The Third Place: A Teen Library

TEDxFort Wayne Writing Contest

2012-01-31T16:57:00.002-05:00

Fort Wayne is looking for some "ideas worth sharing". TED, or Technology, Entertainment, Design, is s nonprofit dedicated to idea sharing. Read more about the awesomeness of TED on the website.

TEDxFort Wayne is a local, independently organized event that fosters innovation, modeled after TED. Organizers of TEDxFort Wayne want you to spread your ideas, too. They are sponsoring a student writing and speech contest asking participants to "Rethink Fort Wayne."

Read more about TEDxFort Wayne and download the the essay contest registration form.

Winter Reading Club 2012

2012-01-09T11:03:00.000-05:00

Winter Reading Club starts today! Just count the time you spend reading, and once you've read for five hours, you get a prize! This year you can enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card or a Flip Video camera after you've completed the other prize levels. To be counted, your books need to either be checked out from Eckhart Public Library or downloaded from our website.

You can pick up a tally sheet at main and teen library or click here to download one.

If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please don't hesitate to contact us!

Read the Book, See the Movie!

2012-01-05T17:58:00.002-05:00

What movies have you seen lately? It may have started as a book! Some recently released and soon-to-be released films definitely were.

Sherlock Holmes

The Hunger Games

The Adventures of Tintin

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Hugo

Soul Surfer

Zombie Costume Contest Winners

2011-11-14T18:35:00.008-05:00

Congratulations to all costume contest winners! Thank you to everyone who geeks zombies.

Grossest

Most Original

Best Name

Zombie Costume Contest: Vote in the Poll

2011-11-01T16:13:00.007-04:00

Bloody

Ima Dead

Dead Willie

Dead Jerk

Captain Dead Nerd

Bloody Betty

Mary's Masterpieces

2011-09-16T17:17:00.001-04:00

Rain Barrel Reformation
Monday, September 19 from 4:30-6

We will turn the “Not So Secret Garden” rain barrels into works of art. Rain barrels will be our canvas, imagination will be our tool. Snacks will be served to all hard working artists.

Project Gutenberg

2011-09-13T17:32:00.000-04:00

Michael S. Hart died on September 6th.
Read more about his contributions here.

The idea of eBooks and eReaders may seem like a relatively new concept, but it has been in progress for 40 years. Michael S. Hart invented the eBook in 1971 after being inspired by a digitized copy of The Declaration of Independence. He then went on to invent Project Gutenberg, an online database that offers thousands of free eBooks. You can download these items onto your computer, smart phone, or eReader. These items are offered for free as they are in the public domain, meaning the copyright on that item has since expired.

Check it out, here!

Quidditch: The Rematch!

2011-09-12T12:41:00.001-04:00

The teen library's Quidditch rematch will take place on Sunday, September 18th at 1:00!

Teams, we have all of your original paperwork, but if you have any additional players or substitutions, we will need hold harmless and activity permission forms signed by game time. If you need additional copies, we have them at the teen library.

If you don't want to play, but would love to see Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin battle it out, feel free to come to Memorial Field (formerly known as J.C. Park) there is plenty of spectator seating!

This time, it's for the house cup!

New Books

2011-09-10T12:39:00.002-04:00

Rookie

2011-09-07T17:07:00.003-04:00

Tavi Gevinson, 15, began blogging about life and fashion when she was 11. This week, the first issue of Rookie, her online magazine, went live. It's self-described as "a website for teenage girls. With monthly-themed content, we update three times a day, five days a week, and are happy to offer you millions of bad puns." Check it out.

Hunger Games: Official Trailer

2011-08-30T16:20:00.000-04:00

Are you ready?

Hunger Games comes out in theaters on March 23, 2012 If you haven't read the Hunger Games trilogy yet, you can check them out at the teen library!

New Graphic Novels & Manga

2011-08-23T16:23:00.001-04:00

New Fiction

2011-08-20T15:30:00.000-04:00

Fall Hours

2011-08-15T15:34:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, August 16th, we will be resuming our fall hours! We will be open from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Monday through Friday, and from 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturday!

Mary's Masterpiece: Word Art

2011-08-01T12:23:00.000-04:00

Today, Monday August 1 from 2-4
Explore the written word as an art form. There will be calligraphy, collages, drawing and anything the imagination can come up with.

Snacks will be served to all hard working artists.

Let's Play Ball! (volley ball that is)

2011-07-15T13:28:00.000-04:00

Come Monday July 18 from 2-4 for the game, good times and good snacks. Come to play or come to root for your favorite team.

The game will be held on the green lawn next to the Willenar Admistrative Annex. Meet us on the lawn or at the Teen Library.

Quidditch, Anyone?

2011-07-06T12:00:00.001-04:00

Have you been wanting to catch the Snitch ever since your read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? Do you think you could give Fred and George a run for their galleons when it comes to being a beater? Do you have an urge to hop on your broomstick and fly as far as you can go? Well, we can't help you with that last one, but you can participate in TAB's Quidditch Tournament at 1:30 on Friday, July 22nd at Memorial Field! We will be playing a version of Muggle Qudditch. How do you play Muggle Quidditch? Well, we will tell you. If you are interested, just come to the call-out meeting at 4:30 on Wednesday, July 20th at the teen library. We will brief everyone on the rules, make refreshments, and decorate our house robes. We will have enough brooms for two playing teams, but if you would like to bring and decorate your own, you can fee free to do so. If you want to play in the tournament, you will have to come to the call-out meeting unless you have otherwise been given permission by the teen staff. Please ask us if you have any questions. There will be stadium seating, so if you want to watch, you can do that too. Bring a friend!

