Young Adult Library Services Association

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The official journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association

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volume 6 | number 2 Winter 2008 Issn 1541-4302 $12.50

INSIDE:

Information tools music web sites top fifty gaming core collection titles interview with kimberly newton fusco information literacy and MUCH more!

ISSUE! TEEN TECH WEEK

TM TEEN TECH WEEK MARCH 2-8, 2008

for Teen Tech Week™ 2008! Join the celebration! Visit www.ala.org/teentechweek, and you can: ã Get great ideas for activities and events for any library, at any budget ã Download free tech guides and social networking resources to share with your teens ã Buy cool Teen Tech Week merchandise for your library ã Find inspiration or give your own ideas at the Teen Tech Week wiki, http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/ Teen_Tech_Week!

Teen Tech Week 2008 National Corporate Sponsor www.playdnd.com

ttw_fullpage_cmyk.indd 1 1/3/2008 1:32:22 PM The official journal of the Young Adult Library Services Association young adult library services

vo lume 6 | nu mber 2 winter 2008 Issn 1541-4302

YALSA Perspective 33 Music Web Sites for Teen Tech Week 6 Margaret Edwards Award Turns 20 and Beyond By Betty Carter and Pam Spencer Holley By Kate Pritchard and Jaina Lewis 36 Top Fifty Gaming Core Collection Titles School Library Perspective Compiled by Kelly Czarnecki 14 Do We Still Dewey? By Christine Allen Literature Surveys and Research 39 Information Literacy As a Department Teen Perspective Store 15 Teens’ Top Ten Redux Applications for Public Teen Librarians Readers from New Jersey Talk about the By Dr. Donna L. Gilton Winning Books of 2007 By Kimberly Paone Author Perspective Plus . . . 19 Great Strength to Those Who Read 2 From the Editor An Interview with Kimberly Newton Fusco Tuning In By Dominique McCafferty By Valerie A. Ott 4 From the President Best Practices By Paula Brehm-Heeger 22 Noise @ the library®! 31 Guidelines for Authors By Deimosa Webber-Bey 31 Index to Advertisers Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week 43 Professional Resources 24 Partnerships for Teen Tech Week By Stephanie Iser 45 The YALSA Update 27 Information Tools Using Blogs, RSS, and Wikis As Professional Resources By Beth Saxton About This Cover 30 From Platforms to Books? I’m Game Poster art for Teen Tech Week™ (TTW), By Rollie Welch March 2–8, 2008. TTW is a national initiative sponsored by YALSA to ensure teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those offered through libraries. Let the teens in your community know that the library is the source for electronic resources such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, electronic games, and more. To purchase the poster and other TTW materials, go to www.alastore.ala .org. Poster design by Distillery Design Studio. YALSA Editorial Advisory Committee (performing referee duties and providing advisory input for the journal) Mary Ann Nichols, chair, Fairlawn, Ohio; Julie Thomas Bartel, Sandy, Utah; from the Sarah English, Omaha, Neb.; Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax, N.S.; Angela S. Leeper, Wake Forest, N.C.; Nicole M. Mills, Palatine, Ill. YALSA Publications Committee Erminia Mina Gallo, chair, Seven Hills, Ohio; Heather Booth, Westmont, Editor Ill.; Cindy Mediavilla, Culver City, Calif.; Elizabeth Shuping, Florence, S.C.; Emily Valente, New York. Editor Valerie A. Ott Valerie A. Ott YALSA Executive Director Beth Yoke YALSA Division Coordinator Stephanie Kuenn Circulation Tuning In Young Adult Library Services (ISSN 1541-4302) is published four times a year by the American Library Association (ALA), 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, If you haven’t already, be sure to register for YALSA’s second IL 60611. It is the official publication of the Young Adult Library Services annual Teen Tech Week, which will take place March 2–8, 2008. Association (YALSA), a division of ALA. Subscription price: members of YALSA, $25 per year, included in membership dues; nonmembers, $50 YALSA established this initiative last year in recognition of the per year in the U.S.; $60 in Canada, Mexico, and other countries. Back fact that technology is integral to teens’ lives. In fact, according issues within one year of current issue, $15 each. Periodicals class postage paid at Chicago, Illinois and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: to the Pew Internet Study, teens spend an average of more than Send address changes to Young Adult Library Services, 50 E. Huron St., six hours a day using media of varying types. Considering that Chicago, IL 60611. Members: Address changes and inquiries should be sent to Membership Department, Changes to Young Adult Library Services, 50 teens spend approximately seven hours each day in a classroom, I E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611. Nonmember subscribers: Subscriptions, thought this number seemed high. However, I suppose I shouldn’t orders, changes of address, and inquiries should be sent to Changes to Young Adult Library Services, Subscriptions, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; be surprised, especially as, living across from our local high school, 1-800-545-2433, press 5; fax: (312) 944-2641; [email protected]. I watch as teens walk home at 3 p.m., talking on their cell phones, Statement of Purpose listening to their iPods, and texting their friends. Similarly, I Young Adult Library Services is the official journal of the Young Adult was amused and slightly perplexed one day when I observed two Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library teenagers at a popular eatery. When one got up from the table Association. YALS primarily serves as a vehicle for continuing education for librarians serving young adults, ages twelve through eighteen. It will include to refill her drink, her companion immediately got on his phone articles of current interest to the profession, act as a showcase for best prac- and held a twenty-second conversation with another friend that tices, provide news from related fields, publish recent research related to YA librarianship, and will spotlight significant events of the organization and went something like this: “Hey, what’re you doing?” (Pause for offer in-depth reviews of professional literature. YALS will also serve as the reply.) “Nothing, I’m with Britney at Panera.” (Pause for reply.) official record of the organization. “Yeah, OK, see ya.” This interaction, though brief, is the way teens Production interact: digitally and constantly. Presumably, cell phone usage con- ALA Production Services—Troy D. Linker, Karen Sheets, Chris Keech, and Tim Clifford. tinues on into the evening, not to mention the time spent down- Advertising loading music, browsing the Web for pleasure or homework, and Bill Spilman, Innovative Media Solutions; 1-877-878-3260; fax (309) 483- playing video games. Speaking of downloading music, this year’s 2371; e-mail [email protected]. YALS accepts advertising for goods or services of interest to the library profession and librarians in theme—Tune In @ your library®—focuses on music and sound. service to youth in particular. It encourages advertising that informs readers Although teens today listen to and acquire music differently than and provides clear communication between vendor and buyer. YALS adheres we used to, one thing has remained the same: music has univer- to ethical and commonly accepted advertising practices and reserves the right to reject any advertisement not suited to the above purposes or not consistent sally appealed to teens through the decades. Today, music is almost with the aims and policies of ALA. Acceptance of advertising in YALS does ubiquitous in teens’ lives due to its availability through MP3 play- not imply official endorsement by ALA of the products or services advertised. ers and the Internet. Manuscripts Hopefully, this year’s Teen Tech Week will help you find ways Manuscripts and letters pertaining to editorial content should be sent to YALSA, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611; e-mail: [email protected]. to make sure teens are responsible users of all that is digital, thereby Manuscripts will be sent out for review according to YALS’s established ref- making you a trusted and savvy professional. Visit www.ala.org/ eree procedures. Visit www.ala.org/yalsa for further information. teentechweek to register for the event and to get activity ideas for Indexing, Abstracting, and Microfilm this year’s initiative. And, don’t forget to check out the YALSA blog Young Adult Library Services is indexed in Library Literature, Library & Information Science Abstracts, and Current Index to Journals in Education. for topics related to Teen Tech Week as well. Not surprisingly, this Microfilm copies of Journal of Youth Services in Libraries and its predecessor, issue of is dedicated to Teen Tech Week and focuses on issues Top of the News, are available from ProQuest/Bell & Howell, 300 N. Zeeb YALS Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106. and ideas pertaining to this year’s theme and on technology in general. The Hot Spot contains a webliography of music-related Web The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper sites, Web tools, and partnership ideas for a successful Teen Tech for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. ∞ Week as well as books related to gaming, among other articles. So, if © 2008 American Library Association All materials in this journal subject to copyright by the American Library you’re at a loss for how to observe this year’s celebration, or just feel Association may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scien- a bit disconnected from your teens due to the constantly changing tific or educational advancement granted by Sections 107 and 108 of the Copyright Revision Act of 1976. For other photocopying, reprinting, or trans- digital landscape, this issue will help you feel more tuned in. YALS lating, address requests to the ALA Office of Rights and Permissions.

2 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 A “captivating”* novel by National Book Award nominee BETH KEPHART

Tr 978-0-06-123893-2 • $16.99 ($19.99) Lb 978-0-06-123894-9 • $17.89 ($20.89)

“A beautifully written, engrossing tale.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

�“Compelling … memorable, graceful.” —ALA Booklist (starred review)

� “A tale that is both winningly different and comfortably familiar.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)*

�“Intelligent, multilayered love story.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Laura Geringer Books An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers www.harperteen.com from the President Paula Brehm-Heeger

librarians are trusted professionals in the evidence of Stevie’s work in the growing field of information technology. While we list of media contacting YALSA. The dues know this, it is essential to make sure teens increase also has allowed for more insti- know just how good we are at what we do. tutes and training to be offered across the The common thread for success run- country. With new initiatives and projects ning through Teen Read Week, Teen made possible because of additional dues, his past October, YALSA mem- Tech Week, and all of YALSA’s initia- there are new committees and more oppor- bers once again celebrated Teen tives, projects, partnerships, and activities tunities for member participation, both T Read Week, our national literacy is, of course, the strength and energy of virtually and in-person at conferences. initiative aimed at teens, their parents, our members. It is an often-repeated fact Beyond these clear member benefits, librarians, educators, booksellers, and other that YALSA is the fastest-growing divi- we continue to work hard to retain mem- concerned adults. Established in 1998, Teen sion of ALA. Our membership numbers bers by having leaders and staff focused on Read Week is an amazing example of our are impressive. For the past three years, proactively responding to and addressing members’ commitment to keeping librar- YALSA has been growing at a rate of 11 members’ needs and requests. Examples ies and reading front and center in teens’ percent. We must continue to grow our of this member-focused attitude can be lives. Our enthusiasm for celebrating Teen membership in order to increase our advo- seen in conference programs, such as the Read Week has led to national sponsorship cacy strength and spread our best practices popular YALSA 101 sessions, created and partnership opportunities for YALSA. in serving teens. in response to members asking for more And, it is always exciting to see the creative Recruitment, however, is only one detailed information about how our divi- energies our members put into develop- part of this equation. Another equally sion works and how to become involved. ing dynamic and unique programming for important part is the need to retain current Members also are strongly encouraged teens each year during October. Thank you members. This is particularly relevant right to share feedback on a variety of division to everyone for your continued support of now, as YALSA’s much-needed, member- issues through postconference surveys as this successful initiative! approved dues increase went into effect well as the recent survey this fall about In recent years, technology has created approximately one year ago. ALA also YALS and YAttitudes. I can assure you that even more opportunities for YALSA mem- passed a dues increase that went into effect your member leaders pay very close and bers to connect with teens. As my presi- at the same time. This means YALSA careful attention to these survey results dential theme emphasizes, one of YALSA’s members are paying more for their mem- when making decisions about the future greatest strengths is its willingness to lead bership to both our division and to the direction of the division. the way when it comes to exploring emerg- association in general. YALSA is all about our members, ing technologies’ potential to connect with But, the benefits of your increased both new and long-standing. Your willing- teens. In March 2007, YALSA launched dues to YALSA can already be seen. ness to pay more in order to belong to our another national initiative aimed at teens, They have allowed YALSA to add com- division is not something I take lightly. It their parents, educators, and other adults: munications specialist Stephanie (Stevie) serves as an inspiration to do everything Teen Tech Week. This edition of YALS Kuenn to its staff, and she has helped to possible to make sure YALSA performs is all about Teen Tech Week and how bring additional national media atten- above and beyond members’ expectations members are working to help teens become tion to YALSA. Anyone who has read for service and excellence. Thank you for competent, responsible users of technol- my monthly president’s reports (available your continued support and confidence in ogy. Another important element of Teen on the President’s Page at www.ala.org/ our great division! YALS Tech Week is helping teens recognize that ala/yalsa/presidentspage.htm) can see

4 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 Linda Sue Park, Eoin Colfer, David Almond, Deborah Ellis, Roddy Doyle, Gregory Maguire, Jordan Sonnenblick 0-439-83707-3 • $16.99 • 12 and up • 272 pages Roddy Doyle Tim Wynne-Jones, Ruth Ozeki, Margo 0-439-02356-4 • $16.99 • 12 and up • 224 pages Lanagan, and Nick Hornby � “Middle school readers everywhere will identify.” —School Library Journal, starred review “Doyle has found his voice….Wilderness is that rare 0-439-41138-6 • $16.99 • All ages • 224 pages young adult novel that can speak to every member of “Brings together ten authors, all of whom are great storytellers, to � “Plenty to laugh at…[with] a basic message about the family.” —New York Times Book Review create a shared novel…can be appreciated on a number of levels.” the importance of honesty and forgiveness.” —School Library Journal —Publishers Weekly, starred review “A pleasure to discover.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A thought-provoking and engaging read.” —Kirkus Reviews “Hilarious and heart-wrenching.” —Kirkus Reviews

Natasha Friend Jaclyn Moriarty 0-439-85350-8 • $16.99 • 12 and up • 192 pages 0-439-84678-1 • $16.99 • 12 and up • 496 pages Linda Zuckerman “Earnest and funny…realistic and genuinely humorous “An intriguing mystery…witty voice…the end 0-439-86977-3 • $16.99 • 12 and up • 320 pages details.” —Kirkus Reviews result is magically uplifting.”—Horn Book “This bold attempt to rewrite the talking-animal fantasy… is ultimately captivating bunny noir.” —Horn Book “Both real and heartfelt….[Friend] has an unmistakable “Well-crafted….Offers an intellectual puzzle that gift for exploring family dynamics.” may engage YA readers.” —Publishers Weekly —Publishers Weekly

SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or www.scholastic.com registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc. feature YALSA Perspective

forthcoming The Official YALSA Awards Guidebook, edited by Tina Frolund and Margaret Edwards published by Neal-Schuman, Inc. for YALSA. The Official YALSA Awards Guidebook will be available in June at Award Turns 20 www.nealschuman.com.

By Betty Carter and 2007 Pam Spencer Holley Lois Lowry The Giver. (Houghton Mifflin, 1993). As Jonas receives ike teenagers, young adult (YA) award. For YA librarians, it’s a good time the memories literature is often more about the to settle down with some of these oldies of his here and now than the historical but goodies. You may find a title you never L community past. Librarians wonder about new for- read, and this is the push you need to read from “the mats, new authors, and new content. They it. You may enjoy a literary stroll down Giver,” he second-guess the Printz winners and memory lane with a book you encountered realizes his family and friends are debate which books should become Best as a teenager or as a beginning YA librar- unable to value life because they’ve Books for Young Adults or Quick Picks. ian. You may look over the list and think never experienced it. Only one award, the Edwards Award, looks how much kids have changed or how much back at an author’s body of work, to those they’ve stayed the same. The Edwards books that have retained teen appeal, dem- Award is a part of our history, but the 2006 onstrated literary merit, and served young good news is you don’t have to memorize adults as “a window on the world.” any dates and authors; just simply enjoy Jacqueline Woodson Appropriately this award honors the material. —Betty Carter Miracle’s Boys. (Putnam, 2000) Milagro Margaret A. Edwards, whose body of work dies and her three sons react embodies those same features for many differently—the youngest weeps easily, who are involved in YA services. In January the oldest resents giving up college 2008, the Edwards Award will pass, in The Annotated and the middle son acts as though he YALSA parlance, from young adult to Edwards Award wants to return to juvie. adult, as it commemorates its twentieth Lena. (Delacorte Press, 1999). Lena birthday. YALSA, in great homage to its Editor’s note: The annotations to the endures her father’s abuse, but when elders, now begins a year-long salute to this Edwards Award are a preview of the she sees the same pattern developing with her younger sister, she knows Betty Carter currently chairs the YALSA task force that will running away can’t be any worse than kick off the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Edwards life at home. (Putnam, 1998). Being Award. She served as chair of the Edwards Award in 1992 and in If You Come Softly. in love for the first time is special, 2002 edited a centennial edition of Margaret A. Edwards’s The unless you’re black Jeremiah and white Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts. Pam Spencer Holley Ellie and must contend with racism is a retired school librarian and writes the Gale series, What Do and police brutality. Children and Young Adults Read Next? She also was the 2005–06 From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun. (Blue YALSA President and is the coauthor of the forthcoming Quick and Sky Press, 1995). African American Popular Reads for Teens (ALA Editions, 2008). She will chair the Melanin can’t believe that his mother 2008 Odyssey Award committee. plans to disrupt their cozy twosome

