Happy Holidays

We've reached the end of term at last - I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. See you in 2010!

2009 A Year in Books

Courtesy of the fantastic people at Love Reading - one of my favourite book sites http://www.lovereading.co.uk/blog/?p=1217

Christmas Read

For a seasonal read why not try:

The More the Merrier by Anne Fine

The Christmas holiday is, traditionally, a time for families to gather together. But more definitely does not mean the merrier in Ralph's household - not with Uncle Tristram hurling spuds at the cat, cousin Titania in her frilly dresses, nutty Great-Aunt Ida and others. Mum's on the verge of a breakdown and Ralph's been banished to his bedroom...

Book of the Week

Wake by Lisa McMann

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams at any given moment is getting tired. Especially the falling dreams, and the standing-in-front-of-the-class-naked ones. But then there are the nightmares, the ones that chill her to the bone...like the one where she is in a strange house...in a dirty kitchen...and a sinister monster that edges ever closer. This is the nightmare that she keeps falling into, the one where, for the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant...

Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/yfdr3hg

Book of the Week

Not a new book this week but this one was recommended to me by a pupil and it's a lovely, sweet romance. Better have the hankies ready though!

Things I Know About Love by Kate le Vann

Livia is starting a new chapter in her life. She has been ill with leukaemia for most of her teen years and, as she heads out to America to visit her brother Jeff, she plans on making up for lost time. She's had a lot of time to think about love - but her observations, theories, previous crushes and boyfriends all pale in comparison to what she finds in New York...

New Moon Released This Week

The hotly anticipated sequel to Twilight is finally released this Friday. There are currently copies available to borrow from the Library but you'd better be quick!

You can also read lots more about the Twilight saga at Stephenie Meyer's website at http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

Hakia

I've been looking at this new search engine www.hakia.com - which aims to focus search results on quality not quantity! So far I've had good results from some sample searches and I like how the results are laid out - each site is clearly labelled as a web, image, news or user-generated result which makes it easier to see at a glance which ones will be most useful. Definitely worth a try as an alternative to Google!

Book of the Week

Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz

The new Alex Rider is here at last!

Targeted by a hitman and under threat of his past being exposed by the media, Alex reluctantly turns to MI6. But their help doesn't come cheap: they need Alex to spy on the activities at a GM crop plant. There he spots Desmond McCain, a high profile charity organiser, who realises that Alex is on to him and the real plans for the money he's raising. Kidnapped and whisked off to Africa, Alex learns the full horror of McCain's plot: to create an epic disaster that will kill millions. Forced to ask MI6 for protection, Alex finds himself being manipulated in a deadly game that could lead to the destruction of an entire East African country.

Watch Anthony introduce the latest Alex Rider adventure here http://tinyurl.com/yjah2xr

Blue Peter Book Awards

It's definitely the season for book awards - the latest shortlist to be revealed is for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2010. Shortlisted titles are:

Best Book With Facts:
Usborne Lift-the-flap Picture Atlas – Alex Frith & Kate Leake (Usborne)
Tail-End Charlie – Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom (Francis Lincoln Children’s Books)
Why Eating Bogeys is Good for You – Mitchell Symons (Red Fox)

Book I Couldn’t Put Down:
Cosmic – Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan)
The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 – Harriet Goodwin (Stripes)
Frozen in Time – Ali Sparkes (Oxford)

Most Fun Story with Pictures:
Peter the Penguin Pioneer – Daren King (Quercus)
Spells – Emily Gravett (Macmillan)
Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things – Guy Bass (Stripes)

These final nine books will now be judged by a selection of young Blue Peter viewers. They will decide both the winners in each category, and the overall winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year 2010.

The Book Awards show will be broadcast on Blue Peter in March 2010 to coincide with World Book Day.

Carnegie Medal Longlist

The books nominated for the Carnegie medal have been announced http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/pressdesk/press.php?release=pres_nom_car_2010.html

The judges read and assess each title, and a shortlist will be announced on 23 April 2010 with the winner being announced on 24 June 2010.

So far the Library has 30 titles on the list - look out for more arriving soon!

Book of the Week

Dark Fire by Chris D'Lacey

Fifth book in the bestselling series.

