Congratulations to Mileah, Bryan, and Amanda for their 6-word life stories! They have all won $20 gift cards to a store of their choice!

Here are their stories:

Mileah:

Touch the gorgeous, find your destiny

Bryan:

Just another brick in the wall

Amanda:

Simplicity is upon the broken heart

Teen Tech Week

Learn, Create, Share @ Your Library

March 7-13

Check out all of the ways you could win prizes during Teen Tech Week at Bemis Library! Winners will get to select a gift card from a variety of cool stores.

6-Word Life Story: Can you describe your life in only 6 words? Give it a shot and you might win a prize! Submit your best story to me via email at mdecker@littletongov.org or by dropping it in the box labeled "6-Word Life Story" located in the teen area at the library. Make sure you include your contact information (phone # or email address). Not only will the best story win a prize, but I'll also publish the story here! Good luck!

Book/Game reviews: Write a killer review about a book or game you think other teens would like. Make sure your review is family friendly. I'll post the best reviews here.

Web Scavenger Hunt: Follow these steps and you could win a prize! First person to send me the correct answer will win--good luck! You will need your library card, including your PIN (if you don't remember your PIN, call the library at 303-795-3961 to get it).
1. Go the library's homepage at www.littletongov.org/bemis or http://bemis.sirsi.net/
2. Find the link from the online catalog for "databases/websites" (select the "adult/teen" selection once you click on the databases link)
3. Find the "Encyclopedias and Biographies" subject heading
4. Select the "Biography Resource Center"
5. Choose the Biography Resource Center product from the list
6. Enter the name "Rick Riordan" in the search box
7. There should be 2 entries listed; click the link for the first one
8. You should see an entry that gives a short biography. At the top of the biography, some information is listed, including the SOURCE of the information in the biography
9. What is the name and volume # of the source for this article on Rick Riordan? The first person to email me the correct answer wins!

Stop-Motion Animation video:
Create a short video and upload it to YouTube. Send me the link at mdecker@littletongov.org

Here are some websites that can help you create your video:

http://www.stopmotioncentral.com/

www.youtube.com/user/NathanWells

http://stopmotionanimation.com/ the "links" section has some great links to tons of web-sites that can help you.

http://scratch.mit.edu/ has some cool examples of videos plus other info. Use the search feature on the site to find "stop-motion" links

Email Mark with your entries or questions at mdecker@littletongov.org

Teen Tech Week is March 7-13!

Learn, Create, Share @ your Library is the theme.

There will be contests/activities all week, including:

6-Word Life Story
Can you describe your life story in only 6 words? Give it a shot! Submit your best story to me @ mdecker@littletongov.org or by dropping your submission in the drop box located at Bemis Library in Teen Central by 3/13. Make sure you include your name and contact information (phone# or email address). Not only will the best story win a prize, but I'll also publish your story on this blog!

Book/Game reviews
Have you read a book lately that you loved? Write a killer review and send it to me by 3/13. I'll publish the best reviews here and on a handout to be distributed at the library. Make sure your review is FAMILY FRIENDLY! I'll also take reviews for PS2, Wii, or X-Box360 games you've played and loved.

Web Scavenger Hunt
Check back here for details next week. You'll be using the library's online resources to answer a question or two. First person to email me the correct answer will win a prize!

Stop-Motion Animation Video
I'll be providing some links to web-sites that give you tips for creating a stop-motion animation video. Make your best video, submit it to YouTube, provide me the link, and you might win a prize!

Teen Tech Week is Coming! March 7 - March 13

Check back here next week for more details on how you can WIN PRIZES by participating in any of the following programs:

6-word life story--write a creative life story using only 6 words

Great game or book reviews--write a killer review and see it published here!

Web Scavenger Hunt--use the library's online resources to solve a puzzle--be the first to figure it out and win a prize

Create a stop-motion video and upload it to youtube.com Best video wins! I'll have links to some stop-motion animation help sites here soon to help you make your video.

