This headline should read “who ISN’T forgetting their files” because THAT would be news.  From leaving your thumb drive at home to forgetting to email yourself files we all (unfortunately) do it.  But now the site 4 shared will store (for FREE!) up to 10 GB of your data, including: music files, documents, and films.  Best part is that you can share files with others by giving them permission on your account.  So now the only thing you need to remember is your iPod to load your new music into!

Did you get an e-Reader this holiday season, or a smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player? Then you are in luck, my friends. The Wilton Library now offers OverDrive, a service where you can download e-books and audio books to all sorts of devices. For example, if you have a smartphone with the Amazon Kindle app, you can borrow a Kindle book from the OverDrive service. When the lending period is over, whoosh! it will no longer be accessible unless you check it out again. You can do the same with audio books, too. And here is the icing on the cake– no late fees!

You do need a valid Wilton Library card and PIN number to use the service, so if you lost your card or don’t have a card, come in to the circulation desk and we’ll set you up for free.

Enjoy!

The year is just about over, can you believe it? A lot of excellent books were published in 2011, but the teen staff at the library has whittled down the field to what we consider “the best of the year.” Check out the list below, or pick up a paper copy in the teen library. You can also find book recommendations on our LibraryThing. Behold, our best of the year! (Psst…click on the titles to see if it’s checked in and place a hold.)

 

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

A plane carrying 50 contestants to the Miss Teen Dream pageant crashes on a deserted island. The surviving girls must decide whether to continue practicing for the pageant or turn their attention to more pressing matters, such as how to collect rainwater with leftover evening gowns and survive the devious traps in store for them. A hilarious read for anyone and everyone who has questioned who they really are meant to be.

Â
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

Rory, fresh from Louisiana, is spending a year in London at boarding school. Unfortunately, she arrives just as a serial killer starts killing women in much the same way as Jack the Ripper did in the 1800s. One night, Rory sees a man that no one else can see, and suddenly, her life and view of the world change drastically. Who was that invisible man? This book has a great climax and will be part of a series.

Â
Trapped by Michael Northrop

Snow begins falling softly one afternoon, and school is dismissed early. Scotty, Pete, and Jason stay behind, along with four other kids. They have no way of knowing that the snow won’t let up for a week and they are trapped in their high school. They have to keep warm, scavenge for food, and– hopefully– survive.

Â
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Jacob grew up with bizarre tales and photographs from his grandfather. Once Jacob sees something unnatural and terrifying attack his grandfather in the woods, he knows he must go to Wales to find the orphanage where his grandfather grew up– Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Will Jacob find the endings to his grandfather’s fantastic stories? The book is peppered with photographs of the peculiar children, borrowed from vintage photograph collectors to illustrate the story.

Â
Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia has always trusted the decisions made for her by the Society, so she is happy to see her best friend Xander’s face on the Matching screen. But for a split second, she sees the face of another boy– could he be her real Match? Now Cassia must choose to follow what’s expected or to follow her heart and defy the Society. Can she choose for herself, or will Society dictate what happens to her? This book is first in a dystopian series.

Â
The Watch That Ends the Night by Allan Wolf

On April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic sank after colliding with an iceberg. In this book, Allan Wolf interprets the facts into vignettes told from the point of view of passengers, crew, and even the iceberg itself. Chilling, fascinating, and heartbreaking, this is an excellent book to read as we approach the 100^th year anniversary of the ship’s sinking. The back matter has a lot of great resources for those seeking additional information.

Â
Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard

Alex, a junior at boarding school, feels guilty for not saving his friend Thomas from drowning. He and friend Glenn, who was also there, lie about their involvement in order to escape expulsion. Alex takes refuge in the library, writing in a journal he keeps hidden there. At the same time, the boys’ young English teacher Miss Dovecott, near the river on the day of the drowning, thinks she knows what really happened, and Glenn insists that she must be stopped at all costs. Will Alex confess, or will Miss Dovecott pay the price?

Â
What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

After her parents’ divorce, McLean and her dad move around from town to town. McLean takes the chance to try out different personas in each new place she goes. But this time, McLean really wants to stay in one place, make friends, and be herself. Can she forgive her mother and convince her father to put down roots?

Â
A Monster Calls: inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd by Patrick Ness

Conor O’Malley’s nightmares are real—a terrifying monster constructed from a yew tree visits each night with evidence left behind in the morning. These nightmares begin as big changes happen in his life, including a new school, a distant father, and a mom who has just started cancer treatment. As Conor shoulders these burdens, he becomes more invisible and grief-stricken. Will he be able to deal with all the pain and fear, or will he be crushed by the monster? This book is illustrated with haunting images, making Conor’s situation more real.

And how can you tell? Well the Blifaloo site has instructions on how to read clues like body language and pitch of voice to determine if your subject is telling the truth. Billed as a Boredom Relief Site, Blifaloo has magic tricks, optical illusions and a list of useful/useless information. Hit Blifaloo to keep yourself safe from being bored, and from being lied to!

And you want to give something personal and meaningful by making it yourself? Well the Teen department can help you out! We have books that can help you make presents for even the most discriminating person on your list. From knit headbands and iPod covers, to beaded jewelry and cookies – your holiday shopping could be done with one trip to the library!

Learn how to be a CIA agent? Convert to Buddhism? Write a screenplay? Give a high tea? Become a member of the paparazzi? Well the So You Wanna duck can help you out. As well as the writers at the website Soyouwanna.com (because it’s kind of hard for the duck to type with those wings). But from changing your religion to getting a cool career like a fashion designer, this website can show you the steps on how to do it. So hit their website and soon you could learn the steps on how to score higher on your next SAT test…or be snapping pictures of Brad and Angelina. It’s up to you.

The Huffington Post has kindly done the research for you on finding apps for your phone and compiled a list of the 5 best.  Now you can carry that book with you even though your Kindle is at home.  Interestingly enough they also polled their readers to ask, “What literary character would you most like to have over for Thanksgiving dinner?”. Their results?  You will have to read for yourself to see who the majority would like to share their turkey with!

What does that mean? Well, textorize means to create an image just using text. Are you thinking I could never do that? Well the nice people at flickr have read your mind and have software that does it for you. Enter text into the program, and it will use that text to create your image. Impress your friends (parent, pet) with your own text picture of them. How cool!

Is it possible to download movies legally, and for free? Well if you go to download squad’s “Five Places to Legally Download Movies” you will learn the answer to this question is “True”. The films the sites present are public domain, and a spectrum of film is represented from Drama to Horror. So don’t pay to see “Attack of the Killer Leeches”, download it tonight for free!

Because you feel like you aren’t needed in the kitchen? Or, you don’t like what’s in the kitchen? Well with the help of the internet you can add your own special touch on the Thanksgiving table, painlessly. Epicurious and All Recipies are two recipe sites that have cooks rating each recipe and giving their own advice, so you know what you are getting into before you even start grocery shopping. And Reader’s Digest has a section just on Thanksgiving appetizers that are quick and easy. So score big points with your family and get what you want this year by making your own contribution. Watch out cranberry sauce, this may be your last year on the table!