Who Invented Writing Anyway?
Posted by mkrueger on 04.26.13
Here at the library we're surrounded by tons of books, obviously. We all read for various reasons, fun, to answer a question, learn a new skill, or a number of other reasons. Whatever the reason for reading, we study the characters on the pages that convey thought, but have you ever wondered how we came to use the words or letters we print? The video below, courtesy of the always amazing TED-Ed, gives a detailed answer to the question "Who invented writing?"
 
 
View more TED-Ed videos HERE
Happy birthday, Ella!
Posted by pdantis on 04.25.13
 
Today is Ella Fitzgerald's 96th birthday! You may have noticed the tribute on today's Google Doodle (pictured above - click on the picture for a look at how the Doodle was created). For those that don't know, Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz vocalist. She sold over 40 million albums and won 13 Grammy awards during her lifetime (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996).  Also known as "The First Lady of Song", she's an iconic singer known for her flexible, wide-ranging voice. She sang duets with jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra to name a few. The year 1934 marked Ella's first on-stage performance at the Apollo's Amateur Night. Over 50 years later, she performed for the last time at Carnegie Hall, her 26th time performing there. If you'd like to learn more about Ella, check out her website. You can also borrow a book, CD, or DVD from our collection. 
 
Here's one of my favorites performed by Ella.
 
 
IntraLibrary Teen Book Alliance: Review the 1st
Posted by amypelman on 04.24.13
 

THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater

If Blue kisses her true love, he’ll die. Bummer, right?

Blue comes from a family of psychics and for as long as she can remember that’s what she’s been told. She crosses paths with a boy named Gansey and his three friends, all from the local private school, known as Raven boys. She knows they’re trouble but can’t help but be intrigued by them.

What follows in the first book of Maggie Stiefvater’s newest series is further than anything you’d expect from a “love” story. Instead, it’s a story full of magic, mystery and adventure as Blue joins Gansey and his friends on a quest to try and uncover the resting place of an ancient Welsh king; if awoken, he’ll grant the person that finds him one wish.

This fast-paced book is full of twists and turns, and I promise, you will not see them coming. It’s a perfect choice for someone who likes a bit of a supernatural element thrown in, but done in a way that’s entirely believable. By the end of this book you’ll be so completely captivated with these characters and the story that you’ll wish it was September so you can find out what happens next!

--Submitted by ITBA Member: Susan B.

Name: Susan
Department: Circulation
Years at AHML: 10
Favorite thing you do at work: Checking in books! I love getting to see what’s new and popular.
Best place to read your book: Curled up in bed.
Why you like reading YA: I like reading about characters my age – it makes them easier to relate to.
 

 

 

 
Space is Weird and Mostly AWESOME!
Posted by ason on 04.23.13
Most of us have probably only experienced outer space through books, movies, and Angry Birds Space, but that doesn't make the real thing any less awesome!  Sure it's super cool to imagine what's out there, but the reality of outer space is even more mind-bending sometimes, in my opinion.
 
Check out this video of what it's like to wring out water from a washcloth in space.
 
Spoiler alert: It's nothing like it is here on our home planet.
 
 
I want to go!  Anyone want to lend me $200,000 so that I can?
 
DIY Cable/Earphone Wraps
Posted by amypelman on 04.22.13
 
 
Those of you who follow us in Instagram and Twitter (*hint hint* for those who don't we're: Hub500) might have seen the photo above already.  Last night I was just on the couch in my pjs and I decided to do something I'd been thinking about for a while: wrapping my earbuds. I hate the way they get tangled in my bag, and I heard this might help.  Plus it makes them look better!  It works on all sorts of cables, not just earbuds.  Want to do it?  All you need is some scissors and embroidery floss.  You can get embroidery floss at needlepoint stores and craft stores like Michael's.  I experimented with thin yarn last night too, but I liked the way the embroidery floss looked better.  Anywho, if you already know how to make friendship bracelets, you're pretty much set.  If not, just watch this quick video to see how to do it:   
Tweet or tag us if you do it! 
 
Time for a rhyme?
Posted by pdantis on 04.20.13
Design: Jessica Helfand
 
April is National Poetry Month! Since 1996, schools, libraries, booksellers, publishers, and individuals have united to bring attention to the art of poetry during this national celebration. This initiative was started and is led by by the Academy of American Poets. The main goal of National Poetry Month is to increase awareness and availability of verse in mainstream culture. Learn more at poets.org. Wondering how you can celebrate? Here's a list of resources to help you get started!
 
DIY: Flashlight
Posted by mkrueger on 04.19.13
April saw an interesting DIY! We learned how to solder electronics together to create personalized flashlights from mint tins! You can view a gallery below of the event.
 
 
Couldn't make the program? Don't Fret! You can read the instructions to create your own mint tin flashlight, courtesy of the ever amazing Instructables.com.
 
