Those “dog days” of summer are officially here and with the heat and humidity climbing to record highs we could all use a way to keep our minds on chillier thoughts. Remember what your parents used to say when you were whining: “I’m bored” and tugging on their pants leg? Use your imagination!! How about immersing yourself into some books that take place during the Christmas season?  After all, it can’t get much colder than winter and the mere mention of winter activities can jumpstart a healthy mind into fits of jubilant musings of childhood memories of playing in the snow. Imagine yourself standing in the freezing, raw winter wind, and squinting through the swirling snow to gaze at colorful Christmas lights and, believe me, your wish to cool off turns into a fretful hope of warmth! Step into the library and chill out with some fabulous Yuletime fiction and if that doesn’t do the trick, there’s always the air conditioning!

 
Possible prizes include T-shirts, toys, and Orioles tickets!

This year, the Enoch Pratt Free Library's annual Summer Reading Program has something for everyone! Whether you are 8 or 85, you can join in on the fun. Babies, Children, Teens and Adults can all participate. What better way to spend a lazy summer afternoon than escaping into a great read? And what could be cooler than winning prizes for your efforts? Go here for more information: http://www.prattlibrary.org/home/index.aspx?ID=53052 

This year, the Enoch Pratt Free Library's annual Summer Reading Program has something for everyone! Whether you are 8 or 85, you can join in on the fun. Babies, Children, Teens and Adults can all participate. What better way to spend a lazy summer afternoon than escaping into a great read? And what could be cooler than winning prizes for your efforts? Please come and join us for our Hawaiian Luau to kickoff the summer season on June 12th, 2010 from 12-4. There will be food, games, and prizes! Go here for more information: http://www.prattlibrary.org/home/index.aspx?ID=53052 

Are you tying the knot and perplexed at all the financial preparation and planning for your ideal wedding? Many couples feel so overwhelmed at the very idea of planning their big day, that they often hire a professional. While a professional wedding planner can seem like the perfect way to cope with stressful decisions, financially they can be a bit of a strain. Why pay money to a perfect stranger when you have all the information you need at your fingertips? Right here, at the Patterson Park branch of your Pratt Library, we have books on everything you would ever need to know about planning your celebration. We have books on flowers, photography and video, wedding toasts, etiquette, writing vows and, of course, dresses and accessories. There are books for the couple on a tight budget, the extravagant spenders, and for those involved in the wedding but who are not the bride and groom, we have books on throwing that perfect bridal/wedding shower! And, for the nervous gentleman wanting to buy the perfect engagement ring, we have a book just for you, on how to buy diamonds.

Top 10 Things Teens can do at the Library:

1. Chill out and glance through one of your favorite magazines. We have: XXL, Sister to Sister, Game Pro, Vogue, Motor Trend, Cycle World and Shonen Jump (just to name a few). So, you can catch up on the latest trends in fashion, music, and figure out how to beat that game you’ve been stuck on.
2. Want to check out a new CD before you buy it? Ask one of our librarians to find it for you at Central, in the county, or out of state! They can order it for you and have it come to your local branch so you can check it out. Our librarians go above and beyond the call of duty! And, you can check out up to 6 CDs at a time.
3. Not sure what to do with your life? Well, the library can assist you in finding a career suitable for you to pursue AND they can tell you HOW to go about finding the right college as well. We have plenty of books and websites to help you in your plight towards a happy and fulfilling adulthood.
4. Freaking out about your SATs? We have books to help you study at your own pace.
5. Find out how to write a resume. There are FREE websites that offer help with resume structure and job seeking. We also have plenty of books to help guide you in writing a resume, professional letter, essay for college, or even a business proposal.
6. During the summer we have all kinds of cool activities for our Teens: a martial arts class, a nail design workshop, modern dance, t-shirt design, drawing cartoons, making beaded jewelry, and many others (these will differ from branch to branch). Also, if you and your friends have an idea for an activity or class you think the library should consider, let us know).
7. Young ladies can go to their local branch and check out books on beauty secrets, make-up tips, manicure and pedicure directions, or how to make your own face masks, foot soaks, lotions, and even conditioners for your hair.
8. Need Community Service hours to graduate? Consider volunteering your time at the library. We could always use the extra help!
9. You know all those books you have to read for school? All of that Shakespeare, or To Kill A Mockingbird, The Scarlet letter, A Raisin in the Sun, for example? Don’t go out and buy them with your hard-earned allowance! Just come to the library and check them out or if you don’t have your card, just sit in the library and read them. You are more than welcome to be in the library without a library card!
10. Want to learn to speak Spanish? There are many community centers that offer lessons for free or for a very small fee. Ask a librarian to help you find one.