Prizes, Prizes and More Prizes.

Earn books and chances to win Gift Cards, a laptop, MP3 players and digital video cameras. Just for reading and reviewing books.

Check it out and enjoy your summer.

STAB and Emerald City Comicon 2008

This year, I was fortunate to take a contingent of STABies to Emerald City Comicon to experience the joy and exhilaration of a comic book convention. If you have never gone to something like this, you really should at some point. Even if you don’t like comics, you can find plenty to do and see. There are lots of giveaways, plenty of people in costumes, and all sorts of amazing and intricate displays. Not to mention, it shows you what some people will do for the things they love/obsess over.



The day had an inauspicious start when Aaron, my nephew, and I hit a squirrel on the way to the library. I feared it was a bad omen, but there were no further problems that I could attribute to this sad occurrence.

About 9:45am, Aaron and I, Leslie, Natalie and Amanda left the library to head down to the convention center in the STABwagon to meet our collective and individual destinies. We found parking, got into the building and traded in our tickets for badges quickly and efficiently.

When we entered the main hall we were hit by a visual and auditory onslaught of comic fandom. The main entry in the center was focused on webcomics. Some of my favorites were there, such as Wondermark, so we browsed for a while and I discovered that Natalie and I share an affinity for a couple of the webcomics. After gathering signatures, goodies, and having creepy discussions with the artists and creators in the area we moved on to the free stuff table.

It was like a comic fan’s buffet. There were posters, comics, (in)action figures, flyers and other assorted items all with comic related themes. I needed an extra set of hands and I thought that I had brought some. But, sadly, the extra sets of hands I brought (STABies) were too busy stuffing their own bags.

We moved on to looking at the various publishers. They were very friendly and gracious with their giveaways: more comics and more posters and a couple of buttons. I was especially interested in the Star Wars galaxies map. Now, the next time I go on vacation to Tatooine, I won’t get so lost getting there.

Next we stopped by some comic store booths. Things there actually cost money, so we browsed those pretty quickly. I have to say, though, as far as displays went, they were pretty impressive. Especially the one with Silver Surfer.

After the stores, we were off to the “Artist Alley”. Lines for autographs were huge, so we didn’t spend too much time there. It was fun to see the look of hopefulness of many of the fans. They had a guy mopping up all the drool from those in line slavering for their turn to get a picture/signature.

After this, we needed nourishment, so it was off to lunch. Natalie and I hit the Creperie, while the others tried their luck with Subway. (Crepes and Comics? I was in heaven.)

After lunch, it was time for one of the strangest encounters of the day. Adjacent to “Artist Alley” was the booth of the Fighting 501^st Legion’s Titan Garrison. For a small donation to a local cancer charity, you could get your picture taken with a few of the characters from the Star Wars movies. We were lucky enough to get Darth Vader AND Boba Fett. (DUDE!) They also had a few props that were available to use in the pictures. The STABies asked for light sabers, but I requested “the biggest gun you have.” They did not disappoint.

As the photographer was organizing us for the shoot, he gave me some direction. In the midst of that direction he said something that didn’t quite register. He gave us more direction, and said something to me again that didn’t quite sink in. He said it to me a third time and then, with horrible realization, I realized what he had been saying. He was referring to me as “Dad” and he must have believed that I was the father of the STABies!

“Whoa! “ I said, “I’m not their dad! I’m their librarian.”

“Whatever.” He responded, “Move a little to the left.”

We can get into whether or not it is mathematically or chronologically possible for me to have 4 seventeen year old kids, but the really strange thing is that all of the STABies in attendance looked different and none of them looked like me. I suppose I could have adopted . . .

Once we were done with that, we made one last sweep through the convention hall, picking up the last few remaining free items that were not nailed down. Then we were on our way back to Shoreline with the STABwagon full of very happy STABies and lots of comic paraphernalia. I hope we can go again next year and bring another adventurous group.

I'm thinking about redecorating the teen area of the library with these. What do you think?

Anyone taking the SAT in the near future? I thought you might find this article interesting.
If you are planning on taking it and need some help, here are some options:

• Check out Testing and Education Reference Center. You can take sample tests and read the books online when you click on the "Test Preperation Link". You'll need your library card to login.
• Check out the catalog to see what kinds of books we have to help you out.
• Relax. You'll do fine. Why not watch a DVD.

