ESPN has just started publishing a new magazine for teens called ESPN Rise. ESPN describes it as a magazine created for high school athletes to share their stories, accomplishments and passions.

Even cooler, check out the website at http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/index You can create your own profile and start up a group (like Facebook).

Ever since the Quantum Bomb of 2015, a rift was opened to other dimensions and suddenly our world is accessible to elves, demons, ghosts and elementals . . . and their worlds are open to us…Lila Black is back in Selling Out, this time she travels to Demonia the dimension of demons.

There are always a lot of new books about school that come out during the summer, and this year there are quite a few good ones. Here are a few of my favorites:
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech, illustrated by Harry Bliss
Lost and Found by Andrew Clements
Keisha Ann Can! by Daniel Kirk
Jake Starts School by Michael Wright
Go Home, Mrs. Beekman! by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington
Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

The Democratic National Convention began Monday night and unbelieveably, we are about 70 or so days away from electing a new president.

So, how much do you really know, or think you know, about the people running for President and Vice-President? We have numerous books by and about, John McCain, Barack Obama and newly selected VP choice, Joe Biden. Don't leave it to the talking heads on TV, read one of the following and make your own decision.

The Audacity of Hope : thoughts on reclaiming the American dream by Barack Obama
Barack Obama by Sherri and Mark Devaney
Barack Obama : the politics of hope by William Michael Davis
Dreams from my father by Barack Obama

Worth the fighting for : a memoir by John McCain with Mark Salter
Faith of my fathers by John McCain with Mark Salter
Man of the people : the life of John McCain by Paul Alexander

Promises to keep : on life and politics by Joe Biden

And, when we find out who John McCain choses for his VP later this week, we'll update this page.

8/29 update: Sarah Palin chosen as John McCain's V.P.

Though the summer is coming to an end, your need for cash is probably not. If your looking for a job for the school year, take a look at this site just for teens: www.myfirstpaycheck.com If you click on the NY link at the bottom of the page you can find jobs available in this area. Keep checking back - new jobs are added all the time.

Have you ever wanted a better way to:

* see what your friends are reading?
* keep track of what you've read and what you'd like to read?
* get great book recommendations from people you know?

I want to thank Erin, our YA librarian, for telling me about this website that she feels is very useful. Goodreads is a free website for book lovers. Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone's bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings. You can also post your own reviews and catalog what you have read, are currently reading and plan to read in the future. Don’t stop there – join a discussion group, start a book club, contact an author and even post your own writing.

With summer rapidly drawing to a close, consider joining the Evening Books Discussion Group led by Edna Ritzenberg! The next meeting of this lively group of readers is scheduled for September 10 at 7:30 pm. The book slated for discussion is Chris Bohjalian's The Double Bind. A thrilling read with references to (and including characters from) The Great Gatsby , The Double Bind tells the haunting tale of one young woman's obssession with uncovering a dark secret! Bohjahlian's well-crafted work is sure to inspire a spirited discussion, and become one of your fall favorites!

From Strummin' and Drummin' with Chris and Matt Marshak back in June to Bugs as Pets with Eric Powers and the SRO crowd at Mr. Ray - this has been a very busy summer in the children's department! We're glad so many families decided to spend their "staycations" with us at the library. Take a look back some of the fun ways we celebrated "Catch the Reading Bug" in our photo gallery.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a 2008 CGI animated science fiction film. Get ready to go back in time to discover the untold tales of the clone wars.

Recently I came across this video on YouTube. These teens created a really cool video to promote their library. It would be great to do the same thing for the RVC Library (only ours would be even better). If you are interested in helping to create a video for the Library. Email me @ egleason@rvcpl.org

The summer blockbuster season is just about over so it's time to look forward to Fall movies. The following are movies based on novels premiering this September/October. Why not read the book (click title to reserve) and make a decision which was better, book or movie. I've rarely seen a movie that was better than, or as good as, the book -- The Cider House Rules the only exception in my humble opinion.

September 26 - Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
Starring: Sam Rockwell & Angelica Huston

September 26 - Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride
Directed by Spike Lee
Starring: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, John Leguizamo, Joseph Gordon Levitt and James Gandolfini
view trailer

October 3 - Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Starring: Michael Cera & Kat Dennings
view trailer

October 3 - What Just Happened by Art Linson
Starting: Robert DeNiro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener, Stanley Tucci, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro, etc. What a cast!!
view trailer

October 17 - The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson
view trailer

It's the last week of the Summer Reading Program so it's time to come down to library and pick up your reading records and your last prizes. We'll have everything available at the final show, Erik's Reptile Edventures, in case you plan to attend.

We already caught the Reading Bug this summer and now we've caught Olympics Fever! Come in and check out our Medal Count. We will be keeping tabs on the medal standings of the top four medal winning countries from the last summer Olympics: the United States, Russia, China and Australia. I can't wait to see if swimmer Michael Phelps wins medals in all eight events he's competing in.
Also, East Meadow Public Library is hosting a blog written by an NBC staffer who is in Beijing. Check it out and send in your own questions.

Take Alexandre Dumas to Paris with you, read Elizabeth Bishop while in the Hamptons, pack Michael Dibdin for your trip to Ireland - wherever you are going on vacation this year, writers (Julian Barnes, Dave Eggers, Colm Toibin, etc. ) recommend these perfect literary travelling companions.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 hits theatres on August 6. Based on the books by Ann Brashares, the movie stars Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera, Blake Lively and Alexis Bledel. If you haven't read the series check out the books:
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
Girls In Pants
Forever In Blue

For more on the movie click here