Howard County Library announces a new initiative, Pass the Book. Beginning during Teen Read Week 2009, Howard County Library will distribute specially marked copies of  The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld throughout the community. Teens who receive a specially labeled copy of The Secret Hour are encouraged to read the book, track the book (by registering their copy at hclibrary.org/passthebook) and then pass the book to another teen reader.

Teen readers will be able to return to the web site to see where their books have traveled, and will have the opportunity to participate in online discussions and challenges based around events in the book. A display in each branch will feature read-a-like titles and the other books in the Midnighters series. A number of launch events are planned for Teen Read Week, including Midnighter Lore at Central Library, Slither Repellant at Elkridge Branch, and Triskaidekamania at Savage Branch.

Copies of the book will be available on Monday, October 19. As you encounter the specially numbered copies of this title, please encourage students to read the book, log their copies of the title on the Library’s web site and pass their copy of The Secret Hour on to a friend. Contact your nearest branch for more details.

John Jewitt – Howard County Library, Savage Branch

Are your students embarking on a research project? Do they need to find a book for self-directed reading, or a biography with a certain number of pages? Did you know that we can gather appropriate resources together specifically for your class or grade? Use the Elementary or Secondary Assignment Alert form on Howard County Library’s website to tell us about the resources that your students need, and we’ll make arrangements to have them ready for you at the branches your students use.

John Jewitt – Howard County Library Savage Branch

Our goal is to connect your students with powerful information resources to help them succeed. One of our most valuable resources, and a must-have for Howard County’s educators, is the Curriculum Enhancements & Educational Services brochure from Howard County Library. Copies of this brochure in print are available from your local branch. Both the Elementary and Middle & High School brochures are also available for download in PDF format from the teacher pages at hclibrary.org.

These brochures list and describe the classes that  staff can teach for your students, whether at the Library or at school, and detail many of the resources that support your students in completing assignments and understanding concepts. The brochures also contain contact details for the Library instructors who can schedule and teach a class, or gather resources for your students. Download a copy of the Elementary or Middle & High School Curriculum Enhancement and Educational Services Brochure today, and make contact with your partner Library to schedule a class!

John Jewitt - Howard County Library Savage Branch

Are your students wild readers? Get them involved with Books for the Beast.

Books for the Beast is a bi-annual reading conference, and a unique opportunity for adults and teens to discuss great young adult reads. This year’s conference is on Saturday, October 24 at 9:00 am at Roland Park Country School. Teen readers must register, but are welcome at no charge.

Can’t make it? Stop by Howard County Library to check out the books on the list!

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

Eternal Smile: Three Stories by Gene Yang

Historical Fiction

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing (vol. 1: The Pox Party) by M.T. Anderson

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Hattie Big Sky by Larson Kirby

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino

 

Mulitcultural

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Samurai Shortstop by Alan Gratz

What They Found: Love on 145th Street by Walter Dean Myers

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

 

Romance

The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti

The Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Street Love by Walter Dean Myers

Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet by Richard Appignanesi

Real Life

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Dramarama by E. Lockhart

Alabama Moon by Key Watt

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Skim by Mariko Tamaki

Suspense/Horror

Marked: A House of the Night Novel by P.C. Cast

The Restless Dead: Ten Original Stories of the Supernatural by Deborah Noyes (ed.)

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Wake by Lisa McMann

Life Sucks by Jessica Abel

Amy Stephens – Howard County Library Glenwood Branch

One of the most valuable resources we have to offer students is Live Homework Help.

Sometimes when students are away from your classroom and fervently completing their homework assignments, they encounter obstacles. When this happens, students should know that they can use their Howard County Library card to access a live tutor seven days a week from 2:00 pm to 1:00 am! Tutors are available to help students in fourth through twelfth grades with math, science, social studies, and English.

Just who are these tutors? They are certified teachers, college professors, professional tutors, graduate school students, and undergraduates from top universities. Their job is to work one-on-one with students via the internet. Tutors are trained to teach the material, not simply spoon-feed answers, so you can be sure that your students are learning and practicing the material from your classroom, not just taking the easy way out!

Tutors use robust electronic tools, like interactive whiteboards for geometry diagrams. With a bit of advanced notice, they’ll review student essays and reports.

Follow this link to learn more or, better yet, log on and try it out for yourself!

 

Amy Stephens – Howard County Library Glenwood Branch

Welcome Howard County educators! As it says on our web site, “Howard County Library is pleased to provide teachers with a myriad of resources as they plan their lessons and assignments.”

Many Howard County Public School System faculty have asked for a convenient way to receive updates on these resources. This blog is one way to meet that need. It will be updated regularly with information you can share with your colleagues and students. Visit us regularly or subscribe to the RSS feed and have the information delivered to you!

Amy Stephens – Howard County Library Glenwood Branch