When I was a teenager, summer vacation meant playing video games until midnight and sleeping in until two in the afternoon. Looking back on it, I wish I had taken advantage of that time to do something a little more memorable.

In case you feel like doing something unique this summer, we have all sorts of awesome books at the Library that can give you inspiration on what to do and how to do it. For instance, The Teenagers’ Guide to School Outside the Box can give you info on how to:

1. Volunteer
2. Get an internship
3. Become a mentor
4. Study abroad
5. Become an apprentice

Quick Cash for Teens provides 101 easy business ideas and explains how you can start being your own boss and making your own money.

And for all you hip and trendy people out there looking for a way to get creative, Indie Girl teaches you how to do all sorts of interesting things, such as:

1. Start a band
2. Publish a 'zine
3. Hold a poetry slam
4. Form a dance troupe

So check out all the cool stuff we have going on at the Library, get inspired, and make the most of your summer!

"You're Bruce Wayne, no, you're Batman because your cape is out!" 

Tell us your favorite Fitness for Nerds quote in the comments. What other fitness moves would you have included in your own Fitness for Nerds video?

Powell Branch Library teens made their own teen decorations in the Young Adult area of the Library in our Teen Makerspace program this week.

Teen Librarian Shanley with our Powell Teens and their sign "Teen Awesomeness Under Here" to be hung in the Young Adult area.

Hanging the flying books! Pretty awesome, right? 

April is National Poetry Month. While not all of us are naturally gifted at meter and metaphors, there are still many ways to get creative with words. One such way is with “blackout poetry.” All you have to do is grab a marker and some kind of text—an old newspaper, a magazine article, or a page from a book (as long as it’s not a library book!). Choose words and phrases that you want the poem to be comprised of, then black out the rest. Instead of having to come up with the right words to say, you are creating poetry through the art of subtraction.

For more inspiration, check out Newspaper Blackout by Austin Kleon. 

You can also visit his webpage, where you can read others’ work and submit a blackout poem of your own.