Eclipse is Here!

Alright you Twilight lovers...

Our new copy of Eclipse the movie has arrived.

Why pay when you can borrow it for free?


Click here to place a hold in our catalog.


You will be called when your copy arrives!

December Events at the Library!

YA LIBRARY PROGRAMS
Lots of great stuff coming up for us this month!
Please forward this on to any friends who might be interested.

Make and Take Gifts : Wednesday December 8th 3:30-5pm (Come in to make last
min. gifts! (embroidered bangles, magazine collage, and a gift wrap station
for those last minute friends and family members on your list!) Be sure to
send a return email if you'd like to join us for this one, I'll need to
know how many supplies to pick up. This program maxes out at 12
participants~

Drop in Book Discussion Party at Essex Books!
Wednesday December 22nd at 4pm
Bring your favorite book from the past year
(or a list of favorites if you
must... :)We'll have holiday cookies and chat
about book group for the new
year!
4pm

December 21st 4-6pm
Movie Showing, you pick! Have a winter favorite or other title you'd like
to see on the big screen? The room is reserved for you! Send in a vote for
your pick and the title will be announced that week. Popcorn served.

December 28th 4-6 pm
School Vacation
A Christmas Story Movie Showing
Popcorn Served

If I Stay Discussion 11/17 @ 4pm!

Hello again YA Book Club Members!

We'll be meeting again this Wednesday night at the library to discuss If I Stay by Gayle Forman. (4pm) A short but moving novel, it's PERFECT for discussion.

If you haven't had a chance to read this book, we'd love to have you come discuss it with us anyway...according to the author, the end is up for exploration and we'll be careful not to divulge any spoilers. : )

We'll also be snacking and making plans for our next YA book club meeting on Holiday vacation.
Bring an idea for which book you would like to read next...or a suggestion for a holiday party activity. See you soon! Sincerely, Jessica

Rotating Collection Feature

Title Feature

Fall Rotation
Romeo & Juliet

Description:
Harper Teen Publishers have re-printed Romeo and Juliet with a spin. Here we have the classic story of forbidden love by Shakespeare himself paired with:

Juliet's Story by Jaqueline Ritten - the precursor to the classic.

Not to mention an excerpt entitled:

What if Romeo and Juliet lived now and had Facebook?

Excerpt:
"When Romeo first lays eyes on the bewitching Juliet, it's love at first sight. But hough thier love runs true and deep, it is also COMPLETELY forbidden. With family and fate determined to keep them apart, will Romeo and Juliet find a way to be together?

Juliet:
How cam'st though hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.

Romeo:
With love's light wings did I o'erperch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt.
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let tom me.

Juliet:
If they see thee, they will murder thee...

Get a copy today!

YA Book Club - November Meeting

YA book club has selected a book for our next meet!We are meeting a week earlier than usual so that we have the week off for Thanksgiving. We'll be meeting on November 17th at at 4pm at the Essex Library.

For November's discussion we have voted in:

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Here's why we picked it!:

"Seventeen year-old Mia is faces with some tough choices. Stay true to her first love - music, even if it means losing her boyfriend and leaving her family and friends behind?

Then one February morning, Mia goes for a drive with her family and in an instant, everything changes. Suddenly, all of the choices are gone - except one. It's the only one that matters. "

Can't wait to see you at the next book discussion!

YA Book Club @ Essex Books!

Join us for our monthly YA book club meet up - this Wednesday, October 27th @ 4pm. We'll be meeting at Essex Books this time, so you may need to take the late bus toward downtown Essex.

This book club meeting doubles as a Halloween Party!! We'll have baked snacks and candy and will be awarding a prize for best Halloween costume...

We'll be discussing The Reformed Vampire Support Group - but you are more than welcome to join us even if you didn't have time to read the book.

Can't wait to see you there!

Rotating Collection Feature

Title Feature

Book 2 : Fall Rotation
Never Cry Werewolf

Description:
Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately. But her stepmother totally overreacts when she packs Shelby off to brat camp. Suddenly, it's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.

Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of rock star) Austin Bridges III. Soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material - his family has a dark secret and he wants Shelby's help guarding it...

Excerpt:
"Hello?" I called out. I peeked around the corner of the giant mixer toward the bank of sinks, but I didn't see the cook. Maybe she was fixing her hairnet. "Um, I'm just here to get some-- slurrggrrff! A bizarre animal noise made me spin back toward the kitchen door."

Get a copy today!

Click here to find this title in our catalog and to place a hold.
Remember to have your library card barcode ready!
Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click the request/hold button.

