Library Visits

You must have a school ID and a library pass signed by your teacher to check out books or use the computers.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Library Word of the Week

The final Cassandra Claire Mortal Instruments book came out this week: City of Heavenly Fire

No, we do not have a copy yet. Yes, we have 2 copies ordered. We are waiting on them. 

In honor of this conclusion, today's word of the week comes from City of Bones (also an SAT Top 10 word). 

Deride

laugh at or make fun of--while showing a lack of respect

Spiderwebbing cracks fissured the glass-that-was-not-glass; the last thing Clary heard before the Portal dissolved into a deluge of ragged shards was Valentine's derisive laughter. 


Samples from Other Sources
  • Critics derided her as unprofessional.

  • He derided his student`s attempt to solve the biggest problem in mathematics

  • The famous "holy club" was formed by John`s younger brother, Charles Wesley, and some fellow students, derisively called "Methodists" because of their methodical habits.
    John Wesley - Wikipedia  --  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley(retrieved 05/20/06)

  • they admire the clarity of his wit, the fine edge of insult and derision.
    Don DeLillo  --  Underworld

  • Hermione laughed derisively.
    J.K. Rowling  --  Harry Potter (#7) and the Deathly Hallows

  • Putting all the derision he could into his voice, he jeered, "How did you like being shot?"
    Christopher Paolini  --  Eragon

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Science MCAS

The HSC Library will be closed June 2nd-5th for Science MCAS. 
We apologize for the inconvenience. Please plan accordingly. 

Student Review... The Ghost of Graylock


The Ghost of Graylock  by Dan Poblocki comes recommended by one of our 11th grade students. He says is was very haunting and had a good twist in the plot.


 "Everyone's heard the stories about Graylock Hall.

It was meant to be a place of healing - a hospital where children and teenagers with mental disorders would be cared for and perhaps even cured. But something went wrong. Several young patients died under mysterious circumstances. Eventually, the hospital was shut down, the building abandoned and left to rot deep in the woods.

As the new kid in town, Neil Cady wants to see Graylock for himself. Especially since rumor has it that the building is haunted. He's got fresh batteries in his flashlight, a camera to document the adventure, and a new best friend watching his back.

Neil might think he's prepared for what he'll find in the dark and decrepit asylum. But he's certainly not prepared for what follows him home. . . ." (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13316309-the-ghost-of-graylock

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86

A literary voice revered globally for her poetic command and her commitment to civil rights has fallen silent.

Maya Angelou died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, said her literary agent, Helen Brann

The 86-year-old was a novelist, actress, professor, singer, dancer and activist. In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor.

(Read more at CNN



Friday, May 23, 2014

Library Word of the Week

This Monday is Memorial Day. This is a day where we honor the soldiers who have died for our country. "Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans." (WikipediaIn honor of Memorial Day, the Library Word of the Week is part history lesson. 


Decoration Day
[O]n May 5, 1868, in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, the veterans' organization for Union Civil War veterans, General John A. Logan issued a proclamation calling for "Decoration Day" to be observed annually and nationwide. It was observed for the first time that year on Saturday May 30; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any particular battle. According to the White House, the May 30 date was chosen as the optimal date for flowers to be in bloom. 

The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day", which was first used in 1882. It did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved four holidays, including Memorial Day, from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971. After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply, all 50 states adopted Congress' change of date within a few years.



(all information above from Wikipedia)

Have a nice long weekend everyone!

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Spark a Reaction

Since the public library is having a Steampunk Summer, our library is jumping on board a little early. Come on down and see our Steampunk display:









Wednesday, May 21, 2014

@ Your Public Library


                     
  
Springfield City Library Summer Reading Club for Teens 2014
                                                                             
Register for Spark a Reaction! at any Springfield City Library or from home starting
June 23. 

This summer, you earn rewards for reading and for learning new digital skills!
           
