By: Erik Brooks,
on 4/14/2016
By: Erik Brooks,
on 4/14/2016
By: K. E. Blask,
on 3/11/2015
North Myrtle Beach, S. Carolina
I actually do take a stack of grading to the beach with me. I pull out a report. Start reading.
Is that a dolphin? Oooo it’s two.
Look down and try to find where I left off. Jot down a comment.
Oh look. A gull landed so close I can touch him. “Hey guy. How you doing?”
Look down again. Read the same paragraph.
This would be so much better if I took my shoes off, and you know, squish my toes in the sand.
Set report aside. Take off shoes and socks. Dig feet into sand. Dig for a long while. Pull out report. Read the same paragraph.
Oh the heck with it. I’ll grade on the plane.
Add a Comment
By: Angela Muse,
on 4/3/2014
We are pleased to announce the release of our second young adult book in our Alpha Girls series, Larva. Â Book two of The Alpha Girls series follows Caitlin and her friends during their freshman year of high school.
Caitlin has been dating Josh most of the summer, but she finds herself torn between Josh and the new man on campus, Trick. Trick shared a passionate kiss with Caitlin over the summer on a Florida beach, but she never thought she’d see him again.
High school is full of choices. Some more difficult than others.
Add a Comment
By: Beth,
on 4/26/2011
Last week was spring break, which means that this week, teens are dragging themselves back to school and back into their normal lives. I know a lot of them thought their break was much too short–but for me, it was much too long: there was absolutely no one at the library last week and I was lonely!
I should have known this was coming since the public schools also get a week off in February and the library was dead during that week (my library serves a very family-based area, so when the kids have vacation, everyone has vacation), but I’d also been attributing some of the February quiet to the weather being especially crummy and the families who were home wanting to stay out of the snow and ice and ick. I was hoping that spring break would be different.
But it wasn’t, really. We’re very firmly an after-school destination. The good side of that is that kids come to the library just to hang out, and in getting to know the regulars, I’ve cultivated a core group of kids that attend nearly every program I put on. But the downside is that if there is no school, we’re not a destination–and I think that above all else is the primary thing I want to change in the next couple of years. I want kids to come to the library not just because it’s within walking distance of school and they need somewhere to be until their parents get home from work. I want the library to be a place they want to go because there’s something specific here for them that they want to do or use or experience. I think part of it is the battle all of us fight to successfully advertise ourselves, but a big part of it is that our programs and services for teens are still really new.
I have some plans for how to do that (though I’d love more ideas if you have them!), but for now, I’m just going to revel in actually having my patrons back in my library after a long and lonely week! I was able to knock out a lot of planning and paperwork while they were gone, but having to do all of that boring stuff and go to meetings without the relief of being able to talk about Minecraft, joke around with my TAB kids, or do any readers’ advisory at all left me feeling out of sorts and made me realize that I am definitely in this profession for the kids, not for the library itself.
I’m really into the goals and ideals of our profession and I want to promote all of the great things libraries do that people might not know about and to make information more accessible and understandable to people. I like YA lit a lot and I’m interested in raising its reputation outside the YA world. But what really matters to me is what I can do to make my teens’ lives–both right now and in the future–more awesome.
I want to help them find reading material that is engaging to them. I want to help them totally nerd out in their interests and hobbies. I want them to be able to have fun, to have opportunities to grow as people, and to feel valued in our community. I want to be their advocates within the library and to everyone else in the town. As overly earnest as it sounds, I want to use the library as a force for good in their lives.
I was kind of surprised by how bummed a week without my patrons made me feel, but it’s shown me that they’re definitely what gives my job meaning. I like that I know that about myself now, and I’m really looking forward to building our teen services and getting the word out about what we do.
What’s been your biggest Spring surprise?
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 3/22/2011
Happy 5th birthday, Twitter! (The service is most popular with 20-24 year olds, and their tastes are definitely reflected in the list of most-followed accounts — Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears. In other social media news, Facebook... Read the rest of this post
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 3/14/2011
Little monsters, (Gaia Online users, and kids in general can do their part to aid earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. Lady Gaga designed “We Pray For Japan” bracelets available in her online store and can be purchases with an added... Read the rest of this post
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 3/8/2011
The images of spring break that you find in the media aren’t quite accurate. What you see on MTV, Mun2, and even “CSI: Miami”…that represents a small sliver of college students who go in for wild parties and exotic beach holidays... Read the rest of this post
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 2/17/2011
MTV partners with IntoNow (to promote new episodes Jersey Shore. IntoNow is an app much like Shazam, except it tags TV shows instead of songs. Viewers who tag six or more original broadcast airings will have a chance to win a trip to the next... Read the rest of this post
By: Marley Gibson,
on 4/7/2010
Well...we're on spring break with my boyfriend's sons (11 and 9) and we're having a great time...except for the pollen! Holy schmoly...it's like it snowed yellow! My poor car is covered in it and if you stay still outside for more than ten minutes, you'll be covered with it too.
Check out my poor whip...
We have enjoyed campfires...
