Food Science: Honey, a sweet success

I talked about how we were doing honey science here at the library, but I did not mention how it went because we had not done the program yet. It went really well! We had a smaller group of teens, but most of them were really invested in learning about honey and what makes it so special. I got to share with the teens why honey never goes bad, different tasting honey, what density and viscosity is, and of course honey cookies.
These things were all exciting for the teens, as some of them knew that honey never went bad but did not know why that was and some of them had honey before but never different flavors. It was great to expose them to these aspects of honey and I think the information will "stick" with them. (Especially the flavors of honey, wildflower was unanimously voted as a bad flavor. Who would have guessed!)
Honey cookies was a great way to end this science, and they noted some differences in flavor and wanted the recipe to take home and continue making these cookies! If anyone wants this recipe, the links, or the handouts I used, please feel free to email me at dstates@yorklibraries.org
Also, check out these great photos from the science provided by one of our teens!
Dawn states: I am stuck on putting honey in my tea!

One of my teens took some awesome photos, but there is one in there of me checking my notes and some other silly madness! Cracked me up!

Art Club: plants

For Earth day last month we did a really fun art club. At our library, we have a Keurig machine for the coffee (we are working on changing this) I had been trying to think of a way to recycle the cups from the machine and I came up with the idea of using the leftover cups as seed starters! In this idea, we were doing some recycling and also planting some seeds. It is a nice art club to do something for the earth and also it is pretty easy!
Here is the needed supply list: soil, seeds, water, mist bottle, k-cups, egg cartons to put the k-cups in, and a nice sunny window. You will also need to mark the k-cups with what you put in them. I am also hoping to get another art club out of this one, as we planted pumpkins and hope to use these pumpkins for an art club in October. It is also important to remember that a success rate is not guaranteed, but it is fun to get some little sprouts!

Here is a picture of the pumpkins so far! So cute! Dawn states: starting seeds is a nice way to help the earth on any day, not just earth day.

Art Club

We have been doing some cool things at art club lately! Our art club happens every Monday night, and is a great time for teens to come and get creative. I have also begun to be more on top of taking photos of their amazing creations! We just did melted crayon art with some fabulous results.
Melted crayon art is super easy to set up, all you need is a bunch of crayons, canvases, a hair dryer or two, and this is most important: a power strip. The teens had so much fun making this art and here are some of the results!
Dawn states: always color (or melt) outside of the lines! Email me for more information or past art clubs at dstates@yorklibraries.org

Poet Tea Tuesday: Part Three Black out Poetry!

Black out poetry is a fun way to get the teens to look at what is important to leave in, as well as what is important to leave out. After all, choosing the right word is sometimes the hardest part of writing! Black out poetry looks at this concept in a interesting and creative way.

All that is needed is some discarded book or newspaper pages, some sharpies, and some creativity. Have the teens select a page, and then black out words to create a poem with the words left.  Black out poetry is cool on some other levels too, since it combines reusing and art into the piece.

The teens who participated in this made some really amazing creations, and later when we had some more poets visit, they were super excited to try this out! It is engaging for all levels to participate in and it helps teens who do not consider themselves poets realize that they too can create poetry. They just need to find the right words to put together! (Or leave out!)

For an example of black out poetry, more information, or general questions, email me at dstates@yorklibraries.org

What is one of your favorite types of poetry? Leave a comment!

Dawn states: Black out poetry is my favorite!

Food Science: Sneak Peak

So I really do have the coolest job. This past Thursday I got to spend my time baking cookies with honey, making a density column, testing the viscosity of honey, and taste-testing honey. Why, might you ask? Well, because we are doing another food science, this time with honey!
But why honey?
Because the teens asked for a food science related to foods that do not go bad. After much thought,(and not wanting to resort to fast-food chain burgers) I decided on honey. Honey does not go bad and has been known to have some amazing properties like wound healing! While these sorts of things tend not to lend themselves to library-science capabilities, things like taste-testing and cookies do!
There are lots of different recipes that use honey instead of sugar, multiple flavors of honey (just check out Dutch Gold!), and plenty of ways to make a density column! Check these things out and make something awesome!
I called this a food science sneak peak because while I used the honey cookies I baked to advertise the upcoming food science with the teens, I have not actually done all of these science things with the teens. I tested them myself and it went great, but it may be another story with the teens! Dawn states: stay tuned for more on honey science!

