We Love Wednesdays starts today, September 1st and to be sure we kick it off right we will need to do a little redecorating. Come to the Teen Lounge today at 3:00 p.m. to re-decorate the Teen Lounge windows.  Show off your artistic abilities or just plain shout outs to your friends! Either way, we need you to help keep this place looking cool.

The Teen Summer Reading Finale 2010 party was simply amazing! If anything can be said of the party, it's that Darien's got talent. The Darien Idol competition was a HUGE hit with everyone clamoring to give a smashing solo or dazzling duet to rack up the highest points. For those who weren't singing, they were dancing up a storm while the performers sang on.

Of course, there was plenty of food and lots of prizes such as book bundles and gift cards which the winners were very enthusiastic about. Thanks to everyone who participated and we look forward to seeing you for our other amazing events! Check out the slideshow and video here for highlights!

It's almost here. Mockingjay, the last installment of The Hunger Games trilogy arrives next week. To celebrate the final adventures of Katniss and the Capitol we'll have trivia, games, prizes, pizza (what, you didn't think we'd let you starve, did you?) and of course copies of the book. So stop by the Teen Lounge on August 24 at 6 p.m. for our Mockingjay Release Party. Show off your knowledge of the games, debate whether Katniss should end up with Peeta or Gale (or neither) and maybe snag a copy of the fall's hottest read. Go District 12!

Courtesy of flickr user r8r

Answer these skill testing questions in the comments to win a book!  You must enter by 11:59pm on Thursday August 12th to be able to win! 

...here's a hint... try googling keywords from some of the questions!

1. What country is John Flanagan, author of the Ranger’s Apprentice series from?  (Book 9 is coming out in October.)

2. Does Scott Pilgrim defeat the evil exes in Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour?

3. What book has the longest sentence in an English-language novel?

4. Nicholas Sparks wrote The Last Song, Dear John, The Notebook and a number of other well known novels-turned-movies.  In college he participated in a sport, and has since given money to support the sport, as well as being a volunteer coach.  What is the sport?

5. How old was S.E. Hinton when The Outsiders was published?

6. Which of the following is not by Shakespeare:

     The Tempest

     "The Lady of Shalott"

     Romeo and Juliet

     "The Phoenix and the Turtle"

7. What is Daniel X from John Patterson’s books?

8. What date will Mockingjaybe released?
Bonus: What state does Suzanne Collins live in?

You'll need to have a library account to enter.  If you don't have one yet, check out Alex's awesome video for kids about how to make one:

DL Kids: How to Create an Account from Darien Library on Vimeo.

Today in the Teen Lounge our young chefs cooked up some delicious desserts as part of our no-bake snack event. Check out our recipes below and try them out for yourselves. 

Cocoa Coconut Balls

1 cup coconut
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 8-ounce can condensed milk
1 packet crushed plain cookies

Crush cookies into a bowl. Add coconut and cocoa.Mix in condensed milk. Roll the mixture into balls. Roll balls into a little extra coconut.

Oreo Balls

12 Oreo cookies
1/4 cup milk
8 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter
spoonful of honey

Crush the Oreos in a bowl. Add the milk and mix. Add the peanut butter and honey. Roll into balls Refrigerate on a plate for at least 30 minutes.

Thanks to Easy Kids Recipes for the ideas!

For more delicious programming be sure to come to our Milkshake and Smoothie Mix Off on August 26 at 2 p.m. in the Teen Lounge for a cool way to finish off your summer. 

Image courtesy Flickr user Zesmerelda

Craving a chocolate peanut butter milkshake? How about a strawberry smoothie? Well swing by the Teen Lounge on August 26 at 2 pm and we'll have all the ingredients you need to make your favorite frozen beverages. It's all part of our Milkshake and Smoothie Mix Off event. Try some of our recipes or concoct your own.  We'll even post our favorites on our website. It's a perfect way to cool off and enjoy the last few days of summer. See you there!

Darien Library Teen Summer Reading is coming to an end...but this is a good thing!

On Thursday, August 19th at 7 p.m., we will be wrapping up Teen Summer Reading 2010 with Darien Idol at our Finale Party. You and your friends can rock out in front of the big screen on the stage in the Community Room for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Of course we will be serving delicious pizza and other snacks for all who attend.  No registration is required.

At the party, we will be raffling off several prizes, including a $300 gift card to Best Buy and a copy of The Scorch Trials, the sequel to The Maze Runner! If you review 3 books you've read (or listened to as audio books) on our website by Wednesday, August 25th, you'll get not one, but two raffle tickets, giving you a better chance at the grand prize! Stop by during the week of August 9th-13th to claim your extra ticket.

Do you remember last year's awesome Summer Reading Finale Party? We do! Check out the photos by clicking here!

Today, August 3rd, at 2 p.m. in the Teen Lounge: Read for fines. 

Are you a teen with out of control overdue fines racking up daily?

Is it so bad that you are afraid to show your face in the Library?

Well, here is you're break.

Come in, grab a snack, and get reading! If you read for one hour you'll recieve a "Waive my fines" pass!  Bring that pass to the staff at the front desk and they will clear all fines on your account, not your family's fines! Nice try.

We hope you've been reading up a storm, so keep those book reviews pouring in!

If you forgot how to write one, click here to watch the video tutorial.

Comment below to tell us if you wrote a review this week. Your name will be entered in a prize drawing for a ******$25****** Amazon gift card. We'll contact you by next Wednesday if you are the winner!

You can enter EVERY WEEK.

Good luck!