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4 Socially Distant Dates

2/19/2021

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by Lexi, Day-Riverside Branch
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Have a crush? Want to hang out while maintaining your (and their) safety? Here are 4 socially distant dates to try out.
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Picnic in the Park

You’ll need a big blanket, your own individual lunches and your masks. Sitting on a picnic blanket, while still 6 feet apart, will give you ample room to gaze at each other and learn a little more about who you’re pining after. If you’d like to add some extra fun, bringing walkie talkies always leads to goofy (yet charming) games of hide, seek, giggle and flirt.

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Online Gaming

What better way is there to get to know someone than discovering their gaming habits? Whether it’s working together (in your own homes) in co-op games or spying on each other in versus games, you’ll definitely get some of that interaction you’ve been waiting for. After all, if you can learn to tell if your SO is SUS, you'll end up knowing them pretty well.

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Distant Dance

Make a collaborative playlist to listen to at the same time. Get together, throw your headphones on and try to guess what made your beau add each song to the list. You can dance in parking lots or lay on the grass (6 feet apart) and pretend you’re doing the most romantic thing of all, sharing headphones.

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Virtual Escape Room

    Want to see how good of a couple you and your crush would make? Doing a Virtual Escape Room is an excellent way to see whether or not you make good teammates. These web-based escape rooms are conducted via Zoom and will definitely provide a dreamy opportunity to both work together and show off your smarts. Most of them cost a little money, but here is a free Minecraft Escape Room, Hogwarts Escape Room and even a romantic Romeo & Juliet Escape Room.

So go forth and get to know your crush! Remember to follow health department guidelines, wear masks and stay safe! (You can expose yourself to COVID through kissing, you know).

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Gone Viral Booklist

8/26/2020

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by Yoli, Teen Librarian the Marmalade Branch
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​Libraries across the nation have seen an increase of checkouts of viral-themed books during the Covid-19 pandemic. We created this “Gone Viral” booklist to help you find some books that deal with pandemics, epidemics, quarantines, or viruses. The list includes both nonfiction and fiction selections. Check them out! Here’s an abbreviated list with some of my favorites!
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"Hazmat Guy 8804 Lego Minifigures Series 4" by brickdisplaycase.com is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel ​
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The book follows different characters during a (fictional) swine flu pandemic called the “Georgia Flu”. It causes the collapse of civilization as we know it. I liked the way the story unfolds, and getting to know the characters and their fight to survive, and seeing their memories and emotions in the face of such a loss. The writing is beautiful and sad. But there is a thread of hope that persists in the survivors of the illness, who find each other among the chaos and devastation. Reading this book made me want to hold my loved ones closer, and feel an appreciation for being here.
Grasshopper Jungle: a history by Andrew Smith ​
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The book is wacky, even for Sci-Fi standards. It mixes Americana with out-of-the-box Sci-Fi.  The main character, Andrew is a teen who lives in a small town in the midwest, experiencing things that a lot of teens can probably relate to, first kiss, working at their first job, dreaming of a better life and future after graduation…and then it all goes very, very weird. While working in an antique store, Austin accidentally breaks a scientific artifact from the 50’s and ignites a small viral explosion that mutates some townspeople into Giant killer grasshoppers. They kill with impunity. Austin, Robby, and Shannon are 3 friends who must figure out a way to survive the grasshopper apocalypse and hopefully save humankind.
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"Grasshopper" by diverevan is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The Young Elites by Marie Lu  
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Cosplayer as Adelina Amouteru: Photo credit "The Young Elites" by margotwood is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

​In Adelina Amouteru’s world, many people have succumbed to the “blood virus”. Her mother passed away when she was a child, leaving two daughters with their bitter and angry father. Adelina is a survivor, but bears some marks of the virus; she is missing one eye, and has silver white hair. The virus caused a mutation that gives her powers to create illusions. Adelina and other mutants are not welcomed by society; their physical changes and powers are considered demonic. She lives in an archaic time when a woman is expected to become a wife and mother, and since a marriage arrangement is out of the question, her father tries tries to sell her into slavery as a “mistress.” Instead of accepting her fate, she fights and runs, leaving her younger sister behind. Adelina meets other mutants, and they form an alliance against corrupt political rulers. As she learns to master her powers of illusion, she becomes an incredible fighter too. This book also explores how gaining power can make us lose sight of who we really are, and how family can be the key to remember the best parts of ourselves.

Thank you for reading my post about our library's Gone Viral booklist. Please take care of yourselves, and each other. And if you have any suggestions to add to this book list, please fill out this suggestion form.

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Making a Difference in Covid Times

6/22/2020

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by Yoli
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​Even though it may be challenging to find them, there are opportunities for youth to make a difference! Here are some highlighted volunteer opportunities for teens. For more options, check out this complete list made by our librarians here.

