Let's hear it for vacation!

Today is the last day of school before winter break here in Mountain View, and I know lots of people who are thrilled to have some time off school.

After a couple of days of sleeping in and watching crummy TV you may start to get bored; if so, you can come to the library for something to read (or play, or listen to!)

The library will be closed some days during the break (12/24 through 12/27, 12/31 through 1/3) but other than that we're open for business as usual.

There are lots of great new books on the shelves, some new manga series, and I've ordered a bunch of music lately that should be coming in soon (and you can place a hold on once they are in the catalog).

Just today I got in:

Bronxwood by Coe Booth, the sequel to Tyrel

Tegami Bachi volume 7

A Web of Air by Philip Reeve, the sequel to Fever Crumb

Ashfall by Mike Mullin, a dystopic novel set after the eruption of Yellowstone

Click on any title to see the catalog entry. These won't be on the shelves today, but hopefully will be there over the weekend. You can place a hold on them while the status still says "at processing"

Homework Help - here's the scoop

It's getting close to the end of the semester, and with final projects and exams coming up you may need some help.

You can get free help with your homework in the Teen Zone, did you know that?

Here's the info:
Who: we hire high school students to help anyone (in grades 6-12) who needs help with homework.
Where: in the Teen Zone
When: Monday - Thursday 3:30 to 6:00, ALSO Monday and Thursday evenings 6:00 to 8:30

There's no need to sign up, just come in and ask!

There's even more Teen Zone!

If you come to the Teen Zone and look around you may notice a change - we got more shelves! The graphic novels and the teen fiction books now have a lot more room, it's much easier to find things (plus it's much easier to put the books away!)

We haven't updated the signs yet and things may be in a different spot than where you're used to finding them, but keep looking, it's all there!

Plus, there's more new manga coming in all the time, I keep finding new series to buy!

Free College Financial Aid Program

Tomorrow night is the last of our FREE College Application Seminars.

Thursday, December 1, 7:00 to 8:30 in the Community Room at the Mountain View Public Library, Think Tank Learning will present a seminar on Navigating the Financial Aid Process.

This program is open to teens and their parents.

Advance registration is required, click here to register.

Who is Erin Hunter?

And how can she write so many books so fast?

Erin Hunter, in case you've been living under a rock or don't pay any attention to YA books, is the author of the book phenomenon known as The Warriors series. (She is also the author of the Seekers series, which isn't as numerous or as popular).

If you include the novels, the field guides, the Super Editions, and the manga, there are currently 41 Warriors books, with four more scheduled to be published in the next 18 months. And they've all been published in the last 8 years!

I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels like I can barely read that many books in that amount of time, never mind write that many! So how does she do it?

Easy. "She" is actually five different people!

Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Tui Sutherland and Victoria Holmes write the novels, and Dan Jolley writes the manga.

They chose the last name "Hunter" because it works with the notion of feral cats, and because the books would be shelved on bookshelves near the books by Brian Jacques, another author of wild animal novels!

Great Music Links - by Stephanie

Interesting Songs For Teens:

Speed Over Beethoven - Have you ever heard Beethoven? Have you ever felt that his songs would be better if they were played at a faster speed? Well, then hear this remix and you will be amazed.

Love You Like a Love Song- Selena recently published her new song. The video effects in this video are much more complex than in her previous music videos.

Chipettes version of " Hips Don't Lie" - Do you like the chipmunks or chipettes? This is the chipettes' really cute famous song.

These links are courtesy of Stephanie, one of the Library's fabulous Teen Advisory Group members!

Art Contest - win some bank!

As part of Mountain View Reads Together the Mountain View Library is calling all artists to enter an art contest in connection with the book "Eearth" by Bill McKibben.

Click here for more information about the contest.

There will be prizes awarded in three age ranges, with prizes as follows:

Children to age 12 - $50
Ages 13-17 - $100
Ages 18 and up - $100

The contest deadline is October 31st.

Copies of the art contest flier are available in the Teen Zone.