Regina Public Library Teen Zone

 

Bibliographic Info:

Regina Public Library. (2011). Regina public   library: Teen Zone. Retrieved from http://www.reginalibrary.ca/teenzone/index.html

Descriptive Summary:

The Teen Zone for the Regina Public Library is a clear, crisp website for teens and teen related programming at the RPL. The features are pretty standard, but do feature a few innovative and interesting ideas like themed book lists.

Features:

Blog
Popular books
Homework help
Photo Gallery
University and job info
Research databases

The most interesting feature are booklists covering the following gothic related subjects:

• Dead Writers
• Goth Tales
• POE's Girls
• Star Crossed Lovers
• Undead Romance

Evaluative comments with rating:
1/5 TVs - I hate to say it, but you may be better with the television on

There is only one section of the teen zone that is updated past 2011 and that is the new releases section of the blog. The contest section, blog, and the photo gallery are all out of date and seem to be in disuse. The Teen Advisory Committee link (which only shows up in certain sections of the site) is broken and simply leads back to the main site. The calendar is similarly out of service. Anything that would encourage interaction and participation with the teen members of the library is non-fuctioning either because it's out of date or because the link leads nowhere. Luckily the databases and resource links still function, but everything library-specific is mostly useless to teens visiting the site.

Suggested Improvements:

Updating the site so it reflects what is happening in April of this year, rather than April of 2011 would be a major improvement and would increase the useability and relevance of the site tenfold.

Suggested Audience (age range): 12 - 18

Reason for inclusion: Recommended to me by a colleague

Category: Library Website for Teens

Just For Teens: Bangor Public Library

 

Bibliographic Info:

Bangor Public Library. (2011). Just for teens: Bangor public library. Retrieved from

http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/kidsweb/teen2012/teenindex.html

Descriptive Summary:

The Just for Teens website for the Bangor Public Library is an earnest attempt at creating an engaging and informative site for teen members of the library. The Teen Advisory Board information is front and centre on the site, demonstrating that BPL does want to encourage teen participation. The features are pretty standard and feature some interactivity.

Features:

BPL Teens Blog
Monthly Poll
Booklists
Homework Help
Teen Volunteers
Teen Programs and Clubs

Evaluative comments with rating:
3/5 TVs - It needs a little more work to vanquish television for good

The Banff Public Library seems to be putting forth an honest effort to encourage teen participation and teen programming. Judging by the number of regular clubs and programming they have on the go (Advisory Board, Anime Club, Fantasy Book Group, Friday Foragers, Game Day, Movie Night , Photography Club, Writer's Club), the BPL does have a strong commitment to teens. Each of the programming pages is updated and seems to be regularly maintained.

I'd take a few points off the BPL's efforts because of the lack of updating on the polls and their teens blog, but overall their sections are regularly updated and relevant to teens. The site could be improved in terms of fonts —there's just a few too many— but most of these problems are aesthetic choices rather than actual useability issues.

Suggested Improvements:

Updating the blog regularly might be useful, as well as having some photos of their events, clubs, and programming. A few tweaks to the site would greatly improve it in just a matter of moments.

Suggested Audience (age range): 12 - 18

Reason for inclusion: Proximity to Nova Scotia, personal interest in the historic Banff Public Library

Category: Library Website for Teens

Froggy Fresh Rap

Bibliographic Info:
 Froggy Fresh. (2013). FroggyFreshRap. Retrieved March 25, 2013,  https://www.youtube.com/user/FroggyFreshRap

Descriptive Summary:

A satirical mix of short vignettes, videos, inspirational videos, and interviews with his fans, Froggy Fresh Rap is a viral video web series that features a young up and coming Tennessee rapper. The series follows the trials and tribulations of two teenage best friends, the silent and often awkward Money Maker Mike and the verbose WWE loving Froggy Fresh (originally known as Krispy Kreme). An ongoing plot point is the duo's battle against local thug, James, who not only has stolen Mike's bike and killed his mom, but now has fatally stabbed Mike in a forest face-off.

Evaluative comments with rating:
5/5 TVs - Pure genius

The videos have evolved from a one note satire of an up and coming backwoods rapper to an upbeat ongoing series with two exuberant and likeable leads. Froggy Fresh is often biting and witty, but beneath the parody exists a real enthusiasm for fun, professional wrestling, and hip hop. The storytelling seems plucked right out of an Encyclopedia Brown novel, with James standing in for Bugs Meany, but there's something appealing about this blissfully unaware best buds who will do anything for each other. It doesn't hurt that the videos are shot well and the beats are excellently produced. Definitely catchy, it's easy to root for Froggy Fresh and Money Maker Mike.