Rotating Collection Feature

Title Feature

Book 1 : Fall Rotation
Alabama Moon by Watt Key

Description:
For as long as Moon can remember, he has lived in the forest in a shelter with his father. They kept to themselves, aside from occasional trips to the general store. When Moon's father dies, Moon is quickly caught up in a world he doesn't know or understand; he's become property of the government he's be avoiding all his life. As the spirited and resourceful Moon encounters constable, jails, institutions, lawyers, true friends, true enemies, he adapts his wilderness skills and learns to survive in the outside world, and even, perhaps, make his home there.

Excerpt:
Just before Pap died, he told me that I'd be fine as long as I never depended on anybody but myself. He said I might feel lonely for a while, but that would go away. I was ten years old and he'd taught me everything I needed to know about living out in the forest. I could trap my own food and make my own clothes. I could find my way by the stars and make fire in the rain...

Get a copy today!

Click here to find this title in our catalog and to place a hold.
Remember to have your library card barcode ready!
Just scroll to the bottom of the page and click the request/hold button.

Introducing YA Rotating Collection!!!

Hey readers!
I thought I'd let you in on a new installment at the Essex Library - the YA Rotating Collection.This is a new collection that will revolve in and out of our YA department every few months. This will give us a chance to sample new titles and get our hands on books we might not otherwise have.

Every week I will highlight a rotating book of the week on the blog. This highlight will include a little description, short excerpt and cover image. There will also be a link to our catalog in case you would like to order it from home.

Come check out our rotating department on the front stacks of the the YA corner today!

Come get a good book!

Many of you have been in to see our YA collection and have in fact read most of the titles in our little department. If you're in the mood for something new (and considered fabulous by other teens) stop by!

We've got our YALSA top ten nominee display up and running for the month of October. Teens around the country have nominated a slew of titles that they find award winning for 2010. There are currently multiple copies of each title - come check one out today!

YA Book Club - October

Our book selection for the next YA Book Club has been picked...

We'll be reading The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks for our Halloween book meet at Essex Books! (Oct 27th, 4pm)



10 copies of the book will be stocked in the YA department - come grab a copy today!

Great Pizza Taste Off is Under Way!

October is National Pizza Month.
We couldn't think of a better topic to celebrate.

We decided to host a pizza taste off...and even better? Four local pizza restaurants have agreed to donate giant pizzas for the cause.

By registering, you get to join the fun by sampling and voting for the best mystery pizza that you taste. Do you know your local pizza well enough to be able to identify the creator?

Stop in to discover the local first place winner on Thursday, October 7th from 4-5pm Register today! Call 767-1560 or email Jessica at jbranciforte@essexlib.org

Vote!

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
Vote now for the 2010 YALSA Teens' Top Ten!
Voting takes place through September 17. You can vote online here.

Here are the titles you'll have to choose from ...

Watersmeet
by Ellen Jensen Abbott.
Wintergirls
by Laurie Halse Anderson
Hate List
by Jennifer Brown
Heist Society
by Ally Carter
Fire
by Kristin Cashore
City of Glass
by Cassandra Clare
The Roar
by Emma Clayton
Catching Fire
by Suzanne Collins
Along for the Ride
by Sarah Dessen
Incarceron
Catherine Fisher
hush hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman
Beautiful Creatures
by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd
Edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
Dragonfly
by Julia Golding
The Reformed Vampire Support Group
by Catherine Jinks
I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President
by Josh Lieb
Twenty Boy Summer
by Sarah Ockler
Witch and Wizard
by James Patterson
By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead
by Julie Anne Peters
Bloodhound
by Tamora Pierce
Strange Angels
by Lili St. Crow
Shiver
by Maggie Stiefvater
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
by Nagaru Tanigawa
Leviathan
by Scott Westerfeld
City of Fire
by Laurence Yep

More than 11,000 teens voted in the 2009 Teens' Top Ten, with Paper Towns by John Green topping the list.

Hunger Games Trilogy

Hello Hunger Games fans! While we're sure you may have heard, the trilogy is now complete. Suzanne Collins has completed the three part series with Mocking Jay which is now available. Come in to borrow a copy from our shelf, or place your name on a hold list today!

P.S. Our sources say that Hunger Games the Motion Picture will be released in the spring of 2011. We've also heard that the screen play is written by Suzanne Collins herself. So far it's looking good!

Check out the author's website for more details here:
http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/works.htm

Congrats to Riley Sullivan for winning our summer book trailer competition! Check out his book recommendation below and feel free to ask if you'd like to borrow our filming equipment for your own!

Looking for the Next Vampire Saga?

The first in a sizzling new YA series, this one has an interesting spin.
This Vampire Queen novel is sure to gain attention fast.

Check out the book trailer!

Create a book Trailer at the Essex Library!

We know you're all working hard to get your summer reading projects done this month. Why not take a fun and easy route and make a book trailer?

Check out this video made by Riley Sullivan for the book They Broke the Law-You Be the Judge by Thomas Jacobs.

