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National Novel Writing Month Handouts

2009-10-26T19:29:29+00:00

If you couldn't attend the kickoff events for National Novel Writing Month, download these handouts and link to awesome online resources to help you get started with your 50,000 words in 30 days novel writing experience.

If you couldn't attend the kickoff events for National Novel Writing Month, download these handouts to help you get started with your 50,000 words in 30 days novel writing experience.

What is Nanowrimo and how does it work?

Virtual Kick off for Nanowrimo

This article summarizes most of the advice from former participants that is typically shared at a kickoff event. If you can’t attend a kickoff event, this is worth a quick read (about 5 pages long).

Flyer for Topeka Nanowrimo 2009 events (1 page pdf) Topeka Nanowrimo events schedule 2009

Paper-based Nanowrimo tracking device (1 page pdf) Print your own word count tracking system with charts and graphs

The Two Magna Cartas of Novel Writing (1 page pdf) aka The most important advice from Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month

Interactive Word Count Spreadsheet created by Dragle (xls) Excel document to add your word count each day, with charts and graphs!

Support Nanowrimo

If you love Nanowrimo, or even enjoy it a little bit, and especially if you are participating this year, please make an effort to donate to help support their noveling goodness. See Donating when Broke and also donate and shop at the store. Nanowrimo provides information on where your donations go, including their budget.

Downloadable and Online Writing resources galore

Not sure where your story is going or how to use scenes to build suspense? Check out this “Outline for 50000 word novel of 20 chapters - 2500 words each” This is a seven page document, but the first three pages are the most relevant to outlining.

Need plot or character ideas? Check out these downloads from another Nanowrimo group – use the links under “Plotting and World Building”

The Seventh Sanctum is an automated generator service. You click a button and it randomly spits out every possible character, setting, plot, weapon, etc, you could ever imagine.

Explore the Dare Thread in the forums. Because NaNoWriMo without the Dare Thread just would not be NaNoWriMo at all.

Online motivation for virtual write ins or encouragement

Post in the Topeka forums to organize a virtual write in with other people in our region.

If you are on your own and need a 10 or 15 minutes challenge, check out Write or Die, a site that uses scare and pressure tactics to get you to write.

Do you have another favorite NaNoWriMo resources to share? Tell us about it in the comments!

Kansas Connections 2009-2010 – Program Listing

2009-10-23T13:32:07+00:00

Teachers agree one of the best things about Kansas Connections programs is that they support Kansas accreditation standards while still offering a diverse range of topics. Find out how you can bring these programs to your classroom.

The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library brings fun and educational programs to your classroom. Best of all, they are free! Programs support Kansas accreditation standards and run approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Scheduling is on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Bookmobile staff at (785) 580-4591 to arrange a free program for your classroom. Programs are available through May 2010, but reserve your program today because availability goes fast.

Below is a list of programs offered for the 2009-2010 school year.

New Kansas Connections Programs:

Go Buggy (Grades K - 5)
What makes a creepy crawly a "True Bug?" What are insects and other "pests" good for? Do spiders really "Bug" people? Get answers to these and other pesky questions when you slink, scurry or fly into the big, little world of "Bugs."

Music I (Grades 1 - 3)
Enjoy a live performance which will teach your students how music relates to all aspects of who we are.

Predators of the Kansas Skies (Grades 3 - 5)
Imagine you're a mouse scurrying low to the ground. Imagine something watching you that can hear your heartbeat and see you even in the dark. Try not to imagine the talons as they sweep you from the ground. Wherever you are in Kansas, raptors are close by. Learn more about these amazing birds by booking this program.

Animals Endangered! (Grades 3 - 6)
Learn about Kansas animals that need help as well as those that have made an amazing comeback! A live animal will visit your classroom. Students will discover how easily an animal can become endangered.

Kansas Quest (Grades 4 and 5)
"There's no place like home." Learning is fun and challenging with Kansas Quest, a trivia game utilizing a multi-media format to reinforce fact retention. This tool can be used to introduce, review or assess knowledge of the state's history, geography, people, places and wildlife.

Music II (Grades 4 - 6)
A song-writing guitarist will escort your students on a musical trail of historical times in Kansas.

Your Favorites and Ours from Previous Years

Storybooks (Grades K - 2)
The Storybook Lady, Princess Pageturner, will share wonderful stories and classic picture books with your class. Various themes are available. Please ask. Two sessions per classroom may be scheduled.

They're Alive . . . Living Kansas Symbols (Grades 1 - 5)
Look, feel and smell live animals and plants. Your students will discover a unique way of looking at Kansas symbols.