Happy Earth Day! Get out there and recycle or something!

Now for the real reason I am posting for you today. I need to know how many of you are interested in going to Emerald City Comicon. I need a good number to go to make it worth my while to go, and 3 would be that number. Let me know ASAP if you can or want to come. To see how much fun it is, check out what I did last year. Tickets are $15 if you buy them in advance--I can make a special trip to pick them up if you would like to go. I would like your medical release form back by May 3rd. Download it and bring it in. Thanks.

Also, May 3rd if Free Comic Book Day. We won't have any actual celebrations here, other than my own personal party that will take place deep in my soul. However, you can go to your local comic store and score a few comics that day if you are interested. Find the closest one to you at the handy, dandy FCBD website.

For your convenience, the closest Comic Store to Shoreline is World of Collections. Tell 'em Rick sent you and they'll give you a free comic. On Free Comic Book day, of course. Actually, you don't even need to tell them Rick sent you, they'll just give them to you for free for showing up.

Dinner with Mary Pearson

Last week I had dinner with Mary Pearson. She wrote The Room on Lorelei Street which was one of my favorite books a couple of years ago. Not to mention she was really a great person just to hang out with and talk about books and whatever else popped into our heads. (And the dinner at Sazerac wasn't too shabby either. I highly recommend the molten chocolate center cake.) She just came out with another book titled The Adoration of Jenna Fox. I haven't read it yet, but after watching the trailer, I'm really looking forward to it. You can get more information on the book at the book's website.

Happy Support Teen Literature day!

I'm sure you have all found a special way to celebrate. Myself, I hunkered down and finally finished Sherman Alexie's National Book Award winning The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (also available as an eBook, on CD or in Large Print.)

I highly recommend this book. It is the kind of book that when it doesn't having you rolling on the floor laughing you're rolling on the floor crying. It also has a bit of a graphic novel feel as there are quite a few illustrations scattered throughout the book. The main character, Junior, uses his cartooning to help him understand his world as it is destroyed and rebuilt around him through death, abuse, his own medical problems and all the other challenges he faces. And the thing is a fast read too. Only 230 pages. Check it out.

Since it is National Library Week and it was Game On! today I thought this video was appropriate. If you like this video, by the way, there are lots more at the American Library's website.

Operation teen book drop! Mission accomplished!

Today, thanks to the efforts of STABies Kate, Marwa, Valerie and Chelsea, we delivered more than 600 books to Children’s Hospital. Not even my viral sore throat, a monsoon or some light traffic could keep us from making our deliveries.

The operation started at about 3pm, when our intrepid crew showed up at the library and started to load the “STAB-Wagon”. We loaded the 600+ books pretty quickly. We were done with that project in just a few minutes, which was a good thing since it started raining about that time. Nina, my librarian colleague from the Broadview Branch of the Seattle Public Library System, showed up and we hit the road.

We encountered some traffic, which was OK since we were running a little early. We made it the Giraffe entrance of Children’s Hospital right at 4pm, but Kira, our contact at Children’s was not outside where we thought she would be. I quickly racked my brain, trying to remember what my instructions were. Nina ran inside to find Kira, but the security guard/parking attendant was getting antsy about us sitting in the parking. Just as he told us to move, Kira showed up. (Disaster averted!)

The STABies quickly unloaded the boxes while I took pictures. Near the end of the unloading process I made an attempt to help, but really it was too late to do anything but say, “Oh, I’ll get it next time.”

Once we got settled and I parked the “STAB-Wagon”, I had a chance to meet Kira as well as Lorrie Ann Grover and Holly Cupala from readergirlz. Though I’m already friends with Lorrie Ann (via MySpace) it was nice to put a name to a face with all of the people involved in the project. For the next 30 minutes we all chatted about a variety of subjects including, but not limited to, the books being given away, whether or not any of the teens had read/liked the books and if any of the teens had used the hospital’s service’s before and

After we were done, we got in the STAB-Wagon and returned to Shoreline. Even though I enticed the STABies with semi-dairy-treats from McDonalds or an Iron Man Slurpee from 7-11, they refused and we just made our way back to Shoreline.

