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  • April 2018
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Gamers are Readers Too

So, how many of you got new video games over the holidays? And how many of you have spent every waking minute absorbed in these games? I’m not even a gamer, but since Christmas morning, I have spent all of my non-eating, non-sleeping, and non-working time playing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (a super amazing game, by the way).  Apparently, I have a husband (who is lost in his own world of Saint’s Row: the Third)… and animals… but I don’t think I’ve seen any of them for at least 3 days. So, I decided yesterday that I wanted to put down the controller and immerse myself in a good book; one that would tear me away from my new game (for a little while, at least).

I picked up Ready Player One by Ernest Cline– and though I haven’t finished it yet, it is quickly becoming one of my favorite books of the year. It is the best of both worlds, great literary fiction and video games. If you’re at all familiar with 80’s culture or share a deep affinity for John Hughes, as I do, you will love this book. It takes place in the not-too-distant future when the world is ravaged by an energy crisis, constant war, and where everyone just yearns to step out of reality and into OASIS. OASIS is an open-source virtual reality that offers the bonds of friendship, school, entertainment, and sometimes even some money (comforts that don’t exist in the bleak reality of 2044). Wade Watts (named so because all great superheroes have alliterative names), eighteen and overweight, spends all of his time in his OASIS avatar and is a self-proclaimed expert on all things James Halliday (OASIS’s creator). When Halliday dies, he leaves a message to the users of OASIS telling them that he has buried 3 secret keys within the worlds of OASIS and only the most knowledgeable will be able to find them. Whoever finds these keys will inherit his fortune of $240 billion. Wade, and a couple million other people, are on the hunt for these keys, and a better life.

This got me looking into other video-game themed reads, of which there are quite a few. Here are some of the ones that I thought looked fairly intriguing.

     

So, if your eyes are going blurry, your thumbs are cramping, and your Xbox controller is slowly melting away from overuse, pick up Ready Player One or any other of these great books about gaming.  Also, check out Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Teen Services website for their Get Your Game On booklist– which features even more titles to keep the gamer in you reading.

Happy New Year!

-Julie, CLP Beechview

Winter Break Boredom.

Happy Winter Break!

It is now December 23rd and winter break has just begun. Once all the eating and gift giving subsides you will definitely be looking for some free or low-cost fun! Here are my top five suggestions!

1. Visit your local library for a free program! You can make a winter bracelet at Hazelwood or a party hat at Main on Wednesday. And all week long you can get your game on at you nearest library: East Liberty, Hill District, Allegheny, Hazelwood, Main, and Downtown.

2. Go ice skating! At Schenley Skating Rink, one session and skate rental is only $5.50 for those age 17 and under! The Rink at PPG Place in downtown Pittsburgh or the brand new “Penguins Pond” in the South Side Works will each run you $9.00 with skate rental.

3. Bowling. It might sound lame but bowling with a group of friends are some of my fondest memories. At Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill there are all you can bowl deals for $10.00 a person including shoes! Check out teen friendly Rock ‘n Bowl and Pizza, Pop & Bowling at Arsenal Lanes on Butler St. in Lawrenceville.

4. Trip to the movies. Many local movie theaters have weekday discounts. Check out $5.00 Mondays or no 3D surcharge Wednesdays at the SouthSide Works Cinema. Shows before 6:00PM Monday through Thursday at the AMC Loews Waterfront are also discounted to $5.00.

 5. Last but not least… FIREWORKS on New Years Eve! Check out the website for the Cultural District’s First Night 2012 Celebration for information about the best places to view the fireworks! Hint: There are shows at 6:00 PM and Midnight.

Please have a safe and happy Winter Break! If you have anything to add please feel free to comment!

-Michael (CLP Hazelwood)

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh System-Wide Video Game Tournament : featuring Rock Band (Wii)

Rock Band (wii)

Rock Band (wii)

Think you and your friends have what it takes to win Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Battle of the Bands?  Prove it!

Starting this Friday, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is hosting its first ever Teen System-Wide Video Game Tournament!  Sign up for one of our Semi-Finals for your chance to compete in the Finals and win great prizes.  The tournament starts this Friday at CLP – Main, Teen, so sign up now!

Form a band of three (guitar, drums and vocals), score the highest point total in Rock Band for the Nintendo Wii and rock your way to the championship round!

Semi-Finals (winners at each location will receive three $10 Target gift cards.)

Friday, July 10 @ 1PM
CLP – Main, Teen ∙ 4400 Forbes Avenue (Oakland), 412-622-3121 (sign-up)

Saturday, July 11 @ 1PM
CLP – Homewood ∙ 7101 Hamilton Avenue, 412-731-3080 (sign-up)

Friday, July 17 @ 1PM
CLP – Sheraden∙ 720 Sherwood Avenue, 412-331-1135 (sign-up)

Saturday, July 18 @ 1PM
CLP – Southside ∙ 2205 East Carson Street, 412-431-0505 (sign-up)

Final Showdown: The band with the highest total score at the end of the championship round willreceive three $50 GameStop gift cards and the title of regional Rock Band Champion!

Friday, July 24 @ 1PM
CLP – Main, Teen ∙ 4400 Forbes Avenue (Oakland)

If you don’t have a full band feel free to sign up!  We’ll try to match you with other gamers on the day of the tournament! 

Remember to come up with a killer band name!

CLP – Main, Teen
corey w.

Beat your mom at wii

As on any other first Saturday, we’ll have gaming at Beechview for teens April 5 at 1:00 p.m. But look out! From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., we open it up to anybody human. So if you’ve been dying to challenge your dad, your grandmother or your 10-year-old cousin, here’s your chance.

                                             Tina, Teen Librarian, CLP Beechview

Wii Time

Teens! Still searching for a Wii? Well search no more. Come play our Wii, Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Mt. Washington 315 Grandview Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15211. 412.381.3380                

Barb Lawler CLP-Mt. Washington     

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