a place to learn, discover, and connect
Coming next week to the library is our annual murder mystery event. Classes will be...
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As the weather turns and we move closer to Halloween, come by the library to...
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Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on...
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In the library we have a magnetic poetry wall where students can come to create...
Read MoreEvery Friday at lunch the library is closed for the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club to meet. Come on by if you’re curious about what the GSA is or how you can be involved. We are always happy to have new members!
Students enter for the meeting from the external library door.
It’s officially Quarter 2 and we are finally fully back into the swing of things. YES! the library is open. Come on by to do some work or to check out a book. We are open during class time and until 3pm after school. You can also come by Monday, Tuesday or Thursday at lunch.
We just have some safety protocols in place during Covid-19. See below for more details.
Teen Summer Reading Club 2020!
Each summer Burnaby Public Library runs the Teen Summer Reading Club throughout June, July, and August. Teens entering grades 8 to 12 in September are eligible to participate.
In light of ongoing physical distancing, BPL has envisioned this year’s Teen Summer Reading Club as a fun virtual program, that engages readers of all ages with ideas for things to read or do. TSRC starts Friday, June 15!
Whatever your genre, read what you love, and don’t apologize for it!
1. Book picks and Bingo cards
Check out our weekly book picks and download our monthly Bingo cards to keep you busy all summer. These can be downloaded from our site and used to inspire your next read.?
2. Write Reviews!
Starting on June 15th, teens can participate in the Teen Summer Reading Club by writing reviews! This is a great opportunity for teens who love to write. Any book, movie, audiobook, graphic novel, or music album that is available at the library can be reviewed. Write three reviews and win a prize!
2. Art Poster Contest: Inclusion.
Create an eye-catching poster design to promote social justice and inclusion. Your poster should include a message that lets viewers know that the business they are entering is a safe space. We will select 3 posters to be printed and distributed at Burnaby Public Library and in various venues that choose to promote inclusion and acceptance.
Posters will be judged on original content and creativity, so show us what inclusion looks like to you!
Selected posters will win gift cards from Spotify, DeSerres Art Supplies, and Indigo books.
For more info on the Art Poster Contest look here.
Check out http://www.bpl.bc.ca/teen? for more information, or contact teenservices@bpl.bc.ca for questions.
Below are books that are about racism in Canada. There are titles which focus on Indigenous People and others which are more specific to the Black Lives Matter Movement. The last title White Fragility is not a Canadian book, but discusses racism in general and how to combat your own internalized biases without getting defensive.
Are you looking at what’s going on around the world right now and thinking, what can I do? A great place to start is by reading books on the topics of systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter Movement. Educating yourself is key to combating internalized racism and prejudice in the world.
A good place to start: Ideal Bookshelf has created artwork and a book list of Antiracist YA. According to the website these “are very specific books on being an antiracist and being Black in America, but also some about being discriminated against for other qualities (including magical powers! see: Children of Blood and Bone), and how to love everything about yourself ❤️”. All books on this list are for age 13+.
The Bookshop Diverse Spines, a shop that highlights female authors of colour, has also created a book list called the #diversespinesreadingchallenge. The idea is to diversify what you read to include more books written by people of colour in order to encounter more view points and experiences which differ from your own. See how many you have you read from the list and try to read some more.
They have also curated a list called An Anti-Racist Reading List to Help You Do The Work
* please note that the last two lists are general and not specifically focused on teens
I will leave you with this quote from Leslie Dwight:
What is 2020 isn’t cancelled? What if 2020 is the year we’ve been waiting for? A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw- that is finally forces us to grow. A year that screams so loud, finally awakening us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change. Declare change. Work for change. Become the change. A year we finally band together, instead of pushing each other further apart.
2020 isn’t cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.
If you are in serious need of a new book to read, Burnaby Public Library has some exciting news! They are opening for “Brown Bag Pickup”. Though their physical locations remain closed, you can order library items and safely pick them up at your preferred BPL branch. They will check out your items to you and bag them ahead of your arrival. Paper Bag Pickup is available at their four branches, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more details and to learn how to order books for pickup click here.
Though the school is open in a limited capacity, we will continue on with this project until we run out of participants.As many students are still choosing to stay home, its a nice way to keep connected.
In Friday’s edition of Alpha Bits check out what the head of the English department Ms. Norris has been up to during social distancing.
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Though the school is open in a limited capacity, we will continue on with this project until we run out of participants.As many students are still choosing to stay home, its a nice way to keep connected.
Today’s Alpha Bits brings you Ms. Adrangi one of Alpha’s hardworking Science teachers. Check out all the books she’s been reading below!
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Though the school is open in a limited capacity, we will continue on with this project until we run out of participants.As many students are still choosing to stay home, its a nice way to keep connected.
This Wednesday we bring you Ms. McChesney one of the incredible members of our English department at Alpha. Check below to see what she’s been reading AND writing during the pandemic.
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Alpha students, if you’re done reading your library books and they are at home with you, now is the time to return them. (If they are in your lockers, don’t worry about them right now)
You can use the return slot in the hallway outside the library, or the one inside the library.
If you are feeling uneasy about entering the school right now, contact Ms. Haigh to arrange a drop off spot at the front of the school.
Returning your items ensures that future Alpha students have books to read and resources to use.
Thank you!
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