Pinelands Library Blog

Last Week in Review - Kid's Programs!

2012-03-05T10:48:00.001-05:00

It was a fun week for kids at the Pinelands Library!

On Monday night, we kicked off the week with Family Movie Night. It was our biggest turnout yet! Everyone got juice and popcorn and laughed all night at this month's feature, 'Puss in Boots'. The library felt just like a real movie theater!

On Wednesday, the kids got crafty and made personalized signs. Some kids chose to do a name sign while others chose to express an interest of theirs. Check out the creativity!

SKATE!

MALENA!

NORA ROCKS!

On Thursday, we got a visit from the Reading Magician. He came to the library to help us celebrate Read Across America with a special Dr. Seuss Magic Show!

Magic at the library!

On Friday, our littlest library goers enjoyed a Mother Goose on the Loose storytime. We had lots of fun bouncing, singing, crawling, and listening to stories!

And then on Saturday, we ended the week with our first ever Lego Club program! The building theme was "Out at Sea" and you won't believe how creative the results were! The kids built everything from pirate ships to entire beach-scapes. We also had fun listening to the Kidz Bop station on Pandora radio... so much fun that a few mini dance parties broke out between building sessions. We even had a break dancer in the crowd! Who knew that Legos and dancing went so well together?!

The builders got right to work.

The three man team working on the beach scene.

The final product!

Yellow patrol boat by Brandon

Jeffery's bicycle powered pirate ship.

Alex's Lego masterpiece

Can you spot the Lego man steering this
big steam ship by Joshua?

Steven's ship even had tentacles - beware!

Be sure to check out our online calendar for more upcoming kid's programs or pick up a monthly program calendar next time you are in the library. Remember, space is limited so registration is required for all programs. Sign up always begins two weeks before the date of the program.

New Program Alert - Lego Club!

2012-02-22T16:30:00.000-05:00

Do you know someone between the ages of 7-12? Do they love legos?! Then, tell them to join our new Lego Club! The first meeting is on Saturday, March 3rd at 10:30am.

Kids can work individually or in teams. There will be a theme announced at the beginning of the program.

Please DO NOT bring your own legos. Snacks may be served.

To sign up, visit our online calendar or give us a call at 609-654-6113.

Get Your Taxes Done at the Library!

2012-01-31T12:50:00.000-05:00

Schedule an appointment today!

The Pinelands Library is once again a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site for FREE tax return preparation for low to moderate income taxpayers. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic state and federal tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

We are now taking appointments! In February, we are offering appointments on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Beginning in March, we will also be offering Friday appointments.

To schedule your free appointment, stop in the library or call us at (609) 654-6113.

And the Oscar goes to...

2012-01-30T15:16:00.000-05:00

Well, we won't actually find out who wins until Sunday, February 26th. But until then, you can catch up on all the nominees here at the library!

BEST PICTURE
The Artist
     (the DVD is due out in April)
The Descendants
     (check out the book, audiobook, or e-book, the DVD is due out in March)
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
     (check out the book or audiobook, the DVD is due out in May)
Hugo
     (check out the book, audiobook, or audio e-book, the DVD is due out in March)
Midnight in Paris
     (check out the DVD out now)
The Help
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, audio e-book, or DVD out now)
Moneyball
     (check out the book, audiobook, or DVD out now)
War Horse
     (check out the book, audio e-book, the DVD is due out in April)
The Tree of Life
     (check out the DVD or Blue-ray out now)

BEST ACTOR
Demian Bichir - A Better Life
     (check out the DVD out now)
George Clooney - The Descendants
     (check out the book, audiobook, or e-book, the DVD is due out in March)
Jean Dujardin - The Artist
   (the DVD is due out in April)
Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, the DVD is due out in March)
Brad Pitt - Moneyball
     (check out the book, audiobook, or DVD out now)

BEST ACTRESS
Glenn Close - Albert Nobbs
     (the DVD is due out in June)
Viola Davis - The Help
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, audio e-book, or DVD out now)
Rooney Mara - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, the DVD is due out in March)
Meryl Streep - The Iron Lady
     (check out the book, the DVD is due out in April)
Michelle Williams - My Week with Marilyn
     (check out the book or audiobook, the DVD is due out in March)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn
     (check out the book or audiobook, the DVD is due out in March)
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
     (check out the book, audiobook, or DVD out now)
Nick Nolte - Warrior
     (check out the DVD out now)
Christopher Plummer - Beginners
     (check out the DVD out now)
Max Von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
     (check out the book or audiobook, the DVD is due out in May)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Berenice Bejo - The Artist
     (the DVD is due out in April)
Jessica Chastain - The Help
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, audio e-book, or DVD out now)
Melissa McCarthy - Bridesmaids
     (check out the DVD or Blu-ray out now)
Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs
     (the DVD is due out in June)
Octavia Spencer - The Help
     (check out the book, audiobook, e-book, audio e-book, or DVD out now)

For a complete list of the nominees, click here.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover at the Library!