 
Book Review: Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
Posted by ason on 04.16.13
Raven Boys Book Cover
Have you ever been to a psychic?  Well, I've only been once, and it was a very surreal experience.  You go in, and if you're a skeptic like me, you try and not believe anything the psychic tells you.  I mean, are they really for real?  Really?  Really?  With the internet and Google Glass becoming a reality, what if the psychic is just doing some crazy web researching while you're sitting there?  Skeptic or not, it really is a thrilling experience and you get chills if anything the psychic says rings even close to home.  (You're right, I do know a person named John Smith!)
 
Well, in the world of The Raven Boys, psychics are real.  Like real.  Real.
 
No one knows this better than Blue Sargent, a high schooler who comes from a family of psychics.  Her mother is a psychic, her aunt is a psychic, but Blue doesn't seem to have the same third sight as the rest of her family.  That doesn't mean she doesn't know what's coming for her though.  She's told some pretty bad news: "If Blue was to kiss her true love, he would die."  Serious bummer.
 
When her mysterious aunt comes to town, she tells Blue some even more troubling news: "This is the year you'll fall in love."  Double bummer.
 
Blue initially isn't so worried by these dark omens.  I mean, obviously she wishes it wasn't the case, but she basically resigns herself to live a life without falling for anyone, and definitely not to kiss anyone she thinks she's falling for.  But things get difficult when she befriends a group of wealthy boys, known as the Raven Boys, from the local swanky, private school called Aglionby.  She quickly comes to realize that it's definitely fate that brings her and these boys together, which may mean the end of one of their lives.
 
The Raven Boys is an eerie story full of mystery, unsettling coincidences, and magic.  It isn't just a story about Blue and the love she may or may not kill either!  Each of the Raven Boys has an interesting backstory that makes you realize that money is something, but it isn't everything.  Some of these Raven Boys are born with privilege, some make themselves privileged, and some will do anything for privilege.
 
This book is the first in a series and the twist ending will leave you antsy for the second one!
Permanent Record - NEW BOOK Review
Posted by pdantis on 04.10.13
Permanent Record (2013) by Leslie Stella
“I get this feeling that something bad is happening, like I’m going to come home and find our building burned to the ground or white supremacists chasing my family around with baseball bats, or that this bus is going to crash into the bodega on Clark Street. My head won’t stop with this shit. I know it’s all anxiety. It pummels my brain with thoughts and images of horrible things going down. What is the matter with me? I’m sick of talking about myself. I’m sick of thinking about myself. I’m sick of myself.”
 
 
 
Leslie Stella’s Permanent Record tells the story of Badi Hessamizadeh, an Iranian-American teenager exploring his identity and trying to fit in. The story begins with Badi finding out that he will be transferring to Magnificat Academy from Leighton a Chicago public school due to some destructive behavior, a response to constant, post-9/11 bullying he experiences. To make matters worse, his father also legally changes his name to Bud, something “more American,” hoping that this will help him fit in with his new classmates. Bud struggles with being a normal teenager; he feels like an outcast and at times like he is invisible, a nobody. Unable to assimilate and overlook injustices like the archery club being disbanded to make more room for the football team, he takes a stand and openly expresses his opinion. For that, he is plagued with beatings and bullying. He also becomes the prime suspect for mysterious occurrences that begin happening at the school. It is up to him and his new outcast friends to clear his name and get to the bottom of the mystery.
 

Filled with dark and sardonic humor, Permanent Record will have you laughing out loud. Badi/Bud’s first person narration clearly depicts the depression and anxiety experienced by teens trying to find their place in the world. His keen and witty observations of other characters and situations provide a realistic backdrop for the story and mystery that unfolds. For those that loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower, this is a great read for you. You’ll love outcast Badi/Bud and his determination to battling injustice.

 
Chicago: Our Beloved City
Posted by ason on 04.09.13
 
Chicago has a lot of names: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi-Town... but I like to call it home.  
 
Now even though you may not live in the city limits, you know as well as any person who lives in the suburbs that when you go on vacation you always tell people you're from Chicago.  It's just easier, right?
 
Well this slightly warmer weather of late got me driving down Lake Shore Drive, and it was glorious!  The weather was beautiful (what I like to call sweatshirt weather) and it was approaching dusk so all the city lights were beginning to turn on.  It just made me appreciate living in this beautiful city.
 
If you're feeling love for Chicago, I would check out these links.
 
A photographer who takes some really wonderful shots of Chicago.
 

A documentary where quintessential Brit, Stephen Fry, goes on a cross country road trip throughout the states.  The video above shows the portion where he visits Chicago, but the whole series is really worth the watch.  You can find it here at the library!
 
Rocco Buttliere, a teenager from Buffalo Grove, builds amazing replicas of the city's most recognizable buildings!
 
Image Credit: Nick Gerber