Barnes & Noble Shopping Trip

Join us after school on Tuesday, December 7th to pick out some new books for the library. We will meet from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. at the Barnes and Noble on Bay Area Blvd. Students will need to provide their own transportation and money to purchase food or beverages.

Welcome Back!

We hope you had a fantastic break! If you're feeling a little sluggish today, stop by the library to see our....

Letters About Literature

"Books have wings. You can’t see them, but they are there just the same. On books’ wings, readers can soar to new places where they meet intriguing characters and experience exciting adventures. But a book’s wings can also help a reader rise above difficult situations so that they see the world — or themselves — with new understanding. Has a book touched your life in a personal way? If so, we invite you to enter this year’s LAL competition. Have you ever felt the power and lift of literature" (lettersaboutliterature.org)?

Enter the Letters About Literature contest for a chance to win prizes for yourself and your school library. Stop by the library of check out the website for more details.

Tomorrow is the ELA TAKS Benchmark. Please remember to pick up a library book today or tomorrow before school so you have something to read after testing! 

Blog Fun

I love blogging!

Thanksgiving Fun!

After the turkey is gobbled and the shopping is done, want something fun to do this Thanksgiving weekend? Click the turkey to find out about some great Kemah fun that also supports the Clear Springs High School Library!

Zombies Vs. Unicorns

Guys read

Check out our latest display... Guys Read. These are books geared towards guys picked by guys. Our guy library aides selected some of their favorites just for you! (Girls, it's OK if you check these out too). Also, click here to visit the Guys Read web site for more information.

Bummed out?

 Are you bummed out because the library is closed today for testing? Don't despair! Remember you can read eBooks online through the library catalog! Go to the library catalog page (http://sec04.ccisd.net/), type fiction in the search field, and narrow the material type to eBook. Now you can browse, click on your selection of choice, and click the Read Online button. And please let us know what you think about reading books on your computer!

Bike Around the Bay

Our local inspiration, Clear Springs HS Technology Integration Specialist Chad Vance, completed his first Bike Around the Bay Sunday, October 17, 2010. "Bike Around the Bay is a fully supported two-day, 150-mile bicycle ride around Galveston Bay showcasing the natural beauty of Galveston Bay and benefiting the Galveston Bay Foundation. The ride starts in Anahuac, Texas at Fort Anahuac Park and continues along a scenic route that includes many fascinating sights and highlights" (http://www.bikearoundthebay.org/). Way to go Mr. Vance!!!

Where's Waldo in the Library?

We spotted all sorts of interesting characters in the library during Homecoming week!

Grab - N - Go

Need a great book but not sure where to look? Fed up with trying to decide and ready to throw your hands up in the air? If so, just grab a book - n - go! Our Quick Picks have moved to the wall. For a high interest book and quick and easy checkout, just look for the hands when you come in the library.

Looking for a hot read?

 The writing's on the wall...literally!

Our TAYSHAS display has moved. Come by and check out the new books and the new location.

Night Fall Scary Story Writing Contest

Do you have a creative side that's longing for an outlet? Enter the Night Fall Scary Story Writing Contest at http://www.lernerbooks.com/scarystorycontest/. Read the prompt and add your scariest story to the entry form. The winner receives a full set of the Night Fall novels for home and a full set for the library, has his or her story published on the Lerner Books Blog, and the winner's name will become a character in an upcoming Night Fall novel! Check out the site and enter today. The deadline is October 31st.

Stephen Gammell, The Girl Who Stood on a Grave, Google Labeled for Reuse.

You can also read Thaw View the Thaw eBook for free, a Night Fall book, by Rick Jasper for free online Thaw until October 31st.

Library Snapshot Day!

Remember to visit the library tomorrow, October 6, 2010 to see what's happening in the library and participate in our Library Snapshot Day. Check out music inspired by books, our new TAYSHAS display, and banned books. You can even become a zombie!!!

Worse than undead....

UNREAD!!!
Our latest display explores the world of banned books...
and ZOMBIES!

BOOK FAIR

Welcome Back!

Do you love music? Do you love books? Come into the library today and explore a variety of contemporary music selections inspired by novels and classic literature. You can read about connections, browse a list of songs and their complementary novels, and listen to the songs at one of our listening stations.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Summer Reading

Did you read any great books this summer? Fill out the survey on the right to share your favorites. Mrs. LeBoy read The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver and Look Homeward Angel by Thomas Wolfe to prepare for her trip to Asheville, NC. Both of these great books are at least partially set in Asheville. She even visited Thomas Wolfe's house.

Old Kentucky Home (1883), 48 Spruce Street, Asheville, North Carolina, lumierefl's photostream, August 28, 2007, Flickr Creative Commons, 5 August 2010.

Summer Reading Discussion Groups!

Did you know that you can meet with other CCISD students to talk about your summer reading? The Freeman Branch Library (off Bay Area Boulevard) is hosting discussion groups for each of the required reading titles in the month of August...complete with refreshments, trivia competitions and prizes! Click here to find the brochure showing the book sessions by grade level. To register for the discussion groups, go to the Freeman Library calendar, or call the 281-488-1906.

Summer Events at Helen Hall

There are several great events and volunteer opportunities in store for teens at the public library this summer. Stop by the Springs library for a flyer.

Teen Summer Reading Club
Game On! - Video and Board Games
Teen Movie Matinee
Get Crafty @ Your Library
Teen Film Workshop

Teens are also needed to volunteer for some of the programs for children.  A short training session must be attended.

