Join us this Saturday, December 15th from 2:00p.m.-3:30p.m. for a candy making extravaganza! Cathy Yavorchak, our own seasoned sweets specialist will be sharing some of her very own recipes! We’ll be dipping and drizzling chocolaty peanut buttery mixtures, and making barks and molds. Teens will each make treats to take home. Bon Appetit! Please call 823-0156, extension 217 to register.
The Date for the Teen Media Club Holiday Party will be Thursday, December 20th, 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. We'll enjoy some holiday refreshments, watch a festive holiday film, and discuss some plans for the new year. Please join us; new members are always welcome!
Congratulations to Danica and Tommy Cooper, who have been chosen to participate in the United Nations "Youth Peacebuilder" program in New York. They will be meeting with UN Delegates on December 9th and 10th!
The Harry Potter Discussion Group had its first meeting this week on Wednesday, November 28th. The Group has decided to meet next on Wednesday, December 19th, and then after that they'll meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month. New members are always welcome!
The Teen Media Club will meet Thursday, November 29th. We will be reading Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw. We'll need to decide on a date for the next teen movie night, when we'll watch My Fair Lady, the Christmas Day 1964 released musical film adaptation directed by George Cukor and starring Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison.
Looking for fun during Christmas break? Come meet new people and compete in our online computer gaming tournament! It will take place Wednesday, December 26th through Saturday, December 29th . Sign in and out, keep track of your scores, and we’ll have prizes for the highest scores in each game! Call 823-0156, extension 217.
Join us on December 15th from 2:00p.m.-3:30p.m. for a candy making extravaganza! Cathy Yavorchak, our own seasoned sweets specialist will be sharing some of her very own recipes! We’ll be dipping and drizzling chocolaty peanut buttery mixtures, and making barks and molds. Teens will each make a bag of treats to take home. Bon Appetit! Please call 823-0156, extension 217 to register.
The Osterhout Free Library will host a two-part, American Red Cross Teen Babysitting Course on Saturday, December 1st and Saturday, December 8th from 9:00a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students will be taught by a Red Cross Instructor and will receive a wallet-sized certification card and certificate upon completion. $40.00. Course materials are included. Teens ages 11-18 only. Please call to register by Wednesday, November 27th (570) 823-0156, extension 217.
The Youth Services Department would like to thank Teen Advisory Board Members Amy Molitoris, Kayla Raniero, and Thomas Williams for creating the "Listen Up!" bulletin board in the teen area. We've already gotten quite a few recommendations, and it looks great!
So the votes for the Movie Night /Media Club meeting were unanimous...It will be Tuesday, November 13th from 5:30p.m. until 8:00 p.m. See you all there for "Supersize Me!"
Our theme for November is 'Fast Food,' and we will watch "Supersize Me!" and discuss Eric Schlesser's Fast Food Nation and "Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food." We need your imput to set a date. Please vote on the poll above.
The Teens at the Osterhout Free Library will be Celebrating Harvest and Halloween time during "Hor-Teen-Culture!" Wednesday, October 24th, 6p.m.-8:00p.m. We will be carving pumpkins, doing a seed estimate experiment, hearing a talk from farmer Susan Yeager, and making fresh Bruschetta. Please call 823-0156, Extension 217 to register.
Please help us brainstorm for Program Ideas!
We want to offer the best and most interesting programs for Wilkes-Barre Area Teenagers, and the best way to know what you want is to ask you straight up! So join us Wednesday evening; there will be surveys to fill out, a roundtable discussion, light refreshments, and new people to meet and greet!
Wednesday, September 26th 6:30pm-8pm.
Need an extra hour or two to finish homework, check email, or just surf the world wide web? The Gates Lab will be open for free access this fall on Monday and Thursday Nights from 5pm-8pm, and Saturday afternoons from 1pm-4pm.
Headphones, printing, and online games are available!
Hello! We will have Teen Movie night this coming Thursday, September 20th followed by the Media club meeting. The movie will be SpaceBalls (by popular vote). We will meet in the Gates Lab from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Don't forget to bring your favorite CD to discuss after the movie! Hope to see you there!
Shawna Teer from Circulation to our department! Shawna previously worked for the Osterhout's Circulation department. She is now the Youth Services Teen Specialist! Shawna will join us for Teen Movie Night and Media Club this coming Thursday! Welcome! We're glad you're here!
Story telling day at the Farmer's Market is July 11th at 10:30-12. We need 1-2 volunteers to help read to young children and hand out flyers. Please call us at 823-0156 ext. 217 if you are interested or would like more information. Thanks!
The next open mic will be Tuesday, July 24, 2007 from 6-8:00 p.m. in the Reading Room! Hope to see you there!
Thank you to all who participated and/or helped out with Open Mic! It went really well! We are planning to do open mic once a month so get ready for July! Announcements will be made through the blog and through our mailing list.