We had a great time participating in Operation Teen Book Drop. I hope that STAB can be involved in more events like this in the future. Hopefully, more STABies can be involved as well. By the way, you can see all the pictures at the STABucket site and at Lorrie Ann Grover's MySpace Page.

Happy National Library Week!

What are you doing to celebrate? Go to the library? Stay away from the library? Reading a book?

I'll tell you what I'm going to do! I'm going to post something new everyday on the blog. Or most days anyways. Today, I'll blog about our meeting last week on April 8th:

The most important thing I learned at the meeting involved "mosquito ring tones". For those not familiar with the concept of mosquito ring tones, these are ring tones that typically adults can't hear but those under 20 or 30 (depending how well you have treated your ears. When the topic came up, Roxana quickly located a site on the web where you can download them. And then we listened to them.

First she played the ring tones that everyone could hear.

Then she played the ring tone for 60 years. I could hear it. Good.

Then for the 50 year olds. It was quiet, but I could still hear it. OK.

Then for those 49 and under. Everyone else could hear it, but not me. I finally got my ear horn and walker and moved closer, but I still couldn't hear it.

Bad news for me. I didn't feel too bad when some of the teens in the room couldn't hear the ring tone for the 30 year olds. And no one could hear the ring tone for the 24 year olds and under.

So, apparently, I have the ears of a 50 year old. (I suppose that makes sense since my MySpace page says I'm 65. And you know that has to be true.)

The Library Song!

Carolyn, one of our STABies, wrote a song about the true greatness of libraries. Enjoy!



Here are the lyrics so you can sing along!

Turn off the TV
Head to your local library
Get up, don’t be lazy
There’s fun for you and me!

Travel back through time
Learn to be a mime
Let your mind explore
Keep coming back for more

Librarians are neat-o
Library’s there because of them
So lets appreciate
How they have really cool Zen

They’re there all day
And make you wanna stay
Let you live and learn
But help you tend a burn

Turn off the wii
And came and hang with me
You’ll find me at the
Library

So now the TV’s off
You heard me now you can’t scoff
Hang out and you’ll see
We’ll have fun at the library
*yeah*

New STABcast!

I was browsing my Audacity folder and found a STABcast that I had not published. So, without further ado, here is Bruce's review of Hell Phone by William Sleator.

STABies,
This week we are celebrating Teen Tech week. How you ask, will we be celebrating such a distinguished and longstanding event? I’ll tell you. I have a 8 step plan:

1. Join me on Twitter (if you like). Twitter will send you text messages when I update the site. If you don’t want the text messages, you can also just get the messages on the site. Remember, if you get charged for text messages on your phone, you’ll get charged for these messages from me, too. So, though the service from Twitter is free, you may be charged for the messages they send you. Or that you send back to me.
2. Remember the STABlog? (Yeah, me neither.) Go check it out and look at the updates. Something fun for everyone no doubt. (And I promise I’ll update it more often. ) (Will you be the 1000th visitor?)
3. Come in and do a STABcast. They are relatively painless to do, you get community service hours for it and I would appreciate it. Call me to set-up a time to come in and record your book review. Bring a book to review and a couple of notes on what you want to say. And listen to a couple while you are thinking about it!
4. Come to Game On! tomorrow night! Wednesday, March 5, from 4-6pm. No volunteer hours for that, but you can destroy me in Super SMASH Bros. Melee, Wii Sports or Guitar Hero.
5. Do you one of the fascinating things listed here!
6. Take an online survey: (you can be a male or female to take this quiz)
7. Create a song and win

8. Use some of the very hand resources on the KCLS website such as the Teen Zone or live homework help

I think that could keep anyone busy for a week! Talk to you all sooner than you would like!