Passive Programming!

Okay, so I understand that there are certain situations or times when doing an active and more in depth program is just not possible. Maybe your staff is stretched too thin, you do not have time, or there is not a dedicated teen space. In this instance, what do you do with all those teens just hanging out in the library? The answer is.... Passive programming! So what is passive programming? Passive program is something that the teens can access and use easily and without a whole lot of staff supervision.  I am sure many of you have heard of this, but here are some suggestions that may help!

For crafts, I recommend things like perler beads, beads, duct tape, scrapbooking, or puff paint.

For games I would suggest things like chess, uno, cards, or dominoes.

These things can all hold teens interest for a bit of time, give them something to do, and keep you free to do other things about the library! Passive programming is a good thing to develop in your library and I would love to hear some suggestions on other things that could be a passive program! Send me an email or comment dstates@yorklibraries.org

Dawn states: I like making duct tape bow ties!

Photography Work shop

One of the really cool things about my job is that I get to do all sorts of interesting things and programs! One of the latest ones I am going to do is a special presentation on how to take some good photos. My teens found out that I love taking Polaroids, and wanted to know more about it. It coincides that there is an opportunity for the teens to also enter their work in a photo contest because the organization is partnering with my library. It is a fantastic organization called Eat, Play, Breath York and the teens are supposed to capture photos of healthy and unhealthy habits that they witness in the city. (http://www.eatplaybreatheyork.org/Pages/home.aspx) I get to show teens how to take photos, they get to enter their work in a contest, and a local community organization gets to partner with the library. It is awesome all around!

For my presentation, I made a powerpoint with cats and cameras, notes, and some examples of excellent photography. I also made a handout for the teens to take with them as they go about the city looking for scenes of healthy and unhealthy behavior. It is really simple to pull together, and I encourage anyone with a definite interest that they would like to share with their teens to do so and to see what directions that interest leads them in!


If anyone needs any tips, has any questions, or needs more information, please email me at dstates@yorklibraries.org
Dawn states: Ansel Adams is one of my favorite photographers...who is yours?

In Defense of Libraries

Some people question whether libraries are obsolete, if anyone even uses a library anymore, and still others question exactly why a library is important. People who work in libraries often have to field this question (I know I have) and next time it comes up here are some things to answer with!

My answer to this is in two parts; historically and currently. Historically, the library of Alexandria stands as testament to the lasting importance of libraries. Here, some of the premier minds gathered to discuss principles, make theories, and have debates. Some of the things that these minds discovered we continue to use today. Though this library was destroyed, it is still thought about and talked about, and the ideas established in this building are still in use all of these years later.

Currently, libraries have embarked on something slightly different than the library of Alexandria. The libraries of today have opened their doors to the public, embraced new technology, and have bridged gaps for all members of the population. Libraries have included science in their programming, tech help in their duties, and encouraged all types of literacy for all people. This expansive way that libraries are reaching out to those in the community is a living legacy for what was started with the library of Alexandria. It is a testament to the ideas that were founded in the library of Alexandria, and shows the importance of libraries today and the power that lies with instilling and encouraging those ideas.


When the questions of whether a library is important to a community or not happens, think of these things! Libraries carry forward ideas, and ideas do not die. So check out your local library, speak out to representatives about the importance of the library, and even consider volunteering at your library. You might be surprised by what you find there.

Dawn states: Libraries have the unique ability to enhance, reach, and foster minds to reach their best potential.