Next month, the Columbia Public Library will host a free workshop, “College Planning Strategies.” Join us on Wednesday, April 10 from 6-7:30 p.m. as you learn how to work toward your goals while in high school. Kristie Beck of Savvy Strategies will share tips on finding the right colleges, completing the application process and maximizing your chances of getting accepted.
This program is for families with children in grades 7-11. Both parents and students are welcome. Registration begins Tuesday, March 26. To sign-up, call (573) 443-3161.
As you make your journey toward college, don’t forget that the library has a wealth of resources to help you:
VOTE NOW through March 24 for the final two contending titles!
During the months of February and March, area young adults have eliminated 12 books to determine their top four favorite titles in the March Madness Teen Book Tournament. Below is the list of contenders remaining after the first two rounds of voting. If you are just joining us, here’s a recap of how you can participate for a chance to win and Amazon Fire tablet.
How It Works:
- Round 1: Voting complete for the Elite Eight.
- Round 2: Voting complete for the Final Four.
- Round 3: VOTE NOW through March 24 for the final two contending titles.
- Round 4: Vote March 26- April 4 for the book tournament champion.
- April 5: The champion is announced!
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri. Limit one ballot per person, per round.
March Madness Teen Book Tournament: Final Four
- “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
- “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
- “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
- “The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon
VOTE NOW through March 17 for the Final Four!
How It Works:
- Round 1: Voting complete for the Elite Eight.
- Round 2: VOTE NOW through March 17 for the Final Four.
- Round 3: Vote March 19-24 for the final two contending titles.
- Round 4: Vote March 26- April 4 for the book tournament champion.
- April 5: The champion is announced!
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri. Limit one ballot per person, per round.
March Madness Teen Book Tournament: Elite Eight
- “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
- “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
- “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
- “The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon
- “Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard
- “Tell Me Three Things” by Julie Buxbaum
- “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman
- “Heartless” by Marissa Meyer
A new season of book rivalries has begun! DBRL is hosting its eighth annual March Madness Teen Book Tournament. Young adults can vote online for their favorite titles from a pool of the 16 most popular teen books of the year. Then, each week in March, you’ll vote to narrow down the list of contenders and crown the 2019 Mid-Missouri teen book champion!
Each round you vote, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Fire tablet. March Madness is open to all teens ages 12-18 who live in either Boone or Callaway County, Missouri.
How It Works:
- Round 1: VOTE NOW through March 10 for the Elite 8.
- Round 2: Vote March 12-17 for the Final 4
- Round 3: Vote March 19-24 for the final two contending titles.
- Round 4: Vote March 26- April 4 for the book tournament champion.
- April 5: The champion is announced!
Each round that you vote, your name is entered into our prize drawing! Limit one ballot per person, per round.
March Madness Teen Book Tournament: Sweet 16
- “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
- “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green
- “Children of Blood and Bone” by Tomi Adeyemi
- “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas
- “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
- “Three Dark Crowns” by Kendare Blake
- “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell
- “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo
- “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman
- “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli
- “One of Us Is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
- “Red Queen” by Victoria Aveyard
- “Heartless” by Marissa Meyer
- “Tell Me Three Things” by Julie Buxbaum
- “The Sun Is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon
- “Carve the Mark” by Veronica Roth
I hated when teachers required certain books for class. It didn’t matter if it was a best-seller or an award-winner—if it was assigned, I hated it. However, upon reflection, I have decided that some of the dreaded high school classics merit reconsideration. Below are some books and plays I believe deserve a second chance at love. You can also view this list within the library’s catalog.
“Anthem” by Ayn Rand
Man rediscovers electricity and society rejects him. Everything just goes downhill from there. As a student, the narrator’s internal dialogue bored me to tears. Now, it’s fascinating to compare our current values to the values of this dystopian society.