The Fault in Our Stars

2011-07-05T14:34:00.002-04:00

John Green's newest book, The Fault in Our Stars, will be released sometime next spring. For those of you that are so excited that you want to own a copy, you may want to consider pre-ordering it. Why? Well, John has promised that he will personally sign every pre-ordered copy, no matter where it is pre-ordered from. The color of the Sharpie he will be using is yet to be determined. After his announcement, The Fault in Our Stars shot up to number one on both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. John has also invited everyone to try their hand at designing covers for the book. Some of them are pretty amazing and can be seen on their Tumblr page.

For those of you who can't pre-order The Fault in Our Stars, fear not! We will definitely have a copy at the teen library when it comes out!

Pottermore

2011-06-23T14:33:00.002-04:00

Today, J.K. Rowling made an announcement of Harry Potter proportions. She unveiled her plans for Pottermore, a new online reading experience. What is Pottermore? Well, the details are a little hazy right now, but there are a lot of possibilities! We do know that there will be social networking, character back stories (!), and the sale of Harry Potter E-Books for the very first time! You will also be able to get sorted by the sorting hat and find out a wealth of information about your house. If you are not sorted into Gryffindor, you'll find out even more! Sorry, Gryffindors...

Pottermore will be open to everyone in October, but for some lucky fans, it will be open early on July 31st, Harry's birthday. To see Jo's official announcement. Look below!

What do you think of Pottermore? For more information, click here!

Travel Tuesdays: Star Trek

2011-06-21T13:35:00.000-04:00

Join us today at 2:00 for our weekly film series! Today, we will be traveling through space and time with the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise in Star Trek. The 2009 J.J. Abrams film lets us see the meeting of James T. Kirk and Spock, but it wouldn't be a J.J. Abrams project if there wasn't a threat in both the future and past.

For those of you who have already seen and loved Star Trek, an untitled sequel is in the works and is scheduled to be released in 2012.

Lunar Lockdown

2011-06-18T13:58:00.001-04:00

Join us after hours on June 28th for a Lunar Lockdown. We will be exploring the moon from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. We'll have movies, star watches, and lunar lore!

The Lunar Lockdown will no longer be on June 21st. It has been rescheduled for the 28th. If you have any information that says this program will take place on the 21st, please disregard it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Sign-Up

2011-06-14T14:12:00.000-04:00

As Harry Potter fans know, July 15th is rapidly approaching whether we're ready for it to all end or not, and we are going to be there when it happens. We will be going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, and we're inviting you to join us. Because we will need to know, in advance, who needs tickets, you will have to sign-up at the teen library. If you want to come with us, you will have to sign-up by July 1st. We also need to know if you're planning on riding with us to NCG in the library van or if you just want to meet us at the theater. If you want to ride with us, we will need your parents to sign a permission form, unless you already have one with us on file. Just ask us, and we'll tell you if you do or not.

We will let you know the times and cost as we receive that information, but for right now, reserve your spot to watch it all end.

Virtual Book Club: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

2011-06-12T12:22:00.001-04:00

Are you looking for a book club this summer? The Harry Potter Alliance is going to start their online discussion on Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes on June 13th! You can check out 13 Little Blue Envelopes at the teen library along with the follow-up novel The Last Little Blue Envelope! If you want to find out more about Maureen Johnson, check out her highly entertaining blog!

Travel Tuesdays Film Series

2011-06-07T12:04:00.000-04:00

Today is the kick-off of Summer Reading Club and our Travel Tuesdays film series. Every Tuesday at 2:00 we will be showing at least one film or TV show about travel or a new destination. All of the movies, unless otherwise noted, will take place in our lower level. Feel free to bring pillows and blankets, and we'll provide the popcorn!

Today, we'll be showing:

Summer Hours Begin on Tuesday

2011-06-04T10:09:00.000-04:00

Starting on Tuesday, June 7th, you can spend a lot more time with us. We will be open from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday through Friday. Our Saturday hours will be unchanged.

Summer Reading Club is also starting next week! The theme this year is, "You Are Here", and it's all about travel and destinations. We have some programs planned that are all about other places. Stay tuned for more information! Every Tuesday is Travel Tuesday, and at 2:00 pm we will be showing a movie that's part of our traveling film series.

If you are interested in helping in our Not-So-Secret Garden, you can help every Monday and Friday! Just ask a teen librarian for more information. We will be making our first donation to the food bank very soon!

The Not So Secret Garden

2011-06-03T18:39:00.002-04:00

Join us Monday June 6 from 5-7 for some garden fun. We will be planting corn, gords, morning glories, sunflowers and beans.

Refreshments will be served to all hard working gardeners.

Must-See, Paranormal TV

2011-05-31T18:42:00.001-04:00

If you can't get enough of the lore of vampires, witches, ghosts, and all things paranormal, there are a few TV shows that are must-see!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy Summers is just your average teenage girl...who happens to be the one chosen to slay the vampires and rid the world of evil. Buffy isn't a new show; it aired from 1997-2003 and spawned the spin-off series, Angel. However, it is new to Teen Nick. The series will start airing on May 31st at 10 pm et, with two episodes at a time, and run in order of the series. If you have never seen Buffy before, this is an excellent time to start! If you have, well, this is an excellent time to re-watch the series.

If you need a Buffy fix right now, check out some of our Buffy fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels!

The Secret Circle

Based on the L.J. Smith series about a coven of witches, The Secret Circle will be airing on Thursdays, this fall, on the CW. If you're a fan of L.J. Smith, this news is extra fun as The Secret Circle will be airing after another one of her book-turned-television series, The Vampire Diaries on Thursday nights.

Once Upon a Time

From the writers of LOST comes a story of a town that isn't all that it seems. All of the town's citizens are trapped and under the curse of an evil witch. They all have fairy tale pasts of which they are completely unaware. Once Upon a Time will be airing on Sunday nights at 8:00 on ABC.

If you're in the mood for a twist on a fairy tale, you should check out Wicked, Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen, or Beastly.

