Track the time you spend reading

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Write book reviews

Every time you reach 4 hours -or- write a book review, you’ll be entered into a drawing for prizes!

Simple, right? Wanna know what the prizes are? We have things like gift cards, an iPod Touch, water bottles, an Xbox 360, backpacks, Nintendo DSi and other stuff. So the more you read, attend or write book reviews, the more times you get entered into the drawings and the better your chances of winning!

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Don’t forget to check out the book in our Catalog.

With Raymond v. Raymond, Usher reclaims the spark from his earlier albums and craftily mixes great beats with popular artists like will.i.am, Danja, and Jermaine Dupri. This album casts Usher in a more mature light and addresses his recent divorce as well as his emotional state. A unique mixture of R&B, hip-hop, and pop drive the fresh, playful, and soulful tracks. Check out “There Goes My Baby,” “Lil Freak,” “Monstat,” and “Pro Lover.” It’s clear that while there’s still more to learn about Usher, Raymond v. Raymond is keeping him on track.—Ludjji E., Grade 10, Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School

Want to check it out? Find it in our Catalog!

Check here to see if you qualify.

Stephenie Meyer is releasing a brand new novella based on a character introduced in Eclipse called The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. It will be released on June 5. Yay!

I’m pretty excited about this one. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow is quite the thriller. Here’s the summary from our Summer Reading List:

“After a terrorist attack, computer hacker Marcus is held by the Department of Homeland Security and tortured in a secret prison. Upon release, he vows to take down a system that threatens the rights of every citizen.”

You’ll definitely be into this one if you like computers, technology, and takin’ down the man!

This book has been optioned by Angryfilms – no further information or release date yet.

Are Video Resumes the Next Big Thing?

No.  And let me tell you why.

Video resumes are long, even the short ones, (about one minute) take much more time than the average scan (10-15 seconds) of a written resume.

There is no software that scans and categorizes video resumes as there is with written resumes.  Big companies rely heavily on this software to fill positions.

Video files use a lot more space on computers than written files.  A compressed, one minute video in quicktime is about 6MB, a two page document in Word is about 30KB.  In storage terms, a company can store 204 written resumes for every one video resume.  Now imagine 1000 applicants sending video resumes.  That’s 5.56 gigabytes of hard drive space for one position.

Companies are often wary that video resumes can lead to legal quagmires regarding hiring practices based on appearances.

An embarrassing video resume can often end up in the wrong hands and land on YouTube, as a joke.

Not all people present well on camera, due to poor lighting, camera work, staging or on air personality.  These videos do much more harm than good.

There can be compatibility issues with video formats.

Many email providers will not allow large attachments to be sent.  Your video resume must conform to their rules.

But if you must create a Video Resume, here are some rules:

Dress as if you were on an interview.

Your video resume should be your elevator pitch on camera.

Limit your video resume to one minute.  Remember, a written resume gets about 15 seconds.

Discuss why you are the best person for the job and what needs you will fill for the company.

Look at the camera, never read from a piece of paper.

Do not talk about your personal life, this is for professional information only.

Make sure the audio is pristine.

The first statement you should make is your full name, and it should be the last, with the exception of a thank you.

Have friends view your resume and if anything, ANYTHING is wrong with it, do it again.

Once the video is perfect, upload it to CareerBuilder, Jobster and MyWorkster with a link to your written resume and cover letter.

Talking with a corporate leader, she said about video resumes, “If you are looking to be hired as a graphic artist, news producer, editor, or some other production job, then a video resume can aptly show your talents better than simple words.”

But she cautioned, “In general, someone who’s expertise is not in video production, should probably stay away from video resumes since they are likely to be less comfortable in front of a camera than in an interview. They may also try to make the video memorable, and it does become memorable though for all the wrong reasons.”

There may be a day where video resumes are the standard, but it’s not today.  Currently, video resumes are largely ignored by corporations for the reasons listed above, but if your job entails any type of portfolio, a video resume that shows off your work and your personality can be a useful tool in your search for a job.

Well, for those of you with sets of Legos sitting in the corners of your rooms or backs of your closets collecting dust because you just can’t bear to throw them away — here’s the perfect solution. The Bowie Branch Library is starting a Lego Club for kids ages 6-12. It will meet every Thursday afternoon in July and August. But, they need your help. The program needs donations of Legos:

• Lego Starter Sets
• Basic Bricks
• Toy Story
• Star Wars
• Creator
• any other Lego toys

The sets do not have to be complete, but they should be relatively clean and in good condition. Donations can be dropped off at the Children’s Department of the Bowie Branch Library.

For those who have read the series, you are familiar with the image of the mockingjay that appears on all three covers. But this last is by far the brightest of the the three and the bird appears in flight. What could it mean? Find out when the book is released on August 24!

Major publisher HarperCollins has just launched an online community called Inkpop that brings together teen lit hopefuls with readers and publishing professionals. The social networking site aims to “spotlight aspiring authors and the readers who provide the positive springboard for feedback.” Not only that, but there is an editorial board who will read those pieces that get the most votes and decide who will ultimately land a publishing contract. Very awesome.