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Month: September 2013

Nominated Short Films

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Watching the Oscars each year reminds me how disappointed I am that we are not able to readily view the animated short films that are nominated each year.  The library has been able to add to our collection here in Gardiner three compilations of these winners and nominees, “A Collection of Academy AwardNominated Short Films”.  The years covered are 2005, 2006, and 2007.  But what about all the other years and other films?  Last year’s winner for Best Animated Short Film was “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr.Morris Lessmore”.  A friend who knew I worked in a library passed a youtube.com link on to me that allowed me to watch this wonderful short film.  It is a heartwarming story of a man who takes care of books.  It was such a success that it was turned into a picture book by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm, and the library now owns that book.  Wouldn’t it be a boon to film fans for some publishing company to make this and other nominated films available for public purchase so we could enjoy what the Academy has deemed worth merit? 
Scott Handville, Assistant Director
 

 

Book Sites for Teens

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I thought I would do a blog on different websites teens could visit to keep up to date with all the new books coming out. I am always wondering where the teens find out about books that have just been published – by looking around a book store? or searching the web? Here are some websites I have found helpful.
www.yahighway.com has a website and facebook page which is a very good place to start. Their facebook page was very helpful for the Young Adult on new books.
 Another website is www.Teenreads.com. This website has a fabulous layout for teens. Very colorful, suggestions for more reads and it just presents itself as a fun site.

www.goodreads.com is a great website for anyone looking for books to read. There are wonderful reviews and you can rate the books that you have read and make a list of books that you would like to read.

 One website I just learned about, so I have not used it at all is www.yabookscentral.com. It has a nice set up and a star system to rate the new books. This website looks very useful for even a librarian to use. This one also has a facebook page called YABooksCentral.
http://yalit.com this a very simple site which tells when the books are being released, and what stores you can find them.
 http://www.ala.org/yalsa/bfya-nominationsis the American Library Association website for Young Adult. This website may seem overwhelming to a teen but has some great suggestions.
I would love to hear from you on any websites or facebook pages that you use to find out the new releases, other than book store websites. Enjoy your next read.
Ginni Nichols, Young Adult Librarian.

Banned Books Week 2013!

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This year, Banned Books Week is celebrated the week of September 22.  This is a week to embrace items that have been Banned or Challenged over the previous twelve months, as well as previous years. 

 
Banned Books Week celebrates a freedom – the freedom to read.  Working in a library, I love books!  Yes, I admit it, I LOVE TO READ!  I read just about anything – from cereal boxes to “How to manuals”, from “Scandal sheets” (as my grandfather called them) to what others might consider more legitimate newspapers, from the “Classics” to “Bodice rippers” – I read them all.  As a serious reader, I simply do not understand how anyone feels that they have the right to tell me what I can and should read.

 

Every year, most libraries have a display of Banned or Challenged books.  You have probably seen some of these as you visit libraries in September each year.  This year we have wrapped our display and hidden the titles.  We have covered the books in paper, and attached a blurb about why the books have been challenged.  Some of the descriptors might give you an idea of what the book is, but most of the reasons are rather general.  
 
Come on in and pick up a surprising title today!
Ann Russell, Technology Librarian

 

Books won’t stay banned. They won’t burn. Ideas won’t go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. The source of better ideas is wisdom. The surest path to wisdom is a liberal education. —  Alfred Whitney Griswold