People's Choice Winner: Shawnee Herendeen

2011-05-26T16:38:00.000-04:00

Congratulations are in order for DeKalb High School sophomore, Shawnee Herendeen! She recently won the People's Choice Award in the 2nd Annual Teen Art Show for her self-portrait done in charcoal.

Her self-portrait took approximately ten days to complete for her advanced 2D art class. Shawnee really enjoys doing portraits, especially if she has a photo to use as a guide!

If you didn't get a chance to enter the art show this year, you can still display your art at the teen library. Just ask a librarian for more information!

Book Spotlight: Yum-Yum Bento Box

2011-05-21T15:28:00.001-04:00

Check out Yum-Yum Bento Box at the teen library!

When's the last time you've taken a look at your lunch and wondered how you could eat something that was so adorable? You might if you're eating a bento box. Bento boxes are traditional Japanese lunches, and are a great way to eat healthy, balanced meals. Usually a bento box will include rice, fish or meat, and vegetables. But some bento makers have gotten creative, and they are turning these meals into works of art! Some of the lunches in Yum-Yum Bento Box are as cute as an edible button. This book includes an introduction to bento boxes as well as an assortment of recipes and guides. Before you know it, your rice could transform into a sweet, penguin!

Pick Up Your Artwork

2011-05-21T12:20:00.001-04:00

For all those who entered the Teen Art show; today is the day to pick up your artwork.

Let us know if you can't make it in and we will figure something out.

We had a great Teen Art show! Thanks to everyone who participated and to those who came to look.

Why do states have different shapes?

2011-05-19T13:30:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered why Montana is a large square and Rhode Island is a small non-shape? Well, you should check out The History Channel's new show How The States Got Their Shapes. You'll quickly learn how rivers and trains make a huge difference in the boarders of a state! If you're interested in quirky state facts, you should also check out Lost States: True Stories of Texlahoma, Transylvania, and Other States That Never Made It by Michael Trinklein!

Eliot Rosewater Winner: The Hunger Games!

2011-05-18T15:02:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games for winning this year's Eliot Rosewater Award! The Hunger Games won with a grand total of 774 votes and 3569 points! Th1rteen R3asons Why was in second place with 2374 points, and Wake was in third place with 2045 points!

For all of you that voted for this year's Eliot Rosewater Award, we'll let you know when we will have our pizza party to celebrate!

Have you read the first part of this epic trilogy yet? If not, you can check it out at the teen library, and we highly suggest that you do! The Hunger Games is currently being adapted into a film that is set to be released in 2012. Check out their IMDb page for more information.

The Hunger Games is followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Both of these titles are also available at the teen library.

Are you getting enough sleep?

2011-05-17T13:29:00.051-04:00

Image via NPR.org

Did you know that when you're a teenager it is scientifically harder for you to fall asleep? According to Helene Emsellem, a sleep researcher at George Washington University, 9.25 hours is the amount teens should be sleeping each night. However, melatonin, a hormone that makes you sleepy, "is released later and later in the evening as teens get older". Because of this, most teenagers are only getting about 7 hours of sleep each night by the time they wake up for school. If you are exhausted when Friday rolls around, that's because you've lost about 10 hours of sleep by the end of the week! If you're trying to catch up on sleep during the weekend, that might make it even harder to fall asleep during the week!

What can you do? Emsellem has a few suggestions:
Cut off your caffeine intake, including chocolate, after midafternoon.
Take a 20 to 30 minute nap in the afternoon...just not when you're in class.
Listen to soothing sounds or an audiobook a half an hour before you're going to go to bed.
Make your room dark, with as few lights as possible, when you're trying to fall asleep.

Orginial article and information via NPR.

How would you describe a Kindle to Charles Dickens?

2011-05-16T13:20:00.003-04:00

Image via Gamma Squad

Where would you begin if you had to describe a Kindle to Charles Dickens? Rachel Walsh had to do just that for one of her classes at Cardiff School of Art and Design. How did she do it?

“I made the book start to finish over five days, and it took about 35 hours to make I reckon. It was pretty painstaking cutting out all the gaps in the book itself, and making the books to go inside. They’re all bound like actual books, so as I waited for them to glue and dry I would design the covers for them. All the covers are copies of real book covers. They include many of Dickens’s novels, his favorite childhood books, and some of my own.”
If you had to do her assignment and explain a modern piece of technology to someone who lived and died before 1900, who would you pick and what would you tell them? We're thinking Shakespeare would totally be into Twitter if he were alive today.

Link via Gamma Squad

Put Your Art on Display!

2011-05-05T19:14:00.000-04:00

Image courtesy of Andrea VanHorne

It's the 2nd Annual Teen Art Show, and we want to showcase all of artwork! All artists entering must reside in DeKalb County and be in middle or high school. All work must be original and your own, and 2D art does not need to be framed but please give it a matting if it needs one. The artwork will be classified by the judges as: oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, drawings, ceramics, sculpture, fibers, jewelry, black and white photography, color photography, stained glass, or carving.

It costs $10.00 for each of the first two entries and $2.00 a piece for any entries after that with a limit of five total per artist. All checks can be made payable to Friends of EPL, Inc.*

If you want to participate all of your entries need to be taken to the teen library on Tuesday, May 10th from 4:30 to 7:30. Bring your entry form with your money. The awards reception will be on Friday May 13th at 6:00 at Eckhart Public Library.

If you have any question about the art show, you can pick up a complate list of the rules and entry form at the teen library. You can also call us at 260-925-2414 ext. 620 or e-mail us at teens@epl.lib.in.us.

*If you would like to participate in the art show, but do not have the funding to do so, please contact us as soon as possible for some scholarship opportunities.

Strawberry Planting Time!