With the Earth on the brink of recolonisation by dragons, David Rain is sent on an important mission: to seek out and destroy a trace of dark fire, the deadliest force in the universe. But with success could come a terrible price, the sacrifice of a beloved clay dragon. How much does the life of one small dragon count, when the alternative is the birth of a darkling...?

Book of the Week

Nation by Terry Pratchett

When a giant wave destroys his entire Nation - his family and everyone he has ever known - Mau finds himself totally alone. Until he meets Daphne, daughter of a colonial Governor and the sole survivor from a shipwreck. They have no common language, no common culture - but together they discover some remarkable things - like how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good idea - and must try and forge a new kind of Nation. Then other survivors arrive to take refuge on the island, and not all of them are friendly...

Find out more about Nation at http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/4722/Nation-by-Terry-Pratchett.html and http://www.terrypratchett.co.uk/

Theresa Breslin Visit

Award-winning author Theresa Breslin will be visiting the school to speak to S1 pupils on Tuesday 3rd November. There will also be a signing session for ALL pupils after her talk at 12.30 pm. A selection of Theresa's books will be available to buy on the day or they can be pre-ordered by contacting the Library.

Find out more about Theresa and her books at http://www.theresabreslin.co.uk/

Book of the Week

Chinese Cinderella: The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting by Adeline Yen Mah

Following a fall in the Shanghai market, Chinese Cinderella is whisked away to Grandma Wu’s house to recover. As she lapses in and out of consciousness, she is haunted by vivid dreams that seem strange – yet somehow familiar – to her. A tale of slavery and friendship, wealth, poverty and an arranged marriage begins, as Chinese Cinderella recalls a life lived centuries before. But is it real, or all in her imagination . . .

Find out more at Love Reading 4 Kids http://tinyurl.com/ylzb3ao

Man Booker Prize - Winner Announced

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel has been announced as the winner of the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/ydahcah

Book of the Week

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

Nick and Allie don't survive the crash, and now they are in limbo, stuck halfway between life and death, in a netherworld known as Everlost. Everlost is home to those who didn't make it to their final destination: A magical yet dangerous place filled with shadows where lost souls run wild. Shocked and frightened, Nick and Allie aren't ready to rest in peace just yet. They want their lives back. Desperate for a way out, their search takes them deep into the uncharted regions of Everlost. But the longer they stay, the more they forget about their past lives. And with all memory of home fading fast and an unknown evil lurking in the shadows, Nick and Allie may never escape this strange, terrible world.

An unusual book with a supernatural element although not necessarily scary. Recommended if you are looking for something a bit different.
You could also try Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin for another take on the afterlife, or for older readers The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

Michael Morpurgo

Watch Michael Morpurgo read from his latest novel, Running Wild, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7VQviMNQX0&feature=player_embedded

Book of the Week

Our latest book of the week (slightly delayed - sorry) is the second in Carmen Reid's series about a girls boarding school - Secrets at St Jude's:

Jealous Girl by Carmen Reid

Californian Gina is back in Scotland for a new term at stuffy girls' school, St Jude's, and she's returned with a secret jealousy. But all the dorm girls have a reason to be jealous: glamour-puss Amy is still all green-eyed about Jason, swotty Min longs to be like her cool friends and Niffy, stuck at home, is jealous of everyone back at school. The girls will have to stick together to make it through this term!

Recommended

Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

This sequel is just as good if not better than Generation Dead - think high school, murder, romance and zombies! And thankfully there is at least another book in the series to come. If you like Twilight then it's definitely worth a look!

Find out more at:

http://tinyurl.com/q6jq6s

Read Daniel Waters own blog at http://watersdan.blogspot.com/

The Times Books for Schools

We are collecting The Times Books for Schools tokens again this term. Tokens can be found in The Times and Sunday Times newspapers and can be posted in the collection box outside the Library. Thank you.

Past Paper Reminder

Please remember that any past paper orders should be returned to the Library, with payment, by Friday 18th September. Thank you.

Book of the Week

The Spook's Sacrifice by Joseph Delaney

As the Spook's apprentice Tom's first duty is to protect the County from the dark. But now Mam needs his help in her homeland of Greece. One of the most dangerous of the old gods, the Ordeen, is about to return there, bringing slaughter and devastation. Meanwhile, the Devil himself is still loose and if he and the Ordeen join forces, a new age of darkness will descend. Mam has summoned a powerful group to her side but among them are Tom's old enemy, the Pendle witches, including the assassin Grimalkin, and the cunning clan leader Mab Moldheel. Can Tom go against all the Spook has taught him and ally himself to the witches? What is the secret that Mam is keeping from him? And what sacrifices must be made in the battle against the dark?

Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/r9b3x5

Book of the Week

Our new book of the week is Silvertongue by Charlie Fletcher, the final part of the Stoneheart trilogy:

Edie is on a mission. She has survived the worst and walked away from the Walker. And now there is only one thing that matters to her.Meanwhile, the clock has struck thirteen. Time has frozen. All the people have disappeared, and the city is filling up with snow. The Last Knight is searching for George, in no hurry, for as an Agent of Fate he knows things will come to their inevitable end, to what must surely be the decisive and final battle.

Find out more about the trilogy at http://tinyurl.com/lryfat

Man Book Prize 2009

The titles shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize have just been announced:

The Children's Book by A S Byatt (Random House, Chatto and Windus)
Summertime by J M Coetzee (Random House, Harvill Secker)
The Quickening Maze by Adam Fould (Random House, Jonathan Cape)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (HarperCollins, Fourth Estate)
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (Little, Brown)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Little, Brown, Virago)

The winning book will be announced on Tuesday 6th October.

Find out more at: http://www.themanbookerprize.com/news/stories/1275

Book of the Week

Welcome back to everyone for the start of the new session!

Our new book of the week is The Host by Stephenie Meyer and it is now available from the Library:

The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. Wanderer, the invading 'soul' who has been given Melanie's body, knew about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the too-vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of the man Melanie loves - Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer yearns for a man she's never met. As outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off to search for the man they both love.

New Moon Pictures

See behind the scenes photos from the New Moon film at http://tinyurl.com/nkncf8

Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009

The longlist for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009 has been announced:

Auslander by Paul Dowswell (Bloomsbury)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)
Tales of Terror from the Black Ship by Chris Priestley (Bloomsbury)
Numbers by Rachel Ward (Chicken House)
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray (Definitions)
Furnace: Lockdown by Alexander Gordon Smith (Faber)
Three Ways to Snog an Alien by Graham Joyce (Faber)
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins)
Bloodchild by Tim Bowler (Oxford University Press)
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant (Puffin)
Solitaire by Bernard Ashley (Usborne)
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (Walker)
Exposure by Mal Peet (Walker)

Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/lbey33

Anthony Horowitz News

The new Alex Rider book, Crocodile Tears, will now be published on 12th November instead of next year, as Anthony Horowitz finished it earlier than he thought he would! Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/nr3frm

Man Booker Prize

The longlist for this year's Man Booker prize has been announced:

The Children's Book by AS Byatt
Summertime by J M Coetzee
The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
How to Paint a Dead Man by Sarah Hall
The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey
Me Cheeta by James Lever
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer
Not Untrue & Not Unkind by Ed O'Loughlin
Heliopolis by James Scudamore
Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Love and Summer by William Trevor
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/nwqnch .

The Book That Changed My Life

Scottish Book Trust have launched an appeal to find the books which have changed peoples' lives. You can take part at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/thebook - just enter the title and author of your book and say why it was so important to you. It doesn’t have to be long: between 50 and 500 words. The most inspirational stories will be published in a book in 2010.

You can also read other people’s choices, add comments or just browse the lists of most popular books!

Book Events in Glasgow

Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan

Borders, Buchanan St, 3:00 pm, Sat 11th July 2009

Calling all fans of teen fiction (including all new fans of Stephenie Meyer!), Borders Glasgow is very excited to welcome Cassandra Clare, the much acclaimed author of The Mortal Instruments series, of which the final instalment City of Glass will be published on the 6th July and Sarah Rees Brennan, author of the greatly anticipated series of books of which the first The Demons Lexicon will be published in early June. Both authors will be appearing and signing copies of their books at 3pm on Saturday the 11th July.

A series of exciting talks are taking place in The Mitchell Library in July and August. Tickets are available in person from The Mitchell or by telephoning 0141 287 2999.

Jeffrey Deaver

The Mitchell Theatre, Friday 24 July, 6.30pm, Tickets £3

The bestselling crime author discusses his new Katherine Dance novel, Roadside Crosses.

