Teen Scene

Fare-thee-well

2016-01-30T14:13:00.002-08:00

There's lots of ways to say goodbye. I've always liked "Go carefully," but I never remember to say it. Ta ta, see ya', exit stage right, so long, and thanks for all the fish...They all serve the same function. That is to say, it's been real folks, but it's time to go.

After many years, it's time for this blog to go, at least for now. You wanna find Tigard Public Library online? Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter (links to your right.) We'll always be here for you, just not here. On Blogger. Does this make you incredibly sad? Are there hundreds of readers who are sorry to see us go? Well, say so in the comments and you may just alter the course of human history!

I'm offskies.

-Lisa

Most Likely to Dominate the Universe (If he keeps a good head on his shoulders)

2015-08-24T18:54:00.001-07:00

In a turn of events that has shocked absolutely no-one (though it may have disappointed those of us who were rooting for Lord Voldemort, because books), Darth Vader has triumphed in the final round of Summer Super Villain Madness. Come collect your reward, Lord Vader. Um, actually don't. Stay right where you are. Thanks, buddy.

Whew.

Summer Supervillain Madness: The Penultimate Battle

2015-08-10T16:27:00.001-07:00

So, this summer I've been running a Supervillain bracket in the Young Adult Room. People have been voting, and as some villains are eliminated others move forward, creating awesome pairings like Loki vs. Vader and cancer vs. Voldemort. However, IMHO, none of the bouts have been as hilariously miss-matched as this week's Sue Sylvester vs. Darth Vader, especially since whoever wins this match will move forward to the final round against Voldemort.

Now, let's not dwell on the differences between Sylvester and Vader, let's instead celebrate their strengths and similarities, the reasons these two may deliver the most epic of battles:

#1) Temper Tantrums
Both of these baddies have a habit of crushing those petty peons who annoy them, Sue likes to shove kids into lockers, Vader's more into choking with his mind. Either way, you do not want to make these people grumpy, even if you're on their side.

#2) They Go to 11
Unsatisfied to simply speak softly and carry a large stick, these two prefer to be amped, Vader with whatever that thing is inside his helmet that makes him sound like James Earl Jones, and Sue with her ubiquitous bullhorn.

#3) Uniformity
Vader stands out from the crowd with his whole vaguely Nazi-ish sci-fi get-up; Sue rocks a track suit, even at her wedding that one time she married herself. However, they insist their little minions dress alike in appropriate gear, whether it's olive green khaki and black boots or short skirts and ponytails.

#4) Construction Zone
These two are constantly trying to build things, from planet-sized death ships to pyramids made out of people. You'd be grumpy too if you're always having to remodel structures that pesky rebels keep knocking down.

#5) Ambition
It's all about empire with these two, and they both want to be on top. (Though they both wisely know that the ultimate power lies not with the figurehead (ie emperor or principal) but with the trusted adviser who controls the funds for various projects, like Death Stars and school clubs.

#6) Weapons of Choice
Light sabers and pom poms: What's the diff, right? OK, I'll admit that's a pretty weak one.

#7) Common Enemy
Sue and Vader both have a love/hate relationship with the person they're supposed to either recruit or destroy. Sue's frenemy is cute and sometimes sings sexy songs; Vader's rival possibly (definitely) is also his son.

* Awesome Vader art by Wraithdt (DeviantArt)

Taiko Drumming Workshop/Anime Fest

2015-07-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 24 from 2-5pm
Teens in grade 6 and up.
Learn about Taiko drumming and choreography (2:15-3:00) then stay for the Anime Fest! Dress as your favorite villain and win a prize.

A Movie!

2015-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

We are showing this classic movie based on a famous book by one of the most influential American authors who, until this year, had only published one book---55 years ago!
Can you guess the name of the book?

Robot Revolution

2015-07-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

THE MACHINES HAVE GAINED INTELLIGENCE, AND THEY ARE ANGRY! THEY WILL NO LONGER SUCCUMB TO OUR DEMANDS. BEWARE THE ROBOT REVOLUTION!

Seriously, though. We have a new thingie at the library to help us with check in. It is cool. It has not behaved in a threatening manner. Yet.

NEW Tigard Public Library AMH from Tigard Library on Vimeo.

Fandom Club

2015-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of something? Feel the feels of like-minded teens. Share shows, songs, games, and videos while making fan-related stuff.

