April 2011

Young Adult Round Table
Volume 3 Issue 2
YART Connections
April 2011
ULA 2011 Conference
By Carrie Rogers-Whitehead YART Chair Salt Lake County Library
This year’s ULA conference will be
held Wednesday May 11 through
Friday May 13th at the Davis Conference Center in Layton. This
year’s theme is “Utah Libraries: at
the core of our communities.”
YART has a full lineup of programs
to keep you informed and interested. Learn how to stay in your
budget from Crafts on a Dime on
Thursday at 11am. If that’s not your
thing, at the same time learn more
about Urban Lit from Word on the
Street. Don’t leave early because
Friday afternoon starting at 11am
there are three programs just for
librarians who work with teens:
Working with Teen Volunteers,
Groups, Gatherings and Grandiose
Ideas for Teens, and learn how to
make your own book/film club plus
more at Books into Movies.
List of Teen Authors appearing at ULA: (subject to
change)
Todd C. Noker and Zack Shutt
Shelia Nielson Emily Wing Smith
Lara Zielin
Kristen Landon
Aaron Hawkins
Wendy Toliver
Adam Selzner
YART will have a back to back author panel on Thursday May 12
from 1:45-4pm followed directly
by author signings in the Eclipse
Expo. Books will be available for
sale and signing.
Check out the YART’s
conference schedule at:
http://conference.ula.org/cat
egory/program-type/youngadult-round-table-yart
Come by the YART/CSRT booth
in the exhibition hall to pick up
some goodies and learn more
about being a YART or CSRT
member. Also, a special YART
pin will be available at the conference for all YART members.
Also, there will be a Teen author
panel that you can’t miss. (See
below)
Inside this issue:
People Profile
-Tech Tip
2
-Get on Board the
Steampunk Express!
3
Skype an Author
4
-Starting a Graphic
Novel Book Club
5-6
-Creating Connections:
Magna Library
7
-Refugee Youth
8
Come more learn about YART or
CSRT and help plan our fall
conference at a business meeting
Friday May 13th at 8am. Anyone
and everyone is invited. Breakfast will be provided.
ULA conference is a great way to
improve your skills as well as
meet fellow librarians who work
with teens. Come to network,
come to learn, and most of all,
come to have fun! Hope to see
you there.
Keep updated
with YART.
Check out
news and
happenings at
www.ula.org
under the
Roundtables
link.
YART Connections
Page 2
Creating Connections: People Profile
By Jordan Triptow and J.D. Hamil Salt Lake City Library
J.D. Hamil is a Library Assistant at Salt Lake City Public Library’s Sprague
Branch. He’s worked for the City Library for nine years in November. He is
highly valued by the City Library’s Teen Work Group because he gives the
group its sole male perspective and he is a talented and enthusiastic member.
Jordan Triptow: What are you reading now?
J.D. Hamil
Salt Lake
City LibrarySprague
Branch
J.D. cites “Dr.
Who” as his
hobby. If you want
to contact J.D.
e-mail :
[email protected]
I keep a book at home and one at work. At home I’m reading Marcel Proust’s
Swann’s Way. At work I’m reading Hollywood Hellraisers: The wild lives
and fast times of Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty, and Jack
Nicholson by Robert Sellers.
I subscribe to a lot of comics. Top five favorites right now: Amazing Spiderman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Doctor Who, and Jonah Hex.
Jordan: What do you like best about your job?
I love getting to recommend movies and talk movies with the patrons.
Jordan: What do you like best about being on the Teen Work
Group?
Fun conversations. I love getting to meet everyone at the programs. One of
the best times I’ve had so far was making my “I love Coco,” (Conan O'Brien,)
zine at the zine workshop.
Jordan: What is your favorite book and movie?