Slithering Snakes (Grades 1 - 5)
Slimy, sneaky, evil and just lying in the grass waiting to bite your ankles? Or beautiful guardians in the delicate balance of nature? Find out how snakes benefit humankind. Hands on with Lucy, Oreo, Speckles or the "Snake With No Name."

Batty for Bats (Grades 2 and 3)
Explore the many ways our only flying mammal benefits the environment. We'll replace horror-movie stereotypes with just the facts. There'll be exciting photos of some of the 980+ bat species in action, from fruit bats to vampire bats. Your students will be convinced that it's great to be "Batty for Bats."

Dinosaurs (Grades 2 and 3)
Millions of years ago, Dinosaurs ruled the earth. Now they rule the classroom! With hands-on artifacts, students explore fascinating facts about these "thunder lizards."

Pioneers - Traveling West (Grades 2 - 3)
It's moving day! Are we ready to make the journey west? What will we need? How will we pull the wagon? Flour, sugar, coffee - Check! Blankets, clothes, tools - Check! Horses, oxen, mules - Check! We prepare the ultimate packing list for starting a new life while traveling in a covered wagon.

Bison (Grades 2 - 4)
Bison are once again roaming the Kansas Prairie. Request this hands-on program to learn the basic facts about this fascinating animal as well as the legend and lore that surrounds them.

Kansas Animals and Their Habitats (Grades 2 - 4)
Invertebrate or vertebrate. Which animal type are you? We will investigate 5 different vertebrate groups of animals, discuss what makes up a habitat and take a look at the 3 Kansas habitats and the animals that live in them.

Real Kansans (Grades 3 - 5)
Amelia Earhart to John Brown, Gordon Parks to Russell Stover. Kansans have left their mark on history. We'll visit statesmen, inventors and artists who have thrilled and inspired. And they're all from our home state.

Pioneers - "You Wouldn't Want to Be . . . !" (Grades 4 - 6)
Buffalo stampedes, wigglers in the water, leaky-roofed sod houses and quack "physicians." Based on the popular history series "You Wouldn't Want to Be. . .," this nitty-gritty program will shake up your students' ideas about travel and life on the Kansas Prairie.

Urban Legends (Grades 4 - 8)
Urban Legends are stories of our time. But are they true or false? Many are based on true events to begin with, but are often hard to believe. How much gets added each time the story is told? How much is really true? Many have mysterious endings. The real mystery, though, is figuring out which stories have been made up. But whether they are true or not, the stories are still worth telling.

Native Americans: From Nomads to City Dwellers (Grades 6 - 8)
Where did Native Americans come from? How did they get here? Where did they settle? How did they live? What role did the weather play? From the Bering Strait all the way down to Central America the world of pre-Columbus America was as diverse as it was fascinating. Learn how these people evolved from simple hunter-gatherers to accomplished astronomers and builders of great cities.

Whazzup in Space? (Grades 6 - 8)
Man can now see "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" and "go where no man has gone before." Topics presented via power point by the resident Solar System Ambassador representing NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory include Moon and Mars Mania, New Horizons, Goldilocks Goldmines and other space exploration missions.

National Novel Writing Month 2009 Participant Chat Room

2009-10-15T02:10:26+00:00

This is the participant chat room for the National Novel Writing Month Topeka contingent. Learn more at http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1010169

Preschool Storytime with KTKA 49 News

2009-08-04T13:29:40+00:00

Find out which 49 News celebrity is coming to read to you at the library today! Can't make it today? No problem. Celebrity readers will be joining us each Tuesday in August for Preschool Storytime.

Some of Topeka's most famous voices will be heard in the library this month.

49 ABC News' broadcast journalists will read to toddlers each Tuesday this month at Preschool Storytime.

Families are invited to get wrapped up in a good story presented by Chief Meteorologist Matt Miller, Anchor Ben Bauman, Anchor Marshanna Hester and Sports Director Nic Hoch.

They will be reading Mouse Mess, Who Ate All the Cookie Dough, Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball and A Cake All For Me, among other titles.

Miller will read at today. Bauman is scheduled for Aug. 11, Hoch, Aug. 18 and Hester Aug. 25. All Preschool Storytimes are held at 9:30 in the Story Zone.

Come check out Preschool Storytime or any of our other children's programs. Just pick up an issue of connectnow or view it online here.

Can't make it to storytime? Ask a librarian for good books to use for storytime at home.

Computer Classes

2009-07-29T15:14:20+00:00

Classes are free and open to all.

For a current schedule and specific dates and times, read the library’s magazine Connectnow. Or, browse the Computer Training Calendar. Click on any class title in the calendar to see all the dates/times that class will be offered.

Registration is recommended.

