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What Can I Do to Help the People of Ukraine?

5/9/2022

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by Yoli, Marmalade Branch
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Here are some ways to help: 
  1. Organize a yard sale, bake sale, or an art sale with proceeds going to benefit Ukrainians See a list of trusted organizations below: (Source: PBS Newshour, Mar 3, 2022)
  2. Organize a donation drive and invite family members and friends to contribute. 
  3. Make a Zine about the conflict in Ukraine and ways we can help. Make copies of your zine and place them in places people can pick them up. Donate some to zines your local library, care of Yoli Perez at Marmalade Branch of the City Library. 
  4. Write a letter to your Senator or Congressperson asking them to support aid to Ukraine. Here is a template of Ukraine support letter from reddit. 
Contact your senator here. Contact your Congressperson here. 
  1. Make a Zine with tips to support mental health. 

Resources and Articles that Support Teen Mental Health: 
  1. SafeUT Call 833-372-3388 or chat on their website. The SafeUT app provides a way to connect to licensed counselors that are ready to listen to any sized crisis or concern. Help is immediate and confidential, and as easy as reaching for your phone and sending that first text.
  2. How to Support Teens’ Mental Health During Covid and Beyond (Source: Berkley.edu)
  3. Teens Mental (Source: NAMI, National Alliance Mental Illness)
  4. Ukraine Conflict: How to help yourself, your kids, and others. “...the NHS and Anxiety UK agree on some key ways to avoid [anxiety]: eat well, get outside, put your phone down, connect with people, rest. These are all pretty basic pieces of advice, but when you're stressed, they can be difficult to do consistently.” (Source BBC.com)

A list of organizations that are Helping Ukrainians On-the-Ground, and In Neighboring Countries. 
  • United Help Ukraine
  • Razom for Ukraine
  • Hospitallers 
  • Ukrainian Red Cross
  • International Rescue Committee - Your gift will help us provide food, medical care and emergency support services to families whose lives are shattered by conflict in countries like Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen.
  • Voices of Children 
  • Sunflower of Peace
  • United Nations World Food Programme 
  • World Central Chef Relief Team 
  • Vostok-SOS
  • Kyiv Independent 
  • Doctors Without Borders 
  • UNICEF 
  • USA for UNHCR
You can check your organization on Charity Navigator, a website that lists reputable organizations.

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Setting Boundaries

12/20/2021

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by Christina, Day-Riverside Branch
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There will be times when you will encounter difficult situations; it could be with friends, family, or in the dating world. I hope that I can give you some resources to better understand what boundaries are and how to use them to keep yourself safe and true to who you are. 

So, what are boundaries? 
Boundaries are limits you establish in order to protect yourself from being hurt, manipulated, or taken advantage of. It also is an expression of self-worth! Boundaries can let other people know who you are, what your values are, and how you want to be treated. 
 
It’s important to note that  boundaries are different for everyone, when done right, they will help you set limits with others. Learning how to set boundaries can help you understand your limits within all of your relationships. 

So, how would you set boundaries? 
You may run into a variety of different scenarios in your relationships. You may have a friend or sibling who keeps borrowing clothes and not giving them back. You may have a friend who likes to tease people behind their back and you would like no part of it. You may have a friend that keeps borrowing money and not paying you back. These are all scenarios where setting boundaries can be useful. 

Here are some tips for setting boundaries:

Find your feelings! 

Learning to recognize and label different feelings is definitely not as easy as it may sound. It will take work and practice to stop and think about how you are feeling in any given situation. Being able to pinpoint how you are feeling is the first step in setting boundaries.   

Trust Your Gut! 
You should always trust your intuition. If something feels off or wrong about a situation, it probably is. You aren’t being dramatic or overly sensitive regardless of what the other people say. You need to be true to who you are and not what someone else expects you to be. 

Key Phrase you can use and practice 
Setting boundaries can be  hard and takes a lot of practice. It  is something that requires some  thought and decision making. Here are some key phrases that can give you some time to think about your next decision. “Let me think about it and get back to you,” “No thanks. I’m not comfortable with that,” or “let me talk to my parents about that and let you know tomorrow” 

Keep in mind that you may run into many different situations throughout your life that challenge your values and beliefs and knowing how to set boundaries can be an important part of growing as an individual. I have attached resources for boundary setting in romantic relationships, real teens telling their stories  and self worth building. 

Self-Worth 
  • This teenage life Podcast episode- Our Inner Monologues- This Teenage Life (TTL) is a podcast about the ideas, stories, and unique perspectives of teenagers in the middle of their own growth as humans

Friendship Resource
  • This teenage life Podcast episode- Friendship: how we make, keep and Deal with our friends 

Dating Resource 

Love Is Respect -non profit organization that  addresses dating abuse with young people. 

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Marmalade Branch Game Exchange

12/6/2021

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by Yoli Perez, Marmalade Branch
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​The Marmalade Game Exchange started in November. You can pick up a “new to you” board game at Marmalade Branch during regular hours, or drop off any games you have grown tired of. Just make sure all game pieces are accounted for. Welcome to the “Game-brary”-- LET volunteer. 


