MHS Library Blog

EASTER

2011-04-07T09:20:00.000-04:00

Many of us will be celebrating Easter later this month (over Spring Break), eating chocolate eggs, and getting together with family. But Easter is about a whole lot more ... learn about both the pagan and Christian origins of the holiday at Religious Tolerance.org.

AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

2011-04-07T09:11:00.002-04:00

According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a "complex developmental disability" that is "defined by a certain set of behaviors." It is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Increased awareness of this disability is important for all of us in the Mohonasen community. The more we know, the better we can be. Learn more at the Autism Society of America, and check out the special library window display (created for us by the Peer Network Support Group).

APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH!

2011-04-01T10:30:00.002-04:00

American poet Robert Frost called poetry "a way of taking life by the throat." Take life by the throat this month! April is National Poetry Month, and we want to CELEBRATE!

Find "30 Ways to Celebrate" at The Academy of American Poets. Ever wondered what a dactyl is? Or an alexandrine? What’s hyperbole? Find out with FactMonster’s Glossary of Poetry Terms. Click on Infoplease to find a variety of resources on poets, poetry terms, poetry sites, and more.

Budding poets should click on Poetry Magic for writing tips and techniques that will help you get your creative juices flowing.

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

2011-04-01T10:29:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know it's kind of silly, but haven't you wondered how this all started? Get the low-down on the "holiday", as well as famous hoaxes in sports, arts, and more at Infoplease: April Fool's Day: Origin and History.

ELLEN HOPKINS AT MOHONASEN!

2011-03-16T10:04:00.005-04:00

Nearly 600 students filled the high school Auditorium yesterday to hear Ellen Hopkins talk about her life, her books, and the real stories behind the stories. After the presentation, the author met students and signed books. The visit continued with a lunch in the library, where a small group of fans had a chance to get some one-on-one time with their favorite author. Following lunch, Mrs. Derochie's 9th grade English class got to work on their writing skills with this bestselling author and poet.

MARCH CELEBRATES WOMEN!

2011-02-28T14:03:00.001-05:00

March is National Women's History Month, and the theme for 2011 -- Our History Is Our Strength -- recognizes not only the importance of women in history, but also the fact that, until relatively recently, women's history was "written in invisible ink." The National Women's History Project was founded back in 1980 by a group of women who were bothered by the fact that only about 3% of history texts was devoted to women. Only 3% of the content for 50% of the population?!! Thankfully, that is no longer the case.

Check out the National Women's History Project website at to find information on the month-long celebration, as well as a variety of women's history resources (biographies, speeches, as well as teacher and student centers) and much more. Gale Research also offers a Women's History Timeline, as well as biographical information. Find more biographies at Women of the Century, and another timeline at Infoplease. Learn more about women's history at the library; check out one of the many fascinating books on women in all fields (science, politics, the arts, etc.). Be inspired!

ELLEN HOPKINS AT MOHONASEN HS!

2011-02-16T09:18:00.005-05:00

Best-selling young adult author, Ellen Hopkins will be giving a presentation in the HS auditorium Block 3-4 on Tuesday March 15, which will be an E day, unless we have another snow day (hope we won't!). If you are not attending the presentation with your class, you will need a pre-signed pass to attend. Passes will be available at the library from March 1. This pass must be signed by your 3-4 teacher and will be collected at the auditorium door before the presentation. Get your pass in time to be signed--YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT!!

A selection of books by Ellen Hopkins will be for sale at the library starting March 1. Ellen will sign books for students following the presentation. Don't miss this opportunity to meet 'n' greet your favorite author!

Would you like to have lunch with Ellen Hopkins? Would you like to enjoy some quality time with your favorite author? Get the low-down on her life and work? Enter to win a place at the lunch table! Tell us "Why I want to meet Ellen Hopkins" in 250-500 words (typed). It can be a personal statement, essay, or poem (you must include your name, grade, and homeroom). All entries are to be delivered to the library by Friday, March 4. Contest winners will be announced Thursday March 10. Be one of the chosen few!! (Runners-up will receive a copy of one of Ellen's books to be signed by the author).

Learn more about Ellen at www.ellenhopkins.com. Any other questions? Ask Ms. O'Keeffe or Mrs. Shaw at the library!

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

2011-01-31T08:04:00.000-05:00

Creating a month-long celebration honoring the contribution of African Americans in American history began back in 1926. February was chosen because it is the birth month of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, and Langston Hughes; it is also the month the 15th Amendment was passed and the NAACP was founded.