2012-01-28T11:42:00.000-05:00

Twenty five lucky stuffed animals got to sleep over at the library this week. And boy did they have fun! Take a look at their adventures...

First, they raided the kitchen.
All that sugar helped them stay up late!

Monkey found some new
friends to HANG out with!

Comet, Kitty, and Wubzzy has fun
playing on the computer!

Kelly Bear thought the library needed more pink.
So she cut out some new decorations for us!

Bolt and his new friends found
Miss Danielle's stash of markers!

Teddy went fishing for a late night snack.

But Octiey warned his fishy friends!

It was getting late, so Miss Danielle read
everyone a silly bedtime story.
Goodnight friends!!!

If your stuffed animal missed the sleepover, don't worry - we are having another one this summer! Check back for details! Thank you to everyone who participated this week.

Book Trailer Tuesday

2012-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

KIDS BOOK: A Dog is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan
A dog is a dog, right? Not so fast! This lively picture book will keep young readers guessing (and giggling!) from beginning to end.

TEEN BOOK: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Brilliantly explores the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

ADULT BOOK: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.

You can request any of these books by clicking on the title above to find it in our catalog or give us a call at (609) 654-6113 and we would be happy to put it on hold for you.

Winners of the 2012 Youth Media Awards!

2012-01-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

This morning the American Library Association (ALA) announced the winners of the 2012 Youth Media Awards. These awards go to the top books, video, and audiobooks for children and teens. You are probably familiar with the Caldecott and the Newbery Medals, but they are just two of the many exciting awards given out. Here is a complete list of the winners, with links to our catalog, so you can request a copy today!

Caldecott Winner

Caldecott Medal - for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Winner - A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
Honor - Blackout by John Rocco
Honor - Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Honor - Me... Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Newbery Winner

Newbery Medal - for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature.
Winner - Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
Honor - Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Honor - Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Printz & Morris Winner

Printz Award - for excellence in literature written for young adults.
Winner - Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Honor - Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
Honor - The Returning by Christine Hinwood
Honor - Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Honor - The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Morris Award - for a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens.
Winner - Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Honor - Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
                                           Honor - Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard
                                             Honor - Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
                                             Honor - Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

Geisel Winner

Theodore Seuss Geisel Award - for the most distinguished beginning reader book.
Winner - Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
Honor - I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems
Honor - I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Honor - See Me Run by Paul Meisel

Sibert Winner

Sibert Award - for the most distinguished informational book for children.
Winner - Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
Honor - Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene 'Bull' Connor by Larry Dane Brimnerand
Honor - Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
Honor - The Elephant Scientist by Caitlin O'Connell and Donna M. Jackson
Honor - Witches!: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer

YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults - honors the best non-fiction book published for young adults, ages 12-18.

YALSA Winner

Winner - The Notorious Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, and Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
Honor - Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
Honor - Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal
Honor - Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy
Honor - Music Was It: Young Leonard Berstein by Susan Goldman Rubin

King Author Award

Coretta Scott King (Author) Award - recognizing an African American author of outstanding books for children and young adults.
Winner - Kadir Nelson, author of Heart & Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
Honor - Eloise Greenfield, author of The Great Migration: Journey to the North
Honor - Patricia C. McKissack, author of Never Forgotten

King Illustrator Winner

Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Award - recognizing an African American illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults.
Winner - Shane W. Evans, illustrator and author of Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom
Honor - Kadir Nelson, illustrator and author of Heart & Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

Belpre Author Award

Pura Belpre (Author) Award - honoring a Latino writer whose children's books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
Winner - Guadalupe Garcia McCall, author of Under the Mesquite
Honor - Margarita Engle, author of Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck
Honor - Xavier Garza, author of Maximilian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller

Belpre Illustrator Winner

Pura Belpre (Illustrator) Award - honoring a Latino illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience.
Winner - Duncan Tonatiuh, illustrator and author of Diego Rivera: His World and Ours
Honor - Rafael Lopez, illustrator of The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred
Honor - Sara Palacios, illustrator of Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match

Schneider Family Book Award - for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Winner - Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
Winner - Wonderstruck: A Novel in Words in Pictures by Brian Selznick

Schneider Winner

Stonewall Winner

Stonewall Book Award - given annually to children's and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender experience.
Winner - Putting Makeup on the Fat Boy by Bil Wright
Honor - a+e 4ever by Ilike Merey
Honor - Money Boy by Paul Yee
Honor - Pink by Lili Wilkinson
Honor - with or without you by Brian Farrey

Odyssey Award - for best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults

Odyssey Winner

Winner - Rotters by Daniel Kraus,
narrated by Kirby Heyborne
Honor - Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri,
narrated by JD Jackson
Honor - Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt,
narrated by Lincoln Hoppe
Honor - The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater,
narrated by Scott West and Fiona Hardingham
Honor - Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt,
narrated by Wendy Carter

Carnegie Medal - for excellence in children's video
Winner - Children Make Terrible Pets produced by Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly Ellard

Alex Awards - for the 10 best adult books that appeal to teen audiences.
* Big Girl Small by Rachel DeWoskin
* In Zanesville by Jo Ann Beard
* The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
* The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens by Brooke Hauser
* The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
* Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
* Robopocalypse: A Novel by Daniel Wilson
* Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
* The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt: A Novel in Pictures by Caroline Preston
* The Talk-Funny Girl by Roland Merullo

Did You Know?...

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

Did you know that with your library card you have access to a Lynda.com subscription? Lynda.com is an amazing website that provides over 42,000 training videos on topics like photography, design, web and interactive design, business, 3D, audio, and much more.

So if your New Year's resolution was to learn something new, then this is the website for you! With Lynda, you can learn how to use anything from Photoshop to Twitter to Excel to Facebook.

To access your library subscription to Lynda, first go to the library homepage at www.bcls.lib.nj.us. Next, hover the mouse over the "Research & Learning" tab, then click on Databases, A-Z from the drop-down menu.

Next, find Lynda.com listed on the right side of the screen and click on it.

At this point, you will be prompted to enter your library card number. Enter the full 14-digit number on the back of your library card. Do not include the spaces.

Now you are logged on to Lynda.com and have access to over 42,000 tutorial videos. Have fun exploring!

* Please note that only 5 library users can access Lynda at one time. So be sure to log out when you are finished with your session.

If you have any questions about this service, give us a call at (609) 654-6113 and ask for the Reference Desk.

Homeschool Open House for Parents

2012-01-03T15:35:00.001-05:00

Homeschool Open House this weekend!

PLEASE NOTE: This program will be held at the Evesham Branch Library.

Parents involved in homeschooling (or those considering homeschooling) are invited to explore the ways that the library can support their home school program! We will join the Evesham staff to present a helpful overview of our services, inlcuding: databases, eBooks, borrow-a-book club, and more! The Open House will also include a tour of the Evesham Library, a question and answer session, and time in the computer lab.

This event will be held at the Evesham Branch this weekend on Saturday, January 7th at 10:30AM. Registration is requested. To register, you can call the Evesham Library at 856-983-1444, or call the Pinelands Library at 609-654-6113, or visit the online calendar. We hope to see you on Saturday!

First Line Friday

2011-12-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

KIDS BOOK:
"Itsays in my baby book that when I was born, my parents couldn’t believe how bigand beautiful I was – I weighed nine pounds and five ounces, and I’m convincedthat’s why they called me Donahue Penelope Schneider – they wanted a fancy nameto match my size.” - No Room for Dessert by Hallie Durand

With virtually no warning, it seems like Dessert’s life story is being written in invisible ink. Nobody in the Schneider house seems to remember she exists. Her school picture hanging on the fridge? Covered. The promise of burritos? Forgotten. And her baby brother doesn’t even know her name. (He calls her “dirt.”) Dessert wants to get back on her family’s radar…but how?

TEEN BOOK:
"The table was sticky, there was a cloudy smudge on my water glass, and we'd been seated for ten minutes with no sign of a waitress." - What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Since her parents' bitter divorce, McLean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move-four towns in two years. Estranged from her mother and her mother's new family, McLean has followed her dad in leaving the unhappy past behind. And each new place gives her a chance to try out a new persona: from cheerleader to drama diva. But now, for the first time, McLean discovers a desire to stay in one place and just be herself, whoever that is. Perhaps Dave, the guy next door, can help her find out.