Movies: Halloween, The Apartment, The Graduate, Rocky Horror Picture
Show, There Will Be Blood
Books: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, High Fidelity, Snow Crash, Invisible
Monsters, Mrs. Dalloway
These tips are
from the March
2011 issue of
Popular Science
www.popsci.com
Tech Tip: Improving Your Facebook
Page
By Carrie Rogers-Whitehead YART Chair Salt Lake County Library
1. Change the Look
Go to
www.facetweak.com to
change your background from the boring
blue and white.
2. Hide things
Eternal Sunshine for
Chrome
www.chrome.google.co
m/extensions will hide
those annoying stream
and constant Farmville
updates without people
knowing you unfriended them.
make your own Facebook home page
3. Change your
status
5. Trim it down
Go to
www.generatus.com to
change to a fun and
quirky status
4. Make it
professional
Check out pagemodo.com to customize
your template and
Download the Greasemonkey add-on for
Firefox or Greasekit for
Safari and copy the
script at
www.userscripts.org/
scripts/show/11992
and then you can select
ads, invites and other
things you’d rather not
see
April 2011
Page 3
Get on Board the Steampunk Express!
By Patricia Foster Salt Lake County Library
Have you ever heard of steampunk? It’s not actually a new fiction genre, but it’s now picking up speed rapidly and
becoming increasingly popular with fantasy and science fiction readers. It’s a combination of an alternate world setting that takes place during the Victorian era, or the time period when steam power was used, and has science fiction
or “cyberpunk” aspects such as futuristic vehicles, and technological or biological innovations. Not only is there
steampunk literature, but also movies & music- think of books & movies like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by
Jules Verne – one of the first steampunk authors- to get you started!
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
In an alternate 1914 Europe, fifteen-year-old Austrian Prince Alek, on the run from the Clanker Powers
who are attempting to take over the globe using mechanical machinery, forms an uneasy alliance with
Deryn who, disguised as a boy to join the British Air Service, is learning to fly genetically-engineered
beasts. Book 2 is Behemoth.
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
In Victorian London, fourteen-year-old Modo, a shape-changing hunchback, becomes a secret agent for
the Permanent Association, which strives to protect the world from the evil machinations of the Clockwork Guild. Book 2 is The Dark Deeps.
Girl genius, 1 : Agatha Heterodyne & the Beetleberg clank : a gaslamp fantasy with adventure, romance & mad science by Kaja & Phil Foglio
Adventures of Agatha Clay, girl genius and descendent of the Heterodyne line of mad scientists. A
graphic novel series.
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve (Book 1 of the Hungry City Chronicles)
In the distant future, when cities move about on huge traction wheels and consume
smaller towns, a teenage apprentice is pushed out of London by the man he most
admires and must seek answers in the perilous Out-Country. Fever Crumb is a prequel to Mortal Engines.
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
Inventor Leviticus Blue creates a monstrous machine that decimates a Seattle district and uncovers a
Blight Gas that turns everyone who breathes it into “rotters”. Sixteen years later his teenage son
Ezekiel decides that he must go into the wrecked walled city to redeem his dead father's name.
Vogelein: Clockwork Faerie by Jane Irwin
When Jakob, Vogelein's Guardian of fifty years, dies in his sleep one night, her life is thrown into utter
turmoil. Left without someone to wind her, the tiny clockwork faerie has less than five hours to live unless she can find someone to trust. Book 2 is Vogelein: Old Ghosts. A graphic novel series.
Fullmetal Alchemist, vols. 1-23 by Hiromu Arakawa
As young boys, Edward & Alphonse Elric dabbled in alchemy to try to resurrect their dead mother. As a
result, Ed lost one arm and leg, while Al lost his entire body. Now, they are searching for the fabled Philosopher's Stone to restore what they've lost. A popular manga series that takes place on the eve of
World War I, in an alternate world. This series is also available on DVD.
YART Connections
Page 4
Try it Today-Skype an Author
By Rachel Murphy Kearns High School
I was sitting on the couch one Saturday morning in September talking with my niece over Skype when it
happened. I was browsing through the 500+ unread emails from one of the ALA listserv and the title
“Authors on Skype” caught my attention. I use Skype, I love Skype, and I was on Skype at that very minute. And I remember thinking, “This idea was made for me!” And for hours afterwards I was consumed
by looking at author profiles and their books, and I began creating my dream team of visits for my library.