While I cannot disclose names (some participants were minors, obviously and I would need parental consent to post their names/performances) I encourage you to post your contributions so that others can see what open mic is all about! I can give you a brief rundown of the types of performances that took place:
We had a singer/songwriter/guitarist play her originals
a collection of poems from various participants
performing to a music CD
a cappella singing
softball songs; camp songs
and more...
I'll go ahead and post my own poem to get the creativity flowing on the blog; please feel free to post!
Seeds of Strength
by Rachael J. Goetzke
Uproot the tree
Though it may seem to whither
It has left its seeds in healing
Passing life on through its love.
Every smile an echo of where great spirit trees have stood.
Healing showers will rain down;
The promise of healing--above.
Deep within, the seedlings sprout
Love grows from the healing;
Every endless echo laughs.
Bittersweet memories rain down.
These trees may have fallen
But the seedlings strong will grow.
The joy of their lives,
Our seeds of strength
Lead us strong into tomorrow.
In loving memory of the “fallen trees” from Virginia Tech
Dedicated to Ryan “Stack” Clark and all those who loved him.
Thanks to everyone for a great open mic!
Wondering what to do over the summer?
Stuck inside and the heat's a bummer?
Don't be sad!
There's something you might overlook.
Why, you could spend your summer in a book!
...or two, or three, or four!
As soon as you read them all, you can come back for more!
Just think of all the wonderful things you'll find
If you keep your local library in mind!
~Rachael J. Goetzke
(written 6/19/07)
Do you have any original work you'd like highlighted on our blog? Just leave us a comment and we'll get it posted!
Vote for your favorite movies and the winners will be spotlighted during our summer teen movie nights!
Vote often to improve your movie’s chance of winning!
Live Homework Help is a free tutoring service for all Luzerne County Library System card holders. Live Homework Help offers help for students 4th grade through college introduction level in subjects such as math, english, science, and social studies. Log on between 3 and 10 p.m. Make sure you have your library card handy!
Try it out by clicking on the logo below: 
Preschoolers!, Toddlers!, Infants!, Oh My!
Come meet new friends at the Osterhout Free Library's Me & My Grownup social hour on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. We'll have lots of fun toys and a craft to make!
To register call 570-823-0156 ext 217 or email- yservices@osterhout.lib.pa.us
Hope to see you there!
While the calendar says spring but the temperature still says winter, enjoy a little spring fun on the internet.
Check out the following links on spring actvities:
Flower Garden to grow a wealth of bright colorful flowers.
Spring Games to pass the time till the weather gets warmer.
Spring Crafts and Games to decorate your house.
If you come across some more let us know to share with others.
Don't miss out on these great activities in the month of March. To keep up to date on the latest happenings join our mailing list!
LAPTOTTS ( Learning Assisted by Parents and Teachers on Technology for Tots) for children ages 2-5 and their parents/caregivers. Register by calling 823-0156 ext. 217.
Thursday, March 8, 2007 @ 2:00– 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, March 22, 2007 @ 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Monday, March 26, 2007 @ 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Teen Computer Workshop- Urban Legends
You just got an e-mail that made you think, “Whoah! I had no idea! I have to forward this to all my friends, right now!” No, don’t do it! It just might be an urban legend. Believe it or not, there’s no lead in your sister’s lipstick, you won’t earn cash just for forwarding a Microsoft or AOL test message, and 13-year-old Ashley Flores never went missing from Philadelphia or anywhere else. Come learn how to check the facts on these fascinating e-mail messages, find out where urban legends get their start, and talk about why they just keep going even when they’re false. March 24, 2007, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Call (570) 823-0156 Ext. 217 to register.
Teen Book Club meets weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. Register by calling 823-0156 ext. 217 or emailing edavis@osterhout.lib.pa.us
Teen Poetry Club meets weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. to share original poetry. New members always welcome! Call (570) 823-0156 Ext. 217 for more information or to register.
Suzanne Bloom- author of A Splendid Friend, Indeed will be visiting the library on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. Come meet this award winning children’s author. Call to register (570) 823-0156 Ext. 217
Design a Library Card Program- Come design your dream library card to be entered in Luzerne County Library System Children’s Library Card Design Competition.
Entry blanks are available at any Luzerne County Library System library and are due by Friday, March 23rd by 5:00 p.m. Click Here for an entry blank to print at home!
Come help celebrate the Cat in the Hat’s 50th birthday! We’ll read the classic, make hats and enjoy some birthday snacks! For all Cat in the Hat Fans!
Call the libary at 570-823-0156 ext. 217 to register. Can't wait to see you there!
Teen Book Club starts this Wednesday, February 21st at 6:00 p.m. There's still time to sign up or just stop by to say hi! Don't miss your chance to talk about your favorite books and have some snacks. We'll talk about the opportunity to write reviews for the library's blog!