Be sure to come in before August 20th to use our Flip Camera and join our Book Trailer Film contest to take a chance at winning a prize!

Questions? We've got answers! Email jbranciforte@essexlib.org
or call 860-767-1560

Ice Cream Social!

We know you've been working hard to stay busy this summer....

Come join us for our ice cream social on Wednesday, August 11th at 3pm!!

We'll be creating our own sundaes and will be

watching a summer surf film as we eat.

Can't wait to see you there!

Summer Reading is almost Here!

Hey all!

It's officially summer reading season here at the Essex Library. School is almost out and summer is upon us. Woo hoo!

We've got a ton of great YA programs to look forward to, including a reading program that will earn you a feature on our blog and a gift certificate to Sweet P's Ice Cream. We're also offering a free all day ride pass to Quassy Amusement Park for anyone who reads three books this summer.

Here's a sneak peek into June, July and August...


June 30th
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Think you're good at deciphering maps and clues? All you need is a working camera for this one. Come to the library to pick up your clues map and photo album today @ 3pm.


July 7th
Movie Showing: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif


July 14th
Book Trailer Workshop #1 - Filming and Storyboarding using Movie Maker, iMovie and One True Media


July 28th
Game Day! Show off your competitive skills with Wii, Scene It, DDR and various board games


August 4th
Book Trailer Workshop #2 - Editing book trailers using Movie Maker, iMovie, and One True Media


August 11th
Ice Cream Social and Surf Film Festival


August 18th Pizza Taste Off!!
Help us find the best tasting pizza in town...


August 25th
Show off your work at the Book Trailer Film Contest!



Interested in the ongoing reading program?
Come in and fill out a book review to be posted in our teen reader display and pick up reading log for the summer!

Last GirlZone Date: 06/01

Our last meeting for GirlZone is here at the library on June 1st!
We have had to cancel due to school engagements over the past few weeks.
Cooking with Judie and Jessica has been postponed and will be a teen program later this summer.


Join us next Tuesday for our awards ceremony and a visit from Mary Boone!


See you next time!

Next GirlZone Meeting!

Thanks for joining us for GirlZone last week!








This week we'll be learning about Internet Safety and Predator Awareness and we'll be meeting in the big program room. Looking forward to seeing you at the library around 6:00pm!!

Next GirlZone Meeting....

Have you survived Pilates??? I think I'm still sore...: )

Our next GirlZone meeting will be here at the library on April 20th (the week after school vacation.)

We're looking forward to two speakers this time: JoAnne Carter and Kathleen Tamborlane of Education Solutions in Essex. They've got great advice on school and career choices will share tips and tools on how to prepare throughout middle and high school.

GirlZone Meeting #2

Hey All!

Our next meeting for GirlZone is scheduled to meet on April 6th at Essex Pilates with Vicky Tobia.
This session will begin a little later than usual at 6:15pm. Don't forget to wear comfortable clothes - this is going to be a fun one!

GirlZone Cancelled for Tonight!

Due to excessive rain and puddles GirlZone is canceled for tonight! We'll be meeting again next Tuesday at 6:00 pm.

Upcoming GirlZone Sessions....

Thanks for joining us for the first week of GirlZone!!
Here's what you can expect for next time....

Week 2 - March 30

Girl Talk!

Two fabulous local businesswomen Mary Boone and Monique Bauman will conduct an interactive session about communication and how important it is during the teen years.

Week 3 - April 6

Healthy Living

Vicky Tobia of Essex Pilates invites the GirlZone group to her studio at 2 Knot Lane in Essex for an evening of Pilates and learning how to take care of their bodies. **This session will begin at 6:15 at Essex Pilates. Please meet there this week.**

Week 4 - April 20

School, Life and Career Choices

JoAnne Carter and Kathleen Tamborlane of Education Solutions in Essex will talk about school and career choices and how to prepare through middle and high school.

Week 5 - April 27

Martial Arts and Personal Safety

Heddy Watrous of Valley Shore Martial Arts in Centerbrook will teach a short class and talk about keeping safe in many situations.

Week 6 - May 4

Healthy Skin, Hair and Body Image

Eileen Perkins, a local esthetician, beauty and skin care specialist will teach hair and skin care that brings out optimal natural beauty.

Week 7 - May 11

Internet Safety And Predator Awareness

A local expert on Internet safety will show how to stay safe on the Internet including discussions on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, blogging, etc.

Week 8 - May 18th

Cooking With Judie and Jessica

Discover some delicious dishes with Judie McCann and Jessica Branciforte and wrap up what has been learned with GirlZone.

March Teen Book Review

Readers can't stop talking about Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater!!!

A review from one of our favorite teen patrons..........