Go to the Library’s Teen Page, register, and share your opinions about the books you read.  Just click on Teens at the Library’s web site (www.springfieldlibrary.org) or type in this URL: http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/library/services/teens/.

Demonstrate your creative digital skills and earn more rewards. You can attend a Digital Media Mini-camp at any branch library and learn to make a video or a sound recording that will Spark a Reaction in your world.  Completed digital artworks will be shown at a Teen Digital Media Festival on August 20.

Here’s how you can participate:

Read and review 1 book: You’ve earned an invitation to Roller Skating Party held on August 4 at Interskate 91.

Read 5 books: We’ll order any book you’d like, up to a list price of $11.99.  Ask your librarian for the book order form.

Read 10 books: Choose a second book.  Or combine your prizes for 1 book up to $23.99 list price.

Read 15 books: You’ve definitely Sparked a Reaction at your Library! You’ve earned a gift card from Friendly’s, Subway or another restaurant.

New this year! Participate in a Digital Media Mini-camp and earn credit toward your book prizes. A two-day Mini-camp counts as 2 books logged, and submitting your completed video or sound recording for showing at our Teen Digital Media Festival counts as a 3rd book.

If you need help logging your book reviews online, or if you have questions, ask your branch librarian or call Martha at 263-6828 ext.425.

The last day to log books is Saturday August 30.
Have fun reading!
Martha Coons, Young Adult Librarian, Springfield City Library     mcoons@springfieldlibrary.org


Monday, May 19, 2014

Teen Sci-Fi Book Club @ Forest Park

East Forest Park Branch Library’s
Sci-Fi Book Club for Teens/Tweens


Saturday, May 31 at Noon

Join teen sci-fi fans every month to talk about your favorite books. Copies of SYLO are available at the East Forest Park Branch Library. For more information contact Lisa Lipshires at 413-263-6836 or llipshires@springfieldlibrary.org

Springfield City Library

Friday, May 16, 2014

Ms. D just finished reading... The Wild Queen AND Black Heart

I'm a big fan of historical fiction, especially English royals. Mary Queen of Scots isn't exactly English, but she impacts not only her native Scotland, but England and France as well. 

Read a preview here: The Wild Queen

Black Heart is the finale to Holly Black's Curse Workers trilogy. I read these as they came out, so there was quite some time between them all. This is a fantastic wrap-up to the story, complete with a satisfying ending. 

Read a preview here: Black Heart 


STCC Field Trip pt 1

Mr. Couturier and I took some of the IB Juniors over to STCC to see their library.


Bike Month Display

Manga Section

Paperback Fiction

Students looking at the New Books

Music! 

The stairwell to the second floor (the Quiet Floor)

What the library was when it was the Armory

Library Stacks

ESL Collection

On the Quiet Floor

One of the three study rooms

Learning one librarian's journey


Bulletin Board

STCC has a very nice library! Keep an eye out for Mr. C's pictures too.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Gathering Inspiring Future Talent

GIFT Training


Hosted by Gandara in Springfield 

Are you a GREAT listener?
Do you like supporting people to move forward in what they want in their lives?

Are You thinking about becoming a Peer Mentor?

Are You in the Western, MA Area?

This training helps you find which skills and supports, like a resume, cover letter and interviewing skills you need in order to find the right job match!

Time: 10:30-3:00pm
Location: Gandara Community Service Agency (CSA), 120 Maple Street, Springfield, MA 01103. (413) 846-0445

Dates: All classes on Mondays except where otherwise noted. May 19th, Tuesday May 27th, instead of class on Memorial Day,  June 2nd, June 9th, Tuesday, June 17th, June 23rd, No class week of June 30 for Independence Day, July 7th, No class for the week of July 14th, July 21st, July 28th, August 4th, August 11th.  

You may be aware of some of your skills and/or talents, but do you know what your “core gift” is?  Core Gifts is an old idea which says that each person comes into the world with the ability and desire to make a certain kind of contribution to the world around him/her Identifying your unique and worthwhile gift can be a significant reason to keep moving forward, can lay the foundation for hope and motivate you in your recovery help others identify their strengths too!