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Carter and Holley

of a family just because she loves some call the dragon Kalessin, which saves white woman named Kristen. Tenar and Ged from an evil wizard. I Hadn’t Meant to Tell You This. (Delacorte, The Beginning Place. (Harper & Row, 1994). A warm but unusual friendship 1980). Hugh and Irena discover that develops between popular black Marie idyllic Tembreabrezi is a peaceful and white newcomer Lena, who are refuge, so when their retreat is linked by the loss of their mothers threatened, these two outsiders are and Lena’s horrific secret. primed to help. The Farthest Shore. Earthsea Trilogy, Book 3. (Atheneum, 1972). When wizards 2005 lose their spell-casting power, Ged Francesca Lia Block helps Arren discover why on a journey Baby Be-Bop. (HarperCollins, 1995). In that restores equilibrium to the world, Dirk’s pre-Weetzie days he is badly but leaves Ged powerless. beaten by gay bashers and slumps The Tombs of Atuan. Earthsea Trilogy, into unconsciousness; dreaming of his Book 2. (Atheneum, 1971). Serving ancestors and their loving stories helps the evil Nameless Ones, Tenar/Arha him heal. is taken from the dark underground Missing Angel Juan. (HarperCollins, 1993). by Ged/Sparrowhawk and discovers Witch Baby follows Juan to New the combination of dark with light York City where she meets Weetzie’s makes her whole. father’s ghost who helps her find Angel The Left Hand of Darkness. (Walker, Margaret A. Edwards Juan—just when he wants to be found. 1969). Sent as an envoy to Karhide, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys. Genly Ai has difficulty dealing with (HarperCollins, 1992). Cherokee its androgynous inhabitants who raises Witch Baby’s spirits by starting can assume either male or female Zindel tells of meeting his own up a band, but magical costumes and characteristics. “Pigman” during his teen years— instruments can’t guarantee success. A Wizard of Earthsea. Earthsea Trilogy, a friend’s father who listens to his Witch Baby. (HarperCollins, 1991). Left Book 1. (Parnassus Pr., 1968). troubles, teaches him to fight, and then on Weetzie Bat’s doorstep, Witch Trained as a powerful magician, Ged/ cooks him tasty Italian dinners. Baby becomes part of the family but Sparrowhawk calls up a spirit from the The Pigman’s Legacy. (Harper & Row, not knowing her parents makes her dead whose attack leaves him hovering 1980). Still feeling guilty about Mr. question who she is and act like a between life and death. Pignati’s death, John and Lorraine “witch baby.” befriend the old man they find Weetzie Bat. (Harper and Row, 1989). 2003 squatting in the Pigman’s former Frustrated that neither she nor her house. best friend Dirk find their true loves, Nancy Garden The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the- Weetzie makes a wish and discovers Annie on My Mind. (Farrar, Straus & Moon Marigolds: A Drama in Two her Secret Agent Lover Man while Giroux, 1982). First meeting at the Acts. (Harper & Row, 1971). Tillie’s Dirk meets Duck. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Liza science fair project illustrates the and Annie live in different social and deadly effect of too large a dose of economic worlds, but each slowly 2004 gamma rays, compared to a moderate accepts her love for the other. amount which produces large, showy Ursula K. LeGuin man-in-the-moon marigolds. A Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea. 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner loosely based on (Atheneum, 1990). Adopted and Zindel’s life. trained by Tenar, Therru earns her Paul Zindel My Darling, My Hamburger. (Harper & name Tehanu when she is able to The Pigman & Me. (HarperCollins, 1992). Row, 1969). Their teacher advises

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 7

Margaret Edwards Award Turns 20

Promoting the Edwards That Was Then This Is Now; Rumble Fish Booktalking the Edwards Winners: Award @ your library® and Tex). Enhance your display with a Choose five or six Edwards-winning photo of the authors and a short bio. books that you think will interest your While the Margaret A. Edwards Award teens and prepare a booktalk for each does honor a specific author for his or her You Can’t Beat the Classics: Choose one. Contact the high school or liaison lifetime contribution to young adult liter- Edwards-winning books that have stood with your English department to visit ature, it also singles out specific works by the test of time and create a display that classes and booktalk the ones you’ve that author for special recognition. Here features them, such as A Wrinkle in selected. Provide an annotated list of the are a few ideas to help you promote those Time by Madeleine L’Engle or The Giver Edwards-winning books and encourage books—and make sure to check YALSA’s by Lois Lowry. Have library workers or students to visit the library to check Web site at www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards teens who have read the books write brief one out. to see who this year’s winner is!. reviews of the titles on the display and attach them to the books. Edwards Book Group: Form a teen book discussion group. Each month have teens Displays Retro Reading: Create a display that fea- vote to select one Edwards winner from Draw attention to the Edwards winners tures Edwards-winning books from the a different year to read, then discuss over in your collection (or the 2008 winner’s 1980s and 1990s. Enhance the display pizza or snacks. Prepare discussion ques- honored works) by creating a display area with retro items from each year—such tions to spur the teens along. in a prominent place in your library. as the Rubik’s Cube, posters of popular bands, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Every Edwards (or I’m a Maniac for Rotating Display of Margaret Edwards action figures, and so on. Margaret!): Create a reading incen- Winners: Set aside a display area in tive program that encourages teens to your library for the Edwards award. Programs read every one of the books that won Each month, choose one or two authors an Edwards Award. Provide teens with on which to focus. In February of each You can create engaging program- a reading journal so they can jot down year, highlight the most recent winner, ming that features the Edwards Award thoughts about each book as they read whose name is announced every January year-round. In a pinch, download the them. When their journal is complete, at the Midwinter Meeting’s Youth Media Margaret A. Edwards PowerPoint game give them a prize (try to get a local busi- Awards. Fill your display with the books from the YALSA Web site (you’ll find ness to donate something cool to encour- that were designated as Edwards-winning the game at www.ala.org/yalsa/edwards) age your teens to participate). works (for example, S. E. Hinton won the and use it to encourage teens’ interest in first Edwards Award for The Outsiders; YALSA.

them to suggest getting a hamburger 2001 ready to give up boxing, but realizes when make-out sessions become too his prowess in the ring can help his steamy, but Liz and Maggie find her Robert Lipsyte family and friends on the reservation. advice doesn’t always work. The Chief. (HarperCollins, 1993). Now a One Fat Summer. (Harper & Row, 1977). The Pigman. (Harper & Row, 1968). police sergeant, Alfred Brooks sends Resigned to teasing about his obesity, House-sitting for Mr. Pignati while aspiring Native American boxer Bobby spends his summer mowing he’s hospitalized, teens John and Sonny Bear to Donatelli’s gym, which Dr. Kahn’s never-ending lawn and Lorraine throw a party that grows out begins Bear’s upward climb in boxing dreams of candy, cookies, and cake of control and leads to Mr. Pignati’s circles. with every step. fatal heart attack. The Brave. (HarperCollins, 1991). Cheated The Contender. (Harper & Row, 1967). of his amateur crown, Sonny Bear is High school dropout Alfred takes

8 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Carter and Holley

boxing lessons from Mr. Donatelli 1998 where he learns that showing up and being a contender is more important Madeleine L’Engle than winning. A Ring of Endless Light. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1980). Vicky struggles with the deaths of friends and relatives, 2000 until one boyfriend steps forward and helps break the spell of darkness Chris Crutcher surrounding her. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. (Greenwillow A Swiftly Tilting Planet. (Farrar, Straus & Bks., 1993). Swimming to slim down Giroux, 1978). Halting the threat of as well as to accompany his badly nuclear war falls to Charles Wallace scarred friend Sarah, Eric sticks with Murry, whose time travels eventually her even when he’s slender and she alter the personality of a militaristic stops talking. Though the white dragon Ruth South American dictator. Athletic Shorts. (Greenwillow Bks., 1991). shouldn’t even exist, and Jaxom A Wrinkle in Time. (Farrar, Straus & If you haven’t met Telephone Man or shouldn’t have impressed her, he and Giroux, 1962). After a visit by celestial fat Angus Bethune from Crutcher’s Ruth soon become an experienced time travelers, siblings Meg and novels, this collection of short stories dragon-rider team. Charles Wallace Murry prove the provides the perfect introduction. Dragonsinger. Harper Hall Trilogy, Book power of love when they travel along “a (Greenwillow Bks., Chinese Handcuffs. 2. (Atheneum, 1977). As the Master wrinkle in time” to rescue their father. 1989). Together triathlon star Dillon Harper’s special apprentice, Menolly Meet the Austins. (Vanguard Pr., 1960). and basketball star Jennifer overcome discovers she has to learn about music Family life at the Austins turns the trauma of sibling suicide, and how to get along with harpers upside-down when their orphaned abandonment and incest. who are jealous of her talent. cousin, manipulative Maggie, moves The Crazy Horse Electric Game. Dragonsong. Harper Hall Trilogy, Book into their lives and their home. (Greenwillow Bks., 1987). Running 1. (Atheneum, 1976). Menolly runs away from his Montana home after away after an injury prevents her 1997 an injury robs him of athletic talent, from playing musical instruments, but Willie regains his mental and physical then meets and eventually awes Pern’s Gary Paulsen ability, but wonders if he can return to Master Harper with her melodic Canyons. (Delacorte Pr., 1990). Brennan his family. compositions. Cole discovers the skull of Coyote Running Loose. (Greenwillow Bks., 1983). Dragonquest. Dragonriders of Pern, Runs, a young Apache brave shot on Louie faces the scorn of his classmates Book 2. (Ballantine Bks., 1971). As his first raid, whose restless spirit is when he refuses to play for an the periods of threadfall increase, eventually laid to rest in a favorite immoral coach, unaware that bleaker dragonrider F’lar searches for ways to canyon. days lie ahead. better protect Pern and its citizens. Woodsong. (Bradbury Pr., 1990). Author The Ship Who Sang. (Walker, 1969). Born Paulsen and his sled dogs train in the 1999 physically but not mentally disabled, frozen Minnesota winter for their first Helva is technologically enhanced attempt at running the Iditarod Sled Anne McCaffrey to become a scout ship that spends Race in Alaska’s wilderness. Dragondrums. Harper Hall Trilogy, Book centuries searching for the perfect Winter Room. (Orchard Bks., 1989). 3. (Atheneum, 1979). Upset when partner to fly her. Sitting in the fire-lit winter room, two his beautiful singing voice changes, Dragonflight. Dragonriders of Pern, Book brothers forget about the snow and ice Piemur runs away to the Southern 1. (Walker, 1969, c1968). Her family and listen with delight to the stories Continent, accompanied by a stolen killed and her position now that of a Uncle David shares of a legendary fire lizard and his runnerbeast. servant, Lessa’s opportunities change lumberjack. The White Dragon. Dragonriders of Pern, when she meets dragonrider F’lar who The Crossing. (Orchard Bks., 1987). An Book 3. (Ballantine Bks., 1978). searches for potential dragonriders. emotionally disturbed American

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 9

Margaret Edwards Award Turns 20

soldier and a young Mexican boy, 1995 unemotional father but finally realizes both of whom hope for a better life, that love doesn’t need to be showy or cross paths and ironically attain their Cynthia Voigt demonstrative. dreams. Jackaroo. Kingdom Cycle, Book One. Dicey’s Song. Tillerman Family Cycle. Hatchet. (Bradbury Pr., 1987). After his (Atheneum, 1985). Donning the (Atheneum, 1982). In this sequel to pilot suffers a fatal heart attack and disguise of Jackaroo, a legendary Homecoming, it’s hard for Dicey to the plane crashes into a Canadian lake, Robin Hood character, Gwyn plans to relinquish her parental role to her sole survivor Brian Robeson swims help the poor but discovers she is not eccentric grandmother Abigail, though ashore with only a windbreaker and a the only one masquerading with that she savors the idea of time on her own. hatchet. intent. Homecoming. Tillerman Family Cycle. Dancing Carl. (Bradbury Pr., 1983). One The Runner. Tillerman Family Cycle. (Atheneum, 1981). Abandoned by winter Carl works at the town’s (Atheneum, 1985). The Vietnam War their mother, Dicey shepherds her skating rink, dancing around the ice rages, his family’s farm requires his three younger siblings on a journey in a way that mesmerizes Willy and help, and his father makes impossible until they find a home with a Marsh, two young boys who discover demands —Bullet’s salvation is his grandmother they never knew Carl’s secret. running. they had. Building Blocks. (Atheneum, 1984). 1996 Frustrated that his father never stands 1994 up to his mother, Brann sees another Judy Blume side when he travels back in time and Walter Dean Myers Forever. (Bradbury Pr., 1975). Teenager observes his father as a ten-year-old. Fallen Angels. (Scholastic, 1988). Katherine thinks she’ll love Michael A Solitary Blue. (Atheneum, 1983). Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry forever; but, after a summer apart, Abandoned by his mother when quickly discovers that even the streets forever doesn’t seem as everlasting. he is only seven, Jeff is raised by his of Harlem didn’t prepare him for the

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10 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Carter and Holley Join the DIY grim reality of the body bags, bugs, his little sister Mindy from their and napalm of the Vietnam War. stepfather, but too late realizes that Scorpions. (Harper & Row, 1988). With his Brad is crazy and there’s a search Revolution older brother in jail, Jamal reluctantly warrant for their arrest. assumes leadership of the Scorpions Chapters: My Growth as a Writer. (Little, gang, a far cry from his dream of Brown, 1982). Beginning with the becoming an artist. first story she wrote in kindergarten, Motown and Didi. (Viking Kestrel, 1984). author Duncan shares those tales that Didi wants to escape from Harlem chronicle her beginning stages as a and attend college while Motown writer. works hard at low-paying jobs to Killing Mr. Griffin. (Little Brown, 1978). remain independent—together they Convinced their English teacher is keep their dreams alive. unfair, five students decide to kidnap Hoops. (Delacorte Press, 1981). Hoping and frighten him, not realizing that that basketball will be his ticket to Mr. Griffin has a heart condition. college and the NBA, Lonnie worries Summer of Fear. (Little, Brown, 1976). that Coach Cal will revert to his Orphaned Julia comes to live with gambling habits and blow the team’s Rachel’s family and immediately final championship game. charms everyone, except for Rachel Culture creation and her dog Trickle who have good 1993 reason to distrust her. made easy! I Know What You Did Last Summer. M.E. Kerr (Little, Brown, 1973). Four friends An empowering guide to do-it- Night Kites. (Harper & Row, 1986). When make a pact to never tell of the yourself culture including ideas for Erick learns that his older brother horrible incident that occurred last creating your own movies, radio Pete has returned home to die of summer, but someone else knows and shows, video games, zines, and AIDS, he’s glad for the understanding threatens to reveal their secret. more. of his nonconformist girlfriend Nicki. Ransom. (Doubleday, 1966). Being “ ... would serve as a manual of Me Me Me Me Me: Not a Novel. (Harper kidnapped while on your school bus information and suggestions for & Row, 1983). An autobiographical is frightening, but even worse for five teens trying to figure out how to account of the author’s life where Kerr students is wondering if your parents take their self-expression to the next shares some of the life stories which will even pay your ransom. level.” —VOYA have inspired and contributed to her Ages 12+ / Grades 7+ writing. 184 pages, b&w photos and illustrations, 1991 further reading, websites, index Gentlehands. (Harper & Row, 1978). What are you supposed to do when you Robert Cormier discover that your beloved, cultured After the First Death. (Pantheon Bks., grandfather is a Nazi war criminal? 1979). Determined to prove he’s Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! (Harper worthy of being called a terrorist, & Row, 1972). Dinky’s do-gooder 16-year-old Miro helps capture a mother neglects her until their busload of small children, but feels city’s sidewalks and buildings qualms about the necessity of killing. are emblazoned with “DINKY I Am the Cheese. (Knopf, 1977). Adam www.annickpress.com HOCKER SHOOTS SMACK.” Farmer and his family are part of a witness protection program that 1992 seems to do more harm than good in a work where fantasy and reality coexist. annick Lois Duncan The Chocolate War. (Pantheon Bks., 1974). excellence & innovation The Twisted Window. (Delacorte, 1987). When Jerry refuses to sell chocolates Distributed by Firefly Books. www.fireflybooks.com Tracy agrees to help Brad retrieve for a school fund-raiser, he unleashes AVAILABLE FROM YOUR WHOLESALER

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 11

Margaret Edwards Award Turns 20

the wrath of some of the Catholic Blossom Culp makes friends with their horses is only the first step Mason faculty and a group of student bullies. ghosts and her wealthy classmate takes for the brothers to survive. Alexander Armsworth, who also has Rumble Fish. (Delacorte Pr., 1975). the gift of second sight. When his older, delinquent brother 1990 Are You in the House Alone? (Viking Pr., Motorcycle Boy flees criminal charges, Richard Peck 1976). When a rich, popular student Rusty-James is left on his own with Remembering the Good Times. (Delacorte harasses and then rapes Gail Osborne, neither the skills nor the smarts Pr., 1985). Buck, Kate and Trav are no one believes her. needed to survive. an unlikely but close-knit trio; when The Ghost Belonged to Me. (Viking Pr., That Was Then, This Is Now. (Viking, Trav commits suicide, Buck and Kate 1975). Alexander Armsworth doesn’t 1971). Twelve-year-old Byron has are left behind to “remember the good believe there’s a ghost living in his barn always adored his foster brother Mark, times.” until she tells him how to prevent a which makes it so hard to turn him in Secrets of the Shopping Mall. (Delacorte Pr., train wreck. for selling drugs. 1979). Escaping from a gang, Bernie The Outsiders. (Viking, 1967). Conflict and Theresa wind up living in the between two gangs, the privileged department store of a suburban mall, 1989 Socs and the poor Greasers, leads to but may not be the only live bodies the death of Ponyboy’s best friend and No Award Given residing there. the beginning of a new age in teen Father Figure. (Viking Pr., 1978). When literature. —Pam Spencer Holley YALS Jim and his younger brother Byron 1988 reunite with their estranged father, the biggest problem is deciding who will S. E. Hinton be the “father figure” for Byron. Te x . (Delacorte Pr., 1979). Life’s not easy Ghosts I Have Been. (Viking Pr., 1977). for Tex and his brother Mason with Snubbed by the rich girls in her class, their father away at rodeos; selling GET CONNECTED Tech Programs for Teens is chock-full of innovative ideas, cutting-edge tech programs, and YALSA’s creative ideas for celebrating Teen Tech Week! Visit www.neal-schuman.com or call 866.NS.BOOKS