Register now by filling out the form on the right. Be sure to tell us what dates and times you want for each class and whether you want us to reply by email or phone. Or, call 785-580-4606 or email class@tscpl.org to register or get more information. Click here to see the Computer Training Calendar.

Beginning Classes

Designed for the new computer user and presented at a relaxed pace. We recommend taking these classes in the order listed. We encourage you to repeat these classes as many times as you wish.

Taming Your Mouse --take the class (handout available) or just practice at Mouserobics or Mousing Around
Beginning Windows (handout available)
Word: Introduction to Word Processing (handout available)
Internet Introduction (handout available )
Email with Yahoo! Mail (handout available)

Beyond the Basics

Take these classes to enhance your job skills or whenever you're ready for more challenging projects. Classes are presented at a faster pace than beginning classes.

Look it up (Catalog handout available) (Electronic Resources handout available)
Google It (handout available)
Cut, Copy & Paste (handout available)
Word: Tables, Tabs & Columns (handout available)
Excel: Introduction to Spreadsheets (handout available)
Excel: Lists
Word: Mail Merge & Mailing Labels (handout available)
Word: Graphics (handout available)
Powerpoint
Winway Resume Writing (handout available)
Get It Now! Free Downloadable Media at Your Library

Click on Read Full Entry at the end of this page for more information about the classes.

Drop-In

Practice new computer skills, learn to use a mouse or get a little help with computer problems. Also, this is a good time to learn more advanced techniques or to work on online job applications and resumes. Come and go anytime during the session. Registration is not required. Drop-Ins are held on most Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm and at least one Saturday a month. Check the Computer Training Calendar for specific dates and times.

For a current schedule and specific dates and times, read the library’s magazine Connectnow. Or, browse the Computer Training Calendar. Click on any class title in the calendar to see all the dates/times that class will be offered.

Computer Classes are free and open to all. However, registration is recommended.

Register now by filling out the registration form on the previous page. Or, call 785-580-4606 or email class@tscpl.org to register or get more information. Click here to see the Computer Training Calendar.

Beginning Classes -- Designed for the new computer user and presented at a relaxed pace. We recommend taking these classes in the order listed. We encourage you to repeat these classes as many times as you wish.

Taming Your Mouse
Learn the proper way to hold and move the mouse. Learn about single and double clicking, right button clicking, dragging and dropping, scroll bars, radio buttons and checkboxes. Practice mouse skills by playing Mouserobics and Mousing Around. Click on the blue underlined links to go to these fun web sites and practice your mouse skills. Come to a Drop-In to further practice your skills.

Beginning Windows
Learn Windows basics. Learn about the mouse, desktop, icons, start button, task bar, and keyboard. Learn to minimize and maximize windows and use the calculator.

Word: Introduction to Word Processing
Using Microsoft Word 2003, learn to set margins and tabs, change fonts, spell check, select text, save and delete files. We have a handout for Word 2007 and can answer questions.

Internet Introduction
Using Internet Explorer, learn basic internet functions and visit some interesting sites.

Email with Yahoo! Mail
Learn to address, compose, reply to and forward email messages. Yahoo! Mail is a free email service that is available from any computer with Internet access.

Beyond the Basics -- Take these classes to enhance your job skills or whenever you're ready for more challenging projects. Classes are presented at a faster pace than beginning classes.

Look it up on the Internet
Learn to use the library's online catalog. Reserve and renew library materials from the library or home. Also learn about some of the special subscription resources that you may access for free from the library or from home if you have a valid TSCPL library card.

Google It (Handout available)
Google does more than find webpages. Search for pictures, videos, maps, and "stuff to buy" on the Internet. See your home via satellite with Google Earth. Use Google Docs for word processing, spreadsheets and more.

Cut, Copy & Paste
Take advantage of this basic but powerful technique. Learn at least 4 new ways to select text, cut, copy and paste in Microsoft Word. Also learn to copy web addresses and paste them into email messages, documents or an Internet browser address bar. Take this class after taking Word: Introduction to Word Processing or if you are already familiar with Microsoft Word. We have a handout for Word 2007 and can answer questions.

Word: Graphics
Learn to use the drawing toolbar, clip art, WordArt, text boxes and more using Microsoft Word 2003. We'll insert, resize, rotate, flip and reformat graphics. Take this class after taking Word: Introduction to Word Processing or if you are already familiar with Microsoft Word. We have a handout for Word 2007 and can answer questions.

Word: Tables, Tabs & Columns
Using Word 2003, learn to set tabs, construct tables and use columns. We will emphasize tables: setting up columns and rows, formatting choices and more. Take this class after taking Word: Introduction to Word Processing or if you are already familiar with Microsoft Word. We have a handout for Word 2007 and can answer questions.