Remember, the library is also a great place to get books, e-books, and audio-books for summer reading!

Thank You, PTSA!

CSHS students and staff have been enjoying book trailers and other great information on the library's new flat screen television.  The television and computer system were purchased for the library by the Parent Teacher Student Association.

Click It or Ticket

In May , law enforcement officials will be focusing on teens' seatbelt use. More than half of the six thousand teens who die in car crashes annually are not wearing seat belts. Please remind your friends to "CLICK IT or TICKET."

Holocaust Survivors

Today marked the first of hopefully many videoconferences in the Clear Springs Library. Ms. Zucha's class joined us for a look at the Holocaust from two survivors' stories. Check with the library for any upcoming videoconferences that might interest you!

National Library Month

April is National Library Month with the week of April 11-17 celebrating National Library Week. Stop by your school or local public library to see what is new and exciting! We look forward to seeing you!

Stand up and be counted!

Your parents probably sent in a census form recently.  Visit the U.S. Census site to discover many interesting facts and figures such as:

There are currently 308,975,255  people in the United States.
27.4% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher. (25.1%  in Texas)
It takes the average student 5.6 years to complete a bachelor's degree.
There are not as many video stores as there used to be!



There is also a census site just for teens.
http://www.census.gov/schools/census_for_teens/

Wednesday's the Big Day!

Tomorrow is the day students take their ELA TAKS test. Once you complete the test, you get to read!!! Don't forget to stop by the library and check out some books. Imagine relaxing with a good book after you work hard and complete your exam. If you're not sure what to pick, just ask a librarian. Mrs. Gillum, Mrs. LeBoy, and Mrs. Logsdon will be glad to help.

Walk the Red Carpet

The next time you are on Mane Street, stop by the library and walk the red carpet to a display of this year's award winning books. Check one out today!

Learning Through Art

Mrs. LeBoy and Mrs. Logsdon are hard at work beautifying the Clear Springs Library. Stop by and peruse the new art work hanging throughout the library!

E-Books

The library recently purchased over 50 new E-books that you can read online.  We have some great titles, including all the Twilight books, the Vladimir Tod books, and many other fiction and non-fiction titles.  To read them, all you have to do is visit the library catalog, find the books you want, and click on "Read Online."  There is a display in the library window showing the new e-books. Try reading one soon and let us know what you think!

Fat Tuesday

Today is Fat Tuesday!
Read the interesting history of Mardi Gras and 
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

 

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year 2010 began yesterday on February 14th. This year marks the Year of the Tiger. To find out more information on the history, traditions, festivals, and the Chinese zodiac, please visit The Holiday Spot's Chinese New Year page.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

If you loved the Hunger Games and couldn't get enough of Catching Fire, then check out this article about Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. It is due to be released on August 24, 2010.

We Want Your Reviews!

Don't you just love the feeling you get when you finish a really great book? I feel satisfied and happy and can't wait to tell someone about it! Or what about those times when you finish (or don't quite make it through) a book and you are truly disappointed, sometimes even mad, that it wasn't nearly as good as you thought it would be.

We want to know what you think!

Visit the library catalog page to add your book reviews.

• Log-in to your account (use the same user ID and password that you use to log-in to the computer)
• Search your book title and select it from the results list
• Click on the review tab
• Click the Add Review button
• Rate the book
• Enter your comments
• Save

Now everyone who looks at this title in the catalog can read your review.
Log-in and start reviewing today!

Looking for a great book idea? Or a place to post your own reviews? Or a place to enter to win free books? Or a place to watch cool book trailers? Or a place to read about your favorite author? Or a place to find out about different authors? Ok ok...so you get the idea. Just click below to visit Young Adult Books Central! You won't be disappointed.

Love is in the Air

It's the season for love....in the library! We have an awesome display of love stories, fiction and non fiction, for every reader. Don't be shy! Explore your romantic side and check out one of these fantastic books today.

What do Ayn Rand and James Joyce Have in Common?

Both authors were born on this day! James Joyce in 1882. Ayn Rand in 1905. Stop by the library and check out some of the well-known works by these authors. Also, for more information on James Joyce, visit the James Joyce Centre. For more information on Ayn Rand, visit the Ayn Rand Institute. I have read several works by each author and recommend Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by Joyce and Anthem or The Fountainhead by Rand.

It's a Mag Mag Mag Mag World!

Did you know that the library has a great selection of magazines? From art and cars to fashion, sports, and gaming, we are sure to have something you are interested in. Magazines can be checked out for one week at a time, so stop in to your library and pick some up today!

Research and Romance in the Air?

It’s that time of year again. Winter is almost gone, flowers are in bloom, love is in the air, and senior research. Research? That’s right. Many senior classes have been visiting the library this week to begin the dreaded research paper. What you may not know is that research doesn’t have to be scary if you know who to ask for help. Your librarians are knowledgeable about databases, online searching, and the latest in MLA citations. Don’t start research without visiting the library.

A New Twist on an Old Story

Walk on the Wild Side

The Clear Springs Library staff and one of our TIS's participated in the Walk on the Wild Side 5K walk at the University of Houston Clear Clear Lake to support CCISD's Living Materials Center. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic cause!

Do You Have a Hobby?

January is National Hobby Month and your Clear Springs library is celebrating with the Quick Picks display. From acrylics to mechanics to punk knitting, you are sure to find something to inspire your creative side.

New Year New You!

It's a new year and a perfect time to create a new you. Your Clear Springs library has created a display full of ways to improve your physical and mental state. Stop by and browse today.