The library will be hosting a snowman-building competition with a twist – the snowy creations will be made out of marshmallows! Race to make the tallest snowman during the Whittemore Library’s third annual Teen Holiday Party!

Young adults, ages 12-18, are invited to attend the party in the meeting room on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:30 PM. Besides the snowman building contest, there will be several other festive activities. Decorate cookies! Play dreidel! Try to win Christmas BINGO! Have fun making the SURPRISE Christmas craft! You’ll never guess what it is!

Visit or call the reference desk to sign up for this free event. Registration is required by December 4, so put your name on the guest list today!

See you there!

~Marissa

Have you ever used a cookie to make an entirely different kind of treat? Here’s your opportunity!

The library will host an easy Oreo Orb Cookie-Making workshop for young adults, ages 12-18, on Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30 PM. Attendees should meet in the teen section to learn how to make these chocolate-and-peanut-butter treats. Registration is required for this free program so visit or call the reference desk to sign up.

Those with food allergies, please note: this recipe contains peanuts.

~Marissa

Can’t wait for Halloween? Then don’t! Halloween comes early with two library events that are so fun, it’s terrifying!

On Tuesday, October 13 at 5:30 PM, teens, ages 12-18, can watch Coraline on the big screen in the meeting room for FREE. When Coraline walks through a hidden door in her new house, she discovers an alternate universe that seems spectacular at first. But then Coraline learns that escape from what turns out to be an extremely eerie world is difficult – and dangerous. No registration is required to watch this movie. Free snacks will be served.

Candy lovers are invited to the Candy Haunted House Workshop on Wednesday, October 21 at 6 PM. Celebrate Teen Read Week by using Halloween treats to make a delicious house that’s scarier than your favorite horror story. The creator of the most impressive house will receive a prize. Registration is required for this free program. Visit or call the library to sign up.

Happy Halloween!

Marissa

Now that school is in full swing you’re probably counting the days to your next vacation, right? Here are two perfect opportunities for a few hours of vacation right in the middle of September.

Watch a free movie! On Tuesday, September 22 at 5 PM-8PM, the library will show The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring on the big screen in the meeting room to teens, ages 13-18. In this film starring Elijah Wood and Orlando Bloom, Frodo inherits a magic ring that must be destroyed; otherwise, the evil Lord Sauron will steal the ring and use its power to enslave the world! Attendees must be at least 13 years old to be admitted to this PG-13 rated movie. No registration is required for this free event. This film will begin promptly at 5 PM.

Not in the mood to watch the stars on the screen? Why not grab some attention for yourself? Use your creativity to show what makes you, you during the Mural Makers workshop on Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 PM. Young adults, ages 12-18, will participate in an artistic experiment: what would it look like if many artists made their own pictures on a mural at once?

Don’t think you’re an artist? No problem! The purpose of this mural is to show what makes you and your friends unique – and you’re an expert on that. You may bring in stickers, patches, photographs – anything that represents you – to attach to your section of the mural. When the mural is finished, it will be posted on the bulletin board in the teen section. For more information or to sign up, visit or call the reference desk. Registration is required for this free collaborative art project.

Hope to see you at the library!

~Marissa

School starts on Thursday, August 27. That means that there are only a few days left to complete your summer reading assignment! I know, you didn’t want to be reminded. But did you know that the reading list was completely changed – and improved – this year? There are some really great books on it. Don’t believe me? Check out the list at Naugy.net or in the binder in the library’s teen section. The library still has several copies of some titles, so hurry in and pick one up today!

To give you a push in the right direction, check out the review I wrote for our old blog about one of the tenth grade books that’s still on the list. It’s under the date Thursday, November 15, 2007.

Need a library card? It’s easy to get one, and it’s free. Just bring in your license or your high school ID and a piece of mail that shows your address. Speak with a librarian at the circulation desk for more options.

Have you already finished your summer reading assignment? Help your classmates! Leave a comment here telling which books you read and whether or not you recommend them. And while you’re at it, tell us how you’re spending your last few days of summer freedom.

Enjoy the rest of your vacation!

~Marissa

Have you ever read a book and then wished you could talk with the author? Well, now you can! Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, authors of the several bestselling novels, will be at the library on Tuesday, August 11 at 4:30 PM!

