"Free People Read Freely"

This week is Banned Books Week (September 23 - 30). Many books I have read and enjoyed are some of the most challenged books in the history of literature: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher and The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. Celebrate your freedom to read and check out some of these links:

• ALA Banned Books page
  

• Explore banned books with Google

• Top 100 Challenged Books 1990-1999

• What's the difference between a challenge and a banning
  

New Look--New System Too

Happy Birthday, Blog! It's been one year since it's inception, and I thought it was time for transformation. Like the new look? I dig the darker background--it's much easier on the eyes. Bear with me as I migrate some of the old links onto the new blog. This also happens to coincide with the upcoming computer system migration currently happening at your library right now.

We will be offline and checking out manually on September 24th through the 27th. Make sure you bring in your library card--there is no way for us to look up your account with an ID. This will only be for 4 days; if you have any troubles, don't hesitate to email me: angelad [at] nchcpl.lib.in.us OR IM me--

AOL: nchcplangela
YAHOO: anewla
MSN: angelad [at] nchcpl.lib.in.us

We will be back up and running with our new computer system on September 28th.

Dance Dance Revolution

Dance the night away on our Cobalt Flux dance pads with the PS2--DDR and Karaoke Revolution is on Thursday night from 6-8. Snacks provided, including plenty of water! Thanks to the Friends of the Library for providing these arcade-style pads. And remember the teen council meeting Friday at 4 pm in the Teenscape.

King Tut and Ancient Egypt

"He could have won a Grammy -- buried in his 'jammies -- King Tut"
- the King Tut song, Steve Martin and the Toot Uncommons, Saturday Night Live 4/22/1978.

I got to see the King Tutankhamun exhibit at Chicago's Field museum recently, and it is an awesome sight. If you are able to make the trip up north to the windy city, I highly recommend it. Make sure and buy your tickets online in advance. If you can't make it, peruse the photos of the personal belongings and all those funerary articles here.

Of course, you can always transport yourself to ancient Egypt via movies and books, like in THE MUMMY. The library has older versions as well as the 1999 adventure we all know and love, featuring a librarian as one of the main characters (I had to put that one in). One book that may have slipped through the cracks is Gillian Bradshaw's THE DRAGON AND THE THIEF, where an unlucky guy meets a wealthy dragon and adventure ensues. And it has a dragon in it! You can't beat that, Eragon fans.

Grand Prize Winners!

Congratulations to our 3 grand prize winners in this year's Summer Reading Program:

• Jordan Paul Scott won the iPod Nano
• Sarah Jessee won the anime DVD boxed set (InuYasha)
• Shane Toombs won the $50 Simon mall gift certificate

Thanks to everyone who participated!

And don't forget next week we've got 2 programs: our Teen Knit Night is Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. All skills welcome--just bring your own materials. Needles and yarn are always a good start--I'll have scissors, rubber bands and snacks, of course. Second, we have Amanda Bynes in her newest release SHE'S THE MAN - Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the Teenscape. Online signup is through these links provided here. See you there.

Week 6 Winner

Shannon Hiday won movie theater tickets for this week's summer reading drawing! She's just finished the book The Pity Party: 8th Grade in the Life of Me, Cass by Alison Pollet, sequel to Nobody Was Here: 7th Grade in the Life of Me, Polly. Get to know Polly's best friend, Cassie, as she wonders why her English teacher is out to get her. Being an orphan and having to read ALL these books about orphans too! Join Cassie at an NYC private school and find out, as she misses old friends and makes new ones.

Week 5 Winner / Architect Studio

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Davis, our week 5 summer reading winner. Kaitlyn won a $10 Starbucks certificate. Even though she does not enjoy ballet, she liked the mystery book Dorian Cirrone's Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You which can be searched in our library catalog here. Our last weekly drawing is next week, so hurry in with all your book review cards!

TEEN TECH CAMP CONTINUES / LAN Party
Remember to come in at 2 pm today as our Teen Tech Camp continues with a look at Architect Studio. On this site, you can design a house, walk through it in 3D and share it with anyone if you like! Tomorrow at 2 pm is Job Drive and Friday same time is Video Game Design. And then stick around for the Call of Duty LAN party until 6 pm. Door prizes to be had, so come early! Sign up on library calendar here.