ADULT BOOK:
"As my daughter Sulfia was explaining that she was pregnant but that she didn't know by whom, I paid extra attention to my posture." - The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky

Rosa Achmetowna is the outrageously nasty and wily narrator of this rollicking family saga. When she discovers that her 17-year-old daughter, “stupid Sulfia,” is pregnant by an unknown man she does everything to thwart the pregnancy. But despite her best efforts the baby, Aminat, is born nine months later at Soviet Birthing Center Number 134. Much to Rosa’s surprise and delight, dark eyed Aminat is a Tartar through and through and instantly becomes the apple of her grandmother’s eye. While her good for nothing husband Kalganow spends his days feeding pigeons at the city park, Rosa wages an epic struggle to wrestle Aminat away from Sulfia, whom she considers a woefully inept mother. When Aminat, now a wild and willful teenager, catches the eye of a sleazy German cookbook writer researching Tartar cuisine, Rosa is quick to broker a deal that will guarantee all three women a passage out of the Soviet Union. But as soon as they are settled in the West, the uproariously dysfunctional ties that bind mother, daughter and grandmother begin to fray.

If you would like to put any of these titles on hold, just click on the title above and you will be re-directed to the library catalog listing for the book. Or give us a call at (609) 654-6113 and we would be happy to put it on hold for you!

Crafting in a Winter Wonderland!

2011-12-30T10:42:00.002-05:00

We had lots of snowman fun at the library this week. On Tuesday, we not only made a Snowman Kisses craft, but we also decorated some delicious snowman cupcakes. Check it out:

Snowman Kisses craft

Snowman Kisses Poem

Many of the cupcakes were devoured almost immediately, but we did manage to get a few pictures before they were all gobbled up:

With his Junior Mint hat & Fruit by the Foot scarf,
this snowman is ready for winter!


Ryan gave his snowman a red scarf!

Allie displays her masterpiece!

Did You Know?...

2011-12-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

Did you know that you can now put our museum passes on hold for one hour? First of all, have you heard about the new Museum Pass Program at all?!? It is so amazing and I cannot recommend it enough right now! It is a *free* service that gives you access to several area museums and gardens. You check the passes out the same way that you check out a book or any other library item. However, the museum passes can only be checked out at our Main Library in Westampton. But, we are happy to announce that you can now call ahead and have them reserve the pass for one hour. To see which passes are currently checked in, just visit our website (http://www.bcls.lib.nj.us/), click the Search the Catalog link, which is located under the Books, Movies and Music tab. Then type "museum pass" into the title alphabetical search bar. Voila! You will find a listing for all five museum passes:

Garden State Discovery Museum - pass admits 6 people and entitles you to a 15% discount in their Discovermore Toy Store.

Grounds for Sculpture - pass admits 4 people.

Morris Arboretum - pass admits 2 adults and up to 4 children.

National Liberty Museum - pass admits 6 people and will entitle you to a 10% discount in the museum gift shop.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts - pass admits 2 adults and all children in your household under the age of 18.

If you were looking for a fun and free way to enjoy some quality time with friends and families this holiday season, this is it! If you would like to put any of these passes on hold, call the Main Library at (609) 267-9660 x2.

Best Books of 2011

2011-12-12T10:25:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I love lists! And book lists just might be my favorite kind of all. So I love this time of year when all of the "Best Book" lists start to come out. To make sure that you don't miss any of the best books of the year, we have compiled all of the lists right here. Happy reading!

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Good Reads

Graphic Novel Reporter

Horn Book

Kirkus Review

Library Journal

New York Times

Publisher's Weekly

School Library Journal

How do you think these lists stack up? What was your favorite book from 2011?

Book Trailer Tuesday

2011-11-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

If you were surprised when we introduced you to the world of book trailers, prepare to be amazed. This week, we bring you.... a magazine trailer!

