Food for Fines

If you, or someone in your family, owes the library some money for overdue fines, consider participating in our Food for Fines campaign.  

Starting Sunday, February 9th and ending Saturday, February 15th, you can bring in non-perishable food items (for humans or pets) or paper products (like napkins, plates, cups, etc.) or toiletries (like shampoo, laundry detergent, soap, etc.)  For every item donated, we will reduce your fines by one dollar.  

All items are being donated to Long Island Cares located in Hauppauge.  Together, we can help people who are in need. 

Doodle 4 Google Contest

Students K-12 from across the U.S. are invited to submit their original doodle based on this year’s unique theme, "If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place…”
 

According to Google:

One talented young artist will see his or her artwork on the Google homepage and receive a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 Google for Education technology grant for his or her school. 

To enter the competition simply download the application form, print it, doodle your version of the Google logo based off this year's theme and submit online or by mail.

There will be guest judges for this contest, which includes an astronaut, designers, and authors like Rick Riordan, Mary Pope Osborne, and Lemony Snicket!  Check out the complete list of guest judges.

Get started here at the Doodle4Google official site. Entries are accepted up until March 20, 2014.

Good Luck!

By the way, if you're interested in the history of the Google Doodle, read about it here. 

For some inspiration, check out some of the doodles that have appeared on Google's homepage over the years.  There have been some really cool ones! 

Two Great Books- Two Upcoming Movies

Two awesome books are being made into two (hopefully) awesome movies!  Check out the trailers to these much-anticipated films. 

And just so you know, you still have time to read the books if you haven't already.  It will give you more to talk about after seeing the movie. Impress your friends with your knowledge of how the books and movies compare!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green



Divergent by Veronica Roth

Doctor Who's New Look

As any Doctor Who fan knows, when it's time for a Doctor to regenerate, we get a new face, a new personality, a new energy... and a new fashion sense.  From a celery stalk on a lapel to a multicolored scarf;  from a cape to a leather jacket; from dark rimmed glasses to a stylish fez... the Doctor has been there, done that when it comes to fashion.  And as we recently said goodbye to Matt Smith, we knew we would be saying goodbye to the famous tweed jacket and bow tie ensemble.   

And on this new horizon, we have a stylish outfit to look forward to, as was just revealed today by BBC.  Check it out:

Speaking of his new costume Capaldi said: "He's woven the future from the cloth of the past. Simple, stark, and back to basics. No frills, no scarf, no messing, just 100 per cent Rebel Time Lord."  Read more of the article here.

Ok, Peter Capaldi.  You look good... we're ready!   

Eleanor & Park: the author's soundtrack

If you are one of the many, many people who have read and loved the book Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, then you will indeed appreciate the following.

Both Eleanor and Park are passionate about music and throughout the book readers like myself felt the need to have a soundtrack from all of the musical references. (I kept looking to the back of the book to see if there was a music CD enclosed.  Nope.  Looked again:  Maybe I missed it.  Nope.)  The music Eleanor and Park share with one another is almost like another character itself.  It's that much a part of the story.  

So I looked on the author's site and was so happy to see what was there!  Rainbow Rowell, who is just as passionate as both of her characters are about music, has written one of the greatest blog posts.  She has included songs both from the book as well as songs she played while writing certain scenes.  And even though the story takes place in the 80's, the music she chose to share is not necessarily from that time period. The commentary on the songs explains how each song relates to the book and what she was thinking at the time when she was writing it.  Each entry is well-thought out and deeply moving.  And just like the characters in her book, you can't help but fall in love with the music.

Read Rainbow Rowell's blog post here. 

Local "Teens for Jeans" collection

The South Shore Community Organization, in conjunction with the local high schools of the Town of Islip, are sponsoring a "Teens for Jeans" campaign.  In order to participate, all you have to do is bring a pair of jeans to one of the donation centers. (Hauppauge High School is one of the donation centers!)  Jeans can be new or lightly worn and will be donated to teens struggling with homelessness.  

The collection runs from January 13th- February 14th.  

For more information call 631-277-1365. (South Shore Community Organization)

2014 Teen Video Challenge

Here's a cool contest for creative teens ages 13-18 years old: 

Create a 30-90 second video encouraging teens to use the public library this summer. (It must somehow include the state-wide summer reading theme of "Spark a Reaction.")  You could win $275 for yourself and $125 award for your hometown library as well.  (That's us!)

There are some rules you need to know about- learn about them here. 

All submissions must be received by February 19, 2014 to the library named on your entry form.

Good luck!