Online registration is open now at http://www.mesacountylibraries.org. Participants are encouraged to sign up online and then attend a kickoff celebration to pick up a special reading log in which they can track their summer reading progress. Prizes will be awarded for reaching certain levels.

The Summer Reading Program is open to children, teens, and adults. This year’s theme for the children’s program is “Dream Big,” and kids will take part in a variety of activities that encourage reading and imagination.

“Research shows that kids perform better in school the next year if they have read during the summer,” said Gail Yerbic, Head of Youth Services for Mesa County Libraries. “Plus, reading is a great way to spend the summer.”

Participants in the children’s program who read enough books will be eligible to enter a drawing for LEGO sets, signed baseballs from the Grand Junction Rockies, or tickets to a GJ Rockies home game.

Here is a schedule of family-oriented entertainment events for kickoff week. Performers appearing for kickoff parties at Mesa County Libraries locations will be Marc Black, a folk-rock musician, and popular children’s magician Mysto the Magi. Registration for the Summer Reading Program will be available at all events:

- 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 29 – Marc Black performs at the Palisade Branch, 119 W. Third St.

- 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 30 – Marc Black performs at the Central Library, 5th and Grand.

- 10 a.m. Thursday, May 31 – Mysto the Magi performs at the Clifton Branch, 590 32 Road.

- 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 31 – Marc Black performs at the Fruita Branch in the Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson St.

- 2 p.m. Thursday, May 31 – Marc Black performs at the Clifton Branch.

- 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31 – Mysto the Magi performs at the Orchard Mesa Branch, 230 Lynwood St.

- 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 1 – Mysto the Magi performs at the De Beque Branch, 730 Minter Ave.

- 2 p.m. Friday, June 1 – Mysto the Magi performs at the Central Library.

- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2 – Mysto the Magi performs at the Collbran Branch, 111 Main St.

The teen kickoff party takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2, on the lawn at the Central Library with tie-dye activities and a performance by local band Dreamboat.

A Summer Reading Program highlight for teens will be a Teen Writing Workshop with author Paolo Bacigalupi scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, at the Central Library. Bacigalupi is an award-winning author from Colorado whose 2010 novel Ship Breaker was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and winner of the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award. Registration is required for those who wish to attend the workshop.

A variety of fun and interesting programs for adults also will take place during the summer, including a workshop in which participants create their own version of a famous painting, an introduction to life coaching, an informational presentation about the many uses of lavender, and an overview of dream interpretation.

There is no charge to participate in the Summer Reading Program.

For more information about the Summer Reading Program or to register, visit a Mesa County Libraries location or log on to http://www.mesacountylibraries.org.

Our summer reading program for kids, “Dream Big – Read!” is gearing up.   You can preregister online now.  The official program starts after Memorial Day weekend, May 29th, and you can pick up your reading logs at any branch then.  The program lasts until the end of July.    Each reading level is worth four hours.  Here are the prizes that children can redeem for the first three levels:

#1 – Star Tag

#2 – New Book

#3 – Dream Book and Pencil

If children continue to read after the first three levels, they will have a chance to win our Grand Prizes: a Lego set, tickets to a Grand Junction  Rockies game, or a baseball signed by a Rockies player!  The more they read and turn in grand prize slips, the more chances they will have to win.

Lastly, enjoy this wonderful video of a puppet show that the Youth Services Department created to promote the reading program:

Bye for now!

Diana

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Not only is Pfeiffer surely one of the most beautiful creatures alive, but she also has talent, which is on full display in my top five favorite performances:  

The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989):  She acts, she memorably sings on a piano, and she steals this film from both of the Bridges boys.

Batman Returns (1992):  Her definitive turn as Catwoman is the definition of iconic.

Married to the Mob (1988):  Yep, she’s funny too.

Dangerous Liaisons (1988):  Pfeiffer holds her own in this brilliant adaptation of Les Liaisons dangereuses.

White Oleander (2002):  The film is fine; Pfeiffer’s performance is mesmerizing.