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Photo from Bags to Beds Facebook page

​Make Plarn Mats for Bags to Beds
​Bags to Beds is a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce plastic waste while creating sleeping mats woven from plastic bags for individuals experiencing homelessness.
“We have instructions on our website on how to make plastic bags into plarn that we use for the mats-- it is really simple and all you need are scissors. Also if anyone is up for it we need help with people crocheting the mats. We can supply them with hooks, I can teach them over Zoom, and we can give them plastic yarn (plarn).”
​-Emily Voll, Bags to Beds.



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A screenshot from Indianlaw.utahbar.org

​Gather Donations for Utah Tribal COVID-19 Relief

"Indian Country has been hit hard by COVID-19. You can help Tribal Communities within Utah. We are directing people who are still interested in donating supplies but missed previous pickup deadlines to ship the supplies directly to the Utah Navajo Health System Office, which is partnering with us to distribute supplies. We realize shipping can be costly, so perhaps teens could raise money and then purchase items on Amazon or another retailer and have them shipped down. If they’d like to pursue that option, the address is:

 
Utah Navajo Health Systems
1478 East Highway 162
Montezuma Creek, Utah 84534
 
Many children on the Navajo Reservation are currently in need of educational materials, supplies and books. Teens could do a drive to gather those, and I could check and see where they could send those materials for distribution. My daughter helped coordinate educational materials for our group, and she would be happy to be a point of contact to guide other teens (ie. helping them determine what kind of materials to gather, where to ship supplies, etc.). It is an option that would involve the teens shipping items directly to the Reservation, however, educational materials tend to be less bulky and heavy than other supplies, so might be easier/cheaper to put in a box and ship down there." -- Beth Parker at tribalcovid@learlaw.com. For more information please visit: http://indianlaw.utahbar.org/covid-19-tribal-relief-fund.html or contact Heather Tanana at tananah@law.utah.edu.
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A screenshot from the website: slccgardens.com

​Volunteer at SLCC Gardens
Volunteer outdoors with activities such as planting, weeding and harvesting as well as indoor activities such as graphic design and writing. Have fun outdoors while helping the community. The food grown in SLCC’s garden beds is donated to the SLCC pantry. Volunteers helping in the garden are encouraged to bring their own gloves, and wear masks, but masks and gardening tools can be provided. Fill out a volunteer interest form here. You can email questions to Christina at slccgardens@gmail.com

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Photo from https://www.voaut.org/volunteer-opportunities/provide-a-meal

​Volunteer with VOA (Volunteers of America)
Purchase, cook, and serve a meal at the Youth Resource Center. Group sizes of 10 or less are the best, or else it gets very cramped in our kitchen. Volunteers must be ages 16+. 16 and 17 year olds will need to be accompanied by an adult. Sign up here. Please read this document regarding volunteer information.  If you are unable to make your scheduled volunteer shift but would still like to provide your meal, you can drop it off at the center. Contact Alexis Brown-Brotherton (alexis.brotherton@voaut.org) for more information.

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We hope you're able to find ways to help out this summer. If you discover any other great opportunities for youth, please comment here with the details. 

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5 Ways You Can Help Out During Quarantine

6/9/2020

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by Maddie 
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As this time of social distance continues, you may be wondering how best you can help out your community. The main priority is for everyone to stay safe and healthy. If you're feeling up to it, here are some ways you can help out during these uncertain times.

  1. Keep Your Distance
    Whether you're walking the dog or helping out on a grocery store run, remember to keep at least six feet away from others. Wear a mask or bandana to cover your face, and wash your hands often. 

  2. Offer to Do Yard Work For a Neighbor
    An elderly neighbor might happily welcome an offer to have their lawn mowed or sidewalk swept. Slip a note in their mailbox with the free services you can provide and your guardian's contact info. Remember to keep your distance as the elderly are especially vulnerable during these times.

  3. Share Some Hope From Your Window
    Create an inspiring sign to put in your window. Paint or write a message on paper or posterboard. Your neighbors and delivery workers will appreciate a little message of hope! "We're All In This Together," and "We Love SLC!" are a couple examples of signs.

  4. Check In With the People Around You
    Whether you're stuck at home with all your siblings or crashing on a friend's couch, it's important to take time to connect with your quarantine pod! Ask you compantion how their day is going or offer to read to a younger sibling. The people around you will feel cared for and comforted. 

  5. Take Care of Yourself
    YOU are your number one priority, so take time to care for yourself! Relax and unplug with a good book from The City Library. Host a virtual dance party with friends. Treat yourself with something sweet!
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