Email Elizabeth at edavis@osterhout.lib.pa.us for more information or to register!
Don't miss your chance to share your favorite book or complain about that book you're reading for class!
The Teen Book Club will begin on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 6:00-7:00 p.m.
We will meet weekly and have snacks! Come meet new friends and share your love of reading.
The Osterhout Free Library will be opening at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 2, 2007 and close at the regular 5:00 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Stop by the Youth Services Department to make your own Flat Traveler!! Join us as we send our Flat Travelers off on their international library adventure!! Return your traveler by February 1, 2007 for departure. In March, join us to celebrate their exciting return at our Welcome Back Party. Date to be announced.
"Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), American clergyman and Nobel Prize winner, one of the principal leaders of the American civil rights movement and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. King’s challenges to segregation and racial discrimination in the 1950s and 1960s helped convince many white Americans to support the cause of civil rights in the United States. After his assassination in 1968, King became a symbol of protest in the struggle for racial justice." (click here to continue reading this MSN Encarta article)
For more information on this imporant American citizen take a look at these links:
Fact Monster: Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/mlkjrday1.html
Time for Kids:
http://www.timeforkids.com/
The Seattle Times: Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/mlk/king/speeches.html
National Historic Site: Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www.nps.gov/malu/
Martin Luther King, Jr. Word Search
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/word-finds/martin-luther-king-jr-wordfind.html
PBS American Experience: Citizen King
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/mlk/
Nobel Peace Prize 1964: Martin Luther King, Jr
http://www.nobel.se/peace/laureates/1964/
Timeline of the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/taverna/98/king.htm
Martin Luther King, Jr. Via the History Channel
http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=213854
Don't miss out on all the fun at the library this month!
To Register for any of these programs please call 823-0156 Ext. 217
Story time At Home- Attend our one hour literacy workshop on how to re-create library story time at home. We will review early literacy skills and tricks to make reading to your child fun and
educational. Parents/Grandparents/Caregivers/ Child Care providers are welcome. Children
welcome to attend.
Birth-2 Year Olds– Wednesday, January 17 @
Saturday, January 20 @
2-3 Year Olds– Wednesday, January 24 @
LAPTOTTS-The Osterhout Free Library is pleased to announce the new Winter Schedule for the Verizon Reads LAPTOTTS ( Learning Assisted by Parents and Teachers on Technology for Tots) for children ages 2-5 and their parents/caregivers.
Verizon Reads Computer Workshops for Kids- The Osterhout Free Library is providing computer workshops for children ages 6-11. We will have playful computer activities including the internet.
Preschool Storytime– Children participate in songs, stories, fingerplays, a craft project, and see a film! Kindergarten readiness skills are introduced at each session for four weeks.
Registration begins January 29, 2007 at 8:30 a.m.
Schedule:
Wednesdays, February 7-28 from 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, February 7-28 from 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Saturdays, February 10-March 3 from 10:00- 10:45 a.m.
Otaku Anime Group Meeting: Come join us to discuss your favorite Anime. Bring Anime books and talk about why you like Anime. Light refreshments will be served. Meets monthly,
Teen Poetry Workshop: Come share your writing with Jim Warner of
Not Your Grandma’s Term Paper: Cut your homework time in half by learning how to use your computer efficiently to write a research paper. Find citable sources from your desktop, paste with keystrokes, organize electronically, add your own ideas, toss it all in your own custom template and violá! Research paper! You can even make Word do some of your typing for you! Note: You will NOT need 3x5 index cards, pencils or papers for this activity.
Teen Babysitting Course: Earn your American Red Cross certification and get ready to earn some money! Two-part course for babysitters ages 11-18. Tuition of $40, payable to the American Red Cross, is due at the library by January 26. Classes will be held on February 3 and 10, 2007 at
Here is the Storytime Schedule for Winter 2007:
Preschool Storytime (ages 3½-5)
Wednesdays, February 7-28 from 10:45-11:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, February 7-28 from 2:00-2:45 p.m.
Saturdays, February 10-March 3 from 10:00-10:45 a.m.
Register beginning Monday, January 29 at 8:30 a.m.
Infant Storytime (ages birth-2)
Wednesdays, March 7-28 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, March 7-28 from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Register beginning Monday, February 19 at 8:30 a.m.
Books & Babies (ages 1-3)
Tuesdays, March 13-April 3 from 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Register beginning Monday, February 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Toddler Storytime (ages 2-3½)
Wednesdays, April 11-May 2 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays, April 11-May 2 from 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Saturdays, April 14-May 5 from 10:00-10:30 a.m.
Register beginning Monday, March 26 at 8:30 a.m.
Please call the Youth Services Desk at 823-0156 Ext. 217 to register.
All programs will be held at the
Osterhout Free Library, 71 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
www.osterhout.lib.pa.us
