Local libraries, schools and bookstores will celebrate Teen Read Week this week, joining thousands of others nationwide to encourage teens to read for pleasure.
This year's theme, "Books With Bite @ Your Library," is the national adolescent literacy initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association.
This year's theme encourages teens to read a wide variety of books and graphic novels, from animals, to vampires, to cooking, just "for the fun of it."
As part of this national celebration, the James V. Brown Library will offer special activities and programs. During Teen Read Week, the library will give teens who don't have a library card a chance to win a $25 Lycoming Mall gift certificate when they register for a card at the library.
In addition, the library will forgive fines for teens who come to the library and return items that are overdue. If teens have any long-overdue items at home, they can bring them in and all is forgiven, no questions asked.
Teen library cards also will be replaced for free. Teens are asked to bring a school identification or a parent with them if they are registering for a new card or are getting a replacement library card.
On Oct. 17, Teen Movie Night will feature the film, "The Outsiders," based on the young adult novel by S.E. Hinton. "The Outsiders" is a story of teen rivalry that takes place in a small southern town. The movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, tells of the ongoing conflict between the Greasers and the Socs in rural Oklahoma.
C. Thomas Howell stars as Ponyboy, the youngest of three orphaned boys who pal around with the local hoods known as the Greasers. Teens will recognize many famous faces in this powerful film. Many classrooms read this book as part of the curriculum. Pizza, popcorn and other goodies will be part of the evening. Any teen who comes to Teen Movie Night will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift card from the Cinema Center.
Like "The Outsiders," many popular stories were books before they were movies. The library is featuring a special display of selected books and their partnered movie. Flyers listing featured titles will be available.
Teens also can check out the teen section of the library for other great titles and then offer their thoughts about those books in the teen drop box.
The library will post those book reviews on the Know-Zone Web site at www.know-zone.org.
The library's Know-Zone is the newest teen Web site in Lycoming and Clinton counties. In an attempt to combat the often-heard cry of "There is nothing to do in this town," the library has assembled a Web site that has local content found nowhere else.
The site links the community and teens through Calendar of Events, Things to Do, Things to Know and How2 sections. Teens can find a job, get homework help, find career-college resources, learn how to get a driver's license, and learn about hunting, health, entertainment and technology. Other areas of the site provide information about local sports, art, theatre and music. All of this is rolled into one Web site, making it easy to find.
In conjunction with National Teen Read Week, the Know Zone will spotlight teen choice "best reads" with a virtual book display, videos, blogs and more.
In an effort to attract teen readers to the Know Zone Web site, Teen Read Week's theme of "Books With Bite" seems a juicy time to spread the word.
Neidig is the Know-Zone Site Coordinator for the James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St.