Ms. McLaughlin and Ms. Kraus will discuss and read excerpts from their new teen novel, The Real Real. This book is about the effects of a high school student’s decision to star in a reality show. School Library Journal wrote, “This book is far more entertaining than most of the so-called reality programs on television.” So you know it’s probably worth checking out.

If Ms. McLaughlin and Ms. Kraus’ names sound familiar to you, it may because of their adult novels: Citizen Girl, Dedication, and The Nanny Diaries. The Nanny Diaries was turned into a movie that featured Scarlett Johansson and Alicia Keys. Because of the popularity of their books, the authors have been on many well-known TV shows, including Good Morning America and The View. And now, they could be talking to you!

Stop by the library on Tuesday to hear them speak for FREE. Then, if you bring along 16.99 (plus tax), you can buy their book and have them autograph it.

Tuesday is also a big day because it’s the end of the library’s teen summer reading program. To celebrate, all teens, even those who weren’t in the program, are invited to come to a Book Jam in the meeting room at 6 PM. At the Jam, we’ll discuss books we’ve read this summer while eating FREE ice cream and having a soda taste test. Can you tell the difference between Pepsi and Coca-Cola? Prove it! You must register for the Book Jam before Tuesday so visit or call the reference desk to sign up.

~ Marissa

There are several awesome teen events happening at the library this month! The best part: they’re all free!

On Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 PM, young adults, ages 12-18, are invited to attend the How to Draw Manga for Beginners workshop in the library’s meeting room. Heather Krumm will teach the basics that make drawing Japanese-style figures fun and easy! Registration is required, so visit or call the reference desk to sign up.

On Wednesday, July 15 at 6 PM, the library will show Pleasantville on the big screen in the meeting room to teens, ages 13-18. In this film starring Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, two modern-day teens are transported to the 1950s television world of Pleasantville where everyone is perfect and the world is black and white – but not for long. Find out what happens when the teens introduce some color to this once-innocent town. Attendees must be at least 13 years old to be admitted to this PG-13 rated movie. Proof of age must be presented, so if you don’t have a young adult library card or license, pick up a permission slip from the teen section so that your guardian can sign it. No registration is required. Show up ten minutes early to get free snacks!

It’s not too late to register for the Read to Win! summer reading program for high school students. Participants will receive prizes in exchange for reading. Prizes include a ticket to a Bridgeport Bluefish baseball game, a free treat at McDonald’s, two tickets to a Bridgeport Sound Tiger’s ice hockey game, and a chance to be entered into a raffle for two tickets to Lake Compounce or a gift certificate to SportsCenter of Connecticut. Make your summer reading for school work to your advantage by earning prizes! Visit the reference desk to sign up.

Preview for August: Borrow a copy of I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak, a book about an ordinary guy who becomes an extraordinary hero, so that you can come to the book discussion on August 4 at 6 PM!

~Marissa

The Joker, a dangerous criminal, has brought chaos to Gotham. Can Batman save the city? Find out in The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger. The library will show this movie to teens, ages 13-18, on the big screen in the meeting room on Tuesday, June 30 at 5 PM.

No registration is required. Attendees must be at least 13 years old to view this film.

~Marissa

On Tuesday, June 9 at 6:30 PM, learn to make sandals out of duct tape and cardboard in the Whittemore Library’s meeting room. This free program is open to young adults, ages 12-18. Registration will occur at the reference desk right up to the start of the program. Both guys and girls are invited to bring a friend and make sure that you have the flashiest feet on the beach!

~Marissa

On Tuesday, May 26 at 5:30 PM, the library will host a free viewing of Twilight for teens, ages 13-18, in the meeting room. Bella (Kristen Stewart) is in love with Edward (Robert Pattinson), and he loves her back. The only problem is that Edward is a vampire – so he thirsts for Bella’s blood. What is a girl to do? Find out in this film based on the book by the same name.

Attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Twilight characters. Wear a vampire baseball uniform, a prom dress, or another Twilight-inspired outfit! Only teens who are at least 13 years old will be admitted to this PG-13 rated movie. No registration is required.

~Marissa

P.S. Thank you to everyone who attended the Teen Job Hunters’ Workshop. I hope it helped you. I know that there’s a lot of competition out there, but don’t give up. Keep applying! I’ve added a new “Links” page to the blog so that you can check out the job search sites that I mentioned during the program.