2011-04-29T20:59:00.001-04:00

Join us Monday May 2 at 4:30 for strawberry planting.
We will also be planting more onions, more lettuce and some radishes.
Snacks will be served to all hard working gardeners.

Do you want a good job? Read!

2011-04-25T13:59:00.000-04:00

Image via Daily Mail

The Telegraph recently published the results of a long-tern Oxford study. And what where those results? If you are an active reader as a teenager, you are more likely to to have a good job! 17,000 people who were born in May of 1970 were studied over the last 40 years, and both men and women who read as teenagers were, on average, more likely to have a good job. Exciting, eh?

According to the study, those who read for pleasure in their young adulthood had a larger vocabulary, and therefore, sounded more impressive in job interviews!

Read the article here!

If you want to amp up your vocabulary, check out some of our new books!

Are you looking for a book club?

2011-04-21T17:43:00.000-04:00

Search no more! The Harry Potter Alliance is in the process of creating a NING book club. Discussions will start on May 9th about the book Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Keep checking their website for more information. If you want to read Anna and the French Kiss, you can either check it out or put it on hold at the teen library!

New Nonfiction

2011-04-12T17:05:00.002-04:00

Mary's Masterpieces

2011-04-08T19:15:00.002-04:00

Watercolor Wonderland

Monday April 11 from 4:30 to whenever you're done painting

We will be exploring the world of watercolor. Bring your imaginations for a fun time with paint.

Snacks will be served.

The Teen Art Show is Coming!

2011-04-04T18:44:00.008-04:00

The 2nd Annual Teen Art Show is just around the corner! Enter to: share your talent, win cash prizes or to sell your artwork.

We will be accepting entries Tuesday May 10 from 4:30-6:30, so you have a little over a month to perfect your piece of artwork.

Teen Entry forms can be picked up at the Third Place Teen Library desk or you can print them from home. Click here to download the entry form, or go to the Eckhart Public Library link section of our website.

Book Week: Teen Choice Awards

2011-03-31T17:32:00.000-04:00

Vote for your favorite teen book of the year! Children's Book Week has it narrowed down to these following books; click on this link and vote!

April is National Poetry Month

2011-03-24T18:55:00.007-04:00

It's time again for the annual teen poetry contest. Click here to download the registration form. You can also pick up the form at the teen library. You must submit your original work to be eligible for prizes. First place: $20; Second Place: $10; Third Place: $5. Middle school (students in grades 6-8) and high school (students in grades 9-12) will be judged separately. Please turn in your original poetry with the registration form to the service desk at the teen library, 705 S. Jackson St. in Auburn. You may also e-mail your poem along with your name, grade, and phone number to teens@epl.lib.in.us. The deadline is April 23.

Don't forget to attend the poetry coffee house at 4:30 P.M. on Thursday, April 28.

Snack Cafe: Now Serving Breakfast Sandwiches

2011-03-23T13:01:00.000-04:00

Hungry? Try our new breakfast sandwiches! They are available in The Snack Cafe! Just tell a staff member that you'd like one. They, along with the rest of our meal options, are $1.00.

Other meal options include Pepperoni Hot Pockets, Chef Boyardee, and Easy Mac!

Lemonade Mouth: The Movie

2011-03-22T13:18:00.001-04:00

Mark Peter Hughes's novel Lemonade Mouth is about to hit the small screen! The Disney Channel will be premiering Lemonade Mouth on Friday, April 15th at 8/7C!

The book is about a group of teenagers who form a band after being thrown in deterntion together. Come into the teen library and check it out! The soundtrack will be soon be made available as well! For more information on the book, visit The Official Lemonade Mouth Page. For more information on the Disney Channel movie, visit their site too!

Spring is Near!

2011-03-19T15:05:00.002-04:00

We have been talking about it for a long time, but Spring is almost here and so is your chance to volunteer at The Third Place garden. Some teens have already helped with early garden preparations and planting, and every week there will be opportunities for you to help as well. You don't need to wait for the monthly garden programs, just stop by the teen service desk to find out how and when you can help. Currently we have flower starts and garlic coming up!

Mary's Masterpiece

2011-03-18T19:52:00.003-04:00

"Oil Painting"

Monday March 21
2-whenver you’re done painting

We will be dusting off the easels, getting out some canvas, opening up the oil paints and breaking out some serious brushstrokes. If the weather is nice, we will take our easels outside for a truly original oil painting experience.
Snacks will be available for starving artists.

This is What Plagiarism Looks Like

2011-03-12T16:07:00.000-05:00

German defence minister, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg recently resigned from his position. This resignation came after it was revealed that his doctorate (PhD Dissertation) was plagiarized.

Gregor Aisch took the plagiarism and made it graphic. "The dark red represents complete or masked plagiarism, while the lighter red represents different categories of plagiarism. Longer bars are for normal text, and small bars represent footnote lines." via flowingdata.

This is another example that shows how serious plagiarism really is. If you want help on how to avoid it in your school work and daily life, check out Plagiarism: A How-Not-To Guide for Students and Plagiarism.org!

Like Us & We'll Give You Hot Chocolate!

2011-03-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

If you get a friend of yours to like us, we'll give you both hot chocolate!

New Digital Books Link

2011-03-07T19:34:00.002-05:00

Check out our new Digital Books (TR) link located in our Eckhart Public Library Links section. This link will take you to a place of e-books you can read online and some you can download to your computer or e-reader. There are: chapter books, teen fiction, classics and drama/poetry books.

Go ahead and read one today!

Teen Tech Week: Geocaching

2011-03-05T14:34:00.003-05:00

Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a treasure seeking game. It can be played anywhere in the world, and using GPS technology, the player can find hidden treasure. Anyone with access to a GPS device can search for the geocache. There is even treasures hidden here, in Auburn, Indiana! Go to http://www.geocaching.com/about/ to learn more about geocaching and watch for a geocaching program, during Summer Reading Club.