With the worldwide population expected to exceed seven billion in 2011, National Geographic magazine offers a 7-part series examining specific challenges and solutions to the issues we face. The magazine introduces the series with its January cover story “7 Billion,” offering a broad overview of demographic trends that got us to today and will impact us all tomorrow. They also just released a companion app, complete with informative videos, interactive maps, in-depth articles, and stunning photography. For a limited time, the app is available for free. Download the free app here: http://on.natgeo.com/q301cY

Past issues of National Geographic magazine are available to be checked out at the Pinelands Branch Library. Take a look at this intriguing series today!

Local Author Visit This Weekend!

2011-11-14T12:34:00.001-05:00

We are excited to welcome Christine Dougherty to the Pinelands Library for a book signing this weekend on Saturday, November 19th from 1:00-3:00PM.

Christine Dougherty was raised in Tabernacle, New Jersey and has since lived in various towns in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties.

Drawing heavily from the landscape she knows, most of her works have at least some elements of South Jersey. As you read, you’ll realize that some of the locations, although renamed, are your own back yard.

A graduate of Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey and Hussian School of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Christine has made her career and home in local towns.

Thrillers with elements of sci-fi and horror, Christine’s works are an entertaining read that will keep you turning the pages until the very last word!Check her books out at www.christinedoughertybooks.com

Did You Know?...

2011-11-03T17:59:00.000-04:00

We can help you start a book club!

Did you know that we have a "Borrow a Book Club" service? This convenient service enables you to easily organize a book discussion group for two or more people. We provide you with a canvas bag containing multiple copies of a selected book, as well as discussion questions and other helpful aids for organizing and facilitating a successful book club. You can pick up the bag and drop it off and any of our Burlington County Library System branches. And you get to keep the Book Club bag for 8 weeks. All you need to check it out is your library card! Click here for a full list of the available titles, which includes teen and adult books.

If you would like to reserve a Book Club bag, just stop by the Reference Desk or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

First Line Friday

2011-10-28T15:53:00.000-04:00

KIDS BOOK:

o “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.

TEEN BOOK:
"On a sunny Wednesday morning in October - a day that would mark the end of one life and the beginning of another - I found out that my next-door neighbor was one of the walking dead." - Rise of the Corpses by Ty Drago

Forced to flee his home and family, twelve-year-old Will Ritter falls in with the Undertakers-a rag-tag army of teenage resistance fighters who've banded together to battle the Corpses.

ADULT BOOK:
"The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years - if it ever did end - began, so far as I know or can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain." - It by Stephen King

They were just kids when they stumbled upon the horror within their hometown. Now, as adults, none of them can withstand the force that has drawn them all back to Derry, Maine, to face the nightmare without end, and the evil without a name...

If you would like to put any of these horrifyingly good books on hold in time for Halloween, just click on the title above or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

Book Trailer Tuesday

2011-10-25T11:10:00.000-04:00

KIDS BOOK: Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes: A Story by Jonathan Auxier
Magic, adventure, mystery... this new book has it all!

TEEN BOOK: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
A dark tale... the perfect read for the Halloween season.

ADULT BOOK: The Litigators by John Grisham
This suspenseful courtroom thriller comes out today!

Put your name on the request list for any of these books by clicking on the title above to find it in our catalog or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

Lizards at the Library!

2011-10-13T23:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, the library got a visit from Silly Billy of THE LIZARD GUYS! And he didn't come alone. He brought along snakes, a lizard, a turtle, a frog, and even a scorpion! The kids learned all kinds of cool facts while getting an up close look at each creature. And shrieks of delight erupted when it was time to touch the animals (except the scorpion - no touchy!).

Say hello to Jerry, the bull snake

Up close with Jerry, the bull snake

Next, we met a bearded dragon.

Hello bearded dragon!

What a big turtle!

Thanks for bringing all these animals, Silly Billy!

No one minded NOT touching the emperor scorpion.

The albino python was the last
reptile we saw yesterday...
And the biggest!

Thanks again to the Lizard Guys for a fun and educational program!!!

If you want to learn more about our new scaly friends, we have plenty of lizard and snake books in the 597 section! One of Miss Danielle's favorites is Lizards by Nic Bishop. Click on the title to reserve a copy today or call the library at 609-543-6113.

Book Trailer Tuesday

2011-10-04T12:50:00.000-04:00

KIDS BOOK: The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss
Check out this video to learn where Dr. Seuss' new stories were found!

TEEN BOOK: Blood Red Road by Moira Young
If you liked The Hunger Games series, you will love this!

ADULT BOOK: Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield

Do you have a favortite font? Do you like Courier or do you prefer traditional Times New Roman? This book takes a funny look at the world of fonts!