This training is sponsored by the Department of Mental Health. This training is prioritized for the STAY Together Implementation Grant Community Service Agencies (CSA), Young Adult Groups (YAG’S) membership, and potential and hired Young Adult Peer Mentors who are employed by Gandara, Community Health Link (CHL), Wayside, Justice Resource Institute (JRI), Children’s Friends and Family Services (CFF) and The Home for Little Wanderers.

No application required!!
Sign up by emailing kim@radiatecareers.com or call/text 781-956-4848
Please Provide Your Name, Email & Phone Number

Check for additional flyers and info, www.speakingofhope.org

Friday, May 9, 2014

Library Word of the Week


 My favorite word site is Unused Words. Today our word is:

Morosoph

Definition:  A philosophical or educated fool.
Pronunciation: MORO-sof
Origin: Morosoph originated from a Greek phrase meaning ‘foolishly wise’.
Why this word?
Ha! Such an easy word to remember. Just try to parse this word and you’ll find that it could easily be an amalgamation of moron and sophisticated. Yes, it is a portmanteau word. Hey! Wait! This also reminds me of Sophomore .Doesn’t this word look like an inverted form of morosoph with an auxiliary ‘o’?
Sophomores (second-year students) often are wisely foolish, thinking they know everything, and that’s actually why they are called sophomores. People other than sophomores can be wise and foolish, of course, and Morosoph is made for such people.
In my perspective, being a morosoph means being at least somewhat socially awkward; trying to foist and apply theoretical principles in life, as a result of which he flunks in the realms of love, friendship and relationships, eventually stultifies himself. The problem with morosophs is that they rely ... on bookish knowledge when there are a lot of things to learn from other bailiwicks.
How to use the word morosoph in sentence?
Thank god you didn’t invite that morosoph to the party or I’d be learning different forces acting on your Birthday Cake.
A good explanation is here at XKCD

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Overdue books and lost book fines

Today, English teachers received stacks of overdue notices for students. Many of the overdues/lost books are from elementary and middle school! These books can be returned to Commerce and Ms. D will give them to the librarians from your elementary or middle school.

Seniors: ALL books and fines are due by May 23rd, or else you will not receive tickets to graduation. You need a ticket to walk at graduation. Outstanding books will be marked as lost after May 23rd and notices with the replacement fees will be sent home. 

Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen: Books and fines are due by June 6th. The library will be on limited hours the last week of school for inventory. If books are not returned by June 6th, they will be marked as lost and you will be charged the replacement fee. Notices will be mailed home with the replacement costs of missing books. 

Teachers: Please return books before June 19th. I will also be collecting projectors, document cameras, laptop carts, etc.

If you have any problem paying replacement costs for lost books, please see Ms. D as soon as possible. The library can accept cash or checks made out to "High School of Commerce."


Friday, May 2, 2014

Library Word of the Week

Today, May 2nd, is the 16th anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts. In Harry Potter canon, the Battle of Hogwarts takes place on May 2nd, 1998.





Therefore, the Library Word of the Week is:

Muggle
In the Harry Potter book series, a muggle is a person who lacks any sort of magical ability and was not born into the magical world. Muggles also do not have any magical blood. It differs from the term Squib, which refers to a person with one or more magical parents yet without any magical ability, and from the term Muggle-born (or the derogatory and offensive mudblood), which refers to a person with magical abilities but without magical parents.


Thursday, May 1, 2014

69th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Dachau Concentration Camp

"On Sunday the 4th May 2014, a Service of Remembrance for the 69th Anniversary of the Liberation of Dachau Concentration Camp will take place, at the invitation of the President of the Comité International de Dachau (CID) and with the support of the Bavarian Memorial Sites Foundation." (Read more)




Read about the Holocaust: