Back to school already? Where did the time go?

I hope you are excited to be back at school to see your friends, join different activities, and get ready to buckle down and study! Who am I kidding!! I was never super thrilled to be back at school after a fun summer. It meant I had to actually do work and use my brain again. What I did look forward to was reconnecting with other students and the collaborative effort of being in sports, theater, Latin club, and even being in the next grade level. The new year was an opportunity to do something completely different and maybe even reinvent myself.

I hope, for all of you, that you see school as an opportunity to advocate for yourself and your fellow classmates. Being a teenager is challenging and I am no expert but I do know that your teachers, advisors, and librarians are here to help you through the next journey you might embark upon. I hope that you will take advantage of joining the Teen Advisory Board at the library, join our book club, or show up at the programming being offered to you throughout the school year. If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share let me know, I am all ears.

Upcoming Teen Events

You're sew skilled!

Jennifer Hanson presents easy and fun sewing projects for all ages and all abilities. On Thursday September 23rd from 4-6pm we will be making tote bags and pencil cases.

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Coding and Robotics

This Girls Who Code session we are focusing on robotics and coding! Classes will be held on Wednesdays 5-7pm, October 13th - December 15th (No class on November 24th). Limited to 8 participants.

Fall Session Sign Up

Learn About Money!

Mary Ryerson and Pete Yang from Alpine Bank will be teaching five different classes on how to manage, budget, and invest your money. These classes will be held every Tuesday for five weeks starting October 19th. It's never too early to start learning about money!

Financial Literacy Sign Up

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Jewish American Heritage month is nationally celebrated in May. At Pitkin County Library we are celebrating Jewish American Heritage in September! This September is a big month for Jewish celebrations.

Rosh Hashanah begins Monday September 6th and ends on September 8th. Rosh Hashanah is considered the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur begins Wednesday September 15th. It is one of holiest Jewish holidays and is known as the Day of Atonement.

We have some great recommendations to celebrate Jewish American Heritage below!

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Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. It highlights the value of free and open access to information. Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

Scroll below for the Top 10 Banned Books of 2020.

Find Out More

Number One Banned Book of 2020

George by Alex Gino

Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community.”

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

Banned and challenged because of the author’s public statements and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism and because it was thought to promote antipolice views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now.”

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint, it was claimed to be biased against male students, and it included rape and profanity.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct on the part of the author.

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote antipolice views.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes and their negative effect on students.

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Challenged for profanity, and because it was thought to promote an antipolice message.

Here is to a great new school year! Make it the one you want!

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