New Fiction!

2011-03-03T20:20:00.002-05:00

When Are We Open?

2011-02-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

As Auburn prepares for yet another snowfall, we wanted to review when the teen library is closed, open, and opened with extended hours. See the chart below for details! If you have any questions be sure to ask a teen staff member. If you ever are unsure about our hours on a given day, you can call us at 924-2414 ex. 620. Be sure to check this blog and our Facebook page as those will reflect any closings or changes as soon as possible!

Finding New Books

2011-02-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

We promised you that there would be a plethora of new books after the new year, and a lot of them are here! Seriously, a lot of them. As a matter of fact, there are now three places you can find the new books at the teen library. In addition to our standard new books shelf, both display shelves are now holding brand new material. We're still waiting on a few titles and our graphic novels. So ask a staff member for what new material is available. Items like DS games, CD's, and video games are mixed in with the rest of the collection.

Calling All Artists!

2011-02-22T16:24:00.004-05:00

We are proud to announce the 2nd Annual Teen Art Show of DeKalb County! This art show will be held at the Teen Library in conjunction with the Adult 44th Annual Art Show. The Teen Art Show is open to middle school and high-school students from the DeKalb County area. The show runs from Friday May 13- Saturday May 21.

Entry fees are as follows: $10 each for the first two entries, $2 per additional entry with a limit of five entries,

Prizes are as follows: Best of Show $100, 1st Place $60, People's Choice $60, 2nd Place $40 and 3rd Place $30.

Middle School and High-school art will be judged separately.

Even if you don't win you have the option of selling your art work. To do so you need to download the Teen Art Show Parent/Guardian Permission Form. This form and the Teen Art Show Entry Form are located to the right of this post under the Eckhart Public Library Links section of our page. These links are also listed at the bottom of this post.

Good Luck to all who enter. If you have any questions call the Third Place Teen Library at 925-2414 ext. 620 or email Mary at mgraber@epl.lib.in.us.

Teen Art Show Entry Form

Teen Art Show Parent/Guardian Permission Form

(Click to download)

Take a look inside Pixar!

2011-02-16T14:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to The New York Times for this rare and awesome look inside of Pixar Animation Studios!

Emma Watson will star in 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'!

2011-02-11T17:25:00.000-05:00

We were already all sorts of excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II to come out this summer. Now, we're excited for another one of Emma Watson's upcoming projects. She has confirmed that she will be playing Sam, the first love of Charlie, in the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. For those of you who haven't read it, Wallflower was published in 1999 and was an Eliot Rosewater nominee in 2000 - 2001. Funnily enough, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the winner that year!

Have you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower? It's consistently on the ALA's challenged materials list. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you can check it out at the teen library. Actually, it's on the shelf right now!

Mary's Masterpiece

2011-02-10T15:50:00.004-05:00

Painting with Pastels

Monday, February 14 from 4:30-6

Artists have been using pastels for hundreds of years. Attendees will learn some interesting history of the art form and then create a pastel masterpiece for themselves.

Refreshments will be served.

We Have DS Games!

2011-02-08T19:42:00.001-05:00

The teen library now offers Nintendo DS games! They have a seven day check-out period just like our video games and software. Here are a few of our new titles:

Recycling 101

2011-02-07T16:00:00.002-05:00

Learn all about the wide world of recycling, including “pre-cycling” and making crafts!

Today at 4:30

Closed Due to Level 1 Snow Emergency

2011-02-02T09:51:00.000-05:00

Today, the teen library and the entirety of the Eckhart Public Library campus will remained closed due to the blizzard. The EPL Campus includes: the main library, teen library, genealogy center, and annex. For more information on our other public buildings, check out the EPL links in our sidebar!

We hope you all stay warm and safe. Enjoy the snow day, and Happy Groundhog Day! The big news is that he saw his shadow, so spring will come early. What fun timing that little scamp has. For more information on Groundhog Day, click here!

For more information on Blizzard 2011, click here!

Closed Due to Snow

2011-02-01T10:42:00.004-05:00

Due to inclement weather, the Third Place: A Teen Library will not be opening today, February 1st.

We're sorry for any inconvenience this causes. Enjoy your snow day, and please use caution when traveling!

Solve a Puzzle

2011-01-28T13:31:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is National Puzzle Day, and we want you to come celebrate! We'll have all kinds of puzzles, games, and brain teasers for you to test your mind with. Bring a friend or two and challenge them on who can finish first. There will definitely be snacks!

You can participate from 12:00 to 5:00!

If you want to get a head start, you can try your hand at This is Not Tom. For more information about the Internet riddle that is not Tom, check out John Green's introduction to Tom...or not Tom. Read it here!

We want to give you $50!

2011-01-25T16:42:00.000-05:00

Seriously. Do you wish you had $50 to buy books, video games, graphic novels, manga, CD's, and magazines? Well, we want to give it to you. All you have to do is participate in Winter Reading Club. Read a combination of 30 books, graphic novels, manga, and magazines, and you will be entered in the a drawing for a $50.00 Amazon.com gift card! You can also win books and coupons you can use at the teen library. So, in short, participate in Winter Reading Club! It runs until February 19th!

No Name-Calling Week

2011-01-24T16:01:00.000-05:00

This week is No Name-Calling Week, and we would like to encourage all of you to participate. Remember to think before you speak. How would you feel if you were being bullied? We've all heard about the tragic deaths of teenagers around the country this past year that could have easily been prevented. Remember, insulting someone is a form of bullying, and starting this week, no more name-calling. You all have the ability to make a difference! Really, you do.

For more information on No Name-Calling Week and how you can get involved, check out their website.

New Wii Games!

