April Movie Madness - The Outsiders

The Outsiders, Friday, April 30th, 2010, at 4 pm!

For the last movie of April, Brown Library will be showing The Outsiders on April 30th, at 4 pm.

"The Outsiders is a 1983 American drama film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, an adaptation of the 1967 novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton. The movie was released in March 1983. Jo Ellen Misakian, a librarian at Lone Star Elementary School in Fresno, California, and her students were responsible for inspiring Coppola to make the movie.

The Outsiders is noted for being the breakout film of many future stars. The movie earned C. Thomas Howell a Young Artist Award, became the first Brat Pack movie (with Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez cast as supporting Greasers), and further established the careers of Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Ralph Macchio, and Diane Lane. Both Lane and Dillon went on to appear in Coppola's related film Rumble Fish."

"The tension between two groups: The Greasers and The Socials "Socs" puts Ponyboy Curtis and his best friend Johnny Cade in a bad spot. One night at the movies, Ponyboy and Johnny fall in love with Sherri "Cherry" Valance and Marcia - once they get Dally Winston, the toughest and meanest of the Greasers to stop attempting to "score" with the girls. Cherry and Marcia are from the snobbish, popular, and rich group, the Socs."

There is no sign-up required for this movie showing, but our seating is limited! Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early. This film is rated PG-13 for violence, teen drinking and smoking, and some sexual reference.

(image from google image; info and plot summaries from wikipedia.org and imdb.com)

Closed Wednesday, April 28th, from 10 - 12.

Brown Library will be closed on Wednesday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a little staff training. We will reopen at 12 p.m. and remain open until our normal 7 p.m. closing time. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Happy Earth Day!

We at Brown Library wish you all a very happy Earth Day! Celebrate by planting a something beautiful in your garden, check out a book on the environment, or by looking into how you can help the planet through recycling. We couldn't live without her, so give Mother Earth a little love today. ♥

National Volunteer Week

This week is the annual celebration of National Volunteer Week. Brown Library would like to thank all the many dedicated volunteers we have. You all take quite a load off our backs, and we appreciate it dearly. Whether it's shelving books, helping us with parties, going through the History Room, or assisting with the Summer Reading Program, we appreciate the time you give us more than you know. So, from all of us at Brown,

♥ Thank you! ♥

Support Teen Literature Day

Support Teen Literature Day

As part of National Library Week, today, April 15th, is Support Teen Literature Day! While you're in the library today, help celebrate by picking out a book from either our YAF or JF sections. There are many amazing authors to chose from, not to mention some of today's classics, and who knows - you may even find yourself hooked on teen literature!

National Library Week!

National Library Week, April 11th - 17th!

Just a reminder that National Library Week is this week! Now more than ever, libraries are becoming an essential asset to the community, whether it's free computer access, doing research, or just finding your next favorite book.

"National Library Week is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate." (ALA)

Make sure to also stop in and check out the gorgeous billboard that some of our young adult volunteers made for us!

ALA's Most Challenged Books of 2009!

Most Challenged Books of 2009

In anticipation of Banned Book Week later in the year, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom has released the books that received the most formal complaints within libraries and schools for 2009.

“Even though not every book will be right for every reader, the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely are core American values,” said Barbara Jones, director of the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”

And the winners are:

1.) “TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle

2.) And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

3.) “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky

4.) “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee

5.) Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer

6.) “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger

7.) “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult

8.) “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler

9.) “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker

10.) “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier

For the reasons behind the complaints on these books, take a peek at the official article.

Also be sure to check out the Top 100 Challenged Books of the Decade.

For more information about Banned Books Week, the OIF, and how you can get involved, make sure to visit their official site.

Celebrate Hans Christian Anderson on April 16th!

The Little Mermaid, April 16th, 2010, at 4 p.m.!

In honor of the brithday of the world famous fairytale author, Hans Christian Anderson, Brown Library is hosting a party to celebrate him, and the many fairytales he wrote. On Friday, April 16th, 2010, at 4 p.m., we will be showing the Disney adaptation of his most famous story, "The Little Mermaid". The film is about a mermaid princess who is unhappy with her life below the sea and longs to join the human world on land. She falls in love with a human prince, and makes a deal with the evil seawitch to gain human legs for three days. If the princess does not receive a kiss of "true love" from the prince within those three days, her soul will belong to the seawitch forever.

"“The Little Mermaid” is a 1989 American animated film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, the film was originally released to theaters on November 17, 1989 and is the twenty-eighth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. During its initial release, The Little Mermaid grossed over $110 million in the United States and an additional $99 million internationally.

After the success of the 1988 Disney/Amblin film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, “The Little Mermaid” is given credit for breathing life back into the animated feature film genre after a string of critical or commercial failures that dated back to the early 1980s. It also marked the start of the era known as the “Disney Renaissance”."

To go along with the movie, there is also a coloring contest with fun prizes! Be sure to pick up a coloring sheet before the 16th! The contest will be judged by age groups: 3 - 5 years old; 6 - 8 years old; and 9 - 12 years old. There will be no sign up for this event, but please make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to guarantee yourself a spot! This film is rated G.

A Little About Hans Christian Anderson

"Hans Christian Andersen (in Denmark he is referred to using the initials: H. C. Andersen) (April 2, 1805 – August 4, 1875) was a Danish author and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Little Mermaid", "Thumbelina", "The Little Match Girl", and "The Ugly Duckling".

During his lifetime he was acclaimed for having delighted children worldwide, and was feted by royalty. His poetry and stories have been translated into more than 150 languages. They have inspired motion pictures, plays, ballets, and animated films. "

(images from google images; "The Little Mermaid" info and Anderson bio from wikipedia.com)