Suggested Audience (age range): 14 - 18

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Offbeat, witty,  slang-heavy, upbeat, compelling, funny

"Readalikes" aka Watchalikes/Soundalikes: MC Paul Barman, MC Face, Summer Heights High (tv series), Har Mar Superstar

Booktalking hook:

A sample verse from "The Baddest" by Froggy Fresh:

I had to fight my whole life

I could beat you up even if you had one thousand knives 
Even if you had infinity knives 
I would punch you up into the air like a kite 
I bet you sleep with a nightlight
Cause you're scared of the dark
Cause you stink like a fart
Well I'll light your fart on fire with my rhymes
You think I won't? I do it all the time
I bet I got more money than Jay-Z
Compared to me, Jay-Z is Lay-Z
Plus Beyonce thinks that I'm cute
It's okay Beyonce, I think you're cute too
I made out with so many girls
Made out with every girl in the world
I might look small, but I'm not
I don't care if you're big, I'll fight you a lot
You know that

Reason for inclusion: Online popularity - his videos have over 42 million views

Category: Web Series/Music/Comedy

Summer Heights High (TV Series)

Bibliographic Info: Lilley, Chris. (2007). Summer heights high (Television Series). Australia: Australian Broadcasting Company.

Descriptive Summary:
A mockumentary series written by and starring Australian comedian Chris Lilley that focuses on the lives of three characters at one Australian public school.

Lilley plays:

Ja'mie King - a self involved, insensitive, and insincere female exchange student from a private school.

Mr G - a self centered and narcissistic drama teacher who is blind to the needs of his students.

Jonah Takalua - a 13 year old Tongan bully with an interest in hip hop and break dancing who is frequently misunderstood by his teachers.

The series is incredibly biting and often controversial. Summer Heights High takes a look at the social hierarchy of high school as well as the racism that exists in Australia concerning non-white and Polynesian Australians.

Evaluative comments with rating:
3.5/5 TVs - it's hard to like this show, but also hard to not love it

Summer Heights High is not recommended for everyone particularly because of its mature themes and often offensive language. The show, despite being a mockumentary, is often very realistic in its depiction of high school life. Jonah's character is often the star of the show and his storylines are more complex than they appear on the surface. Teachers and authority figures frequently underestimate and belittle him while singling him and his friends out for behaviour based on their Polynesian heritage.  On the surface Summer Heights High appears to be mocking Polynesians, but after a few episodes it becomes quite clear that the Polynesian students are the sympathetic figures in the series. They are blatantly discriminated against and bullied by adult figures - while white students exhibiting the same behaviours are rarely, if ever, punished. The series isn't without its warts, but there are a number of teachable moments. Recommended for mature teens.

Suggested Audience (age range): 16-18

Readers’ advisory notes:

 Appeal factors: Offbeat, character-driven, darkly humourous, funny, slang-heavy

"Readalikes" aka Watchalikes: The In-Betweeners, Peepshow, Clark and Michael, Sit Down, Shut up, Angry Boys

Booktalking hook:

Jonah and his friends in the office after bullying another student:
“How is it ok for you to bully Ben?”— Guidance counsellor

 “Cause he's a ranga.”— Jonah
“A what?” - Guidance counsellor
“A ranga, sir. 'Cause he's got red hair, "Orangutan" That's what we called him.” — Jonsh
“And does that make it ok for him to be bullied, because he has red hair?” — Guidance counsellor
“Well people are racist to us, so we can be racist to rangas. ”— Jonah
“But redheads aren't a race, Jonah. ”— Guidance counsellor
“But, sir, there's heaps of them. They're everywhere!”— Leon

also:

 Jonah to the camera crew:

"They don't understand that I'm just choosing to be dumb. I'm not dumb. I'm just choosing not to be smart at the moment, but if I put in effort, then I could be really smart, but I choose not to." — Jonah

Reason for inclusion: Recommendation by a friend/teacher

Category: TV Series/Comedy

Handwritten

Artist: Gaslight Anthem

Bibliographic Info:

Gaslight Anthem. (2012). Handwritten [CD]. Mercury records.

Descriptive Summary:

11 songs (14 if you have the delux edition) of evocative, folksy, dancey indie rock that continues to cement Gaslight Anthem's reputation as a darling of fans and critics. This is the band's fourth album and first on their new label, Mercury records.

Evaluative comments with rating:
3/5 TVs - If your TV isn't working, throw this on and watch disappointment disappear.

