Happy Birthday, Willa!

Today is the 140th anniversary of the birth of Willa Cather! She will always have a special place on my bookshelf and in my heart! posted by Mr. McCullough

The British Are Coming!

Welcome back to Warren Central/Walker Career Center after our extended Spring Break! It’s great to be here in the MediaPlex working with students and staff. As you might have surmised from the title of this post, there are Brits all around us. Well, OK, books about Brits abound. April is a great month to read British-themed material. It is NOT the cruelest month! (OK, literature students, do you get the allusion?) 

If you cannot get enough of British TV, why not read some of the books affiliated with your favorite programs from across the pond? Jennifer Worth’s memoir, Call the Midwife, is available in our biography section. This book inspired the recent program of the same name available for viewing at PBS. Learn about post-World War II London through the eyes of a young woman who became a midwife. Yes, babies abound in the book and the show, but it is much more. Learn about the friendship and camaraderie the young midwives had with each other and how they came to care deeply for their patients who often lived in abysmal conditions in London’s impoverished East End.

Another popular series, Downton Abbey, has several books to accompany the show. Written by Jessica Fellowes (niece of the creator of the series), The World of Downton Abbey and The Chronicles of Downton Abbey give insight into the life and times of the fictional Crawley family and their servants. By interspersing historical information with the fictional stories, we gain a greater insight into the world of Edwardian Britain as it was rapidly changing during the early years of the 20^th Century. Another book to consider is Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: the Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle. Highclere Castle is the inspiration for the show Downtown Abbey and this book describes the real life and times of Lady Almina, who lived in the castle where much of the series is now filmed.

For those who are fans of the Fab Four, check out Baby’s In Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles. This biography, in graphic novel format, describes the early years of the Beatles before the Fab Four became the sensation of the sixties.

And finally fans of Doctor Who, we have several graphic novels about the time traveling Doctor.

Come to the MediaPlex this month to check out these and other titles. We’re always glad to help you find the right book for the right time! Happy Reading!

Week One!

We hope everyone has stopped by the Mediaplex to get a copy of A Raisin in the Sun because this is week one of our One Book, One School reading program! As you begin to read the play, you might want to think about the following questions:

“What does the title tell me?” This is the first question to ask of any novel.  To help, you could ask these related questions as well:

              

What do I imagine the story is going to be about just from reading the title? (You will want to ask yourself how accurate your guess was after reading the first few pages or after each of the first few chapters.)

              

Is the title familiar? (For example, do you recognize the words of the title from another book – such as the Bible or something you read in school?

Do the words remind you of a movie you saw or a commercial or a television program? 

Does the title remind you of a proverb or other famous saying? 

As you read the book, do you see a connection between the familiar words of the title and the story the author tells in the book?)

Stop by the Mediaplex, pick up a copy of  A Raisin in the Sun, get busy reading, and join in a discussion here about your reading. Happy Reading! Ms. Zentz

Announcing One School, One Book! We invite all Warren Central High School and Walker Career Center students to read and discuss Raisin in the Sun. We hope teachers, parents, and community members will read along with us and that everyone can share ideas about Lorraine Hansbury's book Raisin in the Sun.  Stop by the Mediplex to check out a copy of the book or visit your local library. Get reading! Let's talk! Happy Reading! - Ms. Zentz

The Circulation Desk is almost ready!

The Circulation Desk is almost ready! This is a great sign that the MediaPlex is almost ready for our patrons at Warren Central High School and Walker Career Center!

October 1st, 2012 -- MediaPlex almost ready!

From the entryway, looking toward the hearth

Ms. Zentz's office in a state of unpacking

Books awaiting a home on the shelves

There's still some last-minute sawing and hammering but we know it is worth the wait

Will all this furniture fit the space?

More furniture!

Digital presentation room awaiting some last-minutes touches

The Creative Thought Gallery (a view to the right)

The Creative Thought Gallery (a view to the left)

Collaborative Thought Lab

Another view of the Collaborative Thought Lab

The reference area, with furniture

More construction materials

Fiction section of stacks

As we enter the month of October, the entire MediaPlex team is excited about soon-to-open MediaPlex. The carpet is on the floor, the shelves and books are here, and there is a sea of new furniture. Enjoy the pictures. (posted by M. McCullough)

MediaPlex Remodeling Update

OK -- it's been a while since we've posted and we know it's time for an update for you, our readers. The pictures below were taken this morning. Notice how the MediaPlex is progressing toward completion. Final touches of paint are being applied. We hope to open the SI/COM labs October 1. (posted by Mr. McCullough)

Looking down on the renovations from the top of the ramp.

Finishing touches on the paint are being applied. Will carpeting be installed next week?

Worker priming one of the columns of the digital newsroom.

We'll be reusing the former shelving units. They're currently stored on the ramp.

Another view of the shelving on the ramp.

Looking towards the entry of the MediaPlex.

Creative Thought Gallery.

Another view of the Creative Thought Gallery.

Many students and staff are anticipating the opening of the Creative Thought Gallery -- a 21st Century space for  21st Century Learners.

A view of the Collaborative Learning Laboratory.

Another view of one of our two Collaborative Learning Laboratories.

From the east end of the MediaPlex, looking toward the entry area -- notice the new color scheme for the columns.