Looking for a Good Book?

Here are a few of the new titles that are now available in the Edith Hamilton Library. Look for a complete list of new acquisitions before  the Thanksgiving Break!

The Valley of Amazement, by Amy Tan      

David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell

The Interloper, by Peter Savodnik

Stitches, by Anne Lamott

The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt

Focus, by Daniel Goleman

The Signature of All Things, by Elizabeth Gilbert



The Girls of Atomic City, by Denise Kiernan



 


 

 





Create your own INNER BEAST!

If you've been in the Library recently, you have discovered that Pallas Athena has transformed into an elephant, and Nike into a spotted leopard. These are two of the splendid masks created by Ms. Tamariz' Mixed Media class.

Ms. Tamariz asked her students to "design a personal mask that uses symbols, textures, sculptural elements and patterns". The mask could be imagined, based in reality, or a combination of the two.

Students identified beasts  that appealed to them, and conducted research to locate images.  Then they explored the masks of native cultural traditions.

Next, students  constructed a 3D mask and embellished it  using a variety of fabric, found /recycled objects (natural and man made), paint and/or collage.

The end result of this project is a beautiful and fun menagerie of creatures which we are thrilled to have on exhibit the Edith Hamilton Library.

Stop by when you have a chance, and see which creatures speak to your inner beast!

Check out the Library's New Common Space.

Students are enjoying the Library's new common area.  The movable activity tables allow them to work together while maintaining their own space. The students in the picture are working quietly, yet comfortably.

    

Say Thank You!

Small, everyday acts of leadership can have a profound impact on others. Has someone made your life better by performing one?   Take the opportunity to thank them. Stop by the Library and write your message on the white board, or on one of the table top easels. Let’s see how many thank yous that we can get during the month of November! Check out the TED Talk that inspired this project,

Everyday Leadership by Drew Dudley.

The  Middle School TED-Ed Club took a few moments to say thank you  after viewing Drew Dudley's talk, Everyday Leadership.

Join the TED-Ed Club Pilot Program!

Would you like to watch, discuss, and create TED presentations with other Bryn Mawr students? Come to the first TED-Ed Club meeting on Thursday, October 3rd at lunchtime in the Library. Contact Mrs. Rickert-Wilbur for details.

Rainbow Rowell visits Bryn Mawr.

On September 18th  the Bryn Mawr Upper School hosted author, Rainbow Rowell. Rainbow spoke with Mr. Waters' Creative Writing class, and later addressed the whole Upper School at an assembly. During the assembly Rainbow spoke about  her book, Eleanor and Park, which was one of the Upper School's student nominated summer reading selections.  She also showed  beautiful fan art, which was based on  the characters in Eleanor and Park.    After the assembly, Rainbow returned to the library.  The girls were permitted to bring their lunches in so that they could chat with Rainbow, take pictures, and have their books signed.   Rainbow Rowell has an extraordinary ability to connect with her fans. We cannot wait for her to return to talk about Fangirl and Landline!

 

Mrs Letras and Rainbow Rowell.

  

Eleanor and Park Fan art by Simini Blocker.http://siminiblocker.tumblr.com/

Welcome to Bryn Mawr, Ms. Hruban!

Have you met our new Librarian, Ms. Hruban?  She comes to us from Mercy High School, where she served as the Library Director.  Ms. Hruban  is well versed in recommending literature and helping students with research strategies; she loves helping people find what they need. When she is not working, or in a class, Ms. Hruban enjoys playing the piano,  nature, and  cooking. She is focusing primarily on the needs of Middle School students, but is happy to assist all members of the Bryn Mawr Community.  Ms. Hruban's  daughters, Carlie, Emily, and Zoe,  graduated from Bryn Mawr.

Check out the September issue of The Library Lantern, by Ms. Hruban.

What will Bryn Mawr students be reading this summer?

Summer is almost here, and that means it won't be long until we all  have more time to kick back and relax with some good books.  Every year the Upper School students at Bryn Mawr read at least four; three  are required for classes, and one is selected from a list of student nominated summer reading.  Students begin to nominate their favorite books around spring break and continue until the cut-off in mid-May. The nominated books must meet the following criteria:

• They must be appropriate for incoming 9th through 12th graders.
• They must be well-written.
• They must have the possibility to spark discussion.
• They should stimulate personal reflection and be intellectually engaging. 
• They should be books that the nominators love and want to share with others in the Bryn Mawr Community.

Each student whose book is selected, speaks at  the Summer Reading Convocation in May to give a "pitch" for her book.  Students then choose at least one to read over the summer and discuss when they return to school in the fall. Here is this year's list of Student Nominated Summer Reading.

    Between the Lines, by Jodi Picoult

   The Shining, by Stephen King

   Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan  

    The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, by Frederick Douglass

   Slaughter-house Five, by Kurt Vonnegut     

     Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell        

    The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch   

    Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Thank you, Courtney, Celia, I'Jae, Christine, Nat, Ellen, Casey, and  Criss, for giving us a great selection of books!

Celebrate National Library Week

Check out the latest Library Lantern

Looking for something good to read?

Check out the latest Library Lantern!

Ji-li Jiang visits the Middle School

Ji-li Jiang, author of Red Scarf Girl, spoke with our Seventh Graders last Thursday about her experience during the Cultural Revolution in China. Ms. Jiang was 10 when it began to dramatically affect her family. We can't wait for her to return to Bryn Mawr to hear more!

     

 Have you read something fabulous lately? Something you’d like to share with your friends, classmates, and teachers?

Nominate it for summer reading!

 Nominated books should:

• be appropriate for incoming 9th through 12th grades. 
• be well-written.
• have the possibility to spark discussion.
• stimulate personal reflection and be intellectually engaging.
• be a book that you love and want to share with others in the Bryn Mawr Community.

Submit your nomination with a brief “pitch” stating why your book should be selected for summer reading to Mrs. Rickert-Wilbur by Monday, April 15th.

What is "A Blind Date with a Book"?

Stephanie opens her "Blind Date with a Book" book.

Two weeks ago eleventh grader, Laura H., sent  me this excerpt  from  her friend's blog:

26th January 2013

“My local library branch started doing this “Blind Date with a Book” thing, thought you guys might like it. The shelf was full when we got there, but was like this as we were leaving. The books are wrapped in paper and have different designs on them, and then a few words vaguely describing the subject matter of the book. Things like “Drama”, “Plot Twists”, “espionage”, etc. The only thing exposed on the book is the barcode that you use to scan the book out. I thought it was a pretty cool idea.”

I  shared the idea with Middle School English teachers, Patti Wit and Beth McDonald, and they thought it would be a  perfect activity for their students. The girls have been coming to the library during lunchtime and TAP to decorate as well as to choose books from the display.  Here are some of their creations. 

The other day a senior checked one of the books out. She said that "it was so lovely she just had to have it". You may stop by the Library and decorate a book, or check one out through February 28th. Thank you Mrs. Wit, Mrs. McDonald and Middle School students for your effort and enthusiasm, and thank you, Laura and friend for the great idea!

January 28th marked the 200th anniversary of the publication of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

Do you have a favorite book trailer?

I love book trailers almost as much as I love books. If done with just the right music, animation, acting and narration, a trailer can spark our imagination and inspire us to drop everything and read that book. Here's a great trailer about Meg Cabot's book, Abandon.

Doesn't it make you want to run straight to the EH library to find it? Do you have a favorite book and trailer? If so, I'd love to include them in the next library exhibit. Stop by the library or send them to me. Look for an exhibit of book trailers created by Bryn Mawr students later this spring. Mrs. Rickert-Wilbur