CADL Teen Literary Magazine and Writers Group

Think you’ve got a way with words? Always dreamed of seeing your short story or poetry in print, but just never knew how? Then join CADL’s teen Writers Group at the Downtown Library.

Over the course of three afternoon sessions we’ll discuss topics like brainstorming, the writing process and editing your work. Come with a pen and paper, and be ready to write and read your work.

Then at the end of the summer you can see those stories in print in the CADL Teen Literary Magazine.

But what if you’re not a storyteller? That’s ok too! The literary magazine accepts submissions of all types:

• Photography
• Artwork
• Comics
• Poetry
• Nonfiction

If it can be captured on a page, it could be in print.

Can’t make it out to the workshops? No problem. Your creativity is still wanted! Just send submissions and questions to grayn@cadl.org with Lit Mag somewhere in the subject line.

Important Dates

Writers Workshops (ages 11-18)

Friday, July 3 from 2-4 pm

Wednesday, July 22 from 2-4 pm

Monday, August 3 from 2-4 pm

Submissions accepted until Wednesday, August 5

Launch Party and Reading

Wednesday, August 12 from 6-8 pm (bring your friends and parents!)

Posted by NathanielG

Why Surf When You Can Stumble?

If there is one truth that everyone can be positively certain about, it’s that there is a ton of stuff on the internet. According to the official Google blog from 2008 there are over 1 trillion websites (that’s a 1 followed by 12 zeroes, or 1,000,000,000,000), and that was almost a year ago! With all that clutter it is a wonder people can find anything, let alone viral (by which we mean sites that get known through word of mouth) crazes like the dramatic chipmunk or http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Google attempts to remedy this with lots of techno-crazy algorithms to help identify and slant our searches to display results that we would likely want.  This is great if you’re looking for something specific.

But what happens when you’re looking just to look? All of our search engines are straight-as-an-arrow search-to-results mentality. But what happens when you just want to wander, or stumble? Enter the program “StumbleUpon” (or Stumble).

With just a few quick clicks you can add StumbleUpon to your Firefox browser or access it through any internet.

By selecting a few topics, such as “humor” or “online games” and then pressing the button marked “stumble,” Stumbleupon reaches into an archive of websites tagged by other users and “stumbles” you to random websites about your topic.

But beware, this program is super addicting!

With the promise of so many sites that you’ve never seen before, you’ll be clicking away for hours finding funny videos, and web based games, and lots of other random websites, stumbling your way around the World Wide Web.

If you check this out, let us know what fun websites you find!

Posted by NathanielG

Slash n’ Sew T-shirts

On Tuesday afternoon, June 16, some awesome teen fashionistas met up at the Holt-Delhi Library for a Slash n’ Sew T-shirt program. The girls each brought a bunch of their old shirts to turn into new and fantastic clothing and accessories. Sequins, ribbons and rhinestones finished the fashions. The girls used inspiration from books such as Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt by Megan Nicolay and 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim and Tie Your T-shirt Into Something Special by Faith Blakeney to guide them in their sewing choices. The group ended up with some cool T-shirt transformations, and some great new tote bags. Tons of fun was had by all!

If you are looking to express your creativity this summer, check out some of these programs at the library:

Macramé Jewelry Art (Age 13 and up)*
Holt-Delhi Library
Wednesday, July 1 @ 2 pm
Hemptavist Jolene Fowler will talk about the history of Macramé and the environmental benefits of hemp. Then each participant will have the chance to make a beautiful and unique piece of wearable art. *Registration required by calling (517) 694-9351 ext. 3. Registration opens two weeks prior to program date.

Express Your Creativity Day (Grades 6-12)
Downtown Lansing Library
Monday, July 6 from 2-3 pm
Create a necklace or bracelet. All supplies provided. Registration required by calling (517) 367-6314.

Duct Tape Workshop
Stockbridge Library
Wednesday, July 8 @ 6 pm
College student, duct tape professional and former David Letterman guest William Beacom is back with another great hands-on workshop. Come and get stuck at the library!

Henna Tattoo Workshop
Downtown Lansing Library
Wednesday, July 8 from 2-3 pm
Learn the traditional art of meh’ndi from presenter Anshu Varma. Participants will use natural henna and hand-made applicators to create dramatic temporary tattoos while learning about the culture of India (while supplies last).

Related Books:
Rip It!: How to Deconstruct and Reconstruct the Clothes of Your Dreams by Elissa Meyric.

The ultimate T-shirt book : creating your own unique designs : batik, tie-dye painting, marbling, stamping, screen printing by Deborah Morgenthal.

Posted by LizV and ErinS

Get Creative at the Library!

Summer Reading is going on now. Stop by your local library and pick up your reading log to keep track of your reading time and to earn great prizes.

And don’t forget – CADL has a ton of great programs to keep your creative skills sharp over the summer. Below are just a few of the programs in June for Teens at the library. For a complete list summer events, visit http://www.cadl.org/news/summer09.html.

DANSVILLE
Beginning Quilting (Ages 9-12)
Tuesdays, June 16, 23 & 30 from 2-4 pm
Registration required by calling (517) 623-6511. Held in Dansville Village Hall.

DOWNTOWN LANSING
Graphic Novel Workshop
Wednesday, June 17 from 2-3 pm
Graphic novelists Jane Irwin and Jim Ottaviani will talk about comics—what they are, how they work and how to pull it all together. Author Jim talks about commercially-produced vs. creator-produced comic books, and about producing a workable script. Illustrator Jane describes adding artwork to a script to produce a finished piece. Participants will learn enough to produce a few comic pages of their own.

HOLT-DELHI
Slash and Sew T-shirts (Age 13 & up) *
Tuesday, June 16 @ 4:30 pm
Bring your favorite old T-shirt to the library and turn it into hot new fashion statement. Based on the concepts presented Generation T by Megan Nicolay. Registration required by calling (517) 694-9351 ext. 3.  Registration opens two weeks prior to program date.

LESLIE
Game Night @ the Library
Thursday, June 25 from 6–7:30 pm
Join us for Wii and board game competitions.

WEBBERVILLE
DIY Spa Day (Grades 6-12)
Tuesday, June 16 @ 2 pm
Why drop big bucks on name brand scented soap, bath salts, and other spa products when you can make your own? Come to this hands-on program and leave with your very own scented creation.

WILLIAMSTON
Digital Photography Contest: A Day in the Life of Williamston
What does a day in the life of Williamston look like? Beginning Friday, June 5-Monday, June 22, submit your 8” x 10” photo matted to 11” x 14.” Altered photos will be accepted as well as traditional photography. Library visitors will choose the winning photo and a prize will be awarded on Aug. 5. We will exhibit all the entered photos for the entire summer, and the winning photo will be featured on CADL’s Web site.

Help the Mason Library NAME THAT TUNE!

In a tribute to the classic game show, the Mason Library Teen Activity Club is having a special NAME THAT TUNE event, on Thursday, May 28 from 4-5 PM! Area teens are invited to come and test their music knowledge skills — how fast can YOU identify popular songs? We’ll have prizes and refreshments.

But first, we need your help! If you have any suggestions for songs we should use in the contest, post them below! Who knows … if we use your suggestion, you just might have an advantage!

Boldly go…

Star Trek has always had something of a “geek” image, despite the pop culture appeal of characters like Mr. Spock, and catchphrases like “Beam me up, Scotty.” There’s certainly no denying that Trek seemed on its last legs just a few years ago. The final movies and TV series became less and less successful, leading many to declare that Star Trek was dead.

But that was before J.J. Abrams (creater of Alias, Lost and Fringe) and his partners Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (Transformers) came along. Their new Star Trek movie, which tells the story of how Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, etc. first got together, is getting amazing reviews (it’s 95% fresh at RottenTomatoes) and breaking records at the box office (it’s already the most financially successful Trek film of all time).

You can celebrate the phenomenon by checking out the many great tie-in products available at CADL! First, there’s the comic prequel, Star Trek: Countdown. Then read the novelization by renowned Sci-Fi author Alan Dean Foster (he ghost-wrote the novelization of the original Star Wars, among many, many others) — also available as an audiobook. Finally, there’s the CD soundtrack, featuring the exciting and emotional music of Michael Giacchino.

And of course, all six Star Trek TV series (The Original Series, The Animated Adventures, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and Enterprise) and all ten previous movies (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX & X) are still available … not to mention all the other CDs and novels that have been published over the years! A good starting point might be the new Star Trek Motion Picture Trilogy on DVD and Blu-Ray, featuring newly remastered versions of films II-IV (that’s the one with Khan through the one with the whales).

So happy Trekking! And if you have a reaction to/review of the new film for us, please post it below!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Do you have trouble getting into classics? When your teacher announces the latest required read, do you groan a little? Then this is the book for you. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith is exactly what you might expect. It takes Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, and adds a dash of zombies, ninjas, Shaolin monks, and the Seven Cuts of Shame.

The comedy of manners has never been more fun to read. Follow Elizabeth Bennet as she protects the Vicarage from the embarrassment of her sisters’ flirtations, as well as from the countless hordes of “unmentionables” shuffling through the English countryside.

Read on as the romance unfolds between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, and the mighty pairing they make while dispatching the zombies to the flames of Hell. You’ll get the feel for the classic novel and satisfy your craving for chaos and horror!

If zombies aren’t your cup of English Breakfast tea, try the movie Lost in Austen. This unrated movie is about a young woman named Amanda who trades places with Elizabeth Bennet. Amanda ends up in regency England and Elizabeth comes to the modern day world. The question becomes, will Amanda change the course of Jane Austen’s classic story? And what about Elizabeth, will she be forever changed by living in today?

Both titles are able to be put on hold. Reserve your copy today!

Literature & Lyrics Contest

Help one of 25 lucky Lansing area singers, rappers, musicians or groups win the opportunity to perform at the 10th Annual Common Ground Music Festival, July 6th – 12th. Cast your vote for your favorite performer at www.myspace.com/mycadl. Of the top ten performers with the most votes, one will be chosen by a panel of judges to perform at Common Ground. The winner will be announced Monday, May 25.

To learn more about the Common Ground Music Festival visit: http://www.commongroundfest.com/.

Have you tried Cramster?

If you are heading off to college this fall, Mashable has compiled the 10 must-try social media sites for you. The list includes sites that help you find rides, study help, even a site that pays you to get good grades!

Check out the top 10
Cramster    InternshipRatings.com    Zimride    Box.net   Twitter
Remember the Milk    Gradefund    Evernote    Zumeo   CampusBooks

Haslett Teen Literary Magazine

Interested in what other teens your age are writing, thinking and creating?

Check out the second volume of the Haslett Library’s Teen Literary Magazine published by the Haslett Teen Advisory Board! It is full of poems, short stories, and artwork created by teens in the Haslett area.

This year’s and last year’s Teen Literary Magazine have been added to our eBook collection available through the Michigan Library Consortium. Follow the links below to check out and download a copy today!

 2008

                            2009

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