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by Stephanie C, Main Library  I sometimes get overwhelmed by the amount of waste we throw out each week. I try to recycle as much as possible, and I've started looking for more ways to reuse items before the recycle stage becomes necessary. There are so many containers that can be used again, like glass jars, and plastic take-out containers. Another material that has a lot of reuse potential is cardboard. You may find yourself with a bunch of cardboard boxes after the holidays. If you are looking for a fun project, and a way to put that cardboard back to work, here are some fun craft ideas. This YouTube video from 5-Minute Crafts has a ton of neat ideas. Here are a few I thought were handy, but check them all out, especially if you are helping to entertain younger siblings. #1 - Picture Frames Minute 1:20 #2 - Phone Gaming Holder Minute 2:24 #3 - Painting Easel Minute 3:35 #4 - Drawer Organizer Minute 4:43 #5 - Cell Phone Theater Minute 5:31 #6 - Cell Phone Projector Minute 5:46 #7 - Cell Phone Speakers Minute 7:23 #8 - Secret Bookshelf Safe Minute 9:34 #9 - Cardboard Cacti This tutorial is spread out across a few pages on this website and there are lots of ads (sorry!). This link will take you to the first page, but make sure to look for the other pages to find the printable template, process photos, and some helpful tips. #10 - Cat Houses There are a bunch of amazing cardboard cat house tutorials out there. Here are two, one that's on the simple side, and one that has a bit more flair. Crafting with cardboard usually requires sharp scissors and/or Xacto knives. Be careful, and get help if you need it. A pro tip my dad taught me: For big cuts especially, slice away from your body and always double check where your fingers are before you make the cut! Words to live by :) Happy crafting & Happy New Year!
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by Trinity, Main Teen Squad  Hello! Firstly, I’d like to introduce myself and why I did this project.  My name is Trinity and I’m an LGBT+ teen that has been out to themselves for a few years, so when I was thinking about the next project that I could do with the library for Teen Squad, one of the main things I thought about was, “what is something that I know about that I as a teenager didn’t know before, and wish I did?” And that’s when it hit me that I gather information as a hobby and I have a store of info on LGBT+ representation, resources, and tips, so that is what I made my project out of. The way to access my project is on Instagram on an account with the username @rainbow_community_resources and there are quite a bit of different things to be found to help anyone that is looking to get started on the journey that is getting support, loving who you are, finding people like you, and doing it all safely. The specifics of what can be found there are sectioned into categories. Those categories are YouTuber representation, representation in general, binder tips (for the trans masculine/non-binary folks), hotlines/phone numbers, institutions/corporations that are either LGBT+ safe or built for LGBT+ people, and finally a deeper dive into some of those institutions. All YouTuber representations are people that are healthy successful people that are openly advocating for people like them and in turn people in the LGBT+ community, and all of the examples of general representation are authors or companies that put out healthy and constructive content for your viewing pleasure. All hotlines/phone numbers are specifically for LGBT+ people and many are for mental health, and all binder tips have been researched and triple checked to ensure safety. And on top of all of that we still have institutions and deep dives on institutions that are LGBT+ based, supporting, and open to all. And all of these posts were hand drawn on my digital drawing platform to make it feel more personalized.  So with all that letting you know what to expect when you get there, I sincerely hope you check the account out, share it with LGBT+ friends and use it to help yourself, your friends, or anyone else trying to get started on this roller coaster of pride. Kamryn, Sweet Teen Squad  My name is Kamryn, and for my project with the Sweet Branch Teen Squad I am doing a book club once a month! For January we will be discussing the book Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich! It is such an amazing book, and I am so excited to read this book with you guys!  Dear Evan Hansen is about a kid named Evan becoming popular after his best friend Connor Murphy dies, but the big thing is that Evan never knew who Connor was before he died.
This book is based on a musical so you should go listen to that if you want. There is a ton of talk of suicide, depression, and drug use so if anything of those things is triggering to you this book may not be right for you. A couple of questions that I will be asking are:
The January book club will be held Saturday, January 9th at 2:00 pm. This event will be online: Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98103476634?pwd=TkRIbjlETURnR3dXNElDM3lKUG8wUT09 by Stephanie C, Main Library  As 2020 comes to a close I've been trying to focus on all of the good things that came out of this year. We've all had to pivot in unexpected ways and it hasn't been easy, but we've made it! One thing that is always a bright spot for us librarians, and many of you, are the books we read that made a special impact. Maybe you read something that completely opened your eyes to a new idea, or that made you laugh until your sides hurt. Maybe you cried a little (or a lot) because that one book just shook you to your core, or made you feel seen. I hope you've had some incredible reading experiences this year. If you're still looking for that special book, take a look at this list of our staff favorites. You may have seen some of them mentioned here on the blog earlier this year. We just can't stop talking about these amazing reads.
What books did you love this year? Comment below to share your favorites.
by Christine, Chapman Branch 
One day a German pilot lands in Windyedge under mysterious circumstances and leaves behind some clues that Louisa follows and discovers the Enigma machine he left behind. Louisa, Ellen, and Jamie have to work together to try and crack intercepted German codes and stay one step ahead of the German attacks near Windyedge. The Enigma Game was really interesting because it provides a snapshot of what it was like to live during the war and fly planes for the RAF (actually a bit terrifying), and the bravery of everyone who lived through that time. It was an exciting book and I would definitely recommend it if you are interested in WWII or enjoy a good historical fiction novel. And if you need some book ideas check out the Teen section of the Library’s webpage for booklists and a best of 2020 booklist. Or visit our Teen Reads page for some book reviews and recommendations from some of our Teen Librarians. If I am reading a book on a cold winter day I definitely need some hot cocoa and some cookies to go with it. This recipe for Polka Dot cookies from Guittard is one of my favorites to make this time of year:  POLKA DOT COOKIES--makes 4-5 dozen 2-inch cookies Ingredients: 2 cups (12 oz) Semisweet Chocolate Chips ⅛ teaspoon salt ½ cup (1 stick) of butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 large eggs 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cup sugar ½ teaspoon baking soda 2 cups (12 oz) (Guittard) Green Mint chips
Note: I think these would taste great with other kinds of chips besides the mint so feel free to experiment! I have only made these with Guittard chocolate and mint chips but I think your favorite brand would work too. I am also looking forward to leaving behind this crazy year and starting what I hope will be a better new year. 2020 has been difficult, but I wanted to sit down and think about some of the positives of 2020, because it hasn’t all been bad and I wanted to think about the good that came out of it. For example:
What is on your list of good things about 2020? What are your plans for this winter break? Leave us a comment if you feel like sharing! Have a great Winter Break!
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