If you're not completely tired of Bruce Springsteen and you have an Against Me!/Constantines sized hole in your heart, then the Gaslight Anthem might fill that right up. A lot more heartfelt than most commercially available indie rock, Handwritten certainly is a competent album of songs that mixes Americana, indie rock, and folk punk. Unfortunately for Handwritten, it all feels like it's been done before — and done better.

Suggested Audience (age range): All ages

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Thoughtful, gritty, lyrical, homespun

"Readalikes" aka Listenalikes: If I Should Fall From Grace With God – The Pogues, Searching For A Former Clarity – Against Me!, Tim - The Replacements, Never Ender – Hot Water Music, Shine A Light - the Constantines, Pretty much anything by Bruce Springsteen ever but particularly Nebraska, Darkness on the Edge of Town, and Born to Run.

Booktalking hook(s):

What's not to like?

A favorite of Bruce Springsteen, features liner notes by author Nick Hornby (High Fidelity), the lead single "45" is featured in NHL '13 — there's little that doesn't cement this band as the flag barrier of honest, folksy rock.

Reason for inclusion: Hilariously bad reviews piqued my interest, award winner, and the presence of a Nirvana cover (Sliver).

#1 on US Rock Charts #1 on US Alternative Charts #3 on US Billboard Charts #5 on Canadian Albums Chart

Category: Music

Twins

 

Author: Ty Segall

Bibliographic Info:

Segall, Ty. (2012). Twins [CD]. Chicago: Drag City Records.

Descriptive Summary:

Ty Segall's fourth album of 2012 features 12 songs of garage rock. Segall, only 24, is at the forefront of the garage rock revival and poised for great things. This album features vocals by Brigid Dawson of Thee Oh Sees and production work by long time Segall collaborator, King Riff. For fans of indie rock, lo-fi recordings, and shredding guitars.

Evaluative comments with rating:

4/5 TVs - Turn off your television already

Because Segall released 4 albums in 2012, it's ok to cut him some slack when one of them (this one) comes off as slightly unfocused. The songs range from fuzzed out love rock ballads to garage-y and ghostly journeys in psychedelica. Through it all the songs retain the same frenzied, disaffected, and thrashy tone that Segall has become known for in his short career. This isn't the best thing Segall has released, but even still it's far better than most. The ambitious and (ironically enough) focused Segall is about to take off and this is a great starting point.

Suggested Audience (age range): All ages

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Haunting, melancholy, offbeat, atmospheric, experimental

“Readalikes” aka Listenalikes: Blood Visions – Jay Reatard, Castlemania – Thee Oh Sees, Past Time – Grass Widow,  We Have You Surrounded – The Dirtbombs, Wilderness - Archer Prewitt

Booktalking hook:

Preview "Would you be my love?" from Twins here

Reason for inclusion: Familiarity with the artists’ previous releases.

Category: Music

Whatcha Mean, What's a Zine?

 

Title: Whatcha Mean, What’s a Zine?

Authors: Mark Todd & Esther Pearl Watson.

Bibliographic Info:

Todd, Mark & Watson, Esther Pearl. (2006). Whatcha mean, what’s a zine? Boston: Graphia.

Descriptive Summary:

An all-star line-up of zine creators and comic artists present a great and thorough guide to making and distributing our own zine. Illustrated and printed on high quality paper, Whatcha Mean is a tome that is built to last and re-read over and over again. Features work by Jordan Crane, Ron Rege Jr., Allison Cole, PaperRad and many more. This is like having a whole collection of experts at your fingertips.

Evaluative comments with rating:
5/5 TVs - This one hits it right out of the park and into your tv screen. Read it!

As a work of art, Whatcha Mean is stupendous. It looks beautiful and it looks like a book you'd want to revisit over and over again. At first glance Whatcha Mean looks like it's more style than substance and it occasionally treads into "this is a little too busy for the eyes" territory. However upon closer inspection, Whatcha Mean provides crucial step-by-step guides in a fun and never tedious manner. It's jam packed with info and tons of different perspectives with no two sections ever looking the same. This is a book that zine makers —regardless of experience and age— will revisit time and time again.

Suggested Audience (age range): All ages

Readers’ advisory notes:

Appeal factors: Funny, Offbeat, Descriptive, Jargon-filled, Lush, Engaging

Readalikes: D.I.Y.: The Rise of Lo-Fi Culture - Amy Spencer, Indie Publishing - How to Design and Produce Your Own Book - Ellen Lupton,  Zine Scene - Francesca Lia Block & Hillary Carlip,

Booktalking hook:

Page 20 Great Moments in Zine History traces zines from Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Edison to Cold War Russia. Great comedy!

Reason for inclusion: Beautiful cover, Personal interest in zine and comics culture.

Category: Nonfiction – Recreational/Zines