Put your name on the request list for any of these books by clicking on the title above to find it in our catalog or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

Costume Swap Success!

2011-10-02T14:59:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to our 2nd annual Costume Swap yesterday! Many children were able to find new costumes for Halloween this year. Half the fun was trying on the costumes:

Trick-or-treat!

Smell our lion-ninja feet!

If you weren't able to find a costume at the Pinelands or Evesham branch libraries yesterday, don't forget that our Main Library in Westampton is having their swap next weekend on Saturday, October 8th.

Book Sale Blowout!

2011-09-29T14:06:00.000-04:00

Enjoy the lovely Fall weather this weekend and come down to the library to check out our special two-day sidewalk booksale. Cider and cookies will be on hand too!

Pricing info:
Fill a bag - $2.00
OR
Each Book - $0.25

EXCEPT:
New Paperback - $0.50

New Hardcover - $2.00

DVDs/CDs - $2.00

VHS - $0.50

And don't forget that our 2nd Annual Costume Swap will also be taking place this Saturday. We have already received a ton of costumes, so there will be a big selection!

Magic at the Library!

2011-09-28T12:20:00.000-04:00

On Monday night, little library goers were treated to a "Wizards, Kings, and Things" Magic Show by Steve the Magician!


First, the audience helped pick out a magic wand that was just right.

Then, we met Sam the Mind Reading Snake.

We were all impressed with Sam's mind reading abilities!

Kevin was the first assistant of the night.

Then, we got to meet Dusty the Dragon!

Isabella got to wear special wizard glasses and a wizard coat.
What about a magic wand?

How about FOUR magic wands?!

Claudia was very excited to be chosen as the last assistant of the night.

She was even more excited when she helped pull a real, live bunny out of a hat.

Everyone got a chance to pet the bunny!

Hi bunny!!!

I wonder if any magic rubbed off on us?!

Thanks to everyone who came out for the show!

First Line Friday

2011-09-23T10:18:00.000-04:00

'First Line Friday' is going to be a new weekly post here at the Pinelands Library Blog. These posts will be perfect for those of you who are always on the lookout for something new to read! We will try to spark your interest by posting the first line of a book, along with a brief description. We will include one from each age group, so there will be something for everyone!

KID'S BOOK:
"How five crows managed to lift a twenty-pound baby boy into the air was beyond Prue, but that was certainly the least of her worries." - Wildwood by Colin Meloy

When her baby brother is kidnapped by crows, seventh-grader Prue McKeel ventures into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness - a dangerous and magical forest in the middle of Portland, Oregon - and soon finds herself involved in a war among the various inhabitants.

TEEN BOOK:
"The longest day of my life began tardily." - Paper Towns by John Green

One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boringness of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

ADULT BOOK:

"The news of Anders Eckman's death came by way of Aerogram, a piece of bright blue airmail paper that served as both the stationary and, when folded over and sealed along the edges, the envelope." - State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Pharmaceutical researcher, Dr. Marina Singh, sets off into the Amazon jungle to find the remains and effects of a colleague who recently died under somewhat mysterious circumstances.

If you would like to put any of those titles on hold, just click on the title above and you will be re-directed to the library catalog listing for the book. Or give us a call at (609) 654-6113 and we would be happy to put it on hold for you!

Book Trailer Tuesday

2011-09-20T17:05:00.000-04:00

In a new series of posts called "Book Trailer Tuesday", we will be sharing book trailers for upcoming or newly released books. That's right, trailers aren't just for movies anymore!

PICTURE BOOK: I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

YOUNG ADULT BOOK: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

ADULT BOOK: The Affair: A Reacher Novel by Lee Child

All three books are due out on September 27, 2011. Put your name on the request list today! Click on the title above to find it in our catalog or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

Did You Know?...

2011-09-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

In a new series of posts, called "Did You Know?", we will be highlighting some of the great library services and features that you might not know about.

Did you know that we have a class called Computerease? This one-on-one computer help session is designed for beginner and intermediate computing questions. Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are comfortable navigating the web, but is there anything new you'd like to learn? The great thing about computerease is that you choose the topic of the session. You can learn anything from how to set up a Facebook account to how to organize family photos on your flash drive. We still have a spot available for this Friday's class at 11:00AM. Sign up by visiting our online calendar or by calling us at (609) 654-6113.

