Treasures From The Public Library

 

 

Welcome To The World Of Queens Public Library Databases!

A wealth of resources for our school community is The Queens Public Library's website!

Here is where you will find databases on a variety of subjects to fulfill your research needs.

1. Access the website: www.queenslibrary.org

2. Navigate to Research.

3. Go to Articles And Databases.

Some of my favorite databases are:

a. Biography In Context - Provides thorough biographical material about individuals from all time periods with a worldwide scope.

b. Literature Resource Center - Highlights information on literary figures from all time periods and numerous genres (fiction, drama, and journalism, etc.)

c. Opposing Viewpoints In Context - High-quality materials (articles, primary source documents, and websites, etc.) present both sides of controversial topics.

Disaster At Sea

Meticulously researched and engagingly presented, The Watch That Ends The Night: Voices From The Titanic by Allan Wolf, offers a fresh perspective on the sinking of this luxury liner in 1912. Written in superbly crafted poems which resound with a variety of emotions (from hope to fear), intensity, and prophetic overtones, the reader hears the voices of carefully delineated characters representative of all social classes, the Captain and crew, "The Unsinkable" Margaret Brown, the Iceberg itself, and a ship's rat. Other unique touches are actual telegrams and how shipbuilder Thomas Andrews' poem seems to sink on the page. A detailed section of Character Notes, Morse Code message translations, Titanic Miscellany, and a comprehensive bibliography of books, articles, periodicals, government documents, and Internet and Audio Resources enhance this outstanding volume.

Taking A Stand

Were you ever the new kid in school? Eric is in the seventh grade, and is trying to fit in. When he is befriended by Griffin, a seemingly popular boy, Eric is glad, until he sees that Griffin is not what he seems to be. If Griffin doesn't like you, be prepared for trouble. Will Eric find out that he is the next target?

Welcome To The IS 141 Library Webpage!

 

Our library webpage is the home of a treasure trove of resources for the school community.

www.is141.org-->Departments-->Library-->Resources

 

Please take the time to familiarize yourselves with some of my favorite and most visited links:

 

A) Destiny Catalog - Visit our online catalog which displays resources that our library owns.

 

B) Mrs. Goldstein's Blog - This blog reviews current young adult literature, discusses new electronic resources in the library, and lists upcoming events.

 

C) Weblinks To Academic Subjects - If you have questions about ancient civilizations, The Holocaust, math and science, and government, these are some web resources to help you.

 

D) Databases - The library has many subscription databases that can be accessed at any time of day. Ask the librarian for the passwords for excellent resources such as GALE and PROQUEST.

 

E) Reader's Advisory - If you are not sure what you would like to read next, please allow these librarian-generated lists to assist you in your quest.

 

F) Research 411 - Here are weblinks to receive assistance in the evaluation of websites and the creation of bibliographies and citations - fundamental steps in the research process.

Struggle For Survival

Who can predict the exact moment when a disaster can strike? When a blizzard begins, high school student Scotty Weems' biggest concern is that his basketball game will be cancelled. However, this issue is quickly forgotten when Scotty and six other students are left behind at school because their parents are caught in the storm and can't pick them up. At first, the group feels that staying overnight at school is a big adventure as they raid the cafeteria's food supply and "camp out" on the hallway floor. Eventually, their high spirits deflate as the heat and power go out, the roof threatens to cave in, anxiety mounts, and days pass without any interruption in the snowfall or rescue attempts from the outside world. When a teacher walks out into the storm to try and find help, he does not return. As the students attempt to figure out what to do next, only one question remains: How can an ordinary day at school turn into a struggle for survival? Read Trapped by Michael Northrop to see who escapes from the blizzard's unyielding clutches. What would you do in this situation?

Secrets and Lies

What would you do if you suspected that a family member was keeping secrets from you? It seems like the opportunity of a lifetime when twelve-year-old Britt's older brother, Brandon, gets a house-sitting job for the summer which will enable their family to temporarily live in a spacious new home in a beautiful Florida neighborhood. However, Bran begins to act suspiciously, evades questions, and becomes increasingly paranoid. Britt slowly realizes that her family wasn't invited to live there at all, and that Bran was only hired to mow the lawn. In fact, the house really belongs to her maternal grandparents who cast their daughter off when she married against their wishes. Bran says that the "grandparents" owe them this home due to the heartache they caused, and Britt feels torn between keeping her brother's secret and her own sense of right and wrong. When it is ultimately discovered that her grandparents, in fact, don't have any connection to the house, and the legal owner's return is imminent, how will Britt and Bran resolve the problem and face the consequences? This is a suspenseful and thought-provoking read about the nature of family and forgiveness.

Escape The Past

How would you feel if you had to change your identity, leave everyone and everything you knew behind, and run for your life? In Don't Look Behind You, by Lois Duncan, teenager April Corrigan is shocked to learn that her father has been working undercover for the FBI. His testimony against a ruthless drug dealer had endangered his entire family, and now they must go into The Federal Witness Security Program. Suddenly, April must relocate and give up her friends. When she tries to reconnect with a part of her former life, a fatal mistake is made. Would you be able to eradicate your past for a new and uncertain future? What sacrifices would you make to help your family? This novel is chilling and thought-provoking and certainly one of Duncan's best.

Welcome Back To A Brand-New School Year!

 

My name is Mrs. Goldstein and I am the new librarian at your wonderful school, IS 141, in the heart of Astoria Queens.

 

We are looking forward to re-opening the library this year with class visits, author programs, new books, and opportunities for you to use computers, get help with research projects and homework assignments, and find exciting new books to read.

 

Young Adult Literature is one of my great passions. In this blog, I will review exciting books for teens, suggest helpful websites and digital resources, and discuss upcoming library events.

 

Please let me know if there is anything you would like to see on this blog.

 

I look forward to greeting all of you in the library. Let's make it the heart of the school community.