"I promised you I'd tell you about *Shiver*, the book I got from the library

the other day. Well, it was by far the best book I have ever read. No,
that's an understatement. However, I don't think there are words to describe
it. The only person who could describe it vividly enough would be Maggie
Stiefvater, the author. Her writing is amazing. You share the lust, and the
joy, as well as the anguish and hopelessness with all the characters. You
are there, in the story!!! uuummmmm...in a nutshell, it was a good book."

So can you live without this book?

We think not!!

Call us or visit for a copy today!!

GirlZone is Back!!

This just in! GirlZone is BACK!!

We have been working really hard to get wonderful presenters and topic presentations for GirlZone here at the Essex Library this spring.

Here's what you need to know!

GirlZone is an 8 week series celebrating self esteem in girls grades six-eleven.
It happens Tuedays from 6:00pm - 7:30 starting March 16.
We ask that those involved try to make it to each session.

Topics include:
Beauty on the inside and out (Dove Real Beauty Campaign)
Healthy skin, hair make up and nutrition
Internet safety and predator awareness
Physical fitness and personal safety
Getting creative in the kitchen
Building self esteem to achieve your goals

We have very limited space! We can only take 12 girls - and we have already started to get phone calls!! Please let us know if you would like to sign up by calling us at 860-767-1560 or emailing Jessica at jbranciforte@essexlib.org

We can't wait to see you!

Teen Valentine Night 2/9/10 @ 6pm

Drop in for a crafty valentine night for teens. We'll be making Twilight inspired valentines, paper fortune cookie messages and decorative banners. All supplies and snacks provided.
(There might even be donuts...)

We only have 12 openings for this one....so be sure to email or call to register! Music and snacks provided.

Email Jessica at jbranciforte@essexlib.org or call in at 860-767-1560

See you there!

Teen Movie Showing Tues Night!

The vote is in...we'll be showing 17 Again this Tuesday @ the Essex library for students grades 6 and up. We're meeting at 4 pm in the library program room. We've got a new Bose surround sound system and popcorn for the crowd.

We do request that you have a permission slip signed by parent or guardian if you are under 13, however. If you would like to come and need a slip, send Jessica an email and a copy will be sent to you!

jbranciforte@essexlib.org

Looking forward to seeing you, as always!

Midnight Sun Discussion TONIGHT!

Hey all!

Thanks for signing up for our much anticipated Midnight Sun Discussion!
It will take place tonight in the Program room from 6-7 pm
If you haven't had a chance to sign up but would like to attend, please - join us!

We've got a lot to discuss.
What's up with the blog post that claims Midnight Sun will be Released in March of 2010?
What's up with the rumor that Stephanie Meyer will be adding a new book to her series "Full Moon" (From the perspective of Jacob)?

We'll have some snacks, get to the bottom of the rumors and talk about the chapter that's making everyone crazy.

Can't wait to see you there!

VOTE FOR THE MOVIE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE!!

We officially have our name on the little library theater for January 26th @ 3:30 pm. Your vote (in the comment area or sent to Jessica at jbranciforte@essexlib.org) will help us choose which film to feature!

Here are some choices:

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
17 Again
Aquamarine
Juno
G force (May be fore kids but still hilarious)
Up

Know any oldies but goodies?
If we don't have what you want here, make a suggestion!! We can get almost anything from the state.

Love a tv show that's on DVD? We can always make a regular showing of something like Glee or another show you can't get enough of.

We'll announce the film on or before Feb. 25th!!

January Programs for Teens!!!

January Programs!!
Upcoming Programs for Teens @ the Essex Library....

January 5th – December Contest Winners Announced on the Blog!

Tuesday January 12 6-7pm - Midnight Sun Book (Chapter) Discussion

Tuesday January 19th 6-7:30pm - Scene It Twilight Trivia Night
From January 10-25th vote for your favorite movie option on our blog.....
Tuesday January 26th 3:30 – 5:30: Teen Movie Showing
(With our new BOSE surround sound system!)

Contest Winners Revealed!!!

Thanks to all those who participated in our December Giveaway Contest!! Many awesome suggestions were submitted regarding our YA collection - suggestions so awesome it was downright hard to decide.

Our fist place winner - recipient of a gift card to Essex Books is.......
Danna R. for her suggestion of "Black Duck" by Janet Taylor Lisle.
A few teens have asked to put this book on hold from other libraries - and others have asked why we don't have it. Danna's write up and submission was just what we needed to get the ball rolling. We will be buying Black Duck for our teen library collection and it will include a bookplate with Danna's name on it. We will also be considering Black Duck as an upcoming teen book discussion title.

Thanks Danna!!

Our Second Place Winner:

Christina M. for her suggestion of Thin Ice by Marsha Qualey. Christina's submission review will be published on our blog, and we hope to purchase this book for our collection in the next month!!

Thanks to all who participated!!

Sincerely,
Jessica and Essex Library Staff