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
Morrison writes the story of a woman who makes the ultimate choice to save her children from the horrors of slavery. The book moves past her choice into the present and how it affects her family. This novel is often criticized for its references to violence. Continue reading “Books I Hated in High School, But Loved Later”
2018 Teens’ Top Ten Booklist (PDF)
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has announced the 2018 Teens’ Top Ten titles. Teens voted worldwide from August 15 through Teen Read Week, October 7-13. Thousands of ballots were cast for the 25 nominees. The finalists are listed below.
The Teens’ Top Ten is a “teen choice” list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year. Nominators are members of teen book groups in 15 school and public libraries around the country.
Teens aged 12-18 can nominate their favorite titles to be considered as a 2019 Teens’ Top Ten nominee via the public nomination form. Submit a book title now through January 1, 2019 to be included in the pool of possible 2019 candidates. For books to be eligible for consideration, they must be published between January 1– December 31, 2018. Continue reading “2018 Teens’ Top Ten Titles Announced”
Looking for something creepy or uncanny to read this Halloween season? Here are some fun choices to get into the spooky mood! You can also view this list within the library’s catalog.
“Asylum” by Madeleine Roux
Dan Crawford is excited to be spending his summer at a college prep program at New Hampshire College. Upon arriving, he learns that his dorm was once an asylum for the criminally insane. Dan and his friends begin sneaking around the building’s old passageways, uncovering long-buried horrors.
“Cuckoo Song” by Frances Hardinge
In this book, Triss awakens from an accident and finds herself misplaced in the world as she remembers it. She senses that something has changed, but there is no evidence that anything is different—except everyone is afraid of her. Continue reading “Creepy YA Reads”
On average, 2.8 million teens runaway from home each year. Rainbow House, a local emergency shelter for youth, receives 10-15 calls each month from teens who have either been abused or kicked out of their homes. To help combat this serious widespread problem, the Youth Community Coalition partnered with Rainbow House to launch the Safe Place Program.
How does Safe Place work?
Youth can stop by one of 20 Safe Place sites, including the Columbia Public Library. Then, find the first available employee and let them know you are in need of a safe place. Young adults will be connected to emergency shelter and other supportive resources available through Rainbow House.
If you’re in trouble and can’t make it to a Safe Place site, you can text “SAFE” and your current location (address/city/state) to 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, you will receive a message with the closest Safe Place location. You will also have the option to text interactively with a professional for more help. It’s quick, confidential, and safe.
Continue reading “Safe Place: A Resource for Youth in Need”
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the primary form used by all colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for grants, loans, work-study and scholarships. More importantly, this application is mandatory for all those planning to attend college.
The Missouri Department of Higher Education has an assistance program called FAFSA Frenzy to help high school students and their families successfully complete this online application process. They will be hosting several sessions of this free event at mid-Missouri high schools. If you are planning to attend college in the fall, mark your calendars now for one of these five sessions.
Where are FAFSA Frenzy events being held in Boone & Callaway counties?
| Location: |
Address: |
Date & Time: |
| Columbia College, Buchanan Hall |
1001 Rogers St., Columbia |
Sunday, October 7 from 1:45-4:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 2 from 1:45-4:00 p.m. |
| Hickman High School |
1104 N. Providence Rd., Columbia |
Monday, October 8 from 5-7:00 p.m. |
| Fulton High School |
1 Hornet Dr., Fulton |
Tuesday, October 16 from 5:30-8 p.m. |
| Rock Bridge High School |
4303 S. Providence Rd., Columbia |
Tuesday, October 16 from 5-8:00 p.m. |
What to bring:
- Student and parent FSA ID information.
- List of schools to which the student has applied, been accepted, or is interested in attending.
- Student and parent 2017 W-2 forms and/or tax return copies. Parental information is required for dependent students (most undergraduate students under the age of 24). Determine if you are an independent or dependent student.
Don’t forget that the library has dozens of resources to help you prepare for the ACT exam, research potential colleges , write your application essay, and learn more about adulting after high school.