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12 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 feature School Library Perspective

still want teens to not just be able to read, but to want to read, and to look for enjoy- Do We Still Dewey? ment, satisfaction, and, yes, even escape, in their reading choices. After all, we read their books, so who better to advise or rec- By Christine Allen ommend what would most appeal? Former ALA president Sarah Long writes, “As a librarian, I worry about the future of libraries. I know that people born after 1980 are very different from those of o we still Dewey? Well, yes, we than the school library teacher? No one even us who were born earlier. These less-than- do, but technology has changed sees a vinyl record anymore unless they are 30-year-olds were born digital. All their D so much of everything else we collectors. Students today have no knowl- lives they’ve had computers and digital toys do in today’s school library. For example, edge of records, or of record players, for that of various descriptions. There is some evi- I have to admit, I let this article go to the matter. This reminded me of Beloit (Wisc.) dence that they actually think and process deadline because I knew technology would College’s attempts to give its staff the big pic- information differently as a result . . .”2 Like save me; I could e-mail it in no time at all. ture regarding incoming freshman: it or not, school librarians today better be Although there’s nothing really wrong with on the cutting edge of learning and infor- that, today’s reliance on technology didn’t l their lifetime has always included AIDS; mation technology. We can either hold the exist for most of us even a few years ago. l Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street fame broom, or be swept away by it. A similar difference exists between are old enough to be their parents; In today’s schools, the emphasis what our students’ lives are like now and l they have never had a polio shot, and should be on locating, selecting, under- what we were taught about those students likely do not know what it is; standing, assimilating, and synthesizing when we were in school learning to be l gasoline has always been unleaded; exponentially increasing amounts of infor- library media teachers or specialists. (I l they have always had VCRs and mation. Knowing how to find informa- know it may offend some, but I do think it DVDs, but they have no idea what a tion is empowering. Testing is important was easier when our title was plain and sim- BETA cassette is; for proving those abilities, but it is in the ple: librarian.) Even for twenty-somethings, l Banana Republic has always been a library that students have the chance to so much has changed in such a short span store, not a puppet government in actually expand their abilities to do all of of years that you, too, can be nostalgic about Latin America; and that. And, perhaps most importantly, to telephones that haven’t become a physical l there has always been cable TV and, enjoy learning how to be empowered. attachment to one’s head. Or not. What has in particular, lots of music channels.1 Corny as it sounds, it is still true: really changed—and will never go back—is This is why you wanted to be a school the ability to access all kinds of information I believe our biggest challenge today library teacher. Teach your students how in all kinds of ways. Our students are accus- is to keep up with (and hopefully outpace) to learn and they will be able to succeed tomed to this; we still may be adjusting. our students so we do not seem dinosau- in their lives. YALS While thinking about writing this rian to them, and so they will keep on article, I picked up a children’s book called needing to learn from us. There may be a JAZZ A B Z by Wynton Marsalis and really steep learning curve here, but take Reference Paul Rogers (Candlewick, 2005) to find the heart: the school library’s mission is still frontispiece looking as if it were part of a 78 to ensure students and staff become effec- 1. Beloit College,“The Beloit College Mindset rpm record sleeve with a black record stick- tive users of ideas and information. And, List,” www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset ing out of it. For students, this book begs an students will still look to you as a nontech- (accessed Dec. 27, 2007). explanation, and who better to discuss this nological guide to recreational reading. We 2. Sarah Long, “ How the Internet will change libraries is at the front of my mind,” Christine Allen is currently YALSA’s elected ALA Councilor and Daily Herald, Sept. 25, 2007; www.daily the District Librarian (K–12) for a large, urban southern California herald.com/story/?id=42996&src=3 school district. She also has been a youth services librarian in a public (accessed Jan. 8, 2008). library and has taught elementary and middle school students.

14 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 feature Teen Perspective

he members of the Elizabeth (N.J.) Public Library’s teen book discus- T sion group have been participat- Teens’ Top ing in YALSA’s YA Galley project for the last three years, but this was the first time they’ve had the opportunity to nominate Ten Redux books for Teens’ Top Ten. To celebrate this next step of involvement, the group was extended to include monthly meetings at the Elmora Branch library, and bimonthly Readers from New meetings with an after-school group at Lafayette Middle School. The former participants and the new group members Jersey Talk about the stepped up to the challenge and read widely over the course of the year, reviewing and nominating with a critical eye. These very Winning Books of 2007 savvy, and very opinionated, readers were not shy about voicing their thoughts! The students are very proud of the final Teens’ By Kimberly Paone and Top Ten list, and were pleased and honored to be asked to share their comments about Members of the Elizabeth the books that made the cut. (N.J.) Public Library’s Teen 1. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Little, Brown Books for Young Book Discussion Group Readers, 2006). Stephenie Meyer captured all of us in this intense sequel to Tw i l i g h t . Everything with Bella and Edward was going fine, well, as fine because of an incident at a party. She her to go to Israel to meet his side of as a normal girl dating a vampire can hates confrontation and just keeps the family, it’s going to be nothing like get. In New Moon, Bella and Edward everything in, from her older sister she thought it would be. My opinion is face new tribulations. You soon find and her eating-disorder to that party that How to Ruin a Summer Vacation out that the Cullens aren’t the only and her tiring modeling career. Until is a fantastic book from the author unknown creatures Bella should she meets Owen, music-obsessed Simone Elkeles—Robert, 16 watch out for. With new characters, and anger-managed. I really like this 4. Maximum Ride: School’s Out— deep secrets, and new revelations, book. It’s kind of general but that is Forever by James Patterson Bella comes to one of the biggest easily forgotten with the storyline and (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, decisions in her life. Meyer got us everything—Janis, 16 Brown Books for Young Readers, once again captivated by her books. 3. How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by 2006). Maximum Ride: School’s Out – I would highly suggest this book to Simone Ekeles (Flux, 2006). When Forever is the second installment to the anyone who loves all of the following 16-year-old Amy Nelson’s father begs Maximum Ride series. Max and her ingredients: two cups of romance, two teaspoons of secrets, and a dash of blood. I promise it will be the tastiest Kimberly Paone is the Supervisor of Adult and Teen Services thing that your teeth will ever sink at the Elizabeth (N.J.) Public Library, where she has worked for into.—Rafaella, 16 over seven years. She leads the teen book discussion group. For 2. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Viking Children’s Books, 2006). more information on the YALSA YA Galley project and Teens’ Top Just Listen is about Annabel Greene Ten, check out www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/ and how her social life was gone teenstopten.cfm.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 15

Teens’ Top Ten Redux

flock finally escaped School. They end He goes through this short experience of worldwide earthquakes, tsunamis, up living with an FBI agent and attend with a somewhat changed attitude and volcanoes is set off. While normal school. Everything seems and I think this book really would her family and neighbors struggle alright for a while and they experience be helpful to read because we don’t to make difficult decisions as the normal human life until the Erasers encounter conflicts like this that make world around them is literally being come back and the voice in Max’s it easier to see the obvious issues with destroyed, Miranda realizes that the head speaks again. Then the secrets the way we usually think. It’s also life she once took for granted is worth come pouring out and they’re on the about going against peer pressure, more than she used to believe. Aside run again. This book really keeps which we all deal with every day. It’s a from the typical message to never you guessing. It has the right amount good book, easy to read, and it has a take things for granted, this novel of genres from comedy to sci-fi and good message—Stephanie, 17 also reminds us that there are times everything else in between—Janis, 16 6. All Hallows Eve by Vivian Vande when we are required to make choices 5. Firegirl by Tony Abbott (Hachette Velde (Harcourt, 2006). All Hallows on the spot which can either benefit Book Group USA/Little, Brown Eve is best for chills and thrills, from us positively or negatively. Despite Books for Young Readers, 2006). haunted cars to evil witches, perfect the fact that complications occur Firegirl is a story about a seventh- for short stories of horror. If you’re daily, it is up to us to decide whether grader named Tom whose world gets interested in happy endings, this book to give up hope or seize the future as ripped apart. He spends his days with isn’t for you. It has a mix of Nightmare ours. Susan Beth Pfeffer’sLife As We his friend, Jeff, who is domineering on Elm Street meeting with Hocus Know It teaches us this and more; her and bossy, and also wanting to ride Pocus—Anthony, 16 stunning novel lands itself on my list in a Cobra (old car). A new girl is 7. Life As We Know It by Susan Beth of preferred reads—Genesis, 16 brought into his class and she was Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2006). Over 8. River Secrets by Shannon Hale severely burned in a fire. This changes the course of history various parts (Bloomsbury, 2006). The bookRiver everything for him and he kind of of the world have been influenced Secrets is about a 16-year-old boy realizes that maybe he shouldn’t by natural disasters, each of them named Razo who was good friends make so many allowances for Jeff ’s shaking up numerous populations. with the King and Queen of Bayern. behavior and that you don’t put aside So imagine having to face a calamity Razo was born in the forest with what’s important for something like, which not only impacts your location his six older brothers. He is part of say, a ride in a Cobra. I really think but the rest of the world as well. the Bayern army who fought against this book is a good eye-opener for For Pennsylvania teen, Miranda, Tira, the enemy city. During the war, teenagers that are in middle school such a nightmare is reality once a Bayern had a girl named Enna who and that are beginning to realize that meteor bats the moon nearer to the is a fire-breather. She burned the everything isn’t peaches and cream. earth, and a sudden chain reaction city and the Tiran soldiers. So now

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16 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Paone

since the war is over, the two cities not the only one who captures your and the bride to wind up in the pool.) decided to make peace by sending attention. There’s her fashion-crazed Needless to say, this book is one of a ambassadors to each country and best friend who drives a van called The kind—Rafaella, 16 Razo goes along. I thought the book Pink Pearl, and an unlikable cousin 10. Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks was really interesting. I found Razo who loves flavored lip-gloss so much (Scholastic/Chicken House, 2006). to be clever and charming. The book she considers it a sort of dessert (and Road Of The Dead is a book about two was really mysterious about Enna also one who brings trouble to the brothers who go on a mission to find and I fully recommend it to other others). The whole book takes you their sister’s killer. They retrace her teenagers—Rachel, 16 on this crazy ride with an actress/ steps in the hopes of coming across 9. Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe model and her fugitive husband, a something that will lead them to the (HarperCollins, 2006). Michele Jaffe very attractive man with a sexy British killer and help them better understand blows us away with Bad Kitty. This accent, and a pack of fashion-crazed, what happened the night their sister book has everything a person looks troublemaking, random friends. was raped and murdered. I thought for in a book. It’s about a girl named You can’t help but laugh with the this was a great book mainly because it Jasmine who finds herself in a real characters and sometimes at them, had a good plot and a great ending. The mystery while she’s on vacation with too. (You see, Jas seems to attract characters themselves make this book a her family in Las Vegas. Although catastrophe. After the cat attack, she great read—Mariana, 17 YALS Jasmine is a great character, she’s runs into a wedding, causing the cake

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Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 17

feature Author Perspective

imberly Newton Fusco is the author of Tending to Grace, which K won ALA’s Schneider Family Book Great Strength to Award in 2006 for its portrayal of a dis- ability. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Fusco was an award-winning reporter and Those Who Read editor. She lives in Foster, Rhode Island, with her husband and their two sons and two daughters. She is working on her third novel. An Interview with

YALS: Will you tell us about your childhood? Kimberly Newton Fusco

Kimberly Newton Fusco: I grew up in a small town in central Massachusetts with By Dominique McCafferty my mother, father, and sister. We spent most of our summers on Cape Cod in our beach buggy. As we got older, we got even more adventurous, and went backpack- ing in New Hampshire, Maine, and even you damn well better tell the world who home as many books as I could. I’d spend Nova Scotia. My father would take us you are. Or somebody else will.” Writing my afternoons in my tree house reading foraging for wild foods, and that part of became my voice. one book after another. People used to Agatha’s character came from him. Not wonder if there was something wrong with the crankiness, though! Students often YALS: And perhaps there were remark- me because I read so much. I laugh about ask me if my parents are like Cornelia’s, able teachers in your life who encouraged that now. Who knew? and I say, “No, my parents are really nice you to write as well? people. You’d like them.” YALS: What were some of your favorite The part of the book that I stole from KNF: There have been many teachers in books as a child? my own childhood was the stuttering. I my life who have encouraged me: my sixth- was a pretty severe stutterer until I got grade teacher, who thought I was a good KNF: Harriet the Spy, Island of the Blue some speech therapy in college. All those writer; my high school English teacher, Dolphins, Where the Red Fern Grows, A feelings of being afraid to talk, of having who encouraged me to pursue a creative Wrinkle in Time, The Borrowers. But The to read out loud and wanting to hide—all writing degree; several professors in college Chocolate War is my favorite young adult that came from my life. When Cornelia and graduate school; some tough newspa- novel! says, “I take a deep breath and that’s all it per editors; and, most recently, my editor takes for my throat to lock and I’m caught at Knopf, Michelle Frey. YALS: Oh yes, The Chocolate War is out- in the lonely place between what I want to standing. And what have you read of late say and what I can’t.” That was me. YALS: Would you say that you are a that’s impressed you? reader before you’re a writer? YALS: Do you think your stuttering was KNF: I read a pretty eclectic mix, and I at least part of the reason you became a KNF: I believe so. I was one of those kids tend to read books that I like over and writer? who would walk to the library and carry over, each time searching deeper for what

KNF: I knew I wanted to be a writer in the sixth grade, and I never wanted to Dominique McCafferty is the Local History and Special be anything else. Because speaking was Collections Librarian at the Riverside (Calif.) Public Library, and a so difficult for me, writing was a balm part-time Reference Librarian at California State University, San for my soul. I found that what Agatha Bernadino. She currently lives in Grand Terrace, California, with said was true: “When you got a voice, her partner, Andrew, and their three cats.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 19

Great Strength to Those Who Read

I can learn. I’ve read [Toni Morrison’s] KNF: I just got back from Laurens, South Although Cornelia never stops stut- Beloved nine times because it continues to Carolina, where everyone in their high tering; that often doesn’t happen in real teach me how to write. As for children’s school—students, teachers, administrators, life. Many people wouldn’t guess that books, my favorites are Walk Two Moons and staff—read Tending to Grace (plus I was a stutterer. Cornelia does find a [Sharon Creech], [The] Canning Season additional teachers and students in the strong voice within herself and she begins [Polly Horvath], Kira-Kira [Cynthia elementary and middle schools—1,800 to speak up. I thought if Agatha found a Kadohata], and Midwife’s Apprentice people in all for One Book, One Summer), voice as well (although in a different way), [Karen Cushman]. I also read a great deal and I was struck with how students it would help cement the bond between of poetry. Currently, I’m reading Man’s on all levels identified with the way them. It was very important to me that Search for Meaning [Viktor Frankl]. Cornelia found her voice. they help each other. On the other hand, I feel com- I guess no one wants to be invisible. pelled to tell you about my new favorite I hear from teens who have never been YALS: The way those two help one books. I just finished Princess Academy big readers, and others who read all the another is one of the greatest charms of by Shannon Hale and loved it! The book time. I hear from just as many adults the book! Would you mind sharing a few had such a strong female protagonist who are touched by the relationship that details about your new novel? and a great plot, it was deep and not pre- grows between Cornelia and Agatha. I dictable, plus I loved the whole idea of think readers get that the book is about KNF: Eleven days after Tending to Grace “quarry-speech.” I am ordering the rest of not hiding, and about finding a voice. It was published, we had a house fire and lost her books! seems to have struck a nerve. The thing everything. No one was hurt, thank good- about adversity is that it is universal. Most ness, and we lived in an emergency trailer YALS: What drew me to your book, people have something, sometimes it is out for almost a year as our new home was Tending to Grace, was the main character, there for the world to see, and sometimes built. The people of our amazing town, Cornelia. I can’t very well pass up a book it is hidden. But the point is that we have Foster, Rhode Island, rallied behind us if it features a protagonist who loves to a choice: are we going to let it smother and became the inspiration for my second read. Jennifer Donnelly’s A Northern Light us, keep us small, without a voice, or are novel, Me and Halley Moon, which also is is another book that springs immediately we going to put on larger boots and keep being published by Knopf. to mind. Also, The Neverending Story going? Cornelia puts on larger boots, and [Michael Ende] and Anne of Green Gables because she does, she blossoms. And that YALS: Do you have any idea when Me [L. M. Montgomery]. is what readers are telling me they find so and Halley Moon will be released? appealing. KNF: There was no doubt that Cornelia KNF: My editor says publication is needed to be a serious reader, way ahead YALS: How did Agatha reveal herself planned for spring 2009. of her peers, and a girl who was lost in the to you? system because she didn’t speak. Books YALS: Well, I suppose that’s not too far would provide the role models she needed KNF: I got the idea for Agatha’s character off. In any case, I’ll be waiting with bated before she met Agatha. Then she was ready from an elderly man I wrote about as a breath! Thank you so much for agreeing to to find her voice. reporter. He learned to read in his seven- interview with me, Kimberly! Best wishes. ties through a literacy program in the pub- YALS: I loved that Agatha and Cornelia lic schools. After that, he was in the library KNF: And thank you. It has been won- helped each other find their voices. Agatha, every day reading the newspaper, books, derful. YALS who insists she won’t speak for Cornelia, whatever he could get his hands on. He and Cornelia, who works to open Agatha told me that before he learned to read he up to a whole world of voices through the had to lie his way through life. But every- printed word. thing changed with the ability to read and to write, and I was captivated.