Other Pfeiffer flicks not to be missed:

Scarface (1983)

The Witches of Eastwick (1987)

Frankie and Johnny (1991)

The Age of Innocence (1993)

Wolf (1994)

Dangerous Minds (1995)

What Lies Beneath (2000)

 Photo Credits: Michelle Pfeiffer courtesy of theiapolis.com

                                     Bridges brothers courtesy of msn.com

The Summer Reading Program is just around the corner with online registration starting May 14th (https://mcpld.readingrecord.org/).  Per usual, the library will host a Teen Kickoff Party on the front lawn Saturday, June 2nd from 6-8pm.  This year will feature the band Dreamboat, a local indie rock group.  Additionally, teens will have the opportunity to tie-dye.  You are encouraged to bring your own item to dye, but free t-shirts will also be available while supplies last.

Another exciting program this year is a visit from Author Paolo Bacigalupi.  His book Ship Breaker won the Prinz Award two years ago and he recently released a companion novel called The Drowned Cities.  Paolo will be at the Central Library on Wednesday, June 13th to host a writing workshop for teens from 10am-2pm.  This session will include a pizza lunch with Paolo, so please pre-register by calling the library (although I will not turn anyone away the day of the visit).

I will also be doing the Henna Program for teens throughout the summer, so check the teen calendar for dates at all of the branches!

Lastly, I feel it might be important to mention the prizes for the Summer Reading Program:

1. Tote Bag- (It is black and white, totally cool)

2. Free Book

3.Survival Bracelet and 20 dollars store credit to GamerzPlanet

4.  All other slips will go towards a grand prize drawing for gift cards to local businesses

]]> http://mesacountylibraries.org/teens/2012/05/11/summer-reading-program-coming-soon/feed/ 0 http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2012/05/03/poetry-contest-winners/ http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2012/05/03/poetry-contest-winners/#comments Thu, 03 May 2012 16:15:28 +0000 Mesa County Libraries http://mesacountylibraries.org/?p=5053

Thank you to everyone who participated in our poetry contest for National Poetry Month!  The winners are:

1st place, “Sea Song” by Janet Weeks ($20 downtown GJ gift card)

2nd place, “End of Winter” by Suzanne Bronson ($10 downtown GJ …

Thank you to everyone who participated in our poetry contest for National Poetry Month!  The winners are:

1st place, “Sea Song” by Janet Weeks ($20 downtown GJ gift card)

2nd place, “End of Winter” by Suzanne Bronson ($10 downtown GJ gift card)

3rd place, “Teddy” by Jerry Warrington ($5 downtown GJ gift card)

Congratulations!  You’ll be getting a call from us very soon with details on how to get your prizes.  Also, a big thanks to Dr. Lopez for being our judge

And now, for the poems….

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1st Place: “Sea Song” by Janet Weeks

Come, my sea, with your battering waves!
Rage through the reef and flood the sea caves.
Toss your white foam like a wild, free thing,
Catch and tear at the seagull’s wing.
Your rough, rolling swells plunge unhaltingly on
To die on the rocks and the ledges beyond.

Silently, silently, deep in the night
The fishes and seaweed are pulled by your might.
Over the dark land your deep whisper’s heard
Mingled with cries of a lonely sea bird.
Your fingers creep over the shimmering sands,
Drowning the work of a small child’s hands.

As the castle slips under the silvery wall
The gull haunts the night with his low, lonely call.

---

2nd Place: “End of Winter” by Suzanne Bronson

A fog comes up like sleep
and seems to swallow
as much sound as it does light.

The trees still hold
a chill breath – a breeze –
and the lingering snows
tell me where the
shadows lay down.

A time in winter,
my place in winter,
too warm for a coat.

---

3rd Place: “Teddy” by Jerry Warrington

The teddy bear sits on the dresser.
His bearskin is threadbare and worn.
One black button eye has gone missing
And his left ear is tattered and torn.

What’s left of his fur is all bristly,
The yarn has pulled loose from his snout.
The threads of his seams have unraveled
And stuffing is all sticking out.

There’s jam on his faded blue jacket;
His ribbon is frayed at the ends.
The tea stains still show on his tummy
From parties he shared with small friends.