You can join the club July 7-August 11

Henna Heroes

2015-06-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

What better way to express your inner secret identity than through unique body art?
Monday, June 22 from 2-4pm a local henna artist will give you a temporary tattoo of your choice and show you some techniques to try out at home. First come, first served.

Battle of the Bands

2015-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

Battle of the Bands became popular in the mid-1960s in various parts of the USA.
Be part of Tigard Library history and join us on Friday, June 19 from 5-8pm to root for your favorite teen band at our first ever Battle of the Bands. Four contestants, one winner.

SUPERVILLAIN MADNESS

2015-06-15T20:31:00.000-07:00

June–August • Young Adult Room
Check out our Villain versus Villain bracket in the Young Adult Room. Vote throughout the summer to help determine who will fight in the ultimate battle of Book versus Screen.

This week, vote for either the Volturi from Twilight Saga or The Seven Evil Exes from Scott Pilgrim in the print division. Hans from Frozen and Light Yagami from Deathnote are competing in the screen division. Stop by the Young Adult Room to vote today!

(Last week, President Snow of Hunger Games vanquished Jeanine Matthews of Divergent and Sue Sylvester of Glee barely eked out a victory over Dr. Horrible.)

Summer Reading

2015-06-07T17:35:00.001-07:00

It's week two! Get over to the library and unmask you Summer Reading Swag.

TEEN JOB FAIR

2015-05-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Hoping to earn some money this summer? If you're 16 or older, come to the Teen Summer Job Fair on Wednesday, May 6 from 2:30-5:30. Potential employers will be ready and waiting for your resume and on-the-spot interview. Dress up and impress your future!

Free Comic Book Day!

2015-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday, May 2--All day in the Young Adult Room for teens in grades 6 and up.
Celebrate the incredible world of sequential art with free comics. Libraries and comic book stores will give away comic books that day to promote this under-appreciated form of literature. Get free comics while supplies last and participate in activities for the comic book enthusiast. You can visit a local comics shop for official Free Comic Book Day selections, but the library has more of the random comics variety.

Day Of The Book/Day Of The Rose

2015-04-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

One day every year in the Catalonia region of Spain, people celebrate love by giving each other roses and books! We're borrowing that idea.You will not regret stopping by the Young Adult Room at the library Wednesday, April 22 for Day of the Book/Day of the Rose.
Choose a book (while supplies last), wrap it and make a duct tape rose to give to a loved one.

Fowl Physics

2015-04-13T17:20:00.000-07:00

Watch this. It will light up your life.

See It, Don't Say It

2015-04-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Look at this amazing infographic! Look at it! It's like one of those magic eye posters where you stare at it until you see the hidden picture, except with this you stare at it for mere SECONDS and your brain is magically populated with facts about octopuses. (I didn't know "octopi" was incorrect, did you?) That is the power of infographics, and that is why we are teaching a class about creating your own!

Join us on Monday, April 13 from 5-6:30 in the Technology Room on the second floor of the library. We will school you on the world of infographics (here's a link to our Prezi), or just set you free to experiment with them yourself using the tools below:

Easel.ly
Piktochart
Infogr.am
Vizualize.me
Venngage

Drawing Words & Writing Pictures

2015-04-08T17:53:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about Comic Book Day happening Saturday, May 2.
Thinking lead to questioning; questioning lead to finding. Look what I found!

If you have an interest in making comics or graphic novels this website is for you!
Especially the clever five page foldy comic.

All Ages Anime

2015-03-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Friday, March 27 • 2–4:30 p.m. • All ages
Celebrate the season of cherry blossoms with Japanese crafts, snacks and a screening of
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (PG), another beautifully animated film from Studio Ghibli.

Gordon Parks

2015-03-23T14:56:00.001-07:00

Today I learned about African American photographer, Gordon Parks. While working as a railroad porter, he happened upon a magazine photo story about migrant workers. He was so moved and inspired by the images that he bought a used camera at pawn shop. That purchase changed his life forever. Gordon Parks became the first African American photographer for Vogue and Life magazine. In his most famous photo, as seen here, he conveyed the contradiction between segregation and freedom in America in the 1940s.

To see more of Parks' photography, click here.

