughout history. In order to make it home, they have to locate the book and get absorbed in an odd, green mist to get back home. Oh, yeah, and the most dastardly beings are usually in possession of The Book, making it that much harder to get home alive.

Jon Scieszka doesn't disappoint in this high-low volume. We find our heroes discussing all the things they want to do over the summer, and while they disagree about whether they should skateboard or read from the summer reading list, all three kids are in agreement that they want a break from The Book's historical vacations. Unfortunately, when the argument between Fred and Sam over boards vs. books heats up, Fred shoves the summer reading list into a random book from Joe's bookcase to put summer reading out of sight once and for all. Only trouble is, he didn't put the list in any old book. Before Joe, Fred and Sam can wonder what happens when The Book gets a hold of the summer reading list, they are sucked into the fictional Hoboken, NJ from The Hoboken Chicken Emergency courtesy of the aforementioned odd, green mist. Duhn, duhn DUHN... How will they ever get home when they are on the run from such classic bad guys like Mrs. Trunchbull and Dracula?