X Block after the Blizzard!

Some folks can't believe how busy and lively our library can get. Well, check out these pictures we got during Thursday's X block. After a long blizzardy weekend, these students were enthusiastic to get back to their studies!

Bored and Brilliant!

After a long weekend and a blizzard to boot, my family had a lot of down time together. We played board games, went skiing, watched movies, baked goodies and....used our devices. It drives my kids crazy, but I refer to any computer, tablet, phone, ipod, droid, or whatever else as "the machine". I might say (alright, yell), "Put the machine down!" more than any other statement to my children...sad state of affairs, I know.

Then while listening to NPR, (another snowy activity) I heard about the Bored and Brilliant challenge. Manoush Zomorodi, host of a podcast called "New Tech City", is reporting for a project called "Bored And Brilliant: The Lost Art Of Spacing Out", a one week challenge to disconnect from our smart phones. Many of us suffer from the irresistible urge to pick up our phones anytime we need a bit of stimulation, but new studies reveal that we may be doing more harm than good to our brains. Research has shown that when the brain is 'bored', we are capable of thinking beyond our conscious and thus enter a more tranquil and creative state of mind. I feel like bored is not the right terminology, but perhaps semantics is something we can discuss while we are disconnected! Variations on the bored term could be a time for "wonder", "daydreaming" or "introspection".  This lost art of daydreaming is what researchers are trying to get smart phone users to rediscover during the week long challenge. An unoccupied mind is the goal, some good, old fashioned down time the means.

In the days prior to the challenge, Zomorodi encourages participants to download an app called "moment" that will identify how many times a day you are checking in on your phone and what your total usage is. Get ready to be alarmed - the average smartphone owner uses almost 3 hours per day! This concept of spacing out being essential to creativity and joy is not a new one. In the Buddhist philosophy, one must learn to shift the mind into neutral, which is considered the natural state of the brain. Achieving happiness and peace of mind becomes more feasible in a neutral mind. There is not a $100/month service contract either!


Regardless of whether you are trying to achieve nirvana in one week or not, I think it would be an interesting campus wide challenge to forgo smartphone usage for a set amount of time. Just to see what happens...and perhaps a week is way too long for most teenagers to "survive" without their technological BFF, but maybe 48 hours could be possible? What do you think? Maybe write me a letter in your downtime.


To learn more about the challenge or New Tech City, visit
New Tech City

Read & Feed!

 

This month marks the start (of yet another) new great program in the library, Feed and Read! Introduced by Mrs. McVicker, the program will run like a traditional book group. Interested students will choose and discuss a popular YA book and then gather to discuss about 6 weeks later. And, as the title suggests, the Feed entails consuming off campus food!

This month's book is I Hunt Killers,  a thriller by Barry Lyga. It's been called the greatest YA fiction since The Hunger Games.... not a compliment to be taken lightly!

Fellow YA author, Joe Hill says:

"I Hunt Killers is an out-of-control hearse with one busted headlight, blood on the grille, a madman at the wheel, and laughter pouring out of the open windows... Climb in, buckle up, and go for a ride."

Plus do you think Mrs. McVicker would lead you astray with recommending a lame book? No way!

The student version of Feed & Read is off to such a great start that we are choosing to add a faculty and staff version also. The book has yet to be decided, so there is still time for you to voice your preference. Here are the options for the first meeting (with descriptions borrowed from Amazon):


The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion 
"MEET DON TILLMAN, a brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, the late arrivers."




The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
"A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over--and see everything anew. "




The Kept by James Scott
"...is set in rural upstate New York c: 1900. It tells the story of a mother and son who set off for a rough, rural town in search of the killers who murdered their family; there, they make some discoveries, all right--not just about the criminals, but also about their own damaged selves. This debut is not for the faint of heart..."