20 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 “[A] virtuoso first-person narrative.” —Starred, Kirkus Reviews “Cameron makes a singularly auspicious entry into the world of YA with this beautifully conceived and written coming-of-age novel.” —Starred, Booklist “This smart and elegantly written novel merits a wide readership.” —Starred, Publishers Weekly “Not since The Catcher in the Rye has a novel captured the deep and almost physical ache of adolescent existential sadness as trenchantly as the perfectly titled Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You. I would have loved it as a teenager, and I love it now.” —James Howe, author of   someday this pain will be useful to you

P ETER C AMERON Frances Foster Books $16.00 / 978-0-374-30989-3 / Young adult FARRAR • STRAUS • GIROUX www.fsgteen.com feature Best Practices

audience and consider the fact that they were going to perform in front of the Noise @ the library. Once you have booked the bands ® and they are happily practicing, logistical library ! issues are the third and most complicated step. Where will people park? You can’t fill up the library lot, leaving no space for By Deimosa Webber-Bey other patrons. What about bathrooms? Drinking water? Crowd control? The city of Rio Rancho’s special events permit application asked all of these questions. For parking, I turned to the high school next door. If this is a feasible solution for you, I would recommend talking first to o, you want to have a teen concert? What is the best way to contact a the school district, and then the principal, It’s a great idea. If libraries are will- local band? MySpace. The music profile about using a building, and be sure to Sing to host authors to promote is a feature that really shines. Not only have a written contract. (You will need the books in the collection, why not host are you able to listen to a band’s songs, in to have that and the special events per- concerts to promote the music? The idea some cases it seems to be the only way to mit in your back pocket throughout the to include a concert in my 2007 You Never track them down. Each band I contacted concert day.) For water and bathrooms, Know @ Your Library teen summer read- eagerly signed on when I explained the the easiest option is the library, which ing program came from an article about a concert was free, for teens, and part of the for us meant the concert had to end by 8 band that tours libraries and on June 28, summer reading program. The real plus p.m. An after-hours concert means keep- 2007, we made noise at our library. What to using locals was that they all lowered ing the library open for access (which follows is a window into the process. their prices; instead of spending $1,500 for requires more staff on board) or investing The first thing to do is visualize. The High Strung, I was able to book three in portable toilets. For crowd control, I What size crowd can you accommodate? bands, secure a sound system, and hire an recommend contacting a local community How much noise can your library really engineer to run it for $1,050. group. I tried asking the Civil Air Patrol tolerate? I took advantage of our city’s A smart conversation to have early and a local Vietnam Vet biker squad to mobile stage in order to host an outdoor on with performers is one on the issue direct traffic. In the end, though, I got a show. Venue secured, the second thing to of censorship. My bands were concerned commitment from the local police depart- do is find talent. The High Strung, the about performing some of their material ment to stop by sporadically. band from the article, gave me a quote of for teens and wanted me to draw a line. The fourth and final step, and the one $1,500. Impossible. I had to take a differ- Each library will have its own answer for that gets people in the door, is promotion. ent tack, and in the end, this is the course this query; my response was to point out Form a street team of teens to distribute I recommend: Find local bands. If teens that the public library supports freedom flyers to their peers. Make them from like the bands they see, they will be able of speech. I would not censor them, nor quartered paper (5.5” by 4.25”), and make to keep up with them. I sought out The was I going to identify off-limit subjects; sure they look cool. A youth worker at 2bers, a local Albuquerque group of two I asked that they think about their teen our library designed a manga-style flyer MCs, and the live band One Foundation. For a variety of sound, scout a local battle of the bands. The bands that either win Deimosa Webber-Bey is the Teen Librarian at the Loma their category or rock the crowd are the Colorado Main Library in Rio Rancho, N.Mex. Before joining the ones to call. I contacted Tennessee Skinny library profession, she taught eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-grade and Virtigo Venus, winners of the rock English as well as fourth grade in New York City. She is a 2000 and punk categories respectively at a local graduate of Dartmouth College, where she double-majored in competition, to round out the program. English Literature and African and African American Studies.

22 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Webber-Bey

for our show, and I sent time. One person in particular out-enjoyed the usual barrage of press us all: an Internet fan. When I booked releases to local papers. Our Vertigo Venus, they put our event on coverage in a local alterna- their Web site; within days a teen came in tive paper can be viewed looking for details. During my next con- at www.alibi.com/index. versation with the band, they offered to let php?story=19432&scn him help them set up. On concert day, he =music. Bands usually post arrived early and began helping. He helped their gigs on their Web sites, Vertigo Venus as well as the other two but try to get free radio bands; he moved coolers and carried cords; spots on mainstream sta- and he slapped me a high-five every time tions as well. we crossed paths, saying, “This is awesome.” So how will your actual He went home with free CDs from the concert go? Considering all bands and a t-shirt. I checked in with him The 2bers of the best-laid plans? Well, recently and learned that he continues to about seventy-five people communicate with the band. What struck attended the concert at our me about the conversation we had this library. Each band had an time around was that when he talks about entourage that showed up the concert, he talks in terms of “next time.” for their performance and Finally, when it is all over, add the left immediately afterwards. bands’ CDs to your library’s music collec- I advertised open mic oppor- tion. It is good to archive local talent, and tunities between acts, and we I checked our numbers . . . the bands’ CDs had just one taker. Maybe are circulating, and isn’t that the point of it was the weather (hot); this whole exercise, in the end? So go forth maybe it was our location and make some noise in the library. Trust (remote). Quizzing attend- me, it will elevate your cool factor. YALS ees, I was told that what teens really want is unsu- pervised house parties with alcohol. It is a challenge to Tennessee Skinny compete with that, so what I recommend is giveaways. Rio Rancho’s local businesses were very generous. I had the bands distribute passes during their sets for swimming and laser tag as well as coupons for free food and movie admission. I did not advertise the free stuff, however, which could have been a mistake, as it probably would have drawn more teens. Despite mediocre attendance, all present at the Rio Signage Rancho concert had a good 2bers MC autographs teen’s shoe.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 23 feature Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week

Bridge (N.J.) Public Library, which won the 2007 TTW contest for best program, Partnerships for found that the local Apple store was a good candidate for this type of partnership. She got the idea from her teen advi- Teen Tech Week sory board during a brainstorming session, during which most ideas thrown onto the table were “tech-ier” than library staff and By Stephanie Iser teens could handle alone. Through discussion, the teens found they had something in common—all could not live without their iPods yet few actually created a podcast. One of the teens suggested that the library approach the local Apple store for ALSA’s second annual Teen Tech organizations. Through partnerships for help with a podcasting class. Week (TTW) initiative urges teens, young adult library services’ visibility On the advice of the teens, Y librarians serving teens to act as is raised within the eyes of the partners Woldermann spoke with the local Apple qualified, trusted professionals in the field and affiliates. When the partnership offers store’s assistant manager. The meeting of information technology. While teen a new resource that wouldn’t otherwise resulted in two teen programs: “Podcasting librarians may be knowledgeable of teens’ be available, there also is a possibility of Basics,” and “iLife 101.” The library pro- technology needs, a lack of financial sup- recruiting new teen patrons that are inter- vided the meeting space while the Apple port can roadblock quality teen tech pro- ested in these new services. store provided the expertise and equip- grams and services. One way of addressing Even with all the benefits of part- ment. Theresa found that working with the this financial issue is to look outside the nering, there are a few drawbacks. Apple store gave the Teen Tech program library doors for a potential partner. By Partnerships require time and effort a higher credibility with the community’s partnering with local businesses and orga- on behalf of both parties, which could brand-conscious teens. While the library nizations that have access to new technolo- amount to several meetings to plan and benefited from the Apple store’s knowledge gies, the library can gain resources needed finalize the programs. Plans may need of podcasting, the Apple store received free to run a successful technology-based to be approved by several levels of man- publicity for products. program. agement. With careful planning and One way of gaining teen interest is advanced preparation, however, these to feature a speaker of notoriety. Kathie drawbacks can have less of an impact. Burns, school librarian at the Arnold O. Beckman Library Media Center, Irvine, Benefits of Partnering California, gained teen approval when she worked with a reporter from the local One of the main reasons for partnering Partnership Success county newspaper to present “Latest Tech is the potential gain in resources for pro- Gadgets for Teens.” After a series of phone grams and services. For example, a library Examples calls and e-mails, reporter Tamara Chuang, might not have the money to purchase Local businesses can provide financial also known as the “Gadgetress,” agreed to multiple gaming systems for a teen video support, advertising, and technical exper- do a presentation during a school lunch game club, but there may be a local gaming tise for your array of teen tech programs. period that gained an audience of around store that would be willing to demonstrate Theresa Woldermann, librarian at Old seventy-five teens. the Nintendo Wii or Xbox 360. Another resource that can be gained is the expertise of the partners. As in the gaming example, Stephanie Iser works for the Bluford Branch of the Kansas City the store representatives probably know (Mo.) Public Library as the Children’s Librarian, Assistant Branch quite a bit about gaming systems and can Manager, and Teen Librarian. She chairs YALSA’s 2008 Teen Tech make qualified recommendations to teens. Week Committee, coordinates the Alternative Teen Services Web Community building is another ben- site at www.yalibrarian.com, and contributes to the Teen Lib Wiki efit of partnering with local businesses and at http://TeenLibWiki.org.

24 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Iser

a free gaming session during a school lunch Partnership Ideas for period of TTW, but they must have a pub- Teen Tech Week 2008, lic library card to be admitted. Tune in @ your library® Through this collaboration, the school 1. Approach the radio station that is librarian was able to provide students with most popular with teens in your a video game program that she would community. See if it can provide not otherwise be able to offer, as gaming free giveaways for Teen Tech events. equipment is not typically in the budget Alternately, they may be able to for school library media centers. In return, sponsor your Teen Tech programs I received free publicity for the library’s via free advertisements. TTW event that took place the very next 2. Local music artists can serve as day. These mutual benefits were the result a source of knowledge for music of the brain power of two librarians as creation workshops. Consider opposed to one. contacting local artists for offering classes such as “How to Start a Band” and “How to Become a Hip Tips for Partnering Hop DJ.” 3. Consider a collaboration between If you are considering a tech partnership the school and public library. The for teens, here are a few tips: public library can offer access to technology equipment while Advertisement for podcasting l Think locally. Start at the local the school library can provide workshops at the Old Bridge (N.J.) level when approaching community the captive audience. Ideas for Public Library. organizations and businesses. For programs to take place during example, a call to central headquarters school lunches include karaoke might not get you very far, but a visit contests and Guitar Hero standoffs. In addition, the Irvine police depart- to the local store is more personable 4. Contact dance and music ment provided service by presenting and will likely receive better results. instructors about offering sample “What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt You: l Be flexible. There may be a few classes during Teen Tech Week. MySpace, YouTube, and Online Gaming,” policies that make it impossible to get Instructors can advertise their which also attracted a large audience. the donations you’d really like. Find classes while the library gains Kathie mentions that her Teen Tech Week out what is available, and be sure to cost-free programming. To tie this programs would not have been possible send a thank-you note. into technology, consider video without these partnerships. l Share a common goal. Be sure that recording performances on the last It’s no myth that school and public the partnership actually benefits the day of class and posting a YouTube libraries can do amazing things when teens in your community. Don’t waste video of teen talent. working together. For the 2007 TTW cel- time with partners that want to take 5. Investigate local businesses that ebration, I partnered with a school librar- without giving anything in return. can offer prizes that tie in with the ian to provide a gaming program at the l Plan ahead. Begin developing the theme, Tune in @ your library®. local high school. Michelle Lowe, librarian partnership at least two months before Some ideas include a gift certificate at Central High School in Kansas City, the service or program is scheduled. to a local music store, free recording Missouri, mentioned that many of the It could take a handful of meetings time in a studio, and concert tickets. students didn’t have public library cards to make larger partnerships come to 6. Partner with the teen bands in your and would sometimes use this as an excuse fruition, and there may be more than community by hosting a teen battle for not completing research assignments. one level of management involved in of the bands. In return for the In response to this issue, we brainstormed the approval process. teens’ time, offer to podcast the methods for using TTW to get students l Try, and try again. What works for live performances on the library’s signed up for cards. After a few meetings, one person will not work for the next, Web site. we had a plan: we would admit students to as policy tends to vary from region to

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 25

Partnerships for Teen Tech Week

region and store to store. For example, because the request for support raises wouldn’t otherwise have to run success- in one community, the GameStop visibility of teen services in the eyes ful Teen Tech Week events. Relationships might be more than willing to set up a of community organizations and with organizations and businesses also monthly gaming event for teens, while local businesses. raise the visibility of teen library services another may be understaffed and within the community. unable to donate time. More partnership and program ideas l Be positive. Remember, you are Conclusion for Teen Tech Week can be found on the representing the library and the needs YALSA wiki at http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/ of teens in your community. Every Through teen tech partnerships, libraries index.php/Teen_Tech_Week. YALS potential partner is worth the effort, can gain the support and resources they

26 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 feature Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week

veryone is surrounded by information in today’s world. As librarians, E we are bombarded by more infor- Information Tools mation daily than we could possibly process. Call numbers and titles are on display at nearly every turn, and we answer questions, explain computer screens, and field Using Blogs, RSS, and phone calls, sometimes in a matter of min- utes. Still, we seek information. Current awareness is a touchstone of professional Wikis As Professional librarianship, and the YALSA Competencies for Serving Young Adults include keeping up to date on library literature, practices, and Resources youth development and research. The Internet has made it possible for young adult librarians to connect with By Beth Saxton each other and those serving youth in new and exciting ways, enabling the sharing of resources, research, and experiences. However, making the best use of everything available can be daunting to the already- reader and among authors of different Recommended blogs include: busy librarian. Luckily, there are several dif- blogs. Readers are usually invited to add ferent types of online tools, including blogs, their own comments to posts and to ask l Alternative Teen Services, www RSS, and wikis for finding, sharing, and questions. Bloggers frequently interact .yalibrarian.com. YA librarians share organizing information online. with each other by linking to, and com- ideas and resources to better serve menting on, each other’s posts. youth. There are a wide range of blogs about l iTeacher, http://iteacher.edublogs Blogs librarianship, and some specifically about .org.Engaging students with young adult services. The YALSA blog, for information and communication A blog, short for weblog, is a frequently example, not only points to teen-centered technologies. updated Web page. Blog articles, otherwise research and invites discussion on teen l Pop Goes the Library, www known as posts, are traditionally brief and issues, but also is a great way to stay up to .popgoesthelibrary.com. How libraries arranged chronologically, with the most date on time-sensitive information, such as can use pop culture to better serve recent material on top. Blogging software the deadlines for applying for YALSA pro- their users. also allows the author to create an archive grams. Other blogs highlight best practices l The Shifted Librarian, www of past posts organized by date or topic. and current issues in many areas, includ- .theshiftedlibrarian.com. The impact Rather than simply reporting information, ing library marketing, programming, and of trends in information behavior and most bloggers act as a filter by selecting integrating new technologies into library technology on libraries. material and then embellishing their posts services. Blogs outside of librarianship that l Tame the Web: Libraries and with their own experiences and opinions. focus on youth issues and on pop culture Technology, www.tametheweb.com. Blogs also provide an avenue for interac- also allow us to keep up with the interests Using technology to make libraries tion, both between the author and the and concerns of our teens. more user-centered. l 2 Cents Worth, http://davidwarlick .com/2cents. Integrating technology Elizabeth Saxton is a Teen Librarian at the Martin Luther King into teaching and learning. Jr. branch of the Cleveland (Ohio) Public Library. She has been l Weblogg-ed, www.weblogg-ed.com. working with teens as a librarian for five years and is a member of Exploring the applications for Web the YALSA Teen Tech Week and Teen Read Week committees. 2.0 in the K–12 classroom.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 27

Information Tools

l YALSA Blog, http://blogs.ala.org/ on the interface you prefer. There are a ture, or any other category that interests yalsa.php. Blog of the Young Adult few features, however, that will make your you. Rather than provide the address for Library Services Association. experience more user-friendly. The ability the feeds below, the given link will take you l Young Adult ARCs, http://yaarc to import and export your feed lists will to the page listing the feeds available for .blogspot.com. Join other librarians save you precious time as new options subscription, allowing you to add them to in swapping and sharing advanced arise and you wish to change services. your reader as described above. reading copies. Additionally, choosing an online reader Recommended feeds include: l YPULSE: Media for the Next that provides a bookmarklet for your Generation, www.ypulse.com. Media browser’s toolbar will allow you to easily l Amazon Daily, www.amazon.com/ and marketing trends for teens and subscribe to new feeds as you come across gp/daily. Customize your information tweens. them. Finally, a platform that allows you to from Amazon and then subscribe via mark or save articles for future reference, RSS. such as the option to star posts in Google l Librarian’s Index to the Internet: New Reader, can be very helpful. This Week, http://lii.org. Subscribe RSS Once you choose a reader, the next to a feed of new Web sites included RSS stands for really simple syndication step is to add feeds. While checking famil- in the LII index. or rich site summary. RSS is a system for iar sites for updates, you may have noticed l Library Journal, www.libraryjournal. delivering regularly changing Web content, an orange button or a text link on some com/learnRSS. More than twenty such as blog posts or news stories, directly pages that mentions RSS, feeds, or atom. different categories of news from to the reader. RSS saves time by bringing It is not necessary to click on this as you Library Journal. all of these updates together in a news would a regular link, as it will usually l Mashable: Social Networking reader, sometimes called an aggregator. take you to a page filled with informa- News, http://feeds.feedburner.com/ Rather than clicking through an extensive tion meant for computers, not humans. Mashable. News from the world of list of bookmarked sites, you can check Instead right-click (ctrl-click on a Mac) social networking. your subscriptions in a news reader and to bring up the context menu and select l MovieWeb.Com RSS Feeds, www tell at a glance which sources have new “Copy Shortcut” or “Copy Link Location,” .movieweb.com/rss. New movie content. Think of RSS as automated Web depending on your browser. In your feed and DVD releases, entertainment surfing. An excellent video explaining RSS reader you can now choose to add a sub- headlines, and more. in nontechnical terms can be found at scription or feed and paste the shortcut l Newtype USA, www.newtype-usa www.blip.tv/file/205570. into the box provided. You should now be .com/help/index.php?itemid=107. A To start using RSS, you will need to subscribed to that site’s feed. When new selection of feeds from the popular use a news reader. There are two types of information is posted to the Web page, you anime magazine. news readers: readers that are installed on will see the headline or full article in your l New York Times RSS Feeds, www your computer, and Web sites that allow feed reader. How much of the information .nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/index you to organize and read your feeds online. you see depends on both the feed setting .html. Available feeds from The New A Web-based RSS reader will allow you from the webmaster and your settings in York Times. to read your feeds on any computer with your aggregator. l YA Lit, www.yalit.com. Lists an internet connection. This is especially There are a number of ways YA upcoming and recently published YA useful for those who use a number of librarians can use RSS to help themselves novels and offers RSS feeds. work stations as well as for catching up stay informed professionally. First, they on a few feeds anytime you have a spare can use RSS to read library-related and minute. Bloglines and Google Reader other blogs. RSS feeds also can keep you Wikis are two of the most popular Web-based up to date on new book releases, as there readers, although there is an ever-growing are feeds for newly published young adult A wiki is a collaborative writing space array of private and social feed reading titles, as well as music and movie releases. that is created and edited by a community options. In general, there is little difference In addition, you can check your local or of users. While regular Web pages are in function between the options, and you national newspapers for feeds featuring generally developed offline and presented should feel free to choose a reader based stories on education, technology, pop cul- as a finished product, wikis are presented