Skype is a way to make video calls – computer to computer - for free over a Wi-Fi network. http://
www.skype.com The Skype software must be downloaded to your computer and an account will need to
be created in order to use the program. In addition, if your computer does not have a built in camera, you
will need an external camera so your author can see your students.
Skype an author, http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/, is a website that lists authors who are willing to
virtually visit with students in your your library, classroom, or school either FREE for a short presentation or for a small fee, usually charged for a longer presentation. They provide instructions for teachers
and librarians who would like to request an author visit., so getting started is easy. Searching for an author is quick; you can search for authors by last name or by specific genre. The “Skype an Author” website also provides videos, photos, and stories, http://skypeanauthor.wetpaint.com/page/
Visit+Success+Stories, from school events around the country for you to watch for ideas and inspiration.
Author Connor Kostick, author of Epic, Saga, and numerous non-fiction books, was probably our most
popular Skype visit. Live from Dublin, student enjoyed not only listening to his Irish accent, but to his
ideas about alternative online world and his fascination with medieval history. While our Skype visit was
scheduled for 20 minutes, students keep asking questions and Mr. Kostick continued sharing for nearly
40 minutes. It was during this first Skype visit that I learned the very hard lesson of testing equipment
before you start and making sure that you have all of the needed cables. This day I forgot my Apple computer video adapter and ended up holding my laptop on my shoulder while rotating slowly back and forth
around the room so Mr. Kostick could see the students in attendance. This lesson also helped me realize
that I need an external camera for the PC computer in my library.
Not every author you are interested in having talk to your students will be listed on the “Skype an Author”
website. Inara Scott, author of Del Croix Academy for example, (pictured below) is an author I emailed
directly, so don’t be afraid to email an author and ask if they are available to speak with your students.
Our final Skype visit this year will be with an unlikely choice, a non-fiction author! Kelsey Timmerman,
author of the book, “Where Am I Wearing?” http://whereamiwearing.com will be sharing with us information about his travels around he world learning about where (and by who) are clothes are made.
I encourage you to try “Skype an Author” today, student will enjoy listening to an author, especially those
authors whose books they have just read!
Rachel Murphy is
the library media
specialist at Kearns
High School. You
can contact her at
ramuphy@
graniteschools.org
April 2011
Page 5
Starting a Graphic Novel Book Club
By Jordan Triptow and Rachel Getts Salt Lake City Library
The Salt Lake City Public Library has successfully
started a Graphic Novel Club. I interviewed its founder, Rachel Getts.
Jordan Triptow: When did the Graphic Novel
Club start and what was the first graphic novel
you chose to read?
Actually it was first proposed to me by Mary Anne Heider, who is in charge of selecting young adult books
and graphic novels. She recruited me to develop it
with her in November 2009. We saw that Graphic Novels are insanely popular with patrons of all ages. I
think that a major part of the fun is being able to talk
about Graphic Novels with other readers or fans. Personally I thought it would be great to be able to meet
with a group and talk about books and characters I
love. The library is a natural vehicle for a club such as
this because we have the space and the books. Unfortunately because of shifting responsibilities Mary Anne
had to drop out and I took over. I then recruited Isabelle Roehrig to join me and here we are.
Our first meeting was February 27, 2010 where we
talked about the first two volumes of Y: The Last Man.
This was a natural choice due to the series popularity
and the myriad of topical issues that it discusses. The
art is also phenomenal and should be poured over just
as much as the plot. It seemed an obvious choice.
Jordan: What other graphic novels have been
selected to be discussed?
We’ve ended up discussing a fair amount of indie titles.
