Tag: YA Programs

Dungeons and Dragons “Don’t Split the Party!” List

Planning my fall programs and I’m super excited to say we’ll be hosting a Dungeons and Dragons program! I collaborated with my friend and this was the result, a resource list for both new and seasoned players ages 10 and up who are interested in Dungeons and Dragons.

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“Bwhahaha” Best pose! I’m ready for this! via giphy

I’m grateful that a local group of friends came together and created the Aloha Adventurer’s Guild. Their aim is to teach and guide players in creativity, communication and teamwork by playing tabletop gaming!

To note, the listing of stores are located on Oahu only. I hope one day to visit all game-related stores through the islands!

What is Dungeons and Dragons?
DnD, for short, is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in an imaginary world loosely based on medieval myth.

Why 5th Edition?
The 5th Edition of DnD gives flexibility and functionality to players while making room for more creativity. The aim is to create a unified edition that both seasoned and new players can enjoy.

Browse these non-fiction sections for more at the library:
Indoor Amusements: 793
Adventure Games: 793.932

Authors of Dungeons and Dragons Novels:

  • Norton Andre
  • Richard Baker
  • Bruce Robert Cordell
  • Troy Denning
  • Erin M. Evans
  • Tracy Hickman
  • Paul S. Kemp
  • A. Salvatore
  • Robert J. Schwalb
  • Lisa Smedman
  • Margaret Weis

Online Resources:
Wizards of the Coast – https://bit.ly/1CM4pXY
Introduces DnD to new players. Official resource and website related to DnD.

Dungeon Masters Guild – http://www.dmsguild.com/
Official source for Dungeon Masters.

DnD Adventurers League – https://bit.ly/2AXMWqR
Official DnD league offering materials and support running games.

DnD Beyond – https://www.dndbeyond.com/
Includes useful tools such as character generators.

RPG Tool – https://roll20.net/
Easy-to-use digital tool that can evolved from pen and paper.

5th Edition Rules/Reference – https://5thsrd.org/
Open rules related to 5th edition. Players are suggested to refer to start with Playerā€™s Handbook.

Local Stores on Oahu:
Check out these stores to get your Dungeons and Dragons adventure started!

Armchair Adventurer
Dole Cannery, 650 Iwilei Road #160
Honolulu, HI 96817Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Phone: (808) 843-1250
Carries everything from Warhammer 40k model kits to pop culture-inspired tabletop games. Book a separate room or join a game and meet new adventurers!

Dragonā€™s Lair
Space E-10, 95-1840 Meheula Parkway
Mililani, HI 96789Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Phone: (808) 597-6981
Comic book store carrying Dungeons and Dragons manuals, dice, and kits. Check out their large comic book selection to get you inspired!

Other Realms
1130 North Nimitz Highway C-140
Honolulu, HI 96817Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Phone: (808) 596-8236
From private rooms to comics and collectibles, Other Realms has a large stock to get your adventure started!

Westside Comics
590 Farrington Highway #538
Kapolei, HI 96707Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  Phone: (808) 674-2866
It isnā€™t just comics this shop sells on the west side, check out their Elite Membership program to earn points to grab special deals!

Cosplay Your Heart Out!

We had a successful turnout at our first ever Cosplay program!

happy anime

The wonderful Jen F., the Artist Librarian presented on:

  • The definition of Cosplay
  • Her Cosplay progression
  • Cosplay planning (time, budget, accuracy)
  • Creation versus Purchasing
  • Props
  • Resources
  • Local conventions Cosplayers meet

I was enraptured and impressed by our presenter. Her love of Cosplay grew from her hobby of sewing!Ā Our library is very grateful for having a Cosplay program possible this summer and based on the positive feedback received, I would definitely be open to hosting the program again. I highly recommend having Jen present on Cosplay. She reads the crowd easily, goes into detail, answers questions, and is knowledgeable in many aspects of this niche art.

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Learning Outcomes
I feel our patrons were able to be exposed to a different pop culture niche. Cosplay has been increasingly popular in the U.S. to the point of people becoming professional Cosplayers, creating and modeling their own creations for conventions and publishers. At several conventions I’ve attended, there are panels on Cosplay that normally you can only enter with a paid ticket however our library was able to offer this informative panel for free. Attendees learned feasible ways of planning their Cosplay with the understanding that anyone can dress up! From accurate-on-the-spot renditions to crossplay to genderbending cosplay, there’s something for everyone.

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I’m itching to cosplay again. *Looks at cosplay-less closet* In due time, in due time. Following Jen’s tip, gotta plan it first!