28 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Saxton

as an almost blank canvas where content explore these sites that they will only be Just the Beginning is added online. Wiki users are ultimately made stronger if you contribute your own responsible for the wiki’s creation, direc- expertise. While the tools discussed in this article tion, and maintenance over time. Wikis Suggested wikis for YA librarians provide many ways to use online infor- have very simple formatting rules to include: mation to further your professional eliminate the need for HTML or other development, technology is changing technical know-how, allowing a variety of l ATN Reading Lists Wiki, http:// quickly. There are innovative, Web-based users to contribute. Wikis also often use atn-reading-lists.wikispaces.com. applications launching every day that can many internal links to allow the user to Nancy Keane maintains this be used professionally by librarians. The move from one wiki page to another. The collection of booklists on a multitude new Web is participatory, with informa- ease with which wikis can be created and of themes, subjects, and genres. tion flowing in all directions rather than modified has opened the door to wor- l LibSuccess Wiki, www.libsuccess.org. simply from author to reader. Document ries of vandalism and misinformation; Best practices ideas and information sharing with Google Docs, online confer- however, that same accessibility also has for all kinds of libraries. ence calling with Skype, reading lists with allowed these mistakes to be easily cor- l Teacher Librarian Wiki, http:// LibraryThing, and virtual scrapbooks with rected. Some wikis have appointed mod- teacherlibrarianwiki.pbwiki.com. A Clipmarks are just a few of the options. erators to monitor content, while others place for teaching librarians to share There are several great books that explain leave the task completely to the users. class materials and tips. how to use Web tools to enhance both There is a video to explain wikis in non- l TeenLib Wiki, http://yalibrarian personal and professional productivity. technical terms available at http://blip.tv/ .com/yalib_wiki. A collaborative These include: file/246821. encyclopedia for everything related to There are many wikis that have been teen librarianship. l Frauenfelder, Mark. Rule the Web: set up to collect information in all areas of l Teen Read Week Wiki, http://wikis How to Do Anything and Everything librarianship. These wikis are often orga- .ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Teen_Read on the Internet—Better, Faster, Easier. nized by area of service, while other wikis _Week. Teen Read Week programs, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007. ISBN-13: have been set up for events. For example, publicity, and booklists. 9780312363338; $14.95. l wikis now are created for national confer- l Teen Tech Week Wiki, http:// Richardson, Will. Blogs, Wikis, ences and include information on the host wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/ Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web city, travel, and formal and informal con- Teen_Tech_Week. Share your ideas Tools for Classrooms. Corwin Pr., 2006. ference events. One of the most cited wikis for connecting teens, libraries, and ISBN-13: 9781412927666; $61.95. is the LibSuccess Wiki, which bills itself technology. l Trapani, Gina. Lifehacker: 88 Tech as a collection of best practices in all vari- l YALSA Wiki, http://wikis.ala Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day. Wiley, eties of libraries. Several wikis also have .org/yalsa. Resource collection from 2006. ISBN-13: 9780470050651; been created to share information among YALSA. $24.99. YALS YA librarians. Please keep in mind as you

Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation

Young Adult Library Services, Publication No. 024-294, is published quarterly by the Young Adult Library Services Association, American Library Association, 50 E. Huron St., Chicago (Cook), Illinois 60611-2795. The editor is Valerie A. Ott, 2442 6th St., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. Annual subscription price, $50.00. Printed in U.S.A. with periodicals-class postage paid at Chicago, Illinois, and at additional mailing offices. As a nonprofit organization authorized to mail at special rates (DMM Section 424.12 only), the purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the preceding twelve months. (Average figures denote the average number of copies printed each issue during the preceding twelve months; actual figures denote actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to filing date: Summer 2007 issue.) Total number of copies printed: average, 5,955; actual, 5,775. Sales through dealers, carriers, street vendors and counter sales: average, 0; actual, 153. Mail subscription: average, 4,992; actual, 4,958. Free distribution: average, 151; actual, 144. Total distribution: average, 5,312; actual, 5,255. Office use, leftover, unaccounted, spoiled after printing: average, 643; actual, 520. Total: average, 5,955; actual, 5,775. Percentage paid: average, 97.16; actual, 97.26. Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (PS Form 3526, September 2007) for 2006/2007 filed with the United States Post Office Postmaster in Chicago, October 1, 2007.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 29 feature Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week

all three categories. My purpose here is to consider the possibility of connecting gam- From Platforms to ing to reading. Expecting teens to abandon library terminals and seek out a book is simply Books? I’m Game not reasonable. If a library’s teen area only focuses on homework, research needs, or just placing books on shelves, it’s By Rollie Welch reminiscent of an era when libraries were perceived as stiff and unyielding government buildings. On the other end of the spectrum, if the teen area is only focused on programming, including video games, then full service is not being provided. read the news today, oh, boy.” The to keep pace with the gaming boom, non- Besides, the hard-core gamers may not Beatles provided this catch-all phrase techie library folks seek a balance between want to abandon their home comput- Iforty years ago in that whimsical era offering teens an organized gaming forum ers or gaming platforms in favor of the before iPods, cell phones, or Xbox 360. and letting them just go at it. But are library atmosphere. But the news I read the other day was that those grad-school annotation exercises and To construct the most logical bridge Halo 3’s first twenty-four hours of sales are required reading of dozens of YA titles for to print materials, teen librarians should expected to pull in more than $150 mil- naught? Are we doomed, as were dinosaurs subscribe to gaming magazines. Three lion.1 In one day? Dude, that’s an annual gazing up at that big ol’ asteroid, to witness widely used titles at my library are salary for corporate CEOs.But this can’t be our beloved book collection gathering dust PlayStation, PSM, and Games for Windows. startling news to front-line teen librarians as teens glued to PCs or consoles work PSM seems to be the most popular judg- stationed near public terminals with blisters on their thumbs? ing by the amount of wear and tear as full Internet access. We already know Quality teen services fall into three well as theft. If possible, have the newest gaming rules. categories. First, there is customer service issue placed in your teen area as quickly Librarians nationwide are marveling to teens, which simply means they can as possible. If a cataloging or circulation at, scratching their heads over, or embrac- immediately find a library employee willing department dawdles on checking them in, ing video gaming, and we each seek our to help them with research, homework, or the teens will consider it old news if it is own comfort level with the phenomenon. informational needs. In other words, they set out even two weeks after publication. However, I’m here to offer encouragement need not feel like second-class citizens And put ’em where they can see ’em! At my for teen librarians who are balking at com- upon entering the building. Second, teen library, there is a line to use a terminal dur- pletely abandoning their print anchors. librarians need to have some degree of ing the after-school rush. Why not place Maybe you are like me: one who proficiency in programming that is fresh magazines next to the computers, in simi- appreciates video games as a powerful enough to encourage teens to enter the lar fashion to a medical waiting room? magnet pulling teens—especially boys— library. Last, the teen librarian is respon- Manga titles are a natural fit for into the library. But, I also am on the far sible for creating a vibrant collection of gamers due to many series having cross- side of the technology wave and worry materials (not just books, but audiobooks, over, online versions of the series. Two that this roaring tsunami will overtake magazines, and CDs) that attracts teen series directly related to video games are me. (Can’t you just hear that old Surfaris’ patrons who are up-to-the-minute in tune Kingdom Hearts and .Hack. Kingdom song Wipeout?) In our Quixote-like quest with pop culture. Gaming has a place in Hearts targets the younger population at perhaps the fifth- and sixth-grade level and features Disney characters. .Hack sprinkles Rollie Welch is the Teen Coordinator at Cleveland (Ohio) Public manga drawings throughout a prose story Library. As a YALSA member, he has served on the Quick Picks as teens enter online games. for Reluctant Young Readers and Best Books for Young Adults A quick scan of my shelves located a committees. He never even once won at Pong. few paperback titles based on video games.

30 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Welch

Doom is listed as a novelization by John Clones, Book 3: The Revolt, and Book 4: The Note Shirley and is based on the motion picture, Choice, which was published in 2006. which is based on the video game. Resident Two titles featuring online role play- 1. Halo 3 actually garnered $170 mil- Evil is a paperback series by S. D. Perry, and ing were published in 2007. Epic by Conor lion in sales its first day, according Halo is a paperback series written by Eric Kostick centers on everyone on New to Microsoft. Amazingly, “The Xbox Nylund. The early volumes in these series Earth forming their own character to play 360 title beat previous records set began around the turn of the century—you the online game, Epic, and resolve their by blockbuster theatrical releases may recall the Y2K scare—and run the conflicts without violence. Yeah, right. like Spider-Man 3 and novels such as danger of being old news to 2007 teens; Genesis Alpha by Rune Michaels is a lay- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” however, new volumes in the series are still ered thriller using an online role game as Source: Berardini, Cesar A., “Halo 3 being published. a device to solve the stalking and brutal Reports $170 Million in First-Day Gloria Skurzynski has been using murder of a college girl. Sales,” TeamXbox.com, Sept. 26, video games as a vehicle for her Virtual Teens enter the library to fulfill a 2007, http://news.teamxbox.com/ War Chronologs since the first book, need; this short list of books may appeal xbox/14650/Halo-3-Reports-170 Virtual War, was published in 1997. Her to the gamers among them. And one more -Million-in-FirstDay-Sales (accessed character, Corgan, is a teen selected as thing: Don’t forget to order those books on Dec. 28, 2007). the chosen one to battle a nemesis online. cheat codes. YALS Other titles in the series are Book 2: The

Guidelines for Authors

Young Adult Library Services is the official publication of the Young tice relating to teen services and spotlights significant activities and Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American programs of the division. Library Association. Young Adult Library Services is a vehicle for For submission and author guidelines, please vitis www.ala continuing education of librarians working with young adults (ages .org/ala/yalsa/yals/authorguidelines/htm. twelve through eighteen) that showcases current research and prac- Index to Advertisers

ALA Editions ...... 16. Hyperion ...... cover. 4 ALA Graphics ...... 17 Neal-Schuman ...... 12. Annick Press ...... 11. Orca Book Publishers ...... 32. DK Publishing ...... 18. PLA ...... 10. Farrar, Straus & Giroux ...... 21. Scholastic ...... 5 Hachette Book Group ...... 13. YALSA ...... cover. 2, 26, 35 HarperCollins Children’s Books ...... 3,. cover 3

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 31 New Fantasy for Teens K.V. Johansen …an elaborate world populated by complex characters...readers will look forward to the sequel—VOYA (for Nightwalker)

Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror 2006—VOYA (for Nightwalker)

Book One Book Two Book Three Nightwalker Treason in eswy Warden of greyrock (coming soon!) 978-1-55143-481-0 978-1-55143-888-7 978- PB CDNsUSPB PB PB Treason in Eswy The Warlocks of Talverdin BOOK TWO Orca Book Publishers 1.800.210.5277 www.orcabook.com

YALSA Spring 08.indd 1 11/19/2007 10:19:42 AM feature Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week

he Internet has made sharing music (both legally and otherwise) T extremely easy to do. From mp3 Music Web Sites blogs, to online music stores, to streaming radio stations, the number of places to find new music can be a little overwhelm- for Teen Tech Week ing. Your teens have probably begun to navigate these Web sites already and can advise you about their favorite ones. One of and Beyond our teens uses YouTube as a personal radio station: she puts together video playlists that use the songs she wants to hear, and By Kate Pritchard then she starts the playlist and minimizes the browser window. You can survey your and Jaina Lewis teens to find out the kinds of music they like, which music Web sites they use, and how they use them. Then you can get your teens involved in finding and sharing new music—with each other and with you—by using the following Web sites (and any oth- in print form in your reference collec- the genre? Check. What if a patron wants ers they recommend!). tion. This same information is available to know all the bands that Jarvis Cocker online with the benefit of being interac- was in? Check. Want to expand the tastes tive. All of the site’s content is free, but of a teen patron who only listens to Fall some articles require you to have a free Out Boy? AllMusic lists which artists AllMusic account before you can view the full text. they were influenced by and which art- www.allmusic.com Think of AllMusic as the Internet Movie ists they have influenced. AllMusic also Database (IMDB) of music. (Well, there has complete lists of albums with track AllMusic is a wonderful resource that is an AllMovie site, but let’s ignore that listings, artist bios, and music videos. The can be used for many purposes, whether for the sake of analogy.) This site gives search function allows you to search by at the reference desk, with teens, or information about every aspect of popular name, band, or song title. The song title even to satisfy your own curiosity. You music. Want to know the definition of search is especially great, as it lists the may already have some AllMusic guides electronica music and the major bands of composer as well as every artist who has performed it.

Kate Pritchard is an Assistant Reference Librarian and Young Adult Specialist at the Wilbraham (Mass.) Public Library. She is a YALSA member and an MLS student in the Simmons College Finetune Graduate School of Library and Information Science program. The www.finetune.com first album she ever bought was Classic Queen, which is why it’s Finetune is one of several Web sites that no surprise that her newest favorite band is My Chemical allows users to create streaming radio sta- Romance. Jaina Lewis is the Teen Services Librarian at the tions tailored to specific tastes. Finetune Westport (Conn.) Public Library and was formerly in charge of the calls these stations “playlists,” which library at McNally Smith College of Music in St Paul, Minnesota. encourages users to treat them as personal In college, she DJed at her college radio station, and when she mixes to be shared among friends. Their told her dad that she wanted to be a librarian, his first response catalog of songs is extensive and includes was, “Aren’t you too loud?” She is shushed by patrons on a regular every major label in the United States, as basis. Kate and Jaina are the co-convenors of the Teen Music and well as many of the bigger independent Media Interest Group at ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. labels, making it easy to find the songs you

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 33

InformationMusic Web Sites Tools for Teen Tech Week and Beyond

want. Finetune requires that each playlist holidays, such as a Black History Month or artists your teens like and add them, must have at least forty-five tracks and playlist or a Halloween playlist, and put or similar artists, to your music collec- cannot contain more than three songs by them up on your library’s Web site. tion. You also can use Last.fm, as with any one artist; these rules enable the site Finetune, to promote your collection and to operate as an Internet radio station get teens excited about new purchases. as opposed to an on-demand music service. Once a playlist is finished, Finetune Last.fm generates a piece of code that users can www.last.fm copy and paste to another Web site, such MP3 blogs as a blog, a MySpace page, or library Web Last.fm is a social networking site that In the past year or two, MP3 blogs have site, so that users can make their play- allows users to share their music tastes and begun to have a lot more influence over the lists available elsewhere. When a playlist favorite songs with others. Users can track music industry. Bands usually “leak” MP3s is posted to your library’s Web site, for their favorite (most-played) songs and to these sites, which then post them for example, anyone visiting that page can play generate top-ten lists that can be posted to users at no cost. This way, bands get free it from your site without having to visit blogs or such sites as Facebook, MySpace, publicity and blogs get legal MP3s to offer Finetune. The playlists require Flash Player or LiveJournal. Last.fm will then auto- their readers. Bands such as Tapes ‘n Tapes 9, which you can download for free from matically update those lists with the user’s became overnight sensations due to MP3 www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer. latest information. The site works in two blogs. Popular MP3 blogs such as Gorilla Finetune also offers an “Artist Radio” ways to build a profile for each user. You vs. Bear (http://gorillavsbear.blogspot feature, akin to Pandora’s (see below), can download the Last.fm application to .com), Stereogum (www.stereogum.com), which makes suggestions based on the your computer for free, and it will collect and Music for Robots (http://music names of artists. Pandora’s suggestion information from your computer’s music .for-robots.com) are great sites to check service is much better at matching artists player (such as iTunes or Windows Media to stay one step ahead of your teens. The with similar sounds or styles; however, Player). Every song that you listen to on Web site Hype Machine (http://hypem Finetune’s suggestions are useful for finish- your computer will then be added to your .com) crawls popular music blogs and then ing playlists if you’re having trouble com- Last.fm profile. Alternatively, you can listen displays which songs have been uploaded ing up with forty-five songs to add. Each to music on the Last.fm site itself without that day, making it easy for you to stay on artist’s page includes a link to similar art- downloading anything to your computer, top of things without having to check doz- ists, so you can finish your playlist by using and those songs will become part of your ens of sites every day. The Hype Machine those suggestions or Finetune can finish profile as well. Once you have created a also provides a search engine for the many your playlist for you. Once you’ve added profile, you can add friends by searching MP3 blogs it aggregates. songs by at least three separate artists, for other known users (by profile name or MP3 blogs allow you to sample you can click the “I’m Lazy” button and real name), or by looking for other users music before purchasing, which is a great Finetune will generate as many tracks as with similar musical tastes. Users can resource for collection development. needed to complete your playlist. interact with each other by sending mes- These blogs also can serve as an inspira- There are many ways to use Finetune sages (called “shouts”), making Last.fm one tion at your library; you could create your in your library. You could put up a play- of the more social music Web sites. As own local version of an MP3 blog by hav- list on your library’s Web site, blog, or with many of these sites, Last.fm also ing local high school bands leak MP3s MySpace or Facebook page to showcase works as a listeners’ advisory service, sug- onto your library’s Web site. the new additions to your music collection, gesting similar artists and allowing you to or you could put together a playlist from see other users’ lists. some of the CDs you’re considering buying You can use Last.fm to connect with and ask your teens to listen to them and your teens by creating a profile for yourself Pandora tell you which ones they like best. Your or for your library and encouraging your www.pandora.com teens could put together playlists of some teens to do the same. Add your teens as of their favorite music, which you could friends or ask them to create their own Pandora is one of the best Internet radio use for collection development, or you top-ten lists and post them to your blog. Web sites out there. You can create as could create themed playlists for events or In this way, you can find out which songs many individual radio stations as you

34 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Pritchard and Lewis

wish by seeding each station with the Pitchfork like by adding them as friends. In addition, names of one or several artists, albums, you may want to consider different ways of or songs. You can then refine the sta- www.pitchforkmedia.com providing music to your library’s patrons, tions by giving a thumbs up or a thumbs such as circulating iPods with preloaded Pitchfork has become the Rolling Stone for down to each song that plays, thereby the Internet generation in that its reviews albums rather than offering CDs. For giving Pandora a better sense of the kind have been known to make or break bands. this purpose, you could buy music from of music you like. Pandora will tell you, New album reviews are posted daily. While online sites, including stores such as in detail, why it chooses each song. For the Web site always has the latest news on iTunes (which requires that you use the example, in a radio station seeded with such indie rock staples as Yo La Tengo, Cat iTunes software, available for free from country singer Neko Case, Pandora played Power, and Death Cab for Cutie, the site www.apple.com/itunes) and subscription a song by Nora O’Connor because “it also is a great resource to discover new and services such as eMusic (www.emusic. features country influences, a twelve-eight lesser-known artists. Many teens at our com) or Rhapsody (www.rhapsody.com), time signature, mixed acoustic and electric libraries read Pitchfork every day. The site which usually offer better per-song deals instrumentation, major key tonality, and also puts out annual best-of lists, which are than iTunes and also provide music in the acoustic rhythm guitars.” You also can a great resource for collection development. universal mp3 format. Some musicians, search Pandora for stations that other especially smaller or independent art- users have created. If your teens have ists, also sell mp3s from their Web sites or Pandora profiles, you can look at the sta- MySpace pages. tions they’ve created and see the artists Conclusion The music that teens listen to is an they like. Pandora is an excellent listen- Many of these sites work well with other important part of their identities, and they ers’ advisory service that you can recom- sites you may already be using, such often have passionate opinions on the sub- mend to patrons who want to find new as blogs, MySpace, and Facebook. For ject. Tapping into this aspect of their lives music. Consider putting a link to Pandora, example, Finetune, Last.fm, and Pandora and listening to music they like creates an or to specific stations that you or your all have Facebook applications. You also opportunity to make a strong connection teens have created, on your Web site. can use your Facebook or MySpace profile with your teens and to expand your own to connect with musicians that your teens musical horizons. YALS

Volunteer for a YALSA Committee!