Send me an email at mdecker@littletongov.org if you have any questions.

Teen Photography Contest

Make Waves @ your Library
Submit your best photo that expresses the theme Make Waves @ your Library by Monday, March 15. Make sure to include the name of your photo with your submission. The winning photos from two age groups, middle school/junior high, and high school, will be published on a library bookmark to be given out for the teen summer reading program. For more information, or to submit your photo, contact Mark, the teen librarian, at 303-795-3961 or email me at mdecker@littletongov.org

Don't miss the teen movie that's showing on Saturday, 1/16 @ 2:00!

We'll be watching Battle for Terra on the big screen.

When the peaceful inhabitants of the planet Terra come under attack from humans in search of a new home, the friendship between a human pilot and an alien girl may hold the key to saving both races.

Rated PG.

Free popcorn and lemonade will be provided.

MORE VIDEO GAMES ARE ON THE WAY!

We are now going to carry xbox 360 games as well as Wii and PS2. With the new games being available tomorrow (12/18), we'll have around 20 titles for each platform.

The games check out for 1 week and can be renewed once. You can also place holds on titles if they're checked out.

Send me an email if there's a title you'd like me to purchase (as long as it's rated "T" or lower) at mdecker@littletongov.org

Don't forget we also have teen Wii every 3rd Thursday at 3:30 where we play games on the big screen. Come check it out!

Are you all ready for the new Twilight movie "New Moon" set to open on November 20? Here's a link to the official movie site: http://www.twilightthemovie.com/

While you're waiting to see the film, come into the library and check out some other books featuring creatures of the night!

You might enjoy:

The Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. The first book, The Summoning, introduces Chloe, a 15-year-old girl who sees ghosts and is sent to a special home for disturbed kids--she soon discovers that the teens at the home are not what they seem...

The Night World series by L.J. Smith, which describes the lives of the vampires, werewolves, witches, and shape-shifters that secretly live among us.

The Immortals series by Alyson Noel. The first book, Evermore, introduces 16-year old Ever, who can see auras and hear other people's thoughts.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. 15-year old Nina is part of a support group for vampires where nothing much happens until one of the members is murdered. The vampires in this funny adventure mystery aren't sexy and superhuman--they're dead, after all, which means they smell and get VERY bored after years of the same old conversations...

I've got a HUGE list of other books, just ask for the BOOKS WITH BITE list at the information desk--or look in the bibliography notebook on the wall near the teen fiction.

Feel free to email me if you'd like some more "creature of the night" suggestions!

mdecker@littletongov.org

WEEK 9 The CHAMPIONSHIP!

Last week's winner was...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Cast your vote in this final battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing Mark at mdecker@littletongov.org

This week's battle is the FINAL BATTLE! I will announce the winning title on Monday, October 19th during TEEN READ WEEK.

Eragon
by Christopher Paolini

VS

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
by J.K. Rowling

WEEK 8 The Finals Continue!

Last week's winner was...Eragon!

The winner of this week's battle will compete against Eragon in the final battle next week.

Cast your vote in this week's battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing Mark at mdecker@littletongov.org

Stay tuned here to find out which book wins this week's battle!

This week's BATTLE (the battle between authors with initials instead of first names):

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
by J.K. Rowling

VS

Voyage of the Dawn Treader
by C.S. Lewis

WEEK 7 The FINALS begin NOW!

Last week's winners were: Eragon; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Inkheart; Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

From now on, there will be only 1 battle each week until we find out which title is the BEST TEEN BOOK!

Cast your vote by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me your vote at mdecker@littletongov.org

Stay tuned to find out which title will win!

This week's BATTLE

ERAGON
by Christopher Paolini
VS
Inkheart
by Cornelia Funke

Week 6--The PLAYOFFS Begin NOW!

