Holiday Scavenger Hunt

Over 20 kids ran wild in the main branch as members of the Teen Advisory Board hosted the Holiday Scavenger Hunt on Wednesday, December 19. They learned about features and special departments of the Library while they collected stickers, leading to a visit with Santa Claus and a prize.

The kids and parents started in the Children's Department where they got the list of Scavenger Hunt questions.

1. Where is the largest globe in the Library?

The kids come to the globe in the corner of Old Browsing (where the videos and some children's books are), and get the sticker from Santa's helper.

2. Find the statue of Tom Thumb.

Back to the Children's Library to get the sticker from another helper.

3. Find the see-through star globe.

Up to History and Travel to find the globe that shows the stars. And another of Santa's helpers.

4. Go to the Internet Lab. What to you need to get on a computer?

Santa's tallest helper makes sure that the kids know they need a library card to use a computer.

5. Where does the escalator take you?

The kids go up the escalator and down the stairs to get their stickers.

6. Who is the artist for the mural on the third floor called "Man's Mobility"?

Santa's helper in Adam Strom hall tells kids that the artist is John S. Coppin.

7. Where is the E. Azalia Hackley Collection? What does it contain?

Santa's helper gives the history of the collection, established in 1943 to serve as the nucleus for a special black music collection. It was later expanded to include dance, drama, and other performing arts.

8. Where are Shakespeare's books located?

Here the kids had to go to the shelves with the portrait of Shakespeare to get their sticker.

9. Where is the Career and Information Center located?

Back down to the first floor, beyond the Sociology and Economics department, where the kids find another of Santa's helpers.

10. Where is Santa?

And finally back to Old Browsing for a visit with Santa and a choice of prizes.

The teens on the Teen Advisory Board had fun handing out stickers and talking to the kids. The kids had a great time running through the library and following clues.

Teen Readers' Theatre presents "A Christmas Carol"

On December 4, the cast and crew of the DPL Teen Readers' Theatre presented their customized version of "A Christmas Carol" in the Friends' Auditorium.

The story opens in Scrooge's office. Scrooge complains about all the nonsense about Christmas, while poor Bob Crowley works away. A charity lady asks for a donation from Scrooge, and is sent on her way (rudely).

After refusing his niece's invitation to Christmas dinner, Scrooge goes home and falls asleep in front of the TV.


The ghost of Marley, Scrooge's dead partner, offers Scrooge one last chance to redeem himself.

The Ghost of Christmas Past makes a dramatic entrance, and shows Scrooge how he felt about Christmas when he was a boy.

The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge scenes of people enjoying the holidays, including the Crowley family (in the poor neighborhood of Farmington Hills).

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come tells Scrooge what could happen if he doesn't change his attitude.

Scrooge buys a turkey for the Crowleys, and gift cards for everyone.

Backstage

Teen Center building in progress

The Teen Center before work began



















The study rooms being roughed in





















Scaffolding and equipment























Drywalling
















And painting















More to come ...

Another Book-gone-Movie!!!

For those of you who are patrons of the DPL, you've probably recently recognized the name of another popular children's book that will be coming to the big screen: The Golden Compass. The first of the His Dark Materials Trilogy (a three part book series) by Phillip Pullman, the movie will be releasing Friday, December 7th, 2007, and I'm sure that those of you who are fans of the book series will be looking forward to it.

Centering around the adventures of a little girl, Lyra, who wishes to seek out the mysteries behind the society she lives in, this book takes place in a world that Pullman makes clear is very different from ours from the very beginning. The first noticable different is the existence of daemon, physical manifestations of the Human soul in the form of an animal that represents one's personality. A daemon is usually of the opposite gender of the person that is paired with it. Same gender pairs are considered rare and are the object of much research. When children are young, their daemon can change into any form that represents the child's potential. However, as they grow older and approach puberty, the speed at which their daemon can change slows down, and it eventually settles for a permanent form. Lyra's daemon is a Polar bear, Pantalaimon, which she calls Pan for short. In the beginning of the series, while Lyra is young, he assumes many forms including a cardinal, a mouse, an otter, and most often an ermine.

Lyra is a curious girl, and she discovers the Golden Compass, which is an advanced piece of technology capable of answering basically every and any question the wielder asks. However, the Golden Compass, which has a life of its own, communicates through pictures and symbols. You must ask the Compass questions through these symbols as well. It is very difficult for anyone in Lyra's world to interpret the symbols; older men have studied the symbols for decades just to figure out how to ask a single question. But when Lyra finds it she has no problem at all. Later on it is discovered that a child's mind can speak to the Compass without any effort--a miracle of childhood, and everyone in the vicinity begins chasing Lyra for her knowledge of the Compass.

Watching (or reading) Lyra's adventures as she tries to find the connection between her life--and the lives of all children--and the way her world functions is a wonderful tale of courage, youth and life. I certainly can't wait for the film release--can you?

The other two books, The Amber Spyglass and The Subtle Knife complete the series, and you can find both, along with The Golden Compass, at the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Libary system.

Below is the link to the official site for the Golden Compass Movie. There's a test you can take to figure out what your daemon is! I wonder what mine will be!

http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/?engine=adwords!10095&keyword=%28movie+sites%29&match_type=content

Say What? Photography Workshop

Way back in July, professional photographer Lesley Mason showed an enthusiastic group of teens some techniques for putting special effects into photographs at the lens-and-film stage, including a neat camera that worked under water.



















Some of the photographs were entered in the Most Mysterious Photo Contest. Here is first-prize winner "Phantom of Light" by Razuli Littleton (7th Grade)