The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
"After a night of partying, 19-year-old Ruthie awakens to a world of impossibilities: her mother, an off-the-grid hippie who rarely leaves their Vermont farm, is missing, and Ruthie is left to care for her young sister. Ruthie desperately searches their old farmhouse for clues and uncovers a hidden compartment in her mother’s room filled with frightening artifacts: a pair of strangers’ wallets, a loaded gun, and a book entitled Visitors from the Other Side: The Secret Diary of Sara Harrison Shea..."


Once the book has been selected, we will send out an email and order some extra copies to borrow from the library.  The date for the luncheon is tentatively scheduled for Feburary 27th.

Revolutionary Reads

In honor of our guest speaker today, Alex Myers, the library will be displaying an assortment of transgender literature from our collection each day on the front entry table. These books are for anyone and everyone to better understand these unchartered waters. As librarians we feel strongly that information is power and therefore we are always here to guide you, in the quest for your holy grail.

It's not always easy to locate young adult books with transgender characters or topics using a library catalog, so please feel that you can always ask one of our librarians in confidence for help. This week you will find some great reads on the subject including:

 

 

Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out   

by Susan Kuklin                                  

Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference. Portraits, family photographs, and candid images grace the pages, augmenting the emotional and physical journey each youth has taken.     

 

(www.amazon.com)       

 

 

 

 

Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More

by Janet Mock

 

This “heart-rending autobiography of love, longing, and fulfillment” (bell hooks, author of All About Love) follows Mock’s quest for identity, from an early, unwavering conviction

about her gender to a turbulent adolescence in Honolulu that saw

her transitioning during the tender years of high school,

self-medicating with hormones at fifteen, and flying across

the world alone for sex reassignment surgery at just eighteen.

 

(www.barnesandnoble.com)

 

 

Revolutionary

by Alex Myers

 

 

Set during the American Revolution, Revolutionary tells the story of Deborah Samson Gannett, a young woman who runs away from her home in Middleborough Massachusetts, disguises herself as a man and enlists in the Continental Army, serving as a soldier for over a year and a half. Revolutionary tells the story of a fierce-tempered young woman turned celebrated solider and the remarkable courage, hope, fear, and heartbreak that shaped her odyssey during the birth of a nation.

(alexmyerswriting.blogspot.com)

 

 

 

 

 

If you are looking for other sources for transgender literature, we suggest the following as go to guides:

American Library Association Rainbow Project
The Rainbow Project puts together a yearly bibliography of GLBTQ books for children and young adults. Members of the Rainbow Project come from the American Library Association GLBT and Social Responsibilities Round Tables.

Lambda Literary Awards
Launched in 1989 by the Lambda Literary Foundation, the Lambda Literary Awards is the nation's most celebrated and comprehensive collection of awards for GLBT writing, including fiction, poetry, mystery, nonfiction, and works for adults as well as for children and young adults.

The Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award
This is a yearly award for GLBT books. This award is sponsored by the American Library Association GLBT Round Table.

Taking it to the Streets

 

 

 

 

 

"Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals."

                                                                -M.L.K., Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In honor of Martin Luther King's birthday next week, we feel it's important to acknowledge the ever lasting impact of his actions and words. In the last 6 months, we have seen a tremendous rise in non violent protests across the country demanding a new discourse on race, poverty and violence. Even just this morning 29 people were arrested in Boston for protesting in rush-hour traffic. They had their arms buried in concrete barrels to further complicate their extrication. Don't ask me how that is plausible, but there are images to prove it! Although MLK was all about targeting racial injustice, I do wonder if he would think this was a wise and safe undertaking.

The Huffington Post recently had an article about students all over the United States peacefully protesting everything from race to bullying to educational reform.


Highlighted are a few of the following:



December 2014 via the Boston Globe. Students protest for Michael Brown

In October, students protesting for Philadelphia teachers' rights

Students in Colorado rejecting new proposals to AP History curriculum

To get more inspiration for voicing your opinion, you can check out the full article below:
Huff post student protests

As a proponent of non violent protest, MLK would certainly be taking to the streets these days in honor of the slayings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, but HOW do you think MLK would organize? How can we unite peacefully in the fight for justice?