Graphic Novel
Club Founder
Rachel Getts
This was completely by happenstance by the
way. We went from Y: the Last Man to Scott
Pilgrim Vol. 1, Fables Vol. 1 & 2, V for Vendetta,
The Walking Dead Vol. 1 & 2, Too Cool to Be
Forgotten, and DMZ Vol. 1 & 2. In April we’ll
be discussing the wonderful Essex County Trilogy by Jeff Lemire.
Jordan: How often do you meet?
Our book discussions are bi-monthly. The
plan is always to get together and talk about
a graphic novel or series. It’s also important
to take some time to talk about the art style
and how it’s integrated into the storytelling.
Since November 2011 we’ve been branching
out into other activities beside book discussions. We had a very successful Comic Zine
making workshop in March and are planning our second Comic Movies You Should
See screening in June. The hope is that these activities in the alternate months will
bring more people to the book discussions.
Jordan: How did you get interested in
graphic novels?
I was a big fan of the comic strip Garfield,
Doonesbury, and The Far Side. Unfortunately there wasn’t a comic store near where
I lived so I could only pick up what I saw at
the 7-11. Their selection was terrible and
spotty. I didn’t really get serious about it
until the early 90’s with the X-Men Animated Series and the Batman Animated Series.
Those were awesome and I wanted to be a
comic geek . (Contd. On next page)
Y: the Last Man
Page 6
YART Connections
Starting a Grahic Novel Book Club
(contd. from page 5)
By Jordan Triptown and Rachel Getts Salt Lake City Library
The Walking
Dead by
Robert
Kirkman
(Contd. from pg. 5) Unfortunately, then the companies went through a big collapse and the direct market began. With no comic shop near me to shop at, no internet, and no money, I had to move on to other interests. When I started working at the library I took a keen interest in the graphic novels and I’ve
become the comic geek I always wanted to be.
Jordan: What is your favorite graphic novel?
That is a very difficult question because there are so many. So I’m going to dodge it by saying that I
read more for the writer than anything else. There are certain writer’s which I will read no matter what.
For example, I will read anything that Alan Moore, Greg Rucka, and Matt Kindt put out. These writers
are spectacular. I also have a place in my heart for Strangers in Paradise and Scott Pilgrim.
In my opinion the best comic series in print right now is The Walking Dead. It’s been consistently good
for 75 issues. That’s 5 years! And once you think that everything’s going to be fine with these characters
then something horribly awful happens. It’s so great. Also, I’d like to throw in a shout out to Detective
Comics Batwoman which was my favorite series last year and this year. I can’t wait for it to come back.
Again, this is just too hard a question to answer succinctly.
Jordan: Is it hard to pick a GN that appeals to both men and women/boys and girls?
Isabelle and I always try to pick a graphic novel or series based on what the patrons request. It is really
the patrons who decide what we discuss, since it is their club after all. Based on those suggestions Isabelle and I pick a book to discuss. It can be an original graphic novel, or two volumes of a series. The
only real guidelines are that the book be in print and available at the library.
Jordan: What age group do you target?
So from there I guess specifically we target 18-34 year olds, but of course anyone is welcome to join in.
Gender never really comes into it. There’s such a wide-range of options to choose from. Whereas my
tastes are more conventional superhero comics, Isabelle is more of an indie reader so I think that we
balance each other out.
“I think that a major part
of the fun is being able to
talk about Graphic Novels with other readers or
fans. “-Rachel Getts
Check out the Salt Lake City
Library Graphic Novel Club
on Facebook!
April 2011
Page 7
Creating Connections: Magna Library
By Jamie Griffith Ward Salt Lake County Library
Salt Lake County Library System is proud to announce
the Grand Opening of the new Magna Library on May
21st! With a steel frame design, copper exterior and
etched glass interior this new branch library features
twice the square footage. It also will have double the
public-use computers and library materials than the previous location
Magna has been a community since 1850 and is continually growing. The library has been at its current location
on 8339 West 3500 South since 1974. The last 30-40
years have represented an economic decline in Magna
especially on Main Street. There are few (contd.)