Check out our window display at the library, as well as the following terrific online resources. The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) (opened in San Francisco in 2005) features online exhibits, narratives, images, and all kinds of information. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a bus and changed the course of African-American history. See images of this historic bus at The Henry Ford Museum. African Americans who have made their mark in American life (arts, entertainment, politics, science, etc.) are featured in The HistoryMakers, an oral-history archive. The site also offers a time line and list of resources. Another terrific site is the National Civil Rights Museum, which offers virtual exhibits that bring you closer to historical events of the civil rights era.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY

2011-01-14T11:48:00.005-05:00

Every year on the third Monday of January we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. This year--the 25th anniversary of the first holiday--it falls on January 17. In August 1963, Dr. King expressed his dream--of equality for all races and peoples, of peace, and nonviolence--to the crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington DC: "I have a dream ... I have a dream that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers ... I have a dream today."

Let's keep Dr. King's dream alive. Learn more at The King Center. You can make a difference, too--learn how at MKL.gov.

HAPPY 2011!

2011-01-03T08:31:00.000-05:00

Once again, it's that time of year when most of us make resolutions to do a variety of things to improve ourselves and our lives over the course of the next year. What are the most popular resolutions? Find out at FirstGov.gov. If you've been to the gym, you’ve already seen how many people have "fitness" goals for 2011. But how long will it last? If you have trouble making good on your own resolutions, get some tips from psychologists at the University of Maryland.

Did you know that celebrating the New Year is the oldest of all holidays? It was first celebrated 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon, with a festival that lasted for eleven days! Learn more about the history and traditions of New Year at Infoplease.com. Scottish people have their own New Year's celebration--they call it "Hogmanay." Learn about it HERE.

'TIS THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE

2010-12-23T13:28:00.002-05:00

December is a time to celebrate, a time of holidays . . . but we don’t ALL celebrate the same way. Some celebrate Hanukkah. In Hebrew, “Hanukkah” means “dedication,” and is celebrated for 8 days and nights. Some celebrate Kwanzaa, a holiday that honors African-American heritage and community. More of us celebrate Christmas. These days, Christmas is a mix of both secular and religious traditions that vary around the world.

The History Channel has some fantastic online exhibits that will tell you all about these holidays--click to learn about the history and traditions of Hanukkah; the origin of Kwanzaa; and the real story of Christmas. Find out what Christmas is like in Mexico, in Poland, and in Sweden. And learn about Old Japanese Christmas and Samurai Santa! Other holidays around this time are St. Lucia Day, celebrated on December 13, and Winter Solstice, celebrated on December 21. Let’s celebrate the diversity of cultures during this 2010 holiday season!

WORLD AIDS DAY, DEC. 1

2010-12-01T08:38:00.000-05:00

Did you know that more than 25 million people have died from AIDS since the disease was diagnosed in 1981? More than 33.4 million people are currently living with HIV around the world--that includes more than two million children under 15 (visit the World Aids Campaign website for more information). UNAIDS—the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS—is a chief advocate for global action on the epidemic. Check out their Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2010--get the facts & figures, programs & initiatives on a global scale.

GIVING THANKS!

2010-11-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

Growing up in Ireland, we didn't have this wonderful American holiday--now, it's one of my favorites. Check out Better Homes & Gardens for some great recipes; vegetarians, click here for recipes you'll enjoy (from the Vegetarian Kitchen). But don't make the holiday all about food! Get in touch with the history of the day at Plimoth Plantation and The First Thanksgiving, and kick back with a Thanksgiving themed-book (ideas at MyShelf.com).

LA SEMAINE DU FRANCAIS, NOV. 4-10

2010-11-01T09:20:00.000-04:00

Celebrate all things French this week. See what the main themes of the week are at the National French Week Website. Want to travel to France? Get information at VisitEurope. Interested in studying there? Have a look at the AFS France website. Check out French TV online, and the music playing on French iPods! Amuse-toi bien!

VETERAN'S DAY, NOV. 11

2010-11-01T09:18:00.002-04:00

Veterans' Day has its origins in "Armistice Day," observed in 1918 to commemorate the end of World War I. "This day is not to honor war," said FDR, "but the sacrifice made by others for our freedom." Learn more about the holiday from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs and Infoplease. What's life like for troops today? Check out our many new books on the war in Iraq.

HALLOWEEN IS AROUND THE CORNER!

2010-10-22T08:34:00.000-04:00

The scariest holiday in our year has its origins with the ancient Celts, who lived more than 2,000 years ago. The Celts believed that, on the eve of their New Year (which was November 1), the boundaries blurred between the living and the dead. On the night of October 31, the ghosts of the dead returned to walk among the living. To celebrate, the Celts wore costumes (usually animal heads and skins) and danced around bonfires.