2011-01-22T15:52:00.005-05:00

Mary's Masterpiece

2011-01-21T16:29:00.004-05:00

Dare to Draw

Monday January 24

4:30-6pm

This is a program for people who draw, want to draw or think they can't draw. The mysteries of drawing will be unlocked and attendees will walk away with a masterpiece. Hot beverages and snacks will be served.

We have some new drawing books that will be used for the first time during the art program!

Click on any book to find it in the Teen Library's Collection.

Happy 100th Birthday, EPL!

2011-01-20T17:31:00.000-05:00

Eckhart Public Library opened its doors 100 years ago today! It has since remodled, grown, and expanded!

Come celebrate at the main library with some delicious cupcakes and punch.

We thank you for being awesome library users and hope to see just as wonderful people over the next hundred years.

Be sure to stop in next week for Mary's Masterpiece: Dare to Draw on Monday and Common Senses on Tuesday! Both programs start at 4:30! The Wii will also be available on Friday and Saturday for Game Day!

Join the Google Science Fair!

2011-01-18T16:54:00.000-05:00

Exciting news! Google is having their own science fair. If you are a public, private, or home schooled student between the ages of 13 and 18 you are eligible to participate! You do need your parent or guardian's permission and to have your entry in by April 4, 2011.

We strongly urge you to participate if you are lover of all things science. Not only will you get to compete on a global level, but the grand prize is beyond epic. If you win, Google will send you on a 10 day trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Expeditions where you will visit Darwin's living laboratory to see some amazing wildlife. You will also receive a $50,000 scholarship from Google; an experience with your choice of CERN, Google, the LEGO Group, or Scientific American; a personalised LEGO prize; and a prize package from Scientific American. Seriously! For more specific information about the grand prize and other prizes, click here.

Enter the Google Science Fair

For more information about the Google Global Science Fair, check out their website. To find out more about rules and eligibility, click here!

Calling all John Green, Harry Potter, and Zombie fans!

2011-01-17T12:42:00.001-05:00

For those of you who don't know about the Harry Potter Alliance, they are, an army of fans, activists, nerdfighters, teenagers, wizards and muggles dedicated to fighting for social justice with the greatest weapon we have-- love." And you can be one of them! They have many awesome, charitable campaigns going on, so be sure to checkout their website for more information. (You even have an opportunity to donate and win a signed set of Harry Potter books! Check it out, here!)

For all of you John Green fans out there, you can get an electronic copy of his zombie apocalypse novella in exchange for a $25 donation. This novella, entitled Zombicorns, will never be published and is not available anywhere else. Nerdfighters, be sure to act on this! For more information, check it out here!

P.S. You don't have to donate money in order to be a part of the Harry Potter Alliance, if you are interested in social justice and being a part of Dumbledore's Army, be sure to check out how you can get involved!

What's Your Sign?

2011-01-13T20:25:00.000-05:00

When you're wandering around on the Internet, it's next to impossible to avoid rumors, reality show results, and, unfortunately, spoilers. So, some of you may have already heard that the zodiac is all topsy turvy these days. What was your sign might not be your sign now...or maybe it still is.

Basically, the Earth rotates on an axis, but the axis isn't a constant. It can shift over time. Think weebles that wobble but don't fall down...on a planetary level. So, what does it mean and how does it change your horoscope? Well, some believe that this shift of alignment with the stars has added the additional sign of Ophiuchus. Personally, we think it has to be the sign of a majority of Death Eaters.

Although, some astrologists think everyone should just calm down. Ophiuchus has been around since Babylonian times, so it's definitely not a new concept. CNET has a great article all about the days of our zodiac lives; check it out here! We highly suggest that you do.

Washington Post doesn't think you should change your horoscope just yet...and here's why! We wish you the best of of luck deathing with all of these changes. If you're interestested in astrology and what your birthdate says about you, check out The Secret Language of Birthdays! It's currently available in the teen library!

Winter Weather

2011-01-11T18:39:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, DeKalb Central Students! You have a two-hour delay tomorrow! How many are hoping it turns into a cancellation? Probably a lot of you.

We just wanted to remind everyone that our hours do not change for two-hour delays or snow days. Sorry! Our hours do change for previously scheduled days off of school and a majority of federal holidays. The Eckhart Public Library Campus will close if there is a city-wide state of emergency. However, the teen library may close at 8:00, with the main library, on nights that there is inclement weather, but we will always make that call by 7:00. And we will be closing tonight at 8:00.

You can always call, e-mail, meebo chat, or check out blog and Facebook for this information. We will keep it up to date in these situations. Enjoy your extra time tomorrow!

New Year, New Books: Fiction 1

2011-01-07T14:42:00.000-05:00

It's a new year, and we definitely have new books, video games, and CD's. Actually we have so many new items that they won't all fit on one post or in one slide show! So, check out the first of our new fiction!

New Graphic Novels & Manga

2011-01-06T16:35:00.000-05:00

New Nonfiction

2010-12-31T13:40:00.000-05:00

New Fiction

2010-12-30T15:09:00.000-05:00

Holiday Hours CORRECTION

2010-12-29T14:14:00.000-05:00

Sorry, everyone! We made a mistake. We are not resuming our regular hours until Tuesday, January 4th. We will still be open from 12:00 to 8:00 on Monday, January 3rd.

On the 4th you can also join us for Two Year's Party! We will be celebrating two years of The Third Place complete with a cupcake decorating contest. The party starts at 4:30!

Happy Holidays from The Third Place!

2010-12-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

We hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday Season! We also wanted to remind you of our holiday hours:

Monday, December 27-Thursday, December 30

12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Friday, December 31

12:00 pm to 5:00

Saturday, January 1st

CLOSED

Happy New Year!

The following week, we will resume our hours of 4pm to 9pm! If you are ever unsure of our hours, check our calendar. You can also call 925-2414 ext. 620.

