Each day we’ll try to post a new word or a couple of words for those of you ready to take the SAT’s. We’ll give you a word, the definition and use it in a sentence. Make sure to check back often to take advantage of the easy study time! We also have a large collection of SAT practice books at our branches and practice tests online through our website at Learning Express.

abate

transitive verb 1 a : to put an end to <abate a nuisance> b : nullify 1 <abate a writ>
2 a : to reduce in degree or intensity : moderate <may abate their rancor to win peace> b : to reduce in value or amount : make less especially by way of relief <abate a tax>
3 : deduct, omit <abate part of the price>
4 a : to beat down or cut away so as to leave a figure in relief b obsolete : blunt
5 : deprive 2

The rain abated after hours of downpours.

abbreviate

: to make briefer; especially : to reduce to a shorter form intended to stand for the whole

We abbreviate words when we chat online.

(Definitions from http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

Join us Saturday, December 5th from 1:30-3 pm in the Meeting Room. We will have cookies for everyone to decorate (2 per person) and lots of candies, frostings and more for the decorations! Plus, we will have card supplies so that everyone can make a card to take home. No registration necessary. All ages are welcome to attend.

Teens ages 13-19 are invited to join us for a night at the library. We will have a fun-filled evening of all things New Moon. There will be a costume-contest, scavenger hunt, all new trivia challenge and more. Best yet, there will be food and prizes! Sign up early to reserve a spot at this event. Pre-registration is required. Please contact the library for more details.

This Saturday, the library is hosting a Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Craft for children. All ages are welcome to attend, and younger children will need to be accompanied by an adult to help with the crafts. Craft runs from 12-2 pm and please arrive within the first hour if you wish to complete both crafts. We will decorate masks for Halloween and make “sugar” skulls for Dia de los Muertos. The masks may take some time to dry so we will work on those first. All supplies are generously provided by support from the Newark Library League. No registration required. Contact Mary Ayers for more details: (510) 795-2627 ext 15 or e-mail mcayers@aclibrary.org .

The final scrapbooking class will be held tomorrow (9/26) at 3 pm at the Newark Library. If you are interested in attending, please drop in. No registration required and all supplies will be provided. We will be focusing on scrapbooking techniques, such as heat embossing, how to apply rub-ons, paper piecing and more. If you have any other techniques you would like to see, please e-mail Mary at mcayers@aclibrary.org before tomorrow morning.

Do you like vampire stories? Check out some of our vampire novels available throughout the Alameda County Library system:

Teens/Adult Novels:

Vampire Diaries series – L.J. Smith

Interview with the Vampire – Anne Rice (and other novels)

Vampire Academy series - Richelle Mead

Vampire Kisses series – Ellen Schreiber

House of Nights series – P.C. Cast

Sunshine – Robin McKinley

Secret Life of a Vampire – Kerrelyn Sparks (and other novels)

Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter – Laurell Hamilton

Twilight Series – Stephenie Meyer

Dead Until Dark: A Sookie Stackhouse novel – Charlaine Harris (entire series)

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side – Beth Fantaskey

Dracula – Bram Stoker

Blue Bloods books – Melissa De La Cruz

Books for children:

My Sister the Vampire series – Sienna Mercer

Bunnicula – Deborah Howe

Goosebumps: Vampire Breath – R.L. Stine

Join us for one or more of our upcoming programs at the Newark Library:

9/26/09: Fall craft, 2-3 pm. (decorating leaves and embossed metal ornaments)

10/10/09: Halloween and Dia de los Muertos Crafts, 12-2 pm. (Please arrive within the first hour if you wish to complete both projects).

10/15/09: Friendship Bracelets, 5:30-6:30 pm.

10/17/09: Magic show with Heather, 2-2:45 pm.

10/30/09: Mystery Night at the Library for Teens (requires advanced registration. Please contact the library at (510) 795-2627 for more information and to register). 7-9 pm

Check back soon for more details on an Alice in Wonderland extravaganza sometime in winter …

Sunshine by Robin McKinley is a darkly entertaining story for teens and adults. Set in a modern world full of Others (vampires, werewolves, demons, etc) after the Voodoo Wars, humans are leery to venture out of doors late at night or alone. Sunshine should know better than to sit by the lake near twilight … When she awakes she is a captive of a group of vampires. They take her to another house by the lake, chain her to a wall and offer her as a meal to another vampire (who is a captive like Sunshine).

What follows is a dark tale of survival, magic, hope and above all else, an understanding an acceptance of one’s self. Sunshine is one of my favorite reads in a long time. The characters are strong (and in most cases, deeply flawed and representative of our own darker human nature) and plot moves throughout the story. The ending does leave a lot to the reader’s imagination, which fits perfectly with the story line, but made me eager for a sequel… 

~Mary Ayers

Check out this website with lots of free online games:

http://funcitygames.info

Upcoming movie releases of favorite children and teen books include:

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs – September 18th

Where the Wild Things Are – October 16th

Cirque du Freak: the Vampire’s Assistant – October 23rd

Fantastic Mr. Fox – November 13th

New Moon – November 20th

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief  - February 12, 2010

Read the book before you see the movie (or go back and re-read a title to refresh your memory!)