Architectural Rendering of Magna Library
businesses that have tried to keep economic vibrancy alive. However thanks
to a renewed interest in the last decade, many businesses are trying to improve Magna’s Main Street. We hope that the opening of the new building
will entice other businesses and organizations to come to Magna and also to
be an anchor to walkable Main Street shops.
Magna Library has Spanish-speaking staff members who are looking to reach
out to our community. Our new library will feature an expanded Spanish
Language collection to accommodate our Latino neighbors.
Etched glass in Teen Area
One of the most exciting areas of the new building is the Young Adult area.
This is an enclosed area featuring unique etched glass. (contd.)
There will be approximately 8,000 young adult items and space for teens to
hang out after school. There are tables and chairs surrounding computers so
more than just two teens can use a computer. Teen programming is slated to
increase including monthly craft and gaming nights.
“The new library will be
on Magna’s Main Street on
2675 South 8950 West.”
The respected Burgeon group has designed a space for kids that is simply phenomenal. It features letters as big as doorways, tables shaped as letters and
hidden carvings throughout the department for kids to explore. There are so
many fun activities for kids including a huge kaleidoscope, lots of Pirate motifs
and more! Kids of all ages will have an increased amount of programming in
the same vein as young adult programming. Additional features of the library
include an auditorium with a capacity of approximately 75 seats, a room just
for Storytimes and modern staff rooms.
There are many more cool things happening in Magna so visit the new library
as soon as possible! With the opening of the new Magna Library we know that
the community of Magna, as well as the Salt Lake County Library System, will
have a feather in its cap with the new building. Bring the whole family and
have fun exploring the library! We hope to see you soon!
Wall in Children’s Section
“The new building received
a prestigious gold LEED
rating.”
YART Officers
Refugee Youth
By Trinh Mai and Carrie Rogers-Whitehead
Chair: Carrrie Rogers-Whitehead
[email protected]
Vice Chair: Jordan Triptow
[email protected]
Secretary: Melissa Zuckerman
[email protected]
YART
Young Adult Round Table
Trinh Mai is a refugee specialist at the University of Utah
There are over 8000 refugees settled in Utah. They are from many
countries, from Afghanistan to Zaire. Most are from Somalia or
Yugoslavia but many countries are represented.
Trinh Mai works with these refugees and conducted a study with
21 refugee youth aged 10-26. These youth had lived in the United
States for at least 12 months and were interviewed by Trinh and
others. Below are some of the summarized findings from that
study:
Many refugee youth are put into classrooms according to their
age and not their abilities. This is “bewildering” and frustrating for the youth as well as their parents and teachers.
Find us at:
www.ula.org or http://
utahyart.pbworks.com
Participants in the study reported that there was not much attention paid to their mental health needs. Many refugee youth
and parents are simply in survival mode and a number suffer
from undiagnosed depression and PTSD from dealing with
traumatic events.
Some refugee youth report missing cultural traditions and
habits but others are eager to adopt an American identity.
Refugee youth find it difficult to interact in social situations because of their lack of English skills. Some reported that they were
bullied or teased because of their language.
Many refugee youth and parents are not familiar with American
laws or the justice system. Some parents report that they do not
know how to discipline their children with different American
child abuse laws.
Refugee youth often adopt adult roles because of easier acculturation into society. This causes a shift in family dynamics
where the kids are in charge.
If you have an upcoming or
past event you want to
share, or to write an article,
e-mail Jordan at:
[email protected]
You can be in YART’s next
newsletter.
You can find more
resources for helping
Refugee Youth at
www.refugee.utah.gov
This site has a resource
manual you can download.
For questions for Trinh,
contact:
[email protected]
Trinh suggests that libraries can help with the cultural transition by promoting the youth’s native cultures and helping them
learn the social mores and laws of the country. She writes that,
“that there are positive aspects of the resettlement experience
for parents and their children, but that more needs to be done
to support families in transition to the United States .” Libraries are often places where refugee youth and parents come to,
so librarians have a unique opportunity to help.