Turkey burgers on the grill...
And finding the REAL Farmville...LOL!!
=
We're having a great time being together and hanging out. What do you do during spring break?
Hugs,
Marley = )
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 3/31/2010
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 4/24/2009
We just posted brand new research for sale from our friends at SurveyU — it's their monthly "Now Report," which looks into the lives of college students. This month's "Now Report" is all about spring. From Spring Break plans to summer jobs,... Read the rest of this post
Add a Comment
By: Anne Spollen,
on 4/13/2009
Happy Spring Everyone! Kids are home, so it's picture blog time:
Emma's Easter Tree: 
Emma, just delighted to be snapped by my visiting family:
Hubby, escaping the full house for a few hours:
A Delighted Philip at the Easter Table:
And in a holiday tradition that is truly our own, my uncle, getting his ear hair trimmed:
We're planting a garden and working through school projects. See everyone next week, and hope your Easter was happy!
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 4/2/2009
Britney is the latest… (Candies girl. Plus a cross media case study of how Pepsi and Mountain Dew plugged into the young electorate. And teens heart online coupons.) (Media Post, reg. required)
- It's Your Sex Life (MTV, Kaiser Family... Read the rest of this post
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 3/30/2009
For the first time in years, my college-age brother and I both found ourselves at home for spring break. Neither of us had the funds or were willing to dip into our savings for a quick trip, and with graduation on the horizon for him, and summer in... Read the rest of this post
Add a Comment
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 3/23/2009
Youth brands are more than background noise at SXSW (sponsors for the indie music festival clamor to get noticed by 12,000 wallet wielding attendees with music showcases and free parties. Also, AdRants picks up a discussion on marketers misusing... Read the rest of this post
By: Marley Gibson,
on 3/4/2009
First off...huge congrats to our lovely Stephanie Hale for the release of her book, SPRING BREAKUP! You know you want to read it and find out what's going on with Aspen!
I remember how awesome spring break was when I was in school. The planning. The anticipating. The day the trip finally arrived!
One the most memorable trips for me was a sophomore year trip with my church choir on the train from Atlanta all the way up to Stowe, Vermont, where we skiied (okay, a couple times down the bunny hill doesn't really qualify as skiing, but still...) and enjoyed the mountains and a cool lodge. We had a stop in Washington, DC, and Baltimore, but, by far, the highlight of the trip was staying in New York City.
Wow!!
I think everyone needs to go to New York City once in their life. And don't just be shy about it. Don't be a wallflower or scared to go out and do things. Attack the city with wide spread arms. Absorb everything it has to offer! That's what we did back then.
We did a tour around the city on a bus that took us through Chinatown and Little Italy and all over the place, starting at Rockafeller Plaza where we watched this video about the city.
A visit to New York City wouldn't be complete without the forever line wait to get to the top of the Empire State Building...with views to die for!
And, although, when I visited NYC, Times Square was a bit of a rough part of town, it's now a neon adult Disney that never sleeps.
It's also a must to see the Statue of Liberty. We went right after she had been refurbished and we were so proud that our school money we collected helped restore her for many years to come.
Aside from all of the touristy things the city has to offer, there's so much culture to absorb. The city is rich with museums, galleries, and diplays ranging from art history to ancient artifacts. I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art. You could spend a day at each.
And, of course, New York City is all about the food! If you go hungry in this city, it's your own fault! There's everything...from every culture, every walk of life, from the $1.50 sandwich that will change your life to the expensive dining experience that you'll always remember.
My favorite cheap eat...the many souvlaki stands. Mmmm...my mouth waters just thinking about it...
When my choir went, we sat at Benihaba and were entertained by our chef. Back then, it was the only restaurant...now you can see them everywhere...but it was a time!
And of course...there's nothing wrong with simply strolling through Central Park.
Hope you've enjoyed this tour of one of the most awesome cities on the planet - New York City! If you get to go, you'll have the time of your life!
Congrats again to Stephanie!!! So proud of you, hon!!!
Hugs,
Marley = )
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: The REASON (Coming May 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (Coming October 2009, St. Martin's Press)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)
By: Anastasia Goodstein,
on 1/28/2009
Full disclosure: StudentCity.com is a Ypulse sponsor.
When I heard that the 22nd season of "The Real World" was going to be set in Cancun, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Mostly, because it meant that the spotlight would finally be off Brooklyn... Read the rest of this post
.jpg?picon=623)
By: Terry Lee Wilde,
on 3/1/2008
By: Amy C. Moreno,
on 7/10/2007
Cloth Paper Scissors is an informative magazine about collage, mixed media and artistic discovery. Take a look at the collage-fabric self portraits, which are fantastic!
Looks so fun, Marley! I love cooking out. ;) As for me, these days I'm an island spring breaker. But I do love camping!
My black car was yellow this morning when I went outside to go to work! The pollen is thick!
Homework.
My car looked like that a couple weeks ago, covered in pollen!
Yuck, pollen! The trip looks like a blast, Marley.
Whoa on the pollen. And you have me craving turkey burgers. love 'em w/ avocado