Read a book.  Win food.  How could  it be easier?

So far, we’ve picked three winners in our Teen Summer Reading Club.  Each has won a $10 gift card to delicious Panera.   Read a book, fill out a entry and try your luck.

Past Winners:

Jeanette J.

Mansi S.

Jennifer B.

Twilight. 2nd Floor. Storytime Room. July 30. 6:30 PM.

We’re luring you into our lair like a vampire (helpful hint: if you don’t picture our lair as the library and don’t picture the vampire as a librarian the image is a little more edgy).

Anyone coming to the movie will be given ballots to enter into the end-of-the-Summer Reading Club raffle for $15.00 Panera cards on August 3.

Hi! So I was wondering if any teens wanted to do a book discussion this summer. We would meet at the library but the event would been teen run. All we really need is to pick a book, read it and then talk about what we liked/disliked about it. Just wondering if anyone would be interested and what book you would want to read. Let me know!

Looking for something to do in Des Plaines tonight? Stop by Maine West High School and take part in Relay for Life! Over 25 teams will be walking the track to remember those we’ve lost from cancer and celebrate our surviors. There’s also going to be fun games for kids, a raffle, excellent music, and tasty treats! So stop by!

Hey,

I am in the process of testing a new piece of library software called WorldCat Local. You use it to look up books, DVDs, etc. Some people involved with the product have given us money we can use to give GIFTS to people who test it for us. It’s important to me that, whether we buy this product or not, we hear from our teens about what they think is important in a library “catalog.” So…I would love to have two teen volunteers. The testing has to be done within the next few weeks, preferably some time next week (June 29-July 3). The test itself takes about 1.5-2 hours. You have to come to the library and basically do some searches in the catalog, while I ask you your opinions on how the searching works. You do that, then fill in an email questionnaire. Your reward? Each volunteer is going to receive a $100 gift card – and because I know you’re feeling cranky about the lack of extra teen stuff this summer, I will even allow you to choose what kind of card you want – Best Buy, Apple store, gas card, book store, clothes store, movie passes, wherever.

But – this is first come, first served. So, first two teens who email me at kmcbride@dppl.org get the opportunity.

You must be: between 14-20 years of age, and you must have a current Des Plaines Public Library card – no fibbing. You will have to bring an ID to the testing to prove you are who you say you are. Email me today and if you get the gift card, happy shopping.

OK, so maybe you’re not thinking about college because it’s June and who wants to think about school? But we’re having two great college prep programs in July conducted by Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions.

The first is a combination ACT/SAT practice test. These aren’t the complete tests; just enough to demonstrate the difference. If you’re thinking of applying to any of the “Big 10″ schools, you may want to take the SAT as well as the ACT.

The second program is a workshop – really a sort of Q & A session about which schools want to see the SAT scores and other advantages to taking the SAT. If you’re beyond all this tell a younger friend or sibling!

• ACT/SAT Combo Test
• 7/11/09
• 9 AM – 1 PM

• ACT vs SAT Workshop (parents are welcome)
• 7/14/09
• 7 – 9 PM

I know everybody is missing Cheryl (although she’s still around, just busy with a younger audience these days), but some teen events have been planned for July, so don’t give up on us. Can you believe it’s almost the middle of June? I wish it would get warm already! (Doesn’t have to be sunny for me – just warm)

July events for teens:

• Wii Game Night
• 7/2/2009
• 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

• Teen Movie: Iron Man
• 7/16/2009
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM

• Bangles & Beads program
• 7/29/2009
• 7 – 9 PM

• Wii Game Night
• 7/30/2009
• 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Please come to these so we know what you like, don’t like. There’s a teen events/programs page on our Web site: http://www.dppl.org/teen/library_events.html with a live RSS feed from our calendar. We consider teens to be adults, so you’ll find some adult events there, too.

Hey, I know some people might still have finals coming up, but that’s no excuse for missing the Taste of DP. I bet there will be tons of DEEP-FRIED things to eat, very unhealthy soft drinks, and, well, musical entertainment by bands performing songs that all of you are too young to remember. Ahem. But, it’s also a fun place to hang out, right in the middle of downtown DP on Library Plaza. I love going to community events because you run into a zillion people you know and can reconnect, reminisce, whatever. Have you been to the Taste before? What’s the best thing? Worst thing?

Sorry for the long time between posts! What’s the number one thing you’re looking forward to most this summer? For me, it’s the new Harry Potter movie! It cannot come fast enough. What do you want to do most this summer? (Besides participate in the Summer Reading Club?) Comment below!

I just read that the Vampire Diaries books are being adapted into a TV show on the CW. Hmmm… Cashing in on the Twilight mania much?  I guess the Vampire Diaries actually pre-date Twilight. Anyway, has anyone read the books..?