Last week's winners were: Inkheart; Number the Stars; The Lightning Thief; and Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

All of the winners from previous battles will now be competing against one another!

There are 4 battles this week, with 2 books in each of the battles.

Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle. If you haven't read at least one of the books in the battle, please don't vote in that battle!

I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

Battle #1
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
By Jules Verne
VS
Eragon
By Christopher Paolini

Battle #2
Goose Girl
By Shannon Hale
VS
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
By J.K. Rowling

Battle #3
Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan
VS
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
By C.S. Lewis

Battle #4
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
VS
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry

Week 5--The Semi-Finals--Round 2 Begins NOW!

Last week's winners were: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Eragon; Goose Girl; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

All of the winners from previous battles will now be competing against one another!

There are 4 battles this week, with 2 books in each of the battles.

Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle. If you haven't read at least one of the books in the battle, please don't vote in that battle!

I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

Battle #1
Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
VS
Maximum Ride:
The Angel Experiment
By James Patterson

Battle #2
Number the Stars
By Lois Lowry
VS
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen

Battle #3
Lightning Thief
By Rick Riordan
VS
Twilight
By Stephenie Meyer

Battle #4
Two Princesses of Bamarre
By Gail Carson
Levine
VS
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
By C.S. Lewis

Week 4--The Semi-Finals--begin NOW!

Last week's winners were: Eragon; Fablehaven (tie); Goose Girl (tie); Hatchet; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

All of the winners from previous battles will now be competing against one another!

There are 4 battles this week, with 2 books in each of the battles. Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle. If you haven't read at least one of the books in the battle, please don't vote in that battle!

I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

Battle #1
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
By Jules Verne
VS
Angel’s Command
By Brian Jacques

Battle #2
Eragon
By Christopher Paolini
VS
Bloody Jack
By L.A. Meyer

Battle #3
Goose Girl
By Shannon Hale
VS
Fablehaven
By Brandon Mull

Battle #4
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
By J.K. Rowling
VS
Hatchet
By Gary Paulsen

The Battles Continue!

The winners from last week were: Inkheart; Angel’s Command; Number the Stars; Bloody Jack; The Lightning Thief. These titles will show up again in future battles...

Week 3 Battles Begin NOW!There are 5 battles this week, with multiple books in each of the battles. Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle. If you haven't read at least one of the books in the battle, please don't vote in that battle! I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

Battle #1
Ender’s Game
By Orson Scott-Card
VS
So You Want to be a Wizard
By Diane Duane
VS
Eragon
By Christopher Paolini
VS
Stormbreaker
By Anthony Horowitz

Battle #2
Fablehaven
By Brandon Mull
VS
The Falconer’s Knot
By Mary Hoffman
VS
Goose Girl
By Shannon Hale
VS
Life as We Knew It
By Susan Pfeffer

Battle #3
House of the Scorpion
By Nancy Farmer
VS
The Naming
By Alison Croggon
VS
Hatchet
By Gary Paulsen

Battle #4
The Silenced
By James Devita
VS
Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
VS
The Two Princesses of Bamarre
By Gail Carson Levine

Battle #5
Left Behind
By Dennis Lehaye
VS
Vampire Kisses
By Ellen Schreiber
VS
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
By C.S. Lewis

The Battles Continue! The winners from last week were: Goblet of Fire; Twilight; Pride & Prejudice; 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; Maximum Ride. These titles will show up again in future battles...

Week 2 Battles Begin NOW!