We offer Computerease classes every month!

Costume Swap Drop Off Has Begun!

2011-09-12T12:02:00.001-04:00

Celebrate a green Halloween and bring your "gently used" costumes and accessories to the Medford, Evesham, or Main Library. You will receive a ticket that entitles you to shop for a free donated costume on October 1st at Evesham or Medford Branches and on October 8th at the Main library. Registration is not required.

Congrats to our 100+ Hour Readers!

2011-09-11T21:51:00.001-04:00

On Thursday, September 8th, we teamed up with the Evesham Branch Library to celebrate all of the kids who read 100 hours or more during the Summer Reading Program this year. We are so proud of everyone's accomplishments. And we would like to thank everyone who was involved in making this summer's reading program so successful, including the Friends of the Pinelands Library and our teen volunteers. We couldn't do it without you!

CONGRATS READERS!!!

Changes in the Children's Room

2011-09-02T14:08:00.000-04:00

This week you may have noticed that some of the children's books aren't quite where you are used to finding them. Don't worry, they weren't blown around by Hurricane Irene! We are just doing some rearranging. All of the books are now settled into their new homes, but we are still in the process of putting up new signs. If you need help locating a book, don't hesitate to ask!

Thanks for participating!

2011-08-25T19:25:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, the Summer Reading Program is over already. We can't believe how fast those 8 weeks went by either! This summer's travel inspired theme was fun for all. For kids it was "One World, Many Stories", for teens it was "You are Here", and for adults it was "Novel Destinations". We would like to thank you all for your participation and continued support of the Summer Reading Program. Here's a breakdown of how the program went this year:

KIDS - 303 participants read 5,612 hours!

TEENS - 15 participants read 240 hours!

ADULTS - 8 participants turned in 83 book reviews!

And three cheers for the Friends of the Pinelands Library for funding the prizes, as well as many of our programs! Thank you!!!

Yoga at the Library

2011-07-22T15:24:00.000-04:00

New to yoga? Need a refresher class? Always wanted to try it? No matter what your level, you are welcome to join us on Thursday, July 28th at 7PM for a free yoga class at the Pinelands Library! Here are a few things you need to know before class:

- Wear comfortable, breathable clothes
- Don’t eat 2 hours prior to class (just a light snack!)
- Bring a yoga mat.
- Bring a bottle of water and a towel.
- Wear contacts if you have them.

***Aroma therapy is included during Shavasana

We will now be offering this class every month. Unless otherwise noted, it will be on the last Thursday of each month.

Sign up online or by calling the library at (609) 654-6113.

Book Sale!

2011-07-15T11:44:00.000-04:00

It's a beautiful day for a book sale, especially an outdoor sidewalk book sale! We've got lots of kids, teens, and adults book to choose from.

Judy Adams, the President of the Friends of the Pinelands Library, stopped by to check it out and so should you.

The book sale will be open until 3:00PM with plenty of lemonade and animal crackers to go around. And if you can't make it today, we are having other sidewalk book sales on Friday, July 22nd, and Friday, August 12th.

Apron Strings Around the World

2011-07-14T19:12:00.001-04:00

Summer programs are in full swing here at the Pinelands Library! The theme for kids this summer is 'One World, Many Stories', so we have been exploring many other countries. This week at "Apron Strings Around the World" kids got some hands on experience making a delicious Italian snack - Bruschetta with Strawberries and Tomatoes!

Miss Brenda started things off by showing the kids where Italy is on the globe.

Next, she read the book All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino.

Then it was time to get cooking! The first step in our recipe was to brush olive oil onto the bread. Then we set it aside to toast.

Next, we all got to chop up strawberries and tomatoes.

We had so much fun cutting up the basil with special kitchen scissors. It smelled really yummy!

Everyone got a turn spinning the pepper grinder!

Then, it was time to stir up all of our ingredients.

Finally, it was time to dig in!

Miss Brenda always does the "thumbs test" at the end of class, and there were thumbs up all around for this delicious recipe!

Apron Strings will be back next month with a new recipe from another country. Sign up starts next week. You can register online by visiting our events calendar or give us a call at (609) 654-6113.

Hello!

2011-07-06T14:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Pinelands Library’s new blog! Check back often for up to date information about library news, programs, book sales, special events and more. Keep an eye out for pictures as well. We would love for you to share with us too, so feel free to leave us a comment or two. Thanks for stopping by!