So long, Uncle Terry

2015-03-13T16:50:00.001-07:00

This really hurts. I just learned of the passing of Sir Terry Pratchett, a writer of, really, just some of the best books. No other author makes me laugh, think and feel quite like he does. His books are like literary hugs, with little pokes, winks and tickles thrown in to keep you on your toes. I'm not a fan-girl type, but if I'd ever been blessed to meet Sir Terry, I'm certain I would have been sporting tears cascading into a silly grin. I really wish I'd had the chance to embarrass myself thusly. (Shut up, that's totally a word.)

I'm sure you all have authors in your life like this. Sir Terry's aesthetic insinuated itself right into the core of my brain, into my very being, after I read just a couple of his dozens of books. His voice is formative to me; it is fundamental. So much so that I often forget to declare him when I am asked to name my favorite writer. Terry Pratchett just IS, right? Except, now he is no more. And how the world will miss him.

Dude wrote more than 70 books. 70. Books. He kept writing even after he was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease seven years ago. I'm pretty sure that his various molecules are still writing wherever they are now. I'm grateful for every single one of those books, and I grieve for all the ones that never made it out of his brain on to the page. Some would say that's greedy. 70 books is a more than adequate legacy. Sure, for any ordinary writer, but Sir Terry was supernatural. To produce so many works, each one unique yet singing with that consistently kind, clever and singularly perceptive voice... (Here's where I admit that of course I haven't read them all, and I'm sure Sir Terry would be the first to acknowledge that there were probably clunkers among the pearls.)... this is not the feat of a typical human, even of a typical genius. Without this mind, we are now less than we were before. And I feel cheated.

I started to feel cheated back in December of 2007 when I heard about the Alzheimer's diagnosis. I thought I'd seen the last of what that mind could produce, but then, like an actual freaking miracle, an Advanced Reader Copy of a new Tiffany Aching book landed on my desk. Dude kept writing, and writing, and writing. And I realized what a fool I was for thinking that Alzheimer's could destroy not only a mind so great, but any mind. Change it, yes, but imagination is infinite, and will make mischief until forever.

So, if you haven't yet, for the sake of your soul, please, start reading: http://goo.gl/wUoSVm

Sir Terry, I love you. Thank you. I hope you don't mind that I call you uncle.

Ready? Set. College!

2015-03-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

Your high school graduation cap hasn't even been placed on your head yet, but there it is, looming on the horizon:college. It's most likely the next step in your school life. Make the most of it, get the most out of it, fund it the best you can.
Somebody on Pinterest has their thinking cap on. Ready? Get set. Go!

Maybe you're not sure if college is right for you. Are you even ready for college right now?
Take a look at what the Otis Library in Connecticut put together. It's excellent.

Test Prep Workshop

2015-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Monday, March 9, 5-7pm.
Teens grades 10 and up, getting ready for college entry tests? Learn from the pros. Teachers from the Huntington Learning Center will share tips and tricks and answer your questions at this beginning test prep workshop. Discover the difference between the ACT and SAT; new features of the SAT; testing dos and don’ts, and how best to prepare. Registration required.
Stop by the Children’s Reference Desk or call 503-718-2656.

You Can Learn A Lot From A Snail

2015-02-25T17:04:00.000-08:00

Get to know Marcel the Shell.

It will be worth it.

Visit A College Campus! Virtually.

2015-02-22T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's really never to soon to think about where you will go to college. By the year 2018, over half the jobs will require a college education. Not sure where to go? Want to visit a bunch of campuses so you can make and informed choice, but definitely don't have the funds to travel to them all? Take a virtual tour! Youniversitytv.com has too many virtual tours to count! Chances are there are a few that will help you decide where or where not to go to college. There's also videos on career choices and college life.
Think about it. For less time than it would take to fly to several campuses and tour them, you could tour all of them!

Good Can Come From Evil

2015-02-11T15:35:00.001-08:00

For those of you who know me, you know how much I love graphic novels. Not manga, mind you, though I don't begrudge the back-to-front-manga-loving-readers. And I'm not crazy about comics of the Marvel oeuvre. Nor am I all that interested in reading the other kind of comics: the Sunday Funnies comics. Too short and disjointed for my taste.
It's those graphic novels that provide amazing individualistic artistic style combined with a heartfelt or thought-provoking story.
One such graphic novel is Stephen Collin's The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil.
Collin's artistic style is more artistic than your average illustrator. You'll find lots of hatch marks, shading; a nice use of gradation. I also liked the way told the story through creative paneling.

So, if you're in the mood for a thought-provoking, artsy graphic novel, look no further. You'll find it all in this one.