Christopher Brookmyre

The Mitchell Theatre, Friday 14 August, 6.30pm, Tickets £3

Glaswegian author Christopher Brookmyre launches his new novel, Pandaemonium at The Mitchell Library.

A group of Glasgow teenagers on a rural retreat and a top secret military experiment spiralling out of control - two different worlds on a collision course in Christopher Brookmyre's new novel.

Phillipa Gregory

The Mitchell Theatre, Friday 21 August, 7pm, Tickets £3. (Special rate for book groups. Contact Mary Greenshields at mary.greenshields@csglasgow.org for details)

Famed historian, novelist and author of the bestselling The Other Boleyn Girl discusses her latest historical novel, The White Queen, the tale of one woman's ambitious ascent to royalty during the War of the Roses and the unsolved mystery around her sons -the Princes in the Tower.

Liam McIlvanney

The Mitchell Theatre, Thursday 27 August, 7pm ,Tickets £3. (Special rate for book groups. Contact Mary Greenshields at mary.greenshields@csglasgow.org for details)

Glasgow author Liam McIlvanney comes to The Mitchell to talk about his debut novel, All the Colours of the Town, a compelling thriller set amid the murky politics of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Carnegie/Greenaway Winners Announced

The 2009 CILIP Carnegie Medal has been posthumously awarded to Siobhan Dowd for ‘Bog Child’, and the 2009 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal was awarded to Catherine Rayner for ‘Harris finds his Feet’. Find out more at http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2009awards/

Book of the Week

Borrow our book of the week, Tiger-Lily Gold by Fiona Dunbar, which is available now from BR Library:

Rorie and Elsie's parents are missing, and time is running out. The mission to rescue them will take the girls on a dangerous journey, deep into the nerve centre of the corporate machine that is robbing people of their identities. Can the Silk sisters reach their mum and dad before it's too late?

Check out the Chicklish review at: http://tiny.cc/Eau6U

Award Nomination

Our Junior School library, designed by Archial Architects, was nominated in the Best Small Project category at the prestigious Scottish Design Awards 2009. Find out more at http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk/hutchesons_grammar_junior_school.htm

Teenage Reading Circle at Lost in Fiction

Lost in Fiction bookshop announces its new teen reading circle.

The first meeting of the new bookgroup for teens will be held at Lost in Fiction, Byres Road on Monday 15th June after school 5pm - 6pm. The first book up for discussion is 'Skarrs' by Catherine Forde (see http://www.catherineforde.co.uk/ ). Cathy will be attending the first meeting to lead the discussion about Skarrs and provide an opportunity for the bookgroup members to ask questions about her book, writing in general and being an author.

Orange Prize Winner

Marilynne Robinson wins the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction for her book Home. Find out more at http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/home

Book of the Week

The Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda

Fifteen-year-old Billi SanGreal never meant to make history. Dragged at the age of ten into the modern-day Knights Templar by her father, the Grandmaster, Billi's the first girl ever to be a Templar warrior. Her life is a rigorous and brutal round of weapons' practice, demon killing and occult lore – and a lot of bruises. But then temptation is placed in Billi's path – an alternative to her isolated life. But temptation brings consequences. In this case – the tenth plague – the death of all first borns and so Billi must choose her destiny. And as she soon discovers, death isn't even the worst . . .

Rick Riordan Interview

Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson series, talks to ReadingZone about Percy’s latest and biggest adventure, Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian, and promises there will be more stories about Camp Half-Blood. You can also read an extract from the new book on the AuthorZone at

http://readingzone.com/?zone=cz&page=author_zone_feature

Library Book Fair

The Library will be hosting a book fair, beginning on Monday 1st June until Friday 5th June. The fair will be open throughout the day for you to browse and buy books. Pre-order your book or find out more about the titles available at: http://www.travellingbooks.co.uk/catalogue/range.asp?gid=390

Recommended Read

I've just finished Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior by Chris Bradford - a fantastic adventure where a young English boy, Jack, is the only survivor of a shipwreck in Japan. He finds a home with a Samurai and his family and soon begins training to become a Samurai himself, although not everyone welcomes him. Full of action, fight sequences and some great characters I'd thoroughly recommend this - the second in the series is due on July 2nd.