Summer Reading 2018 – Calm Before the Storm

Summer Reading 2018 is here!

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Excited Haruhi Suzumiya via GIPHY

CAN YOU FEEL IT?

We got programs up the wazoo! This year we combined programs to be more family oriented. The following programs are being put together by our library:

  • Ani-Mazing Anime Programs: A continuation from before summer, bi-monthly anime showings with discussion. Three episodes shown and patrons can vote for the next episode.
  • Cosplay Your Heart Out: My good friend and awesome cosplayer will be showing cosplay techniques and thrifty shopping to create a cosplay based on your favorite pop culture character!
  • Darin Miyashiro and Co. Japanese Koto Performance: Local Koto musician Darin Miyashiro will be doing a Koto performance for patrons of all ages.
  • Every Body Rocks Family Talent Show: Families can sign up to sing or play musical instruments for an audience!
  • Family Craft Time: Family members (caregivers and teens/children) are able to sign up to do crafts together! The Children’s Librarian is in charge and taught me how to do the craft so to be in charge of a class out of three classes. I’m not a crafty person (my origami cranes are sad cranes) so this gives me hope.
  • Musical Movie Mondays: Every Monday at 3:30 pm, we’ll be showing a musical-themed movie. So far we haveĀ Sing,Ā La La Land,Ā Pitch Perfect 3,Ā Moana,Ā and Coco.Ā All movies are up to PG-13.

Here’s to Summer Reading 2018!

Book Club Ideas?

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Ideas! I’ve been brainstorming ideas to hopefully build a book club for the library. Been meaning to have one but I admit, I feel like I’m trying to put all these ideas into play in so little amount of time. It’s time to sit down, focus, and breathe. Make a 5 year plan. Not a 1 year “do all the things” plan!

Continue reading Book Club Ideas?

Bullet Journal 101 for Teens

supplies4

Here’s to 2018, a new year filled with adventure and goals! I’ve been keeping a bullet journal consistently since mid-2017 and found that it has helped me a lot. It got me thinking, teens could get into this as well! When I was in school, I wasn’t keen on my school planner but with bullet journaling, I can create and mold the planner to my lifestyle. For school, I’m a few years too late on that boat. Not too late for the teens though!

Number of participants: 2
Total: 5 (parents included)

We went over what a bullet journal is and the basics of what it entails. We watched a quick video by Buzzfeed (~4 minutes) on starting a bullet journal. Understandably we did talk about how the video wasn’t geared towards teens. That’s okay though because we made it our way!

Then we showed off supplies!

 

Each pouch had:

  • 4 binder clips
  • 1 washi tape
  • 1 multi-colored pen with 6 different color ink
  • 1 black gel pen
  • 1 double-sided tape dispenser with whiteout tape on the other side
  • Each participant can choose between a grid notebook or a blank notebook (dot/lined was not available)

We went over the handout, from bullet journal basics to supplies then to steps.

 

Bullet Journal 101

First we made a key. Second we made an Index. We all made a weekly page together to try our hand at making a template. Afterwards the participants were free to brainstorm and create for their journal. Some pages that were created:

  • Favorite book genre page
  • Art page
  • Favorite sticker page

 

Overall the program was a hit with the kids and the parents. We extended the time by half an hour so the kids can create more. We had a couple books available for everyone to read through, one of which was listed in the handout.

bujo2

What I should have done:

  • Change signage to read open to 6th – 12th grade instead of 7th – 12th grade.
  • Have blank template examples ready to look at/to take home. I’ve seen some journals where they print their template out, cut and tape inside their journal.
  • Make it more teen friendly. I know I listed template ideas but let’s discuss/brainstorm ideas and ask the teens themselves what would be an essential template for them. Also mold templates for “adulting” such as expense tracker to teens, such as turning it into an allowance tracker.

I would definitely do this program again. I would move it to December so that participants can brainstorm and create their bujo prior to the new year starting. As someone who has been attempting to be organized, I found that creating a bujo has helped in both theĀ personal and professional arena. I’m able to keep better track of my readings, errands, and thoughts that would otherwise be a pile of Post-It Notes, scribbles in my notebook, or lost in my file cabinet monster. I hope that teens will be able to use this technique to organize themselves in this rapidly changing world. Here’s to a new year, new you!

*Note: Jennifer F. ofĀ The Artist Librarian took pictures of the program but sadly they couldn’t upload correctly. I wanted to give a shoutout to her for coming in and observing!Ā ā¤ļø