Ever curious what book you are? No need to keep wondering. Take the quiz and find out.
And, if you are curious, this is what book I am:

You're The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

by Douglas Adams

Considered by many to be one of the funniest people around, you are
quite an entertainer. You've also traveled to the far reaches of what you deem possible,
often confused and unsure of yourself. Life continues to jostle you around like a marble,
but it's shown you so much of the world that you don't care. Wacky adventures continue to
lie ahead. Your favorite number is 42.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

I realize that many of you have been dying to know about my trip to Philadelphia for ALA. However, as far as my blogging goes, you all know that it could be described best as spotty. In any event, here is my update from the city of brotherly love (AKA Philadeplphia):
My trip to Philly was uneventful, probably because I left at 6am in the morning and nothing happens that early in the morning. I was lucky enough to travel with a bunch of my friends so we had someone to complain to when we couldn’t find our luggage when we got to Philly.
My hotel was near a lot of the major attractions so on my way to and from the convention center I could look at Independence Hall and the like from afar. It was nice, if a little frustrating since I really wanted to see this stuff.
Our meetings kicked off Friday night with the straw poll votes. It was really tiring counting all 200+ votes, I needed a nap afterward, but there was still work to do. Most of my work consisted of hitting the “Forward” button on the remote for my iPod. I have to admit, that iPod thing is one sweet invention. I mean, I can listen to music on it and run a slide show. Very handy.
Saturday, I hit the exhibits. It seemed a little small to me this year, but maybe that was because I’m getting bigger. Regardless, I still got a pretty good haul of stuff, sending 2 boxes of books home. Plus, I got a bunch of other SWAG that I packed in my bags. This year the odd bits of swag I collected included a balsawood airplane and a variety of squeezy items (light bulbs, earths and brains) and some kind of oversize luggage tag. However, this year was definitely the year of snazzy bags. I collected them for all sorts of companies—Barnes and Noble, Scholastic and Baker and Taylor just to name a few. I think I may have had more bags than books.
My committee was a great group of people. They worked really hard to choose the very best books this year for you and all of your peers. Sadly, I wasn’t able to pay much attention to their in depth discussion of the books since I was too busy trying to run the slideshow. And watch the time. And do vote tabulations. And make sure everything was running smoothly. It is actually a lot harder than it looks. Or maybe I’m just not that good at it. Either way, I didn’t give them all the attention they deserved. I did perk up for a couple of discussions. Specifically, for Beowulf by Gareth Hinds. I really wanted to talk about this book, but, due to my position on the committee, I was forced to remain quiet. But it made it, so that was OK. I also was interested in the discussion about manga Romeo and Juliet. My colleagues were very complimentary of the book and I had to sit there and bite my tongue--literally. It ended up making the list, so I was a bit disappointed. You might like to see the final list to if your favorites made it or not. http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/booklistsawards/bestbooksya/08bbya.cfm
Another highlight of the Midwinter meeting is the Youth Media Awards (watch it here) that happen Monday mornings. They have been described as the Academy Awards of the library world. This year, I didn’t really have as much of an investment in the awards as in previous years because I’m not a full fledged voting member. However, it is always still interesting to watch because it is so entertaining to watch other people’s reactions. Also, I have a number of friends on the various committees so I like to see what they’ve been up to. To highlight a couple of awards:
The Printz Award: (Your Own, Sylvia and others) Given to a teen book for literary quality
The Alex Awards: (Which includes American Shaolin) Given to the 10 best books written for adults but have an appeal to teens
The Margaret Edwards Award: (Orson Scott Card for Ender’s Game and Ender’s Shadow) Honors a specific author for his or her lifetime contribution to young adult literature by singling out specific works by that author for special recognition.
And some other selection lists that I thought you might find interesting:
Quick Picks: For reluctant readers
Popular Paperbacks: Themed booklists to help you focus what you read
Great Graphic Novels: Because some of you just can’t get enough
On Tuesday morning we took our final vote. I wasn’t feeling well so it was even harder to count to 15 than normal. But, with the help of my committee members we made it! We had a healthy list, complete with 85 titles. Then came the really boring bit we had to pack up everything and clean the room. It was about this time that I was wishing I had a gaggle of my STABies to clean up the room for me, but, alas, none of you were to be found.
On Wednesday I had some time to run around the city and see the sights. So I made a quick run to see the Rocky Steps, the Mutter Museum (also known as the Museum of Medical Oddities), the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall with my friend, Summer. Then we jumped on our plane and were back in Seattle after one of the most excruciating flights I have ever had the misfortune to be a part of. Yeah for air conditioning (or lack thereof) on planes!
It was a great experience, as ALA always is. I'll miss my committee work but it will be nice to have a break from it and to focus on more local stuff, like making sure I have enough snacks hidden around my desk. Oh, and STAB too.