Find out more about the author and book at: http://www.youngsamurai.com/site/YOUN/Templates/Home.aspx?pageid=1&cc=GB

Author Event

THE WEST OF SCOTLAND CHILDREN'S BOOK GROUP

An evening with two outstanding authors of teenage fiction: Gayle Forman and Carmen Reid.

When: Monday 11 May 2009 at 6.45 pm

Where: The Mitchell Library, The Blythswood Room (5th floor)

Adults and teenagers all welcome.

RSVP Teresa Lowe by email teresa.lowe1@btinternet.com or call Margaret Bell on 01698 384665

Our Book of the Week

The Return by Victoria Hislop

Beneath the majestic towers of the Alhambra, Granada’s cobbled streets resonate with music and secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city’s shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet café, a chance conversation and an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale of Spain’s devastating civil war.

Seventy years earlier, the café is home to the close-knit Ramírez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country’s fragile peace, and in the heart of Granada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics and tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle as Spain rips itself apart.

Carnegie Medal Shortlist Announced

The shortlist for this year's Carnegie Medal has just been announced:

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Macmillan (Age range: 8+)
ISBN: 9781405054645

Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks
Puffin (Age range: 14+)
ISBN: 9780141381459

Airman by Eoin Colfer
Puffin (Age range: 9+)
ISBN: 9780141383354

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd
David Fickling Books (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780385614269

Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray
Definitions (Age range: 12+)
ISBN: 9780099456575

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Walker (Age range: 14+)
ISBN: 9781406310252

Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson
Bodley Head (Age range: 14+)
ISBN: 9780370329291

All of the shortlisted books are available for borrowing from the Library. The winner will be announced at a special ceremony on 25th June. Further details can be found at http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2009awards/carnegie_shortlist.php

N.B. Recommended minimum age range for general guidance only.

Twitter

For anyone who would like to find out more about Twitter try:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/14062777/Twitter-Handbook-for-Teachers

It gives an overview and ways to use it in education for a group of educators attending Twizza (Twitter & pizza) gathering in Perth, Western Australian on April 8, 2009.

Man Booker International Prize 2009

The Man Booker International Prize has announced the Judges' List of Contenders for this year's prize, which differs from the annual Man Booker Prize for Fiction in that it highlights one writer's continued creativity, development and overall contribution to fiction on the world stage. It is awarded every two years. The winner will be announced in May.

The authors in contention are:
Peter Carey (Australia)
Evan S. Connell (USA)
Mahasweta Devi (India)
E.L. Doctorow (USA)
James Kelman (UK)
Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru)
Arnošt Lustig (Czechoslovakia)
Alice Munro (Canada)
V.S. Naipaul (Trinidad/India)
Joyce Carol Oates (USA)
Antonio Tabucchi (Italy)
Ngugi Wa Thiong'O (Kenya)
Dubravka Ugresic (Croatia)
Ludmila Ulitskaya (Russia)

The Library has books by many of the shortlisted authors - please check the catalogue for details or ask a member of Library staff.

Orange Prize

The longlist for this year's Orange Prize book award has just been announced:

Debra Adelaide - The Household Guide to Dying

Gaynor Arnold - Girl in a Blue Dress
Lissa Evans - Their Finest Hour and a Half
Bernardine Evaristo - Blonde Roots
Ellen Feldman - Scottsboro
Laura Fish - Strange Music

V.V. Ganeshananthan - Love Marriage

Allegra Goodman - Intuition
Samantha Harvey - The Wilderness
Samantha Hunt - The Invention of Everything Else

Michelle de Kretser - The Lost Dog
Deirdre Madden - Molly Fox’s Birthday
Toni Morrison - A Mercy
Gina Ochsner - The Russian Dreambook of Colour and Flight
Marilynne Robinson - Home
Preeta Samarasan - Evening is the Whole Day
Kamila Shamsie - Burnt Shadows

Curtis Sittenfeld - American Wife

Miriam Toews - The Flying Troutmans
Ann Weisgarber - The Personal History of Rachel DuPree

Find out more about the books and authors at http://www.orangeprize.co.uk/show/feature/home/orange-prize-2009-longlist

Glasgow Book Festival

Just a reminder that the Glasgow Aye Write Book Festival has now started and will be taking place at the Mitchell Library until Saturday 14th March. Authors such as Ian Rankin, Alan Bennett, Janice Galloway and Victoria Hislop will be taking part.