The children who hugged him and held him,
Who cuddled him close in their cots,
Have grown up and moved on without him,
Leaving him there with his thoughts.

He sits all alone but not lonely;
He’s earned this small quiet place.
And memories of children who loved him
Keep the smile still stitched to his face.

 

 

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The life of the Book Lush has long been  a cushy one: the finding of swell books to read was as easy as falling off my favorite squishy chair; my ability to be enthralled, unimpaired.  Yet lately, the Lush life has has suffered from  a certain ennui that I can only sum up as, “there’s nothing good to read.” A nonsensical statement, of course, one that a proud Lush would never make, but such is the torpor that has plagued me.  My zest for checking out weighty stacks of books is unabated, however, and that’s a good sign. On deck (to use a cherished baseball metaphor) right now is No Doors, No Windows by Joe Schreiber.  It’s a creepy story of family madness and  a strange abandoned house with no right angles inside.  When Scott Mast goes back home after 15 years for his father’s funeral, he finds his alcoholic, antagonistic brother Owen and young nephew Henry have moved into the family home, and decides to stay on, partly to watch over Henry, and partly because he finds an old manuscript written by his father.  He finds the mysterious house mentioned in the manuscript and rents it to finish his father’s book.  Soon, though,his mental health issues resurface,and the house’s  peculiarities grow more menacing.  It’s shaping up to be a groovy ghost and haunted house story.

It was a really tough choice.  Everyone’s art was sooooo good!  I am super impressed by all of the talent, but the winners are, drum roll please, …..

1st Place- Lindsey G. created an amazing piece of art on a Sharp Brand calculator.

2nd Place- Megan G. made art on a lamp shade with sharpies.

3rd Place- Brittney W. put her sharpie art on a ceramic tile with a great positive message.

Check out a picture of the cool display!

]]> http://mesacountylibraries.org/teens/2012/05/01/teen-art-contest-winners/feed/ 0 http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2012/05/01/the-best-of-a-great-dame/ http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2012/05/01/the-best-of-a-great-dame/#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 20:49:54 +0000 Cinephile Femme http://mesacountylibraries.org/?p=4998 The late, great Elizabeth Taylor passed away just a little over a year ago (she was 79), but her larger-than-life legacy continues to permeate pop-culture.

First came the publication of M.G. Lord‘s The Accidental Feminist:  How Elizabeth Taylor Raised …

The late, great Elizabeth Taylor passed away just a little over a year ago (she was 79), but her larger-than-life legacy continues to permeate pop-culture.

First came the publication of M.G. Lord‘s The Accidental Feminist:  How Elizabeth Taylor Raised Our Consciousness and We Were Too Distracted by Her Beauty to Notice, which introduces a pretty intriguing (if far-reaching) thesis. 

Now comes news that Lindsay Lohan will be playing the icon in an upcoming Lifetime movie, Liz and Dick, which centers on her relationship with Richard Burton.  If that’s a topic that strikes your fancy, check out Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century, by Sam Kashner. 

Taylor’s films never go out of style either.  I would rank A Place in the Sun (1951), Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (1958), and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) as the best of her oeuvre. 

Other performances that warrant a look: 

National Velvet (1944)

Father of the Bride (1950)

Giant (1956)

Suddenly Last Summer (1959)

BUtterfield 8 (1960)

Cleopatra (1963)

The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

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Did you know that all 4 year olds in Colorado are eligible to receive a brand new book this week?!  One Book 4 Colorado started on April 18 and lasts until April 29, which is this Sunday, or while supplies last.  All 4 year olds can receive a copy of the wonderful book, Maybe a Bear Ate It! by Robie H. Harris and illustrated by Michael Emberley.  So, parents, preschool teachers, and caregivers, if you know 4 year olds who have not yet received their One Book 4 Colorado, you can pick up copies at any of the Mesa County Library branches or local health clinics.  Thank you to the private and corporate sponsors who graciously donated the funds to support One Book 4 Colorado, helping the state promote early literacy and the love of reading. 

Have a good weekend.

Diana

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