Check out these links to make this the most terrifying Halloween ever! Halloween Online features costumes, scary stories, pumpkins, recipes, and more. Don't know what to wear? Check out Costume Idea Zone. Having a party? Go to razzle-dazzle for Halloween recipes, party tips, and games. Need help with your pumpkin? Click on Pumpkin Carving 101. Need something scary to read? Check out the library window display; find more titles here.

WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY

2010-10-01T11:08:00.001-04:00

October 1 is World Vegetarian Day--the annual kickoff of Vegetarian Awareness Month. What we eat has an impact not only on our own health, but on the health of the planet. Find out how a vegetarian diet can benefit you personally, as well as the planet--and get a full menu of ideas, recipes and more--by visiting the World Vegetarian Day website. You don't have to be a vegetarian to participate! Find more recipies and resources at Vegetarian Times and Gourmet Magazine.

BE REVOLUTIONARY! READ A BANNED BOOK!

2010-09-27T10:19:00.002-04:00

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Did you know that the process of banning a book begins with a "challenge"? Challenges are "an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library." At the high school level, this is usually because some parents are concerned that the content is unsuitable for their children. If the challenge is successful, and the book is removed, then the book is considered "banned." Fortunately for us, most challenges are not successful.

The American Library Association received hundreds of challenges last year and among the Top Ten most frequently challenged books were Lauren Myracle’s TTYL series (for offensive language, and being sexually explicit and “unsuited to age group”), Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower (for drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, suicide, and being sexually explicit); Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper (for religious viewpoint, sexuality, offensive language, drugs, suicide, and a whole bunch of other stuff), and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series (for sexuality and religious viewpoint). As usual, many of our old favorites were also in the Top Ten—Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, and Robert Cormier’s The Chocolate War.

Challenges come from all over the country—check out this book censorship map that shows more than 120 book challenges across the country from Maine to Florida, New York to California. Check out the ALA site for other information. Take the time to check a challenged or banned book out, and proclaim your freedom to read!

CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE!

2010-09-15T10:14:00.002-04:00

Celebrate all things Hispanic this month--Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Fact Monster's Hispanic Heritage Month provides a variety of resources on people, places, language, and much more; the Library of Congress offers an exhibit on 1492: An Ongoing Voyage; and the Smithsonian offers information on Hispanics who have affected science and technology in Impacto, Influencio, Cambio. Pass through the Library of Congress's Portals of the World to learn more about individual countries; brush up your language skills with Univision, your news source en Español; and test your knowledge of Hispanic culture with this quiz. Stuck for definitions? SpanishDICT.com is your dictionary source.

¡Se diviertan!

NEW BOOKS!

2010-09-14T10:26:00.002-04:00

Books, books, and more books! How we love 'em! We've just put out a bunch of new titles on the "New Books" shelves. We've got recent YA faves, like Simon Lelic's A Thousand Cuts and Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth; new titles by Neil Shusterman, Carl Deuker, and Jodi Piccoult. Come in and check out Eve Ensler's I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls around the World, or the new Phish biography by Parke Puterbaugh. Browse through Twitterature, a hilarious re-telling of the classics in 140-character tweets from the main characters (yes, really ... from Homer to Harry Potter, Tolstoy to Twilight and The Da Vinci Code).

Reviews of these and other new titles are available at the "New Books" link on the library home page. We've got lots more on the way!

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

2010-09-14T10:20:00.002-04:00

Did you know that September 15 is designated International Day of Democracy? United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's message invites us to recognize that "democratic governance is a yearning shared and voiced by people the world over. Democracy is a goal in its own right, and an indispensable means for achieving development for all humankind." Do you agree? Many of you will be able to vote in the next elections ... what does democracy mean to you?

Find out more about International Day of Democracy at the U.N. website.

REMEMBERING 9/11

2010-09-10T10:58:00.004-04:00

The years may pass, but we will always remember. Take a few moments to reflect on the changes that 9/11/2001 brought to our world. Visit the Mohonasen courtyard to look at "Perpetual Rejuvenation," a memorial created by Mr. Turin (a former art teacher here) and some of his students. See how this day is being commemorated across the country at Families of September 11. Learn more at September 11 Digital Archive.

WELCOME BACK!!!

2010-09-10T10:41:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a great summer! We're looking forward to a terrific school year. We've got lots of new resources for you--books, databases, and eBooks. We're very excited about all our new materials. Our OPAC (online public access catalog) has been revamped--you can still find lots of summaries and reviews of your favorite books and authors, but now you can also access the databases from the catalog page.

Some of our databases have changed this year. We no longer have ProQuest Platinum or Gale Health and Wellness Center. Instead, we have Academic OneFile and General OneFile -- these offer full-text news and periodical articles on a huge range of topics. We also have Health Reference Center Academic, which had health journals and a wide variety of personal health information sources. New database password cards are available--be sure to pick one up.

Here's wishing you all the best for a great year!