More Winter, Please

Monet, Lentamente cae la nieve en silencio

The only way that I remotely survive the subzero temps of a New England winter without constant complaint is through the enjoyment of the snow. But this year has left us with so little accumulation, I just might have to start whining! Fortunately, the Pesky Library has kept great reads in my lap so I have spent an inordinate amount of time snuggled near the fireplace with my faithful cocker spaniel and 2 cats, reading. The lack of the fluffy white stuff has me a bit bummed though. Alas, if you have any similar seasonal resentment of mother nature, head on over to our beautiful Snowflake display this month. It will definitely put a smile on your face. Maybe if you bite into a peppermint patty at the same time you behold the magic and mystery of snowflakes and ice crystals, you might really start to believe that you are living in a wintery wonderland. A Currier and Ives postcard! An Impressionist painting in winter!

Also explained in the display is the overused phrase of how "every snowflake is different". William Bentley, also known as Snowflake Bentley, was the one who discovered this truth. A self-educated scientist, farmer and photographer, he was the first person to photograph a single snowflake. He called each one a "miracle of beauty".

In reality however, most snowflakes are not quite the idealized vision of symmetry and beauty that might immediately come to mind. Generally speaking, the majority of snowflakes are misshapen and asymmetrical.  They are ice crystals in a constant flux of shape and size according to temperature.

Ms. Slater has also added to the seasonal flair in the library by displaying an array of holiday greeting cards from the school archives.These relics further indulge any desire to fantasize more about grandiose snowfalls with idealized snapshots of wintry New England scenes of the mansion house, snow covered sculptures on campus and festive horse drawn wagon prints.

Again, break out the peppermint patties. Do you remember these commercials from the 1970's? Go ahead and click on this to "Get the sensation"!

1979 York Peppermint Patty commercial

Conversation opened. 1 read message.

So, if you too, are longing for a bit more winter like me, come on into the library to chase
those blues away. Check out the wintry displays and a good book to keep you company
until Mother Nature is willing to cough up some of the good stuff!

FullSizeRender.jSo, if you are feeling at all at a loss due to the uncovered sledding hills and x-country trails, come on in to the library to get a little lesson in snowflakes and maybe check out a good read while you are at it. Until the snow flies, that's how I plan to avoid the winter blues.

Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year Governors' fans!

 

We have so much to be grateful for and look forward to in 2015!

 

Here's a peek at a few things that the Pesky librarians are grateful for:

 

 

Students!

More Students!

Tech Connectors!

Our fearless leader Mrs. Chase's healthy return and her adorable grandson, Henry (AND Jeff Ding)

Friendship and Fun!

 

Common Book 2014 Recap

On Monday we had the widely acclaimed author and our own teacher Andres Dubus speak at Convocation about the Common Book of 2014, Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

Mr. Dubus cites the epic novel as the book that turned him into a reader. Hemingway's straight forward prose and the sentient quality of writing inspired the then 19-year old Dubus with a curiousity for literature. He quoted Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner in relation to the book and how Hemingway was a great pioneer for the modernist movement. The simplicity and evocative style of the writing is a quality that Dubus tries to incorporate into his own work. He spoke at length about the writing process in general and pointed out that he is still frightened every time he begins to write - which is every single morning!!! When asked if he believed Hemingway wrote under the influence of alcohol, Dubus pointed out that a writer's approach to their craft is akin to how a runner trains for a marathon. Although there exists this illusion that one might be more creative or free flowing under the influence, Dubus stressed that writing is a passion that requires consistent mental preparation and fortitude.

In terms of the writing process itself, he encouraged students to think more about "how" things happen, rather than "what" happens and then translate the feeling into words. Dubus' own style of writing reflects this evocative "show, don't tell" methodology. Students spent time employing this approach in a small creative writing workshop with Dubus after convocation.



In closing, Mr. Dubuis urged kids to follow their curiousity in life. Education, he said, is not preparation for a career or job training, it is an opportunity to discover the things that make you happy.