This year the Library has been reaching out to Philipstown teenagers to help with planning programs,  purchasing material and designing appropriate
services for this age group.  Philipstown middle and high school students are invited to join the  Library’s Teen Advisory Board, affectionately known as TAB. selecting and evaluating teen materials."

"The best way to reach teens is by talking to them.  I’m not a teenager and don’t want to assume that I know what teens want out of their library," said Library Director Gillian Thorpe. "TAB will play an important role in the future of the Library.  This group has the power to make the teen voice heard and in the end, outline the path of our teen services.”  

The Teen Advisory Board  discusses and recommends music, book, movie and magazine purchases for teens; decides what activities are important for the library to host and then makes them happen.  The group has started a teen night series that includes gaming, music, movie or talent nights.  They do all of this and earn community service credits for simply participating in TAB.

“Battle of the Books was our first big step in working with teens.  We had a great group of kids and it was so much fun getting to know them and helping them  in the Battle,” says Maureen McGrath, Head of Programming and Outreach Department.  “I’m looking forward to working with teens in a variety of programs.”

WHY JOIN TAB? There’s free food! It’s fun! Everyone is friendly and they all want to do something positive. You’ll make your parents proud! You will even be in the newspaper and on the library website! We get first dibs on new books and movies. It looks great on a resume and college application. You’ll  plan fun events - that kids actually want to attend! You will make a difference and have the opportunity to take an active role in the community. You are able to express yourselves and be creative. You’ll get to play on cool Mac laptops! It’s kinda cool to create events for your friends.

 

Butterfield Bookmarks Remain Regional Champions

The Butterfield Bookmarks, The Julia L. Butterfield Memorial Library’s Battle of the Books team, came in first place at the Regional competition on Saturday, September 13th at Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, NY.

The Battle of the Books is a national program for middle school children that encourages them to read 10 books throughout the spring and summer months. The participants then prepare for a trivia contest based on the books. Through the program, children are exposed to literature that they might not have otherwise read, they experience team work and healthy competition. This year, 15 libraries from the Mid-Hudson Library System participated.

This was the third year that the Butterfield Library participated in Battle of the Books and the second year in a row that the team won the Regional Championship. The 2008 Butterfield Bookmarks  included returning members Claire Carroll, Albert Bajsicki and Sonya Kuzminski along with first-time members Alec Lane, Kieran Austin, Julia Olsen, Jade Silverstein and Rebecca Haviland, of Haldane Central School, plus Mina Elwell, a home-schooled 7th grader. The team was coached by Maureen McGrath, programming and outreach coordinator for the Butterfield Library with help from Perri Ackman, a high school student.

The Bookmarks met monthly, bi-weekly, and then weekly as the date for the regional battle drew closer. They competed in and won a “local battle” with the Grinnell Grizzlies of East Fishkill as preparation for the Regional Battle. The final round of the Regional Battle placed The Butterfield Bookmarks against the Poughkeepsie Book Talkers. Although the competition was very close, the Bookmarks scored the necessary points to win. The Coxsackie Page Masters took third place.

The Butterfield Library will once again have the first place trophy to display for the year and each of the teammates received a $40 gift certificate as a reward for their hard work.  Many of the teammates plan to participate again in 2009. The team will be forming in January.