Excel: Introduction to Spreadsheets
Using Excel 2003, learn about cells, columns, rows, AutoSum, simple functions or formulas, number formats, and page setup features using Excel 2003. We have a handout for Excel 2007 and can answer questions.

Excel: Lists
Using Excel 2003, learn the basics of making lists using Excel's data capabilities. Create field names, sort lists, and link spreadsheets. Take this class after taking Excel: Introduction to Spreadsheets or if you are already familiar with Microsoft Excel. We have a handout for Excel 2007 and can answer questions.

Word: Mail Merge & Mailing Labels
Create mailing labels, envelopes, personalized form letters, and directories by combining a data list with Word 2003. We will use the data list created in the Excel: Lists class to merge into Word documents. Take this class after taking Word: Introduction to Word Processing or if you are already familiar with Microsoft Word. We have a handout for Word 2007 and can answer questions.

Powerpoint
Create dynamic presentations with PowerPoint 2003. Learn to insert slides, add text, graphics, transitions and animations. We have a handout for PowerPoint 2007 and can answer questions.

Winway Resume Writing
Learn to create professional-looking resumes with WinWay Resume Deluxe which is a simple to use program also used at the Topeka Workforce Center.Click here to see handout.

Get It Now! Free Downloadable Media at Your Library
Learn how to checkout, download and play e-audiobooks, music and even movies on your computer or portable media device. See a demonstration of NetLibrary and Overdrive services. Students will practice hands-on with both services. Note: Apple computers, iPods and Zunes are now supported by Overdrive but not by NetLibrary.

Drop-in
Practice new computer skills, learn to use a mouse or get a little help with computer problems. Also, this is a good time to learn more advanced techniques or to work on job applications and resumes. Come and go anytime during the session. Registration is not required. Drop-Ins are held on most Tuesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm and at least one Saturday a month. Check the Computer Training Calendar for specific dates and times.

What’s happening at your library?

2009-05-28T20:24:05+00:00

Read the June July 2009 connectnow magazine online or pick up a copy of the current issue at the library.

Summerfest summer reading activities and reading programs are available for children, teens and adults.

connectnow contains the monthly schedule of events including children's and adult programs, film series, business and gallery programs, computer training classes and the bookmobile schedule.

What’s happening at your library?

2009-04-29T20:11:39+00:00

Read the May 2009 connectnow magazine online or pick up a copy of the current issue at the library.

connectnow contains the monthly schedule of events including children's and adult programs, film series, business and gallery programs, computer training classes and the bookmobile schedule.

Want to attend Friday Night Trivia @ your library?

2009-04-23T17:10:46+00:00

A few open tables are available at Trivia Night @ Your Library this Friday night April 24th, 6:30–9:00 pm, Marvin Auditorium

Call 785-580-4540 to reserve a table for your team.

Enter as a team of 5-8 and work together to answer 100 questions from 10 categories. Top teams will receive prizes! Doors open at 6 pm. The Millennium Café will be open for snacks and drinks until 6:45 pm. Registration required.

And, if Friday night is full, try our Afternoon Trivia @ Your Library
A repeat of the popular Friday Trivia Night program. Enter as a team of 5-8 and work together to answer 100 questions from 10 categories. Top teams will receive prizes! Doors open at 2:30 pm. The Millennium Café will be open for snacks and drinks. Registration required.
Marvin Auditorium
Sat Apr 25
3:00–5:30 pm

Please call 785-580-4540 to register your team.

Love Trivia Night? Organize your own event!

2009-04-07T16:52:22+00:00

Trivia Night @ your library is a popular program in which teams compete against each other in answering questions from various topics to win prizes. This family event is formatted so that all ages will enjoy participating. The event is designed so that teams will benefit from including older and younger team members with unique knowledge of all things trivial. Community members choose their own teams of 5 to 8 people. From working together on tough questions to joking with other teams, team members bond with each other and other teams to create a fun, stimulating environment filled with friendly competition. Everyone has fun at Trivia Night!

One of the most frequent suggestions I hear about Trivia Night is "have it more often." Since trivia is just one of many components of my job as a librarian, I am instead sharing some basic intructions on how you can organize and host your own trivia event. I'll even share some of our trivia questions to help get you started (please email Lissa to request the questions.)

Do-It-Yourself Trivia Night Instructions (8 pages, PDF)

Sample Trivia Answer Sheets, Rules, and Scoring Spreadsheets (3 pages, PDF)

What’s happening at your library?

2009-04-01T20:20:00+00:00

Read the April 2009 connectnow magazine online or pick up a copy of the current issue at the library.

connectnow contains the monthly schedule of events including children's and adult programs, film series, business and gallery programs, computer training classes and the bookmobile schedule.