Starting this spring, YALSA begins appointing new committee members—and we need your help!

 Make sure your YALSA membership is up-to-date! We can only offer committee appointments to current members.  Fill out the Committee Volunteer Form at www.ala.org/ala/ here’s yalsa/joinus/joinus.htm.  Contact the chair of the committees you’re interested in, your and let them know! Names and contact information are available at the “Governance” link on the left-hand side at www.ala.org/yalsa. chance  Committee members are expected to attend Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, so plan your schedule to get accordingly. involved Find more ways to make the most of your YALSA membership at www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/joinus/howparticipate.htm!

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 35 feature Hot Spot: Teen Tech Week

4. Beyond Good and Evil. Ubisoft. GameCube, Microsoft Windows Top Fifty Gaming PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox. Number of players: 1. ESRB: T 13+ (Teen 13 and older) for comic mischief and violence. Core Collection Jade, a female reporter on the futuristic planet of Hillys, uses her camera skills to discover the secrets of her past and Titles defeat her enemies while doing so. 5. Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree. Nintendo. Nintendo DS, Wii. Compiled by Kelly Czarnecki Number of players: 1–8. ESRB: E (Everyone). Multiplayer puzzle game where you measure the weight of your brain through mental exercises. Categories of tests include; identify, Editor’s note: Make sure to check out the through using a set of bongos as compute, analyze, memory, and logic. poster-sized version of this article inserted controllers. Tapping, clapping or drum 6. Burnout 3: Takedown. Electronic into this issue. rolling will bring different results. Arts. PlayStation Portable, Immersive stages and battling enemies PlayStation 2, Xbox. Xbox 360. ontinuing the celebration of keep the rhythm of the game from one Number of players: 1–6. ESRB: E YALSA’s fiftieth birthday, here is minute to the next. 10+ (Everyone 10 and older) for c a list of fifty video game titles, rec- 2. Alien Hominid. O~3 Entertainment. violence. Racing game where the ommended for purchase, from the YALSA GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, point is to cause the most elaborate Teen Gaming Interest Group. Xbox 360 LiveNumber of players: stunts. Race against the clock, compete Thank you to the Entertainment 1–4. ESRB: T (Teen) for blood and against other cars, or play the role Software Rating Board (ESRB) for use of gore, cartoon violence. Originally a of a cop are some of the modes of their rating system, to assist with collec- Flash game online, it was translated gameplay to engage in. tion development decisions. The ESRB is a into a video game for consoles. An 7. Burnout Revenge. Electronic Arts. nonprofit, self-regulatory body established alien has crash landed, shot down by PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360. in 1994 by the Entertainment Software the FBI, and he must reclaim his UFO Number of players: 1–6. Association. ESRB independently assigns and avoid being attacked by those who ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and ratings, enforces advertising guidelines, and are out to get him. Many levels and older). Racing game where points helps ensure responsible online privacy minigames included. are added for the amount of cars practices for the interactive entertainment 3. Animal Crossing. Nintendo. Game destroyed. Strategies such as checking software industry. ESRB ratings have two Boy Advance, GameCube, Nintendo traffic, weight of the car, and moving equal parts; rating symbols suggest age DS. Number of players: 1–4 into oncoming traffic to perform appropriateness for the game and content ESRB:E (Everyone). First game to maneuvers all factor into gameplay. descriptors indicate elements in a game change based on time. Uses teamwork Sequel to Burnout 3: Takedown. that may have triggered a particular rating to increase the size of your house. 8. Chibi Robo. Nintendo.GameCube. and/or may be of interest or concern. Whether it’s through trading furniture Number of players: 1.ESRB: E 10+ The prices given are the manufac- with another player, or being rewarded (Everyone 10 and older) for crude turer’s suggested retail price. Used copies of for performing a favor, gameplay is humor, mild cartoon violence. Chibi is the games, if available, are usually cheaper. dependent on interaction with other a robot that is created to take care of villagers. A great game for librarians to the family’s house including cleaning 1. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat. NAMCO. interact with players. and protecting it from valuables. GameCube. Number of players: 1. ESRB Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and older) for cartoon violence. Kelly Czarnecki is a Technology Education Librarian at Control Donkey Kong on the screen ImaginOn. She is co-chair of the YALSA gaming discussion group.

36 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008

Czarnecki

Interactions with people and machines fantasy violence, mild language, partial 1–2. ESRB: E (Everyone) for Mild are also part of Chibi’s experiences. nudity, and suggestive themes. An Fantasy Violence. Roll your “sticky” 9. Dance Dance Revolution endless war is being waged in this katamari around and make it grow SuperNOVA. Konami. PlayStation 2. single player game in the world of . . . it’s up to you to replace the heavens Players: 1–2. ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone Ivalice. after the King (your father) has 10 and older) for alcohol reference, 14. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. accidentally destroyed everything in mild lyrics, suggestive themes. Sixty- RedOctane. Mac, Microsoft Windows the Cosmos! Cute graphics, unique four completely new songs to DDR, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, premise & quirky Japanese music of the 303 in the game. This dancing Xbox 360. Number of players 1–2. make this timed game extremely video game offers competitive and ESRB: T (Teen) for lyrics and mild compelling. Plus who doesn’t like choreography modes to an eclectic suggestive themes. Uses a guitar as rolling up cows. soundtrack of pop music from around a controller to play various types of 19. Kingdom Hearts. Square Enix, USA the world. music. This is the newest in the Guitar Inc. PlayStation 2. Number of players: 10. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. Hero line and you might want to 1. ESRB: E (Everyone) for violence. Nintendo. GameCube. Number consider getting 360 and PS2 versions Disney Characters team up for an RP of players: 1. ESRB: M (Mature) for collections since most will already adventure. for blood, gore, violence. Inspired have the guitars to play these. 20. Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary by H. P. Lovecraft’s characters, this 15. Halo 3. Microsoft Game Studios. Eidos Interactive. Microsoft Windows gameplay has a bit of a choose-your- Xbox 360. Number of players: 1–16. PC, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox, Xbox own-adventure feel. You can become ESRB: M (Mature) for blood, gore, 360. Number of players: 1. ESRB: T different figures in history uncovering mild language, and violence. First- (Teen) for mild suggestive themes and a huge mystery of the Cthulhu person shooter game which concludes violence. This collection of the first six Mythos through your discovery of a the trilogy of Halo games. The player Lara Croft titles features the hot video secret room and hidden tome while fights battle as a super enhanced game vixen in a variety of puzzles investigating your grandfather’s death. human against the alien race. presented through action adventure 11. Fable. Microsoft Game Studios. 16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. scenarios. The anniversary edition has Microsoft Windows PC. Xbox. Electronic Arts. GameCube. Microsoft both original and expansion packs. Number of players: 1. ESRB: M Windows PC, PlayStation 2, 21. The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s (Mature) for blood, strong language, PlayStation Portable, Xbox. Number Edition. Nintendo of America. and violence. Good and evil take on of players: 1–3. $19.99. ESRB: E GameCube. Number of players: 1. new meanings as choices in quest- 10+ (Everyone 10 and older) for ESRB: E (Everyone) for violence. based game as who you are as a fantasy violence. Harry, Hermione, Contains multiple Zelda games child determines who you are as an and Ron are all playable characters in including Ocarina of Time the second adult. The hero sets out to find what this action-adventure game. Combine most popular Zelda game, The Legend destroyed his village and his family spells with other players to make them of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, and when he was young. more powerful as Harry is a contender Majora’s Mask. 12. Final Fantasy VII. Sony Computer for the Triwizard tournament 22. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Entertainment. PlayStation. Number champion. Nintendo of America. GameCube, of players: 1. ESRB: T (Teen) 17. Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life Wii. Number of players: 1. ESRB: T for comic mischief, mild animated Special Edition. Natsume. GameCube. (Teen) for animated blood, fantasy violence, and mild language. Microsoft Windows PC, Nintendo violence. The hero Link works as a For teens that like science fiction, DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation ranch hand in a village when one day they will probably enjoy being able to Portable, Wii. Number of players: 1. the village is attacked. Link is pulled unleash customized spells to attack ESRB: E (Everyone). Learn how to through the wall by a monster and their enemies and work with one maintain a farm, tend to the livestock, transforms into a wolf. Wii controller another through various adventures. and exist in a village by interacting shoots bow like a real bow and arrow. 13. Final Fantasy XII. Square Enix, Inc. with others. 23. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. PlayStation 2. Number of players: 1. 18. Katamari Damacy. Namco-Homotek. Nintendo of America. GameCube. ESRB: T (Teen) for alcohol reference, PlayStation 2. Number of players: ESRB: E (Everyone) for violence.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 37

Top Fifty Gaming Core Collection Titles LITERATURE SURVEYS AND RESEARCH

Number of players: 1–2. Players Nunchuk controller to move Samus, Using Japanese myths and legends as control the hero Link, who sails and the main character, around. part of the story, the player must bring travels between islands to gain power 28. Monster Rancher Evo. Tecmo. life back to the world through a series to defeat his enemy, Ganondorf. PlayStation 2. Number of players: of quests and puzzles. 24. Lego Star Wars II: The Original 1–2. ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and 33. Paper Mario: The Thousand- Trilogy. LucasArts. GameCube. older) for alcohol reference, fantasy Year Door. Nintendo of America. Microsoft Windows PC, PlayStation violence. Raise your monster to be GameCube. ESRB: E (Everyone) for Portable, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox healthy, strong, and moral, and they mild cartoon violence. Number of 360. Number of players: 1–2. will do well in tournaments. Travel players: 1. Players can Mario find the ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and older) through different towns with your kidnapped Princess Peach and the for Cartoon Violence and Crude circus. Part of a series since 1997 for treasure behind the Thousand- Humor. In a storyline that very closely PlayStation. Year Door. follows the original Star Wars trilogy, 29. Namco Museum 50th Anniversary 34. Pikmin. Nintendo of America. the player can change characters to Arcade Collection. Namco. GameCube. Number of players: 1. utilize a variety of different skills to GameCube, Microsoft Windows ESRB: E (Everyone) for mild violence. lightsaber his or her way through PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox. Number of Players control Captain Olimar, an the Star Wars Universe. The sense of players: 1–2. ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone astronaut who crashed landed in a fun of whacking things and watching 10 and older) for cartoon violence and field of Pikmin, or plant creatures. them splinter apart into their Lego mild lyrics. This collection of classic He must guide them to help them components is as satisfying as the arcade games like PacMan and Galaca perform tasks and rebuild his space snick snick snick the blocks make will bring back memories for gamer shuttle. when you build. parents, and demonstrate to a new 35. Pokemon Colosseum. Nintendo. 25. Madden NFL ’07. Electronic Arts. generation of gamers just how far GameCube. Number of players: 1–4. Game Boy Advance, GameCube, we’ve come. $19.99. ESRB: E (Everyone) for mild Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, 30. Neverwinter Nights 2. Atari, Inc. fantasy violence. Players can battle PlayStation 2 and 3, Sony PlayStation Microsoft Windows PC. Number of with teams to help Wes clean up the Portable, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360. players: multiplayer. ESRB: T (Teen) crime in the region of Orre. Number of players: 1–2. ESRB: for alcohol reference, blood, mild 36. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. E (Everyone) A few new moves language, sexual themes, violence. This Ubisoft. Gameboy Advance, Microsoft are added to gameplay. Fans will online role-playing game has players Windows PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox. appreciate the single and multiplayer performing quests to ultimately defeat Number of players: 1. ESRB: T modes. the evil force, the “King of Shadows.” (Teen) for blood and violence. Classic 26. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! Nintendo 31. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. platformer, filled with action & of America. GameCube. Number of Bethesda Softworks. Microsoft adventure, ladders, ropes and pits. players:1–4. ESRB: E (Everyone) for Windows PC, PlayStation Portable, 37. Rock Band. MTV Games. PlayStation mild cartoon violence. A racing game PlayStation 3, Xbox 360. Number 2 and 3, XBox 360. Number of with sixteen courses to race on. Players of players: 1. ESRB: M (Mature) players: 1–2. ESRB: T (Teen) for will probably be familiar with the cast for language, sexual themes, use of lyrics and mildly suggestive themes. of Nintendo characters and will enjoy alcohol, violence, blood and gore. In Karaoke Revolution meets Guitar the pick-up-and-play game even if this fantasy role-playing game, the Hero in this interactive four player they don’t know all the ins and outs of player must find the lost heir to the rhythm game that pairs guitar, bass, the game at first. throne since the Emperor just died, drums and microphone controllers in a 27. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. and keep order in the land of Tamriel. performance contest or collaboration of Nintendo. Wii. Number of players: 1. 32. Okami. Capcom. PlayStation 2, songs from the 1960’s to current hits. ESRB: T (Teen) for animated blood, Wii. Number of players: 1. ESRB: 38. Sid Meier’s Civilization IV. 2K violence. Defeat the Space Pirates in T (Teen) for crude humor, fantasy Games. Microsoft Windows PC, Mac. this action adventure. Players use the violence, suggestive themes, use of Wii Remote to aim and fire and the alcohol and tobacco, blood and gore. top Fifty continued on page 48

38 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 LITERATURE SURVEYS AND RESEARCH

Information Literacy As a Department Store Applications for Public Teen Librarians By Dr. Donna L. Gilton

ublic teen librarians have been proposed a brand-new library service that They have always supplemented the work challenged by their school and was later known as reference service.2 of teachers and school library media spe- Pacademic counterparts to provide According to him, the three purposes of cialists by providing homework assistance more information literacy, both in the this service were to provide information, to for teens in addition to cultural programs professional literature and in their daily instruct in information use, and to guide that promote the love of reading. Teen activities. This author believes, however, people in more recreational reading. In the librarians, in general, don’t only serve teens; that there is more than one way to view and twentieth century, special libraries emerged they also spend some of their day serving define information literacy. Public librarians to focus on the direct provision of infor- many people, from preschoolers to working should instruct their teen customers much mation and became information centers. adults to senior citizens. Any instructional more on information use, but do so on their School and academic libraries emerged initiatives that they undertake should be own terms. This article is a direct response to provide information and to instruct considered in the light of these things. This to “Information Literacy and the Role of patrons on how to find and use it. These article will focus mainly on how public and the Public Libraries” by Annette Skov.1 It libraries are considered information and school librarians can better instruct teens. will discuss different ways to perceive infor- educational centers. Only public librar- Public librarians always have mation literacy instruction, the traditional ies attempt to fulfill all three aspects— instructed their patrons in information use. and evolving roles of public librarians, how information, instruction, and guidance. However, unlike their school and academic information literacy instruction can be Public libraries are community information counterparts, most of their instruction has developed in public library settings, and centers, informal educational centers, and been informal, indirect, and often com- ways that teen librarians can work with cultural centers. While public teen librar- bined with reader’s advisory services, bib- their school and academic counterparts. ians should conduct much more instruc- liotherapy, programming, and other forms tion for their teen customers, they need to of guidance. It also has been very basic for define for themselves how they will do this, the most part. Informal instruction often considering their many other roles. is given on an individual basis at the refer- Roles of Public Libraries Public libraries are open in the eve- ence desk. Public librarians always have In one of the first issues of American nings, weekends, and during the summer, instructed indirectly and asynchronously Library Journal in 1876, Samuel Green when school media centers are closed. through library design, signage, printed handbooks, bibliographies, and, more recently, Web sites. dr. Donna L. Gilton is Professor of Library Science at the Scandinavian and English-speaking Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, University countries were the first in the world to of Rhode Island, Kingston. She has done instruction in public and start tax-supported public libraries open to academic libraries. Gilton teaches a course on information literacy the public that circulated materials. In the called Teaching about Information and has created a Web site with United States, public libraries often were the same name (www.uri.edu/artsci/lsc/Faculty/gilton/Index.html). started to provide informal or non-formal