Meebo Questions Answered: Online Accounts

2010-12-22T18:25:00.002-05:00

We love getting questions on our Meebo account (the 'Ask A Librarian' widget on the right-hand side)! If you edit your nickname, it's definitely easier for us to get back to you on a personal level. It's easy to forget, though, so we will be answering some of our unnamed questions on our blog. Question 1: Your online library account. Did you know that you can place items on hold, download audio and e-books, and even renew your items online? Well, you totally can.

RENEW ITEMS

If you need to renew items that you have checked out, to our Public Access Catalog (PAC) and click on My Account (see above). It will ask your your library ID and pin number. Your library ID is the 12 digit number that is on your library card, under the barcode. When you enter this number, do not use any spaces. Then, enter your PIN. Your PIN is a four digit number that you would have given to a library staff number. If you do not have a PIN or have forgotten it, you will need to come into the library (main or teen) to set up a new one. Once you have, you can cick on Current Loans. This will give you the option to renew your items. If you have reached your maximum renewal limit or if there is an existing hold on the item, you will NOT be permitted to renew it, and we suggest you return it as soon as possible!

PLACE HOLD ON ITEMS

If you want to request an item that is checked out, you just need to search for the item in the PAC. When you find it, click on "Hold Request". You will need to enter your ID number in PIN in the box shown above. For more information on ID numbers and PINs, see above.

If you wish there was an item that we have but do not, or if you want to get an item we do not have from another library, visir our "Request/Reserve An Item" page.

DOWNLOAD AUDIO AND E-BOOKS

Click the image above for more information on downing audio and e-books from OverDrive. See staff members for specific questions and issues.

Don't Trash Your Wrapping Paper!

2010-12-18T13:56:00.000-05:00

Did you know that after you open your gifts and toss the wrapping paper to the side, there are a plethora of opportunities to make something awesome out of that paper? Instead of throwing it away, recycle your wrapping paper! Some papers can't be recycled in centers, but that doesn't mean you can't still put them to good use. With some creativity, you can turn them into bookmarks, coasters, place mats, bags, wreaths, and even re-imagined wrapping paper. Check-out these thinks to see how you can turn your wrapping paper into something new!

At Least 30 More Ways to Reuse Gift Wrapping Paper
15 Ways to Recycle Wrapping Paper That Don't Involve Gifts
Wrap and Roll: Earth-Friendly Wrapping Tips
9 Ways to Reuse Wrapping Paper

If you want to see if you can send your paper to a recycling center read these facts first!

We need suggestions!

2010-12-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

We will be purchasing some additional books and video games for our collection, and we would love your ideas! If there are any items you want us to have, please, let us know as soon as possible!

New Fiction

2010-12-02T17:11:00.000-05:00

New Nonfiction

2010-12-01T17:54:00.000-05:00

New Christian Fiction

2010-12-01T17:26:00.000-05:00

A Very Potter Thanksgiving

2010-11-27T14:59:00.002-05:00

At the teen library, we're thankful for Harry, Hermione, Ron, and especially Snape! Join fans for a movie release party to celebrate all things Potter with games, foodfrom Honeydukes, music, and more on Tuesday, November 30th from 4:30 to 6:30!

Has your love for the Harry Potter series been awakened? Check them out! We also highly reccommend the audiobooks! Really, they are just all kinds of awesome.

We're working on that floating pumpkins thing...but we're not making any gaurentees.

Beauty Green: Monday at 4:30 p.m.

2010-11-19T13:15:00.004-05:00

Join Mindy this Monday at 4:30 to learn how to make your own skin care products to keep your face and the earth clean and healthy. Make these products for yourself or for gifts.

Chat With Us!

2010-11-16T20:36:00.002-05:00

Have you ever wanted to ask a teen staff member something but the library was closed? Have you ever wanted to ask a question but not in front of other patrons? Well, we have great news for you! You can now chat with us through meebo. On the right hand side of this blog, you should see the "Chat With Us" box, just type in your question into the meebo widget, and we will be more than happy to answer your questions! Even if the library is closed or we are "offline", you can still leave us a message, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you do leave us a message, be sure to edit your nickname to your name or patron ID number so we can get back to you. All conversations are private to you and your computer screen. We have tested them, and your conversation will NOT be seen from other patrons viewing our blog. If you have your own meebo account, you can also chat with us there; our meebo ID is: eplteens3!

Meebo intergrates many instant messaging and social networking programs, so if you have an account with AIM, Yahoo, Facebook, Windows Live, MySpace, GTalk, ICQ, Jabber, or myYearbook, you can use them through meebo!

IPFW English Major Lives Her Fantasy

2010-11-16T16:57:00.000-05:00

Ashli Edwards, an IPFW English Major, recently self-published a fantasy novel that she's spent three years writing.

Silver is the first in a trilogy that tells the star-crossed story of supernatural enemies that found love in each other.

To read more about Silver and Ashli's journey towards publication, check out the News Sentinel's recent article!

Are you interested in self-publishing your own book? Check out Indie Publishing: How to Design and Produce Your Own Book!

Image via The News Sentinel

Is NaNoWriMo making your brain explode?

2010-11-16T09:44:00.000-05:00

If you are participating in NaNoWriMo 2010, you know that you're a little over the halfway point. You probably also want to bang your head into something. If you don't, that's awesome! Keep up the good work! However, If you are getting really frustrated with character development, plot lines, grammar, and language, you are not alone. Author, and NaNoWriMo participant, John Green has some advice for all of you:

"Dear NaNoWriMo Author,

Way down deep in the dark archives of my hard drive, I have a folder called Follies, which contains an impressive collection of abandoned stories: There's the zombie apocalypse novel about corn genetics, the sequel, the one about the Kuwaiti American bowling prodigy, the desert island novel, and many more. These stories have only one thing in common: They're all about 25,000 words.