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​This kind of free exchange of goods is part of the gift economy. Check out Alex Gendler’s TED Talk, “What is a Gift Economy?” There is a worldwide movement called “Buy Nothing” where neighbors help neighbors by offering gifts or picking up gifts of items that are no longer needed or wanted. This gift-giving fosters community connections. You can read more about the Buy Nothing Project here.

To participate in the Marmalade Game Exchange, there is no obligation to bring a donated game. You are welcome to just stop in and take a free game. Thank you for reading, and sharing the word about the Marmalade Game Exchange! Note: We also accept puzzles, and so does the Sprague Branch Library. The Sprague Puzzle Exchange is the inspiration for the Marmalade Game Exchange, and another wonderful thing. 


The Marmalade Branch is located near West High School at 
​280 West 500 North
Salt Lake City, UT  84103
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Library Coding Camp

10/11/2021

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by Stephanie Costa, Main Library
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If you've been visiting The City Library for at least three to four years you might remember Code Club. Code Club was a program where kids and teens, ages 8-18, could come and learn computer coding skills each week at the library. Library staff were on hand to help, but students primarily led themselves through a series of coding challenges from the beginning level to more advanced projects. The program ended in 2019 due to a variety of factors, but some students have often mentioned that they miss the club. 

Enter 2021 Anderson-Foothill Branch volunteer, Sanskriti. Sanskriti was one of those students that loved Code Club and missed it terribly. This summer, as a Teen Squad volunteer, Sanskriti dedicated herself to reinventing Code Club in a new way. She created a website! 

Here's what Sanskriti wanted to share about Library Coding Camp: 

Welcome to LCC, the Library's new Coding Club! Here is where you can find resources to learn to code in addition to some project ideas on what to do with your new found knowledge and power. As of now the library's more beginner friendly lessons are still in the process of creation, but please check out the 'lean more' section, which contains links to other nonprofits and companies eager to aid you in your coding journey - for free.

We are so proud of all of the incredible projects our Teen Squad volunteers have created, and this project is no exception. Sanskriti's hard work is a gift for all of our community members looking to expand their knowledge and skills. We hope you'll enjoy exploring coding with LCC and we can't wait to see what future generations of coders make next. 

Library Coding Camp is accessible to anyone, not just City Library users, and not just teens. You can find a link below and on this blog's Teen Squad page. 

Visit Library Coding Camp
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Free Study Help Resource!

9/4/2021

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by Saia, Glendale Branch
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Now that school is back in session, I want to take some time to tell you about a particular resource that the Library has that can help you in your studies. This resource is called HelpNow. Whether you are just starting middle school or your first year of college, This study resource can connect you with live tutors, writing and math help and prepare you for higher education. As you continue on your learning journey, always be mindful that there are people and resources to help you. This includes The Library and its Librarians. It is our job to help and assist!

TO START 
Go to slcpl.org
Once on the homepage, hover over EXPLORE on the tool bar and then click on DIGITAL LIBRARY. 
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Once you have clicked, you will find yourself in the DIGITAL LIBRARY.
scroll down to the very bottom of the webpage until you see the title BROWSE RESOURCES BY TOPIC. You will then locate the HOMEWORK HELP tab and then click on it. 
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​Now you will see all the study resources the library has to offer. Feel free to explore these resources when you have time. For now, lets scroll down till we see the words HelpNow. Once you find it go ahead and click.  
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​After clicking on the HelpNow icon, enter your library card to gain access. If you don't have a library card, you can visit any City Library branch to sign up for one, or apply for a card online here. Its easy and free! 
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​Once logged in, you now have access to HelpNow resources. This includes Expert Help, Study and, Collaborate. 

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Expert Help is where you can get live virtual tutoring. The writing lab is where you can submit and get feed back on any papers or essays. The skill surfer is a great way to level up on any school subject, you can even take practice tests for AP exams! 

The Study column can help you with (you guessed it) studying! clicking on the LEAP Learning platform will take you to online college readiness courses in basic subjects like Math, Reading, and Science. You can also find GED prep courses. Flashbulb is for all things flash cards in any school topic, this is a great study tool to help you memorize vocab and other terms. eParachute can help match your interests and skills to help you discover possible majors and careers options. 

In the Collaborate section, you will be able to connect with friends and other teens in virtual study sessions when you click on the MEET icon. Brainwave is a virtual space where you can keep and share notes and ideas. 

Don't be shy! Click around and explore. I was not able to talk about all the features that HelpNow offers but I encourage you to investigate and use the parts that make sense for you. Remember, The Teen Librarians are here to help you with any of your scholarly and educational needs. You got this! and happy studying:)  
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Donation Drive for the Youth Resource Center

7/2/2021

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by Annabelle, Main Library Teen Squad
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Hi! My name is Annabelle and I am a Teen Squad Volunteer at the Main Library.

This summer I am doing a donation drive for the Youth Resource Center.


​Volunteers of America’s Youth Resource Center is a drop in resource center and emergency shelter for all youth aged 15-22 at-risk or experiencing homelessness.
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I am doing this project to help out in my community. For the drive, we are looking for new socks and underwear. You can find a donation box on the 2nd floor of the Main Library in the Teen area. 

The drive will last from now to August 7. 

Thank you for your help!

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