My (newly found, I can't believe I hadn't seen this when it was happening!!!) love for The Lizzie Bennet Diaries...

I have discovered a new and most wonderous thing.

Have you heard of the Lizzie Bennet Diaries?? If not, I suggest you go check it out immediately.  

No, really. I meant like RIGHT NOW.  Click the link above.  I'll wait. 

You see, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries is an EMMY award winning online, social-media based interactive (well, it mostly was when it was happening live) modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Brilliant Masterminds Hank Green and Bernie Su took Austen's amazingly resonant story of a snarky girl who doesn't want to just get married and turned her into a modern snarky grad student who refuses to bow to her mother's pressures to get married.  AND.IT.IS.AMAZING!  









Originally, "Lizzie" posted two youtube videos a week chronicling her life and thoughts as part of her "grad-school thesis."  Most of the characters also had twitter accounts and interacted online with not only each other, but also with the public who were watching "The Lizzie Diaries."  Lizzie's older sister, Jane, also had a fashion tumblr and her younger sister, Lydia, even did some of her own diary videos.  The whole concept for the series was amazing to see... 

There are even moments of interpretive costume theater...and let me tell you, Lizzie's impersonations of her mother... I laughed so hard I wanted to cry sometimes. 

If, like me, you missed being part of this amazing phenomenon at its inception, don't worry.  You can catch up on EVERYTHING from the beginning by going here. The story page will take you through Lizzie's journey from start to finish across all platforms...and I bet like me, you'll be watching videos on your breaks and staying up late to watch just one more wayyy past your normal bedtime.  

*Believe me by the time you hit episode 84... you'll be experiencing ALL THE FEELS.  I cried, I cried HARD through a bunch of stuff at the end... *

This is something YOU ALL NEED TO CHECK OUT if you haven't already seen it.  I'm almost tempted to go back and start watching from the beginning...but, there's also a newer story done almost the same way by the same genius team starring Miss Gigi Darcy called "Welcome to Sanditon," (based on Austen's unfinished novel, Sanditon) that I am now happily working my way through... though a rewatch of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries will definitely be in order when the DVD finally comes out. You can bet your tushies I'll own it! 

Gotta go, there's more Sanditon waiting to be watched!! 

2010 CLA YA Section Annual Meeting - Taking Your Tech Up a Notch

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I am Co-Chair of the Young Adult section of my state's library association. So, part of my responsibilities is to set up the annual meeting for all Young Adult Librarians in Connecticut. We had our 2010 meeting this past Wednesday.

We did a full day of programming last year, so this year we decided to concentrate on how better to use technology to reach our teen patrons. "Taking Your Tech Up a Notch" was a full day meeting and I'm proud to say was wildly successful!

The day started off with a Skype session with YA author, Paul Volponi. We were able to talk about his books (including Rikers High,Response, and Hurricane Song), his experiences skyping with classes, and his own reading/writing habits. It was a lot of fun and we were able to show how simple it is to set up a skype visit with an author through the Skype An Author Network.

After our skype session, we had lots of "flash" tech presentations. Each 15 min. presentation was by a different Librarian on a different tech topic. We learned about creating a Facebook page for your Teen Department, using Twitter to alert teens, and also using an SMS email service to text teens alerts.

We also discussed switching to an online Summer Reading Program, creating award winning videos with teens, creating awesome book trailers, utilizing Overdrive to download audio books and e-books, great online (and FREE!) softwares like Wordle.

All in all, it was a great day. I got some new ideas for the future and I think everyone else did, too! I cannot wait to see what gets planned for next year...and I think I'll be happy to just be attending. I am still tired! :)

Do you want to be a Monster?

So, I'm currently listening to the audio book version of Lisi Harrison's Monster High and it's actually a really cute, funny read so far! I'm loving it. This made me want to check out the website again, which I had visited a few months ago when they first started promoting the book, dolls, etc. online. I love the fashionista teen versions of the traditional "monsters!" Anyway, just thought I'd share this fun music video that they posted to YouTube to also help promote the book...