Find out more at http://www.ayewrite.com/

Blue Peter Book Award Winner

Shadow Forest by Matt Haig has been announced as the Winner of the overall Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 and category winner of ‘the book I couldn’t put down’.

The book is a dramatic adventure story set in an enchanted magical world. Samuel Blink’s life changes forever when a giant log crashes out of the sky and kills his parents. As a result, he and his sister Martha are forced to move to Norway where Martha disappears into the Shadow Forest, a mysterious world ruled over by the evil Changemaker. It’s a world full of deadly truth pixies, one-eyed trolls and a witch who steals shadows. People who enter, never return. How will Samuel get Martha back?

Find out what happens by borrowing it from the Library!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

For anyone who has seen (or would like to see) the film, why not try the original story by F. Scott Fitzgerald? You can read it online at:

http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/Fitzgerald/jazz/benjamin/benjamin1.htm

Bookseller Book Video Awards 2009

Film trailers for books!

National Film & Television School (NFTS) students have developed 90-second films based on three novels published by the Random House Group: Double Cross by Malorie Blackman, Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud and My Sister Jodie by Jacqueline Wilson. Watch the videos via Play.com and vote for your favourite at

http://www.play.com/campaign.aspx?campaign=4841&cid=9345018

World Book Day Reading Survey

World Book Day (5th March 2009) is all about reading for pleasure. Sometimes reading can be even more fun if it is a guilty pleasure rather than a virtuous one. Why not spend a few minutes of your time letting World Book Day know about your secret reading habits - you could win £100 worth of book tokens if you do! Find out more at:

http://www.spread-the-word.org.uk/guilty-secrets/

East Renfrewshire Storytelling Festival

The East Renfrewshire Storytelling Festival takes place from 2nd February until 29th March. Find out what's on at :

http://view.vcab.com/showvcab.aspx?count=13/01/2009%2013:29:06-2&vcabid=cehSlrgnSejegr

Aye Write Glasgow Book Festival

The programme for the 2009 Aye Write Book Festival has just been published. You can download it from:

http://www.ayewrite.com/NR/rdonlyres/7E871EFF-3228-459A-838C-0FFC68978BEB/0/AyeWrite_Programme_2009.pdf

The festival takes place from 6 - 14 March in The Mitchell Library. General information on the festival can be found at:

http://www.ayewrite.com/

Martin Luther King, Jr Day

Martin Luther King Jr Day takes place on Monday 19th January 2009. Find out more about Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement from the special Library display or the following websites:

• 
  Civil rights http://www.africanaonline.com/civil_rights.htm
  Summary: This website provides articles related to the American Civil Rights Movement. The information includes a timeline, major events, organisations, riots, significant places and key people such as Martin Luther King.
• 
  The "I Have a Dream" Speech http://www.usconstitution.net/dream.html
  Summary: The text of Martin Luther King's, I Have a Dream speech.
• 
  King Center http://www.thekingcenter.org/mlk/index.html
  Summary: This site provides a biography of US civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. The site also has information about his legacy and a timeline.
• 
  Martin Luther King http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/king.html
  Summary: Information from Time magazine about Martin Luther King Jr.
• 
  Struggle for civil rights http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAcivilrights.htm
  Summary: This website provides extensive information about individual campaigners for Civil Rights in America from 1840 to 1980. The website also includes personalities, issues, events and organisations such as NAACP, Martin Luther King, SCLC, SNCC and the Black Panthers.

Melvin Burgess Short Story

This month Scottish Book Trust have a short story from the sometimes controversial author of Junk, Sara's Face and Bloodsong. Whose Face Do You See? is a story that gives an imaginative insight into the life of Marianne, a girl in a coma. Find it at:

http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/stories/whose-face-do-you-see-by-melvin-burgess

Books For Schools

We are now collecting free Books for Schools tokens. Tokens are printed in The Times and The Sunday Times every day during this school term. Please cut them out and post in our collection boxes to help the school get free books. Find out more at http://www.freebooksforschools.co.uk/

Thank you.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and welcome back for the start of a new term. As it's the time for resolutions check out our display on healthy eating and fitness for some inspiration on how to feel great as we look forward to Spring.

It's also almost time for our prelim exams for S4-6 so we have a selection of study guides, revision notes and past papers available for borrowing. Please ask a member of library staff if you can't find what you are looking for.