Gaming? Don't mind if I do!

Diner dash, tetris, freecell, text twist are all my speed. The RPGs are interesting but I'm not willing to dedicate the time to set up and maintenance. Thanks for the excuse to play awhile.

Pods Everywhere!

I've been listening to podcasts for a while. I subscribe to a few free podcasts through my iTunes account. I like that you can download them and listen to them later, in the car or at the gym. My favorite podcasts all come from NPR: "Wait, Waite...Don't Tell Me," "This American Life," and the podcasts for their music reviews. I've always loved radio and this feels like an extension of NPR, only I get to decide when I want to listen and I can hear things that our local radio station does not broadcast. These are fabulous for road-trips, if you have an iPod.

My Favorites, try them online and then sign-up for their FREE podcasts

This American Life -- Listen to the Money Pool episode.... all about our economy and how it imploded! Better than all the pundits on TV.

Wait, Waite....Don't Tell Me -- a weekly news quiz that is very funny. Listen to this old one that features Obama, way before he was much known outside Chicago.

NPR Podcast Builder -- combine shows, make your own stuff here!

I wish we could start using our website to host podcasts for teens! I think it would give them a great way to be involved in the library, and show them that we really do listen to them.

In case you missed it...

Here's a photo of some of the fabulous performers from the Nutcracker excerpts by Concert Ballet of Virginia. Keep an eye on "Connections" and our website for more great programs at all Henrico libraries this winter.

Teen Events in December

Below is a list of our teen events for December 2007. We'll be building a castle, performing surgery, starting a rock band and talking about an amazing book. Obviously, we'll be very busy this month! Hope to see you all at the Library....

Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Meeting
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 @ 7:00 PM
Join the North West TAB for our December meeting. We will be planning for the Castle Building project and the Fairy Tale Fair later this month. Remember, you will get extra community service hours if you help with the Fairy Tale Fair on December 20th, but you MUST be in the TAB.

Build-A-Castle
Thursday, December 13, 2007 @ 6:00 PM
Help us build a Castle for our Fairy Tale Fair! Bring your creativity, but leave the Ogres at home! You MUST register for this event and will need a library card in order to register!
Register online at www.henricolibrary.org or call 364-1400.

Guitar Hero and Game Night
Tuesday, December 18, 2007 @ 6:00 PM
Show us your air guitar skills with Guitar Hero, or skillfully remove the funny bone in Operation. We have tons of games to play!

Teen Book Group — Golden Compass
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 @ 2:00 PM
Join the Teen Book Group and discuss The Golden Compass book and the movie. Come tell us what you think about Philip Pullman's Golden Compass and hear what others think. There will be snacks!

All programs listed are open to Middle & High School students. Please call if you have any questions about the programs or community service hours.
Direct questions and suggestions to Adrienne Minock, Teen Librarian, @ 364-1400 x5 or aminock@henrico.lib.va.us

Children's December Programs

Reserve your spot online today for 7pm December 3rd, Concert Ballet of Virginia presents excerpts from "The Nutcracker." For ages 5 and older only.

Puss in Boots Puppet Shows
9:30am Mon, Dec 3
1:30pm Mon, Dec 3
10:30am Tues, Dec 4
7pm Wed, Dec 5
9:30am Thur, Dec 6
10:30am Sat, Dec 8

Preschool Craft Dec 5 & 6, 3:30pm
Elementary School Craft Dec 19, 3:30pm

Family Games Nights
Chess 7pm Mon, Dec 10
Scrabble 7pm Mon, Dec 17

Winter Solstice Exploration
Family program, Dec 18 at 7pm

Fairy Tale Faire
Dec 20, 11am
Come make a craft with some of your favorite fairy tale characters

Please remember we're closed December 24 & 25

Check out a book on tape for travel! We have children's titles as well as books on CD for young adults.

Books for the Holidays

Since the holiday season begins sooner and earlier each year it is time to start thinking about what you will do to relax during this most festive of seasons. I recommend taking a break from all the hubbub by reading a good book. What you want to read is up to you but I have recently finished and enjoyed the following books.

Soon I Will be Invincible by Austin Grossman. Told in alternating chapters by the super villian Dr Impossible and a new hero Fatale, this book will entertain any comic book fan. Will Dr Impossible finally succeed in taking over the world? Read and find out.

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. This epic book was published in 1989 and is the best Ken Follett book in my opinion. The reader follows the lives of a people in Kingsbridge, England as they work to build (or halt) a new cathedral. I read it a few years ago and wanted to read it again because Ken Follett has recently come out with a sequel to this book titled World Without End. I have not yet read this book but am eagerly looking forward to it.

A VERY silly book I have read is The Shroud of the Thwacker by Chris Elliot. Travel back in time to the 1890's New York and try to solve the mystey of the notorious Jolly Jack Thwacker case! Tag along with Mayor Teddy Rosevelt and learn all about a New York you never knew existed and inventions that startle the mind (ex. the kerosene-powered cell phone). It's an entertaining book if you don't take it too seriously.

Be on the look out for our newest book discussion group. It will be a Nonfiction group and will be starting up soon! The first book for discussion will be Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

Jello Brains and Candy Corn at the Library

We had a ton of fun at our Halloween Fair last week. The Fair was put together by our Teen Advisory Board for the little kids. The teens had fun making disgusting decorations (see the picture of the spider egg sacs) and everybody had fun at the fair. We had jello brains, Cemetery Bug Fishing, the amazing fortune telling abilities of Madam Lisa, crafts, face painting and Trick-or-Treating. We hope to have even more ghoulish fun next year.

Next, our Teen Advisory Board will be decorating collection boxes for Christmas Mother Book Donations, planning for the children's Fairy Tale Fair and building a castle for the Fair. Want to join in the fun (and get volunteer hours)? Come to our next meeting: Tuesday, November 6th @ 7pm.