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 39 Information Literacy as a Department Store

education (NFE) to people of all ages, and other guides, bibliographies and pathfind- Public Youth Librarians they have served as “poor people’s universi- ers, Web sites, Web quests (a coordinated and Other Librarians ties” in the past. For many years, public collection of Web sites designed to teach libraries also were de facto school libraries people how to find information on a topic), In her article, “Information Literacy and for schools that did not have media centers. and other information on the Internet and the Role of Public Libraries,” Annette Public librarians always have conducted the computer. Signage and point-of-use Skov describes several examples of public tours and orientations, and some provided instruction, whether printed or electronic, librarians working with schools to pro- more formal and advanced instruction is something that should be on all public mote information literacy.4 This guide was when requested. More recently, public floors. developed by librarians and educators in librarians have been introducing computers The second and third floors would Tranbjerg, Denmark, and is something to older patrons and many underprivileged represent the more formal, detailed, and that can be easily replicated in a variety of library users. If they were not performing advanced information literacy instruction settings. The Herning County project that direct formal instruction very much before, that has been stressed mainly by academic combines information literacy instruction they are doing it now! Public librarians and school librarians. This would incor- with students’ own academic and personal may promote this activity with their usual porate instruction on how to determine interests is very intriguing. Public librar- cultural programming, but they are mov- information needs and then find, evaluate, ians cooperate with local schools to plan ing into formal information literacy. Some and use information. The fourth and pos- several activities, such as thematic courses libraries that seem to be leading the way in sibly fifth floors would represent an area on searching and workshops on evaluating information literacy instruction in public invisible to the public—the administrative Internet resources. It would certainly tap and similar settings, include major and services that would plan, coordinate, sup- into the voluntary nature of public library medium-sized libraries, such as the New port, and evaluate everything on the other use by teens. York Public Library, the Atlanta-Fulton floors. Most thought-provoking is the joint Public Library System, and the Providence Although all of these aspects to venture between the Otterup Public Public Library; national library leaders, information literacy are important, many Library and the Nordlyns Gymnasium, such as the Library of Congress; and the public library users never get beyond the where a public librarian spent twenty-seven Washington State Library, which has cre- basement, the first floor, the doors, and the hours a week conducting instruction in a ated Librarysmart, an information literacy windows. Tours, orientations, basic com- secondary school. Public teen librarians instruction program for public libraries in puter instruction, point-of-use instruction, work with teachers to teach information that state.3 and signage may be the only instruction literacy skills to students and faculty, to that customers ever get. develop a gateway to electronic resources, It is possible to do advanced instruc- to encourage students to reflect on their tion without the basics, which provide the research methods, and to encourage more Defining Information public with the lay of the land, but this is cooperation between librarians and teach- Literacy not advisable. It is generally difficult to get ers. A program such as this may be work- able for schools with no media centers or How information literacy is defined is a to a second floor without going through media specialists, but staffing and other very important issue. Some academic and at least part of a first floor. Tours, orienta- considerations in public libraries and local school librarians define it very narrowly tions, basic computer instruction, signage, schools would have to be carefully worked as the teaching of information search- and point-of-use instruction can at least out. For instance, would a dedicated ing skills. This author views information help to lay the groundwork for more staff of one to two teen librarians from a literacy in a much broader sense—as a advanced instruction later. None of this is public library system be available for this department store with a basement, two or trivial. Although some buildings are built throughout the school year, or would all three floors open to the public, and a floor on stilts, as a rule, a large public building teen librarians be doing this during some or two with offices. Library orientation such as a department store would not be months when many teachers are assigning and tours, as well as very basic computer constructed without the foundation of a term papers and projects? The fact that instruction, would be in the basement and basement and a first floor. public libraries are open longer hours and on the first floor. The windows and doors year-round should be considered. The time of this building would be composed of teen librarians spend on conducting cul- printed materials, such as handbooks and

40 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 Gilton

tural programs, summer reading programs, Public Library offers regular workshops for with teachers to plan instruction relevant and other outreach efforts also should be teachers on new books covering many top- to what is happening in the classroom. factored in. ics that can be used in their classrooms. Its Lastly, school systems can change dramati- However, a program such as this could program is really a full-fledged information cally over time, depending on increases be successful if teen librarians committed literacy instruction program for teachers or decreases in their own budgets. This to it on even a more limited, but consistent, that also includes booklists, Web sites, and phenomenon can be observed in the school basis; it would help to resolve many issues customized webliographies and pathfinders library media centers in California.6 teen librarians contend with as they work to go with Bucket of Books, their bulk loan All of these initiatives, however, do with teachers and school library media program; a newsletter; library orientation not have to be a one-way street. While specialists. For instance, public librarians sessions especially for teachers; a library public librarians should find out more could become much more aware of upcom- card campaign for elementary students; about what is happening in schools and ing assignments and be better prepared and evaluation forms for all of their activi- school media centers, school media special- to help teens with them. They can reserve ties that are accessible from their Web site. ists and teachers also should spend more books that they know will be in high Many public libraries and their time at public libraries to see what is hap- demand, and plan reference interviews that branches work with not one school, but pening there. Public library outreach and will encourage students to think through several, and the schools may cover a range cultural programs supplement the work of their research strategies. Teen librarians of grade levels. Schools also may be public, school library media specialists in many also can use their visits to the schools to let private, or parochial, and teen librarians ways. School and public librarians can help school library media specialists, teachers, also work with those who home school each other in their respective knowledge and students know what public libraries their children. Public librarians could get of their communities. Public librarians are offer for them. As a result, teen librarians to know and work with their counterparts usually experts on other agencies in the would be much more visible in the schools in all of the schools in their area by target- community and may have access to market and this could greatly improve communica- ing students in specific grades for more studies and statistical information about tion between these institutions. An inten- formal instruction. their service areas. School systems keep sive program such as this would definitely That being said, teen librarians excellent statistics on their students that supplement, if not supplant, assignment should not try to do everything that is can be very helpful to public librarians who alert packets that some public libraries the main responsibility of existing school are planning their own work. already distribute to teachers to encour- library media specialists; but, they should In addition, teen librarians can con- age them to notify librarians of upcoming definitely creatively supplement and sup- tribute to the information literacy instruc- assignments and to bring their classes to port what school library media specialists tion field in general through their skilled the library. It also would supplement tradi- already do. Although teen librarians cannot use of marketing research techniques, tional classroom visits that teen librarians entirely compensate for schools that offer outreach, and public relations. The same already may make to schools. no instruction or very poor instruction, creativity that they show in creating tra- Some public libraries have created they can supplement and support their ditional programs also can be applied to information literacy instruction and school counterparts in many ways. information literacy instruction, and they other outreach activities, specifically to It is important to remember that bring a very strong sense of mission to reach public school teachers. Both the school library media centers vary widely their diverse activities and initiatives. Providence (R.I.) Public Library and in the quantity and quality of their own Unlike Skov, this author believes that the Multnomah County (Ore.) Public instruction. Quality can vary from state good library instruction prepares students Library offer teachers’ cards, professional to state, both in terms of media specialist to use most public libraries, but not nec- collections, bulk loans, presentations for training and collections budgeting. Many essarily academic libraries, very well. As teachers, and invitations for classes to school systems do intensive instruction students go to college, they face larger and visit public libraries.5 Providence Public at some levels (such as the elementary more complex libraries, as well as different Library loans reading and mathematic grades), but not others (such as high types of materials, such as microform, gov- kits to teachers and parents, and it offers schools). Even the flexibility of a media ernment information, and many scholarly a book café where teachers and librarians specialist’s schedule can affect the quality indexes and databases. They also may face can discuss great children’s literature with of his or her instruction. Those with flex- more demanding courses and often a dif- each other monthly. Multnomah County ible scheduling can network much more ferent library classification system. In addi-

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 41 Information Literacy as a DProfessionalepartment Store Resources

tion, college students usually go through other activities. At this time, teen librarians this should be within the context of their several more stages in their intellectual should concentrate on being creative and own history, purposes, and environments. and emotional development, and this experimental in their approach to library While the most effective instruction in also can affect how they look for and use instruction, while observing how their school and academic libraries is often tied information. While high-quality library teens react to their efforts. specifically to curricula, the most effective instruction cannot totally prepare students Teen librarians must consider several public library instruction is often tied to for everything that they may encounter, it issues before they create goals for informa- traditional programming, networking, and still is very important because it lays the tion literacy instruction. First, they should outreach. The potential of this powerful foundation for what students will encoun- look at their own history and consider all combination has barely been tapped. ter at this stage. For all of these reasons, of their goals for library service. They also school, public, and academic librarians should consider their library’s mission or should work together to address many vision for addressing the informational, of these issues. For instance, public and educational, and cultural needs of their References school librarians can cooperate with each communities. Each public library system 1. Annette Skov, “Information Literacy and other in creating computer Web quests and should determine how much emphasis the Role of Public Libraries,” Scandinavian electronic instructional pages that can be they will place on information, instruc- Public Library Quarterly 37, no. 3: 4–7. shared by all. Academic, school, and public tion, and cultural activities, and when and 2. Samuel Swett Green, “Personal Relations librarians in a locality can cooperate to how the emphasis on each of these may between Librarians and Readers,” Ameri- help secondary school students make the shift over time. A major decision will be can Library Journal 1 (October 1876): transition to public and academic libraries. whether to promote instructional activities 74–81. as a part of their normal cultural program- 3. New York Public Library, Science, Indus- ming or to present this in a different way. try, and Business Library, “About SIBL Information Literacy The impact of information literacy instruc- Classses,” www.nypl.org/research/sibl/ tion on everything else that public libraries training (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); New Instruction in Public do, especially cultural programming, also York Public Library, Humanities and Libraries will need to be seriously considered. Social Sciences Library, “Celeste Bartos Teen librarians may want to start with Public librarians can and should do more Education Center South Court,” www. standards and guidelines already created by instruction, but on their own terms! They nypl.org/research/chss/southcourt their counterparts elsewhere. They need to should feel free to be creative and to exper- (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); Atlanta-Fulton be familiar with standards created by both iment with this in their own setting with- Public Library System, “Instructional the Association for College and Research out having to duplicate or replicate school Learning Center,” www.af.public.lib. Libraries and the American Association of or academic libraries. They can do this by ga.us/instructional_learning_center.html School Libraries.7 The new Australian and incorporating much more instruction into (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); Providence New Zealand information literacy frame- their written materials and on their Web Public Library, “Events and Programs,” work and the pivotal work of Christine sites, and by having programs on topics www.provlib.org/happening/events/ Bruce can provide philosophical and theo- like financial planning, choosing a college, default.html (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); retical frameworks.8 Carole Kuhlthau’s career preparation, business planning, or Library of Congress, “Information For extensive research on how school children writing a term paper that can incorporate Researchers—Using the Library of Con- and teenagers do research and how they instruction. Printed or electronic pathfind- gress,” www.loc.gov/rr/main/inforeas/ can be taught to do this more effectively ers, instructional pages, or displays on orient.html (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); have major implications for all public these topics can also be created. Library of Congress, “Researchers: Refer- library information literacy instruction in In planning instruction, teen librarians ence Tools and Services,” www.loc.gov/ the broadest sense.9 The Big 6 program, and their administrators should look first rr (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); Washington which is widely used by school library at the direct, indirect, formal, and informal State Library, “Libraries: When You media specialists, also can be used very well instruction that they already do, then strive Really Need to Know,” www.librarysmart. in public library settings.10 for a more well-coordinated set of services. com/working/home.asp (accessed Dec. Teen librarians should indeed conduct They should consider where and how 29, 2007). more information literacy instruction, but they can incorporate instruction into their gilton continued on page 44

42 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 Professional Resources YALS Professional Resources

Martin, Jr., Hillias J. and James R. Murdock. Serving suitable for middle school–aged users and above. It features a pre- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning dominant search box; tabs for easy access to the atlas, dictionary, Teens. Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2007; ISBN-13: and encyclopedia; and sections for select features. One significant 9781555705664; 267p. $55. feature useful for teachers and librarians alike is the Educators’ Tools section. This section includes lesson plans and activities as This useful guide provides a wealth of information for librarians well as curriculum correlations that enable the user to easily incor- who serve both straight and LGBTQ teens. The book is divided porate it into a classroom or library lesson. This database would into two broad areas of focus: methods for effectively meeting the be a great addition to both public and school libraries.—Elizabeth needs of LGBTQ teens, followed by program ideas and annotated Sargent, Doctoral Student, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Tex. lists of resources. Part I introduces the librarian to appropriate terminology, statistics, culture, and the social challenges faced by this group and gives specific examples of “dos” and “don’ts” in sev- Braun, Linda W. Teens, Technology, and Literacy; or, Why eral topical areas. The authors emphasize the need for libraries to Bad Grammar Isn’t Always Bad. Libraries Unlimited, provide accurate information in a safe and unbiased environment; 2007; ISBN-13: 9781591583684; 105p. $30. they also explain the challenges the librarian faces when assisting patrons who are investigating a sensitive topic. Also stressed is the Literacy cannot be confined to reading and writing alone; forms of importance of exposing straight teens to well-written books that it span existing and developing technologies. When approached in feature queer protagonists by including LGBTQ titles in reading this manner, it is evident that teens and young adults are among lists. Guiding principles of open access and freedom to read under- the most literate people. Braun’s book ably educates teachers, score descriptions of collection development plans and methods librarians, and anyone interested in the language and use of new for handling book challenges. Part II includes an annotated core technologies by providing solid examples of the use of technology collection list, sample book talks, categorized lists of books, and in developing literacy. The links to podcasts, blogs, wikis, and other step-by-step guidelines for successful library programs. A foreword resources are very useful and provide concrete examples of the by David Levithan introduces the book; an extensive bibliography use of new technologies. This is a useful book for librarians serv- provides further reading for the interested librarian. The impor- ing teen populations, as well as for educators of this population. tance of creating an atmosphere of acceptance is stressed through- While some information will quickly become obsolete, as is the out. This book will be a valuable addition to any teen librarian’s nature of the beast, this volume will serve to keep us at pace with professional collection.—Cathy Rettberg, Head Librarian, Menlo the changes today.—Vicky Lopez-Terrill, formerly Teen Librarian, School, Atherton, Calif. Loveland (Colo.) Public Library.

World Book. World Book Online Reference Center. 2007. Nilsen, Alleen Pace and Don L. F. Nilsen. Names and www.worldbook.com/products; contact World Book Naming in Young Adult Literature. Scarecrow Pr., 2007; representative for pricing: 1-800-975-3250. ISBN-13: 9780810858084; 173p; $45.

The World Book Online Reference Center combines an array of use- Nilsen and Nilsen contend that names serve a plethora of pur- ful resources for users of all ages. Approximately 100 videos and poses to young adult writers and their audiences. The introduc- animations; 750 maps; 10,000 pictures; 14,000 historic articles; tion of this book offers six points, such as how the media makes 250,000 dictionary entries; 26,000 encyclopedia articles; 2,000 the public more aware of self-created names, and why teenagers tables; and 7,000 Web sites are just some of the resources at a are more responsive to the literary use of names, from personal user’s fingertips in this database. Some significant features are a and place names to the names of events, animals, and imagined Spanish-language encyclopedia, as well as Behind the Headlines, concepts. Using an easy-to-read, often conversational, style, the Today in History, Surf the Ages, Student Activities, and Educators’ authors explore eight areas in which young adult authors make Tools sections. From browsing topics, automatic spelling correc- use of names for a specific reason. Whether to establish time peri- tion, and simple searching, to searching using truncation, Boolean, ods, reveal ethnic values, or build a dual audience, the reasons are and a variety of limits, users can easily find the information they analyzed with specific passages from representative young adult need within this database. The display and features offered are fully literature. In the chapter “Names for Fun,” for example, the authors customizable by the account administrator. The standard display is consider how names based on wordplay, names revealing social

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 43

Professional Resources

class and attitudes, and ironic names develop humor in novels advisory service and to help with collection development. As by M. E. Kerr, Gary Paulsen, Louis Sachar, and Polly Horvath. such, it is a valuable tool for librarians who, for example, are try- Equally engaging is the chapter “Names as Memory Hooks,” ing to feed the insatiable appetites of their Harry Potter enthu- which examines how J. K. Rowling plays with spelling, phonology, siasts (chapter 1 covers “Wizard Fantasy,” and appendix B has a morphemes, and Latin-based names to create memorable charac- list of books for Potter fans), and for those who are looking to ters and events in her Harry Potter series. Part of the Scarecrow familiarize themselves with, or add new speculative fiction titles Studies in Young Adult Literature, which also includes Exploding to, their collections. It covers materials for young adults (ages the Myths: The Truth about Teens and Reading and Passions and 12–18) and includes some children’s and adult titles that also Pleasures: Essays and Speeches about Literature and Libraries, this interest this age group. Entries are annotated, and the annota- thought-provoking study will be an excellent source of discussion tions, for the most part, capture the spirit of the titles they intro- for public and school library book groups, high school English duce. A list of the best titles in each subgenre appears at the end and young adult literature classrooms, and general readers with a of that subgenre’s chapter, and award-winning titles are noted strong interest in literary criticism.—Angela Leeper, Educational within the individual annotations. Because this is also meant Consultant, Wake Forest, N.C. to be a collection development tool, Fichtelberg has primarily included titles that are in print (ISBNs precede each annotation, as well as information about other available formats). Additional Fichtelberg, Susan. Encountering Enchantment: A Guide to features include eight interviews with authors of speculative fic- Speculative Fiction for Teens. Libraries Unlimited, 2007; tion, suggestions for programs and activities, ready-made reading ISBN-13: 9781591583165; 352p; $48. lists, and suggestions for book clubs.—Karin Thogersen, Young Adult Librarian, Huntley (Ill.) Area Public Library. YALS Speculative fiction includes a broad range of subgenres—from fantasy, to science fiction, to horror—and this resource covers them all. Fichtelberg designed this resource to assist with reader’s

gilton continued from page 42

4. Skov, “Information Literacy and the Role 7. Association of College and Research work: Principles, Standards and Practice of Public Libraries.” Libraries, “Information Literacy Compe- (Adelaide: ANZIIL, 2004): available 5. Providence Public Library, “Parents and tency Standards for Higher Education,” at www.anziil.org/resources/Info%20 Teachers,” www.provlib.org/happening/ www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/ lit%202nd%20edition.pdf (accessed Jan. parentsandteachers/default.html (accessed informationliteracycompetency.cfm 11, 2008); Christine Bruce, Seven Faces of Dec. 29, 2007); Multnomah County (accessed Dec. 29, 2007); American Asso- Information Literacy (Adelaide: AUSLIB Library, “School Corps,” www.multcolib. ciation of School Librarians, Standards For Pr., 1997). org/schoolcorps (accessed Jan. 11, 2008); the 21st Century Learner, www.ala.org/ 9. Carole C. Kuhlthau, Seeking Meaning: A Multnomah County Library, “School ala/aasl/aaslproftools/learningstandards/ Process Approach to Library and Informa- Corps,” www.multcolib.org/educators/ AALS_Learning_Standards_2007.pdf tion Services (Westport, Conn.: Libraries index.html (accessed Dec. 29, 2007). (accessed Jan. 11, 2008). Unlimited, 2004). 6. Michael Gorman, “The Indispensability of 8. Australian and New Zealand Institute 10. Michael Eisenberg, “The Big 6.: Informa- School Libraries and School Librarians,” for Information Literacy, Australian and tion Literacy for the Information Age,” American Libraries 36, no. 9 (Oct. 2005): 5. New Zealand Information Literacy Frame- www.big6.com (accessed Dec. 29, 2007).