Why do I quit halfway in? I get tired. It's not fun anymore. The story kind of sucks, and it's hard to sit down every day and spend several hours eating from a giant bowl of suck. And most of all, like the kid who spends hours preparing plastic armies for war, I enjoy setting things up more than I enjoy the battle itself. To finish something is to be disappointed. By definition, abandoned novels are more promising than completed ones.

You have likely reached the moment in this insane endeavor when you need a rock-solid answer to the question of why, precisely, you are trying to write a novel in a month. You have likely realized that your novel is not very good, at least not yet, and that finishing it will be a hell of a lot less fun than starting it was.

So quit. Quit now, or if you're among the many of us who've already quit, stay quit. Look, we are all going to die. The whole species will cease to exist at some point, and there will be no one left to remember that any of us ever did anything: Our creations, all of them, will crumble, and the entire experiment of human consciousness will be filed away, unread, in the Follies folder of the great interstellar hard drive. So why write another word?

Sorry. I reached the halfway point of this pep talk and tumbled, as one does, into inconsolable despair.

Here's my answer to the very real existential crisis that grips me midway through everything I've ever tried to do: I think stories help us fight the nihilistic urges that constantly threaten to consume us.

At this point, you've probably realized that it's nearly impossible to write a good book in a month. I've been at this a while and have yet to write a book in less than three years. All of us harbor secret hopes that a magnificent novel will tumble out of the sky and appear on our screens, but almost universally, writing is hard, slow, and totally unglamorous. So why finish what you've started? Because in two weeks, when you are done, you will be grateful for the experience. Also, you will have learned a lot about writing and humanness and the inestimable value of tilting at windmills.

Something else about my Follies folder: It contains the final drafts of my novels Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, and Paper Towns. They are follies, too—finished ones. Whether you're reading or writing, there is nothing magical about how you get from the middle of a book to the end of one. As Robert Frost put it, “The only way out is through.”

So here's the pep part of my pep talk: Go spit in the face of our inevitable obsolescence and finish your @#$&ng novel.

Best wishes,

John Green"

You heard him, get writing! If you are participating in NaNoWriMo, let us know!

Meet Andy Warhol on Monday

2010-11-12T15:51:00.002-05:00

No, he's not back from the grave, but his artisitic spirit will be visiting the teen library next week. You can learn about Andy Warhol and his art with Mary this Monday at 4:30.

Organ Trail

2010-11-09T19:59:00.002-05:00

Some geniuses at The Men Who Wear Many Hats have created a modern, zombie apocalypse version of Oregon Trail. It's become your favorite teen librarians' favorite time waster. Click on the picture to play the game.

Garden Party

2010-11-09T16:27:00.002-05:00

If you missed the Garden Party last night, never fear! There is a table set up in the cafe with information about the teen garden. You can sign up to volunteer. Also, paint some stakes and pots if you get a chance.

November Issue of TABloid

2010-11-03T18:07:00.002-04:00

The poll results are in. No, this has nothing to do with the national elections.

You voted to name the teen newsletter TABloid. In this month's issue you can find our activity schedule, new materials, and featured articles about logos, school food, and book reviews.

Click on Newsletter tab for a list of recent issues, or click on the picture to read this month's newsletter.

Sometimes Writing is Scary

2010-11-02T16:34:00.002-04:00

Debut writer Flynn Meaney dishes about the top five scariest aspects of writing over at Teenreads.com.

In honor of NaNoWriMo, conquer your fear and write it out.

Zombie School: Academics for the Undead

2010-10-28T17:33:00.000-04:00

ZOMBIE SCHOOL

It's good for your braaaains...

Do you ever feel undead at school? Well, at zombie school, it's encouraged! Join Darcy on Saturday, October 30th at 1:00 and explore all things zombie. You'll learn how to walk like a zombie, talk...err groan...like a zombie, and race like a zombie.

If you would like to read some books about the undead, we definitely have them. Click here or come in an ask a teen library staff member about it. We'd be more than happy to suggest a few of our favorites!

NaNoWriMo!

2010-10-27T17:03:00.001-04:00

Ahh, soon Halloween will be over. We will have gorged ourselves on candy and can look forward to gorging ourselves in turkey in a few weeks. Aside from food, November is also time for NaNoWriMo! What is NaNoWriMo, you ask? An excellent question. It is National Novel Writing Month. Participants will take the thirty days of November to write a 50,000 word novel. Really! If you are interested you can sign up on their website! To be declared a NaNoWriMo winner, you must finish your 50,000 words by November 30th. If you have any questions, you can check out their FAQ page, and we definitely suggest that you do!

You can write about anything you want! That's right, you have total literary freedom to express yourself . If you plan on participating in NaNoWriMo, let us know! We are prepared to ask lots of questions and would love to read your novels! If you're interested, we can even include finished novels in our local authors section. Just ask a teen library staff member for details!

New Graphic Novels & Manga

2010-10-23T15:23:00.000-04:00

JFK Essay Contest!

2010-10-21T18:50:00.000-04:00

John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Essay Contest

All* high school students (public, private, or home school) are elliglble to participate in the John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Essay Contest. Anytime between now and Satuday, January 8, 2011, you can submit your essay of no more than 1,000 words about how an elected official demonstrated political courage. If your essay is selected, you could win $10,000 - a $5,000 in cash and $5,000 to grow in a John Hancock Freedom 529 College Savings Plan. You will also be invited to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston to receive your award. A second place prize of $1,000 cash is also given as well as up to five $500 finalist prizes.

For more information about the rules and contest in general, visit the website!

If you are interested in Profiles in Courage, we have some copies available at the library!

*Past winners and finalists are not eligible to participate. Employees of John Hancock Financial Services and members of their families are not eligible to participate.

New Nonfiction

2010-10-21T16:55:00.000-04:00

New Fiction

2010-10-20T18:32:00.000-04:00