Duck Duck Go 05/10/2012
 
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Try this alternative to Google - a search engine called "Duck Duck Go".  Their claim is that they don't track or "bubble" you, specifically they don't keep a history of your searches and they provide varied results.  It is a very uncluttered search engine free of all the ads Google now shows.  Be sure to check out their explanations of what it means to track and bubble you on the bottom left corner of the site.  Very informative!  For more on the concept of filter bubbles watch this amazing TED Talk by Eli Pariser.
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from Wikimedia Commons
Currently borrowing a Nook ereader means you can "custom order" a good ebook to read.  Has your favorite author published a new book?  Were you at the book store and saw an interesting title?  Come to the library and borrow a Nook - we can load the book of your choice onto the device within one day.  
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Congratulations to Jessica Warren for winning the Hunger Games poster.  So what did everyone think of the Hunger Games movie?  Click here to read what students had to say.  If you would like to add your thoughts you can make a comment on this post.  
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Google has a new feature called the "Search Story Video Creator".  What's a search story?  It's as simple as it sounds - a story that is told through Google searches.  Here's the link to the video creator, and you can watch many sample search stories.  I created one in about 10 minutes - it is the story of a student that has to do a research project about Kony 2012.  Below it I've added a funny one from the Google search story page about someone adopting a stray dog.  You can easily make a search story about anything. Give it a try!
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We've Got Nooks 03/08/2012
 
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image from Wikimedia Commons
Don't forget that NPHS Library has Nook ereaders to lend.  Check the Nooks page on the library website to see a list of the ebooks that are available to read.  Try one out today!
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Infographics! 02/28/2012
 
You've been seeing them around, perhaps even on this library website.  Infographics are the new cool thing.  What are they?   Infographics visually represent data, information, knowledge, and arguments.  They tell complex stories by combining a variety of charts, graphs, timelines, and other tools.  They synthesize large amounts of information and use visual strategies that make it easy for the viewer to digest and understand.  Here's a sample infographic about social media and college admissions.
You can make an infographic about anything!!

Check out Cool Infographics to see many examples.  Better yet, make your own infographic.  There are many great sites that help you make them for free.  Try Visual.ly or Infogr.am to get started.     
Reading students like an open facebook, or how social media is reshaping college admissions
Courtesy of: Schools.com
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Unless you've been hiding under a rock you've probably noticed that Facebook is in the process of rolling out its new format called Timeline.  It is voluntary right now but apparently over the next couple of weeks it will be mandatory. 
There has been a lot of buzz about this; some of it is panic and others are downplaying the whole thing.  What does it really mean for you?
Facebook is describing Timeline as the story of your life.  In some ways it looks like a resume - cover photo, biographical info and chronological posts and pictures.  If you've been on Facebook for awhile and have posted some questionable/stupid stuff it will come back to haunt you now.  The good news is that you can clean it up.  The bad news is that it appears to be a tedious process.  See the PC World link below for a description of how to make sure Timeline doesn't showcase bad decisions you've made in the past:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/249019/facebook_timeline_privacy_tips_lock_down_your_profile.html
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We now have a print copy of John Green's new book The Fault In Our Stars.  It is also on all six of our new Nook Simple Touches.  This book is a truly incredible story of two teens with cancer.  It's sad, it's funny, it's an adventure, it's a love story.  It's everything wrapped up in John Green's amazing, witty, smart style.  See the videos below - the first is "Question Tuesday" about TFIOS and the second is John Green reading the first chapter of the book.  You will be hooked!
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Come to the library and check out a new Nook Simple Touch ereader.  Details are on the Nook page of the library website.
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