44 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 the YALSA Association news update

Find the latest YALSA news every Thursday at the YALSA Blog, http://blogs.ala.org/yalsa.php.

2008 Election Slate Help Make YALSA Work interested in serving, and then ask questions about what your involvement will YALSA’s Nominating Committee has YALSA needs your help—share your entail. Names and contact information submitted the following slate for 2008. expertise and better the association by for all the committee chairs are available According to YALSA’s bylaws, the com- joining one of our process committees. by clicking on the “Governance” link on mittee will obtain at least two candidates President-elect Sarah Cornish Debraski YALSA’s homepage. Be sure to attend for vice president/president-elect, two will be appointing committee members to the All Committee Meeting on Saturday candidates for secretary, six candidates the several committees that do the work of during Midwinter Meeting or Annual for board members, at least six candi- our association. Interested in being more Conference to meet with the committee dates for the Edwards Committee, and involved? Read on to find out how. chair and members. You’ll have a chance at least eight candidates for the Printz to learn more about the committee and to Committee. Elections will be held March establish an important contact with the 15 to April 24, 2007. To learn more or to A Guide to Process Committees committee chair, who helps fill seats as specify your ballot preference (printed or they become vacant. online), visit www.ala.org/ala/ourassocia YALSA has two types of committees: On the YALSA Web site you’ll also tion/governanceb/electioninfo/alaelection selection committees, which select spe- find information about each of the com- info.htm. cific library materials or choose YALSA’s mittees’ functions, size, and more. Just click awards and process committees, which on “Governance.” Lastly, be sure to read 2008 Candidates help carry out the work of the association. through YALSA’s Handbook, especially Process committees include: the sections that list responsibilities for Vice President/President-Elect committee members. It’s online at www Linda Braun, Nick Buron, Sarah Flowers l those that plan YALSA events, .ala.org/yalsa. Just click on “Handbook” including initiatives and conferences, from the left menu. Fiscal Officer such as Teen Tech Week, Program Mary Hastler, Ritchie Momon Clearinghouse, and Local Arrangements; Complete the Committee Secretary l those that help YALSA govern itself, Volunteer Form Francisca Goldsmith, Tricia Suellentrop such as Organizations and Bylaws, To be considered for any committee, you Strategic Planning, or Nominating; Board Member need to fill out a committee volunteer l those that spread YALSA’s messages, Angela Carstensen, Ruth Cox Clark, Shari form. It is available online at www.ala including Publications, Web Advisory, Fesko, Monique le Conge, Sandra Payne, .org/ala/yalsa/boardandcommittees/ and Division and Membership Gail Tobin, Cindy Welch boardcommittees.cfm. When you fill Promotions; and out a form, please be sure to include the l many more. 2010 Edwards Committee name of the committees on which you’d Terry Beck, Roxy Ekstrom, Kathie Fitch, like to serve. If you don’t indicate a few Cathy Lichtman, Mary Anne Nichols, What to Know Before that you’re interested in, it is very dif- Maren Ostergard You Volunteer ficult for the president-elect to find the best fit for you. If you already submitted 2010 Printz Committee Before you volunteer to serve on a com- volunteer forms for a committee, but Priscille Dando, Teri Lesesne, Jack Martin, mittee, you’ll want to learn what the weren’t appointed or missed the deadline Richie Partington, Sheila Schofer, Ann committee does and what your respon- for appointments for your particular Theis, Cheryl Karp Ward, Carlisle Kraft sibilities will be. You should contact committee request, your forms will be Webber the chair directly, explain that you’re turned over to the next president-elect.

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 45 Forms are only kept on file for one year, development, such as the PTA or 5. Plan ahead. ALA’s Web site posts its so it’s important that you fill one out PTO. YALSA has a conference grant meeting dates at www.ala each year that you would like to serve on and the deadline to apply is December .org/ala/confservices/upcoming/ a committee. 1 each year. Go to www.ala.org/yalsa upcomingconferences.htm. and click on “Awards & Grants” to 6. If you have any questions about learn more. YALSA at the ALA Conferences The Fine Print 3. Make a case to your supervisor as or Meetings, please don’t hesitate to Appointments are for either one- or to how you, your library, and your contact us at [email protected]. two-year terms, depending on the patrons will benefit from your committee. Committee members are attendance. Discuss the opportunity expected to attend committee meetings you will have to visit the exhibit Mark Your Calendars at both Midwinter Meeting and Annual floor and see the latest print and Conference. The exception is for virtual A/V materials and newest emerging Tune In @ your library® for committee members. According to ALA technologies. Knowledge of these Teen Tech Week policy, as many as one-third of a commit- resources enhances your ability to tee may be comprised of virtual members. serve library patrons. Identify which Make sure to register for Teen Tech YALSA does not pay travel expenses for conference programs will help you Week! Registration for the second annual committee members. Some committees meet your professional development event closes on February 1. This year’s are very popular and may receive dozens goals at work and help further the theme is Tune In @ your library®. The of volunteer forms for just two or three library’s mission. To find out what general theme for Teen Tech Week is Get available spots. You also might want to programs are being offered, check the Connected. Teen Tech Week 2008 will be volunteer for a task force. Unlike stand- March issue of American Libraries celebrated March 2–8. ing committees, task forces are established for a list of preliminary programs. YALSA is a nonprofit organization from time to time to complete a specific YALSA lists its complete slate of that depends on its members for support. assignment. Terms on task forces end events and programs at www.ala. By registering, you are letting us know that when the YALSA board considers the org/yalsa (you may need to scroll technology literacy is important to you and assignment completed. down). You also can check the Annual your teen patrons. By registering, you are Conference Wiki at http://wikis.ala. telling YALSA that this program is valu- org/yalsa. The final list of all ALA able and worth continuing. programs will be available in May at Teen Tech Week registrants will Looking to Fund a www.ala.org/annual. Offer to share have first-hand access to tech cuides Trip to ALA Annual what you learned at the conference developed by the Teen Tech Week com- Conference? with your coworkers via a presentation mittee. The guides provide a basic intro- at a staff meeting or other means duction to emerging technologies and It’s Not Impossible when you return. Point out the fact give examples of how to connect teens Want to come to Annual, but worried that most exhibitors offer special with these exciting mediums. Registrants about the expense? YALSA has a few discounts for conference goers. Also, also will receive updates about contests tips to help you figure out how to make many exhibitors steeply discount or and incentives via e-mail. Anaheim more affordable for you. even give away books on the last day the exhibit hall is open (Tuesday). Support Teen Literature Day 1. Find out if your library or school has This is a way to enhance your professional development or travel collection on a tight budget. Love young adult literature? Tell every- funds that you may be eligible for. 4. Think about ways you can limit one that YA lit matters on Support Teen Learn how the funds are dispensed expenses. Register for the conference Literature Day on April 17, celebrated in (for example, first come first serve, via as early as you can to get the best rate. conjunction with ALA’s National Library application process, and so on). Be For the Annual conference the best Week (April 13–19, 2008). sure to meet deadlines and fill out all rates are always in December and early Now in its second year, Support paperwork completely. January, when registration first opens. Teen Literature Day aims to raise aware- 2. Do some research to find out which For 2008, early bird registration ends ness among the general public that young organizations offer professional March 2, and advance registration adult literature is a vibrant, growing genre development scholarships that ends May 9. Become an ALA member with much to offer today’s teens. Support may help defray your conference to get discounted rates. Reduce hotel Teen Literature Day also seeks to show- costs. Be sure to check with your costs by sharing a room, or explore case some award-winning authors and state or regional library association. inexpensive options, such as housing books in the genre as well as highlight Sometimes other organizations may on university campuses. Seek out librarians’ expertise in connecting teens be willing to support your professional airfare sales, or car pool, if practical. with books and other reading materials.

46 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 Many of these activities can be featured seen it grow and gather momentum. One school students planning on going into throughout National Library Week big indicator is the official Teen Read Week teen services need from the division. The or simply featured on Support Teen registration numbers. This year we had division began by surveying students about Literature Day. more than 4,600 official Teen Read Week their needs; the results were announced Support Teen Literature Day also will registrants, an increase of 1,500 from last last fall, and you can read them at http:// be the official launch of YALSA’s 2008 year,” said YALSA president Paula Brehm- tinyurl.com/36sza8. Teen Read Week initiative, which will be Heeger. “Additionally, more than 6,000 In the near future, with the survey celebrated October 12–18, 2007 with the teens voted for their favorit nominated data in hand, YALSA will announce new theme “Books with Bite @ your library®.” teen in our Teens Top Teen contest, with programs and services for library school YALSA has compiled a list of Stephenie Meyer’s New Moon receiving the students. Stay tuned for those pieces of activities, display ideas, and contests to most teen votes. And, through our work news. You don’t have to wait to get involved help librarians and teen advisory groups with the Readergirlz during all of October, in the SIG however. You can get started by celebrate Support Teen Literature Day— YALSA utilized technology to bring read- going to the group’s Ning at http://yalsasig learn more by visiting the Support Teen ing and books to teens across the country .ning.com. Sign up, ask your questions, Literature Day Web page at www.ala.org/ via nightly chats with top teen authors.” post your ideas, and find out what other ala/yalsa/supportyalit.cfm. teen-oriented library school students are up to and what they have to say. If you have any questions about the SIG feel free to contact the convener, Young Adult Literature Linda W. Braun, at [email protected]. Symposium Plan to join YALSA in Nashville, Tennessee, for the first-ever Young Adult Teens’ Top Ten Named Literature Symposium, “How We Read Now,” November 7–9, 2008. YALSA More than six thousand teen readers across the country chose New Moon by Stephenie announced preliminary programs at Authors Tiffany Trent and Deb Caletti Midwinter Meeting and expects to launch Meyer as their favorite book in the annual encouraged Seattle teens to “read for the Teens’ Top Ten (TTT) vote. The online a Web site and registration in mid-January. fun of it” at Seattle’s Washington Middle Check www.ala.org/yalitsymposium for School during Teen Read Week. vote took place during Teen Read Week, October 14–20, with the second entry in details in the coming months! Meyer’s popular vampire romance series winning easily. The 2007 Teens’ Top Ten is: Teen Read Week 2007 A Success! l New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (Hachette Book Group USA/Little, More than 4,600 Participants Brown Books for Young Readers, 2006). Helped Teens LOL @ your l Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Viking library® Children’s Books, 2006) l How to Ruin a Summer Vacation by Thousands of teens across the United Simone Elkeles (Flux, 2006). States celebrated Teen Read Week l Maximum Ride: School’s Out—Forever October 14–20, 2007, with more than Washington Middle School students (left by James Patterson (Hachette Book to right) Hannah Collins, Hallie Huffaker, 4,600 librarians, educators, parents, and Raisah Vesteinsdottir, Destini Shaw, Evan Group USA/Little, Brown Books for concerned adults registered to participate. Pengra Sult, and Edward Strong volun- Young Readers, 2006). The national kickoff event took place teered at the National Media Event. l Firegirl by Tony Abbott (Hachette in Seattle, with young adult authors Tiffany Book Group USA/Little, Brown Trent (In the Serpents’ Coils) and Deb YALSA Student Interest Books for Young Readers, 2006). Caletti (The Nature of Jade) taking ques- l All Hallows Eve (13 Stories) by Vivian tions from students at Seattle’s Washington Group: A Great Way to Vande Velde (Harcourt, 2006). Middle School on October 16. The Get Involved! l Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Readergirlz Divas from www.readergirlz. Did you know that YALSA has an interest Pfeffer (Harcourt, 2006). com stopped in to talk about 31 Flavorites, group that is geared specifically to library l River Secrets by Shannon Hale the nightly YA lit chats they hosted every school students? It does—and the SIG is (Bloomsbury, 2006). night in October in partnership with a perfect venue to meet others, ask ques- l Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe YALSA. tions, and exchange ideas. (HarperCollins, 2006). “Since YALSA first launched this During the past several months l Road of the Dead by Kevin Brooks national literacy effort in 1998, we have YALSA worked to find out what library (Chicken House, 2006).

Winter 2008 | Young Adult Library Services | YALS 47 TTT is a teen choice booklist put and created a list of twenty-five nomina- To learn more about the teen book together as part of YALSA’s Young Adult tions. Teen voters across the country groups and how to participate in the Galley Project, which facilitates access then cast ballots for their three favorites, YA Galley program, visit www.ala.org/ to advance copies of young adult books culminating in the 2007 TTT. Final teenstopten. Publishers interested in to national teen book discussion groups. nominations for the 2008 TTT vote will participating in the program may contact These groups evaluated books published be posted in April at www.ala.org/ Nichole Gilbert, [email protected], for between January 2006 and April 2007 teenstopten. more information. YALS

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Number of players: 1–16. ESRB: 1–2. ESRB: E (Everyone) for mild Windows PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox. E 10+ (Everyone 10 and older) for cartoon violence. Mario is in outer Number of players: 1–2. ESRB: violence. Build an empire from scratch, space this time when he tries to rescue T (Teen) for blood, crude humor work with other leaders, and learn Princess Peach and defeat the enemies. language, suggestive themes, use trade, production, and combat skills to 43. Super Mario Strikers. Nintendo. of alcohol, violence. The player help the empire survive. GameCube. Number of players: 1–4. skates around the environment and 39. The Sims 2. Electronic Arts. ESRB: E (Everyone) for mild cartoon completes goals while doing so. MicroSoft Windows PC and Mac. violence. A soccer game where you can 48. Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Number of players: 1. ESRB: compete against your friends, or other Atlus. Nintendo DS, Wii. Number T (Teen) for crude humor, mild teams controlled by the computer. of players: 1. ESRB: T (Teen) for violence, suggestive themes. Open- 44. Super Mario Sunshine. Nintendo blood, mild language, mild violence. ended gameplay where players of America. GameCube. Number of Remember the classic board game engage their characters in activities players: 1. ESRB: E (Everyone) for Operation? The premise of this game and relationships and interact with Comic Mischief. Mario and Princess is that you are an intern, learning to their environments. Over ten Sims 2 Peach are taking a vacation when a become a doctor, by diagnosing and ‘expansion packs’ available. villain destroys the island. Mario must treating patients, and learning from 40. SingStar Pop. Sony Computer clean it up and once again save the mistakes made as a new intern. Entertainment America. PlayStation princess. 49. Viva Piñata. Microsoft Game 2. ESRB: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and 45. Super Paper Mario. Nintendo of Studios. Microsoft Windows PC, older) for alcohol reference, mild America. Wii. Number of players: Nintendo DS, XBox 360. Number lyrics, mild violence, and suggestive 1. ESRB: E (Everyone) for comic of players: 1–2. ESRB: E (Everyone) themes. Number of players: 1–2. mischief and mild cartoon violence. for comic mischief, mild cartoon Karaoke game where players sing Mario is presented in 2-D platformer violence. Similar to Nintendogs, but to music videos and earn points by style, but breaks out into 3-D format with brightly colored ponies. Create singing on key. There are over ten too in this interactive puzzle/action a home for your unique piñata, play sequels for the PS2. SingStar is also adventure game starring one of mini games, and set it to roam to other available online with the PS3. Some of Nintendo’s most beloved characters. piñata’s homes. May be one of the only the singers included in SingStar Pop 46. Tales of Symphonia. Namco games for XBox 360 with girl appeal, are Avril Lavigne, Black Eyed Peas, Hometek. 2004. GameCube, this game is all about the building and Tom Jones. Microsoft Windows PC, PlayStation and connecting. Winner of a Parent’s 41. Sonic GEMS Collection. Sega. 2, Xbox. Number of players: 1. Choice Gold Award. GameCube. Number of players: ESRB: T (Teen) for fantasy violence, 50. WarioWare: Smooth Moves. 1–4. $19.99. ESRB: E (Everyone) language and suggestive themes. Role Nintendo. Wii. Number of players: for cartoon violence. Compilation of playing game with strong narrative 1–12. ESRB: E (Everyone) 10+ for Sonic the Hedgehog series. Sonic is a sense. Traditional RPG archetypes crude humor, mild cartoon violence. teenage hedgehog who works to save group together in anime stylings to Minigames using the Wii Remote in his planet from evil. save the dying world of Sylvarant. a variety of ways to complete quick 42. Super Mario Galaxy. Nintendo of 47. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2. tasks. YALS America. Wii. Number of players: Activision.GameCube, Microsoft

48 YALS | Young Adult Library Services | Winter 2008 HCL224_Deadline-YALS 12/20/07 10:48 AM Page 1

“What an AMAZING new novel! I couldn’t put it down.” —Robert Watson, Senior, Jersey Shore Senior High School

What if you only had one year to live . . . and you knew it?

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