There are 5 battles this week, with multiple books in each of the battles. Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle. If you haven't read at least one of the books in the battle, please don't vote in that battle! I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

BATTLE #1 (4 titles in this battle)
A Long Way Down By Nick Hornby VS Midnighters: the Secret Hour By Scott Westerfeld VS Inkheart By Cornelia Funke VS Evil Star By Anthony Horowitz

BATTLE #2 (4 titles in this battle)
Angel’s Command By Brian Jacques VS Nobody’s Princess By Esther Friesner VS Talent By Zoey Dean VS My Fair Godmother By Janette Rallison

BATTLE #3 (3 titles in this battle)
As Simple as Snow By Gregory Galloway VS Number the Stars By Lois Lowry
VS Wild Magic By Tamora Pierce

BATTLE #4 (3 titles in this battle)
Bloody Jack By L.A. Meyer VS Piccolo, the Grey Robe By Robin Ambrozic
VS The Mysterious Benedict Society By Trenton Stewart

BATTLE #5 (3 titles in this battle)
Tales of Beedle the Bard By J.K. Rowling VS Silverfin By James Higson VS The Lightning Thief By Rick Riordan

Bemis Teen Battle for the Best Book

Let the voting begin!

As there were more than 70 books nominated, we're going to have multiple battles each week instead of just one. There are 5 battles this week, with multiple books in a couple of the battles.

Cast your vote for 1 book from each battle by filling out a voting slip in the library or by emailing me with your votes at mdecker@littletongov.org

Remember, only vote for 1 title in EACH battle.

If you haven't read at least one of the books, please don't vote!

I'll update which books are battling each week here, so keep checking back!

BATTLE #1 Every Harry Potter book was nominated, so vote for your favorite! (Sorcerer's Stone; Chamber of Secrets; Prisoner of Azkaban; Goblet of Fire; Order of the Phoenix; Half Blood Prince; Deathly Hallows)

BATTLE #2 All of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series was nominated, so vote for your favorite! (Twilight; New Moon; Eclipse; Breaking Dawn)

BATTLE #3 Emma by Jane Austen VS Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

BATTLE #4 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne VS The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

BATTLE #5 100 Cupboards by Nathan Wilson VS Maximum Ride: the Angel Experiment by James Patterson

The Bemis Teen Battle for the Best Book has started! Nominate a title and get your name entered in a prize drawing. Make sure the book is a "teen" read! You can nominate a book by filling out a slip in the library or by emailing me with your name & phone#, book title & author.

Once I've got a enough books nominated, I'll start pitting the nominated books against each other in a "battle" each week. The book that gets the most votes stays in the competition--the loser is removed. The book that ends up winning the competition will be announced in October. Check back here to see which books are battling! Battles should begin next week.

Vote for your favorites by emailing me: mdecker@littletongov.org

Check out the finalists in the

Bemis Library Most Talented Teen Contest!

Come watch them perform at the

Bemis Library

on

Wednesday, July 15th at 7:00 p.m.

Help vote on who is the most talented teen!

One lucky winner in each age category will take home a savings bond from the

Colorado Business Bank.

The contestants in the middle school category are:

Nicholas, who sings

Ana and Ari, who sing and dance

Graeson, who plays the violin

Caitlin, who sings

Janeen, who sings

The contestants in the high school category are:

Khiemberly, who sings

Iona, who dances

Sara, who sings

Kalynn, who sings and dances

Camilla, who plays piano and sings

Hey all!

Check out this poem emailed to me and written by a teen named Justin--great stuff!

Inside me lives
The wolf, the raven, the fox,
Cleverest animals of them all,
Caged like common zoo animals and
Howling, cawing, barking to be
Let free.

Inside me lives
A flowing, peaceful creek,
Carrying ideas, inspiration, words
To my pen,
Occasionally bended by rocks, branches,
And the litter of common folk.

Inside me lives
An eleven year old Harry Potter,
Treated non-existent by family,
And trying to find his place in
The world.

Inside me lives
An amazing magician,
Making wonders and wowing people
With deception, Illusion, mirrors.
A magician never tells.

Inside me lives
A locked box containing my heart,
To which few have the key
And even fewer know about,
Concealed behind a veil of
Sarcasm, rebellion, and indifference.

Inside me lives
A child, an adult
A killer, a hero
A wiseman and a fool.
Inside me lives....
Me.
And inside me I'll stay.