"Secrets can take many forms -- they can be shocking, or silly, or soulful." Frank Warren, the founder of PostSecret.com, shares some of the half-million secrets that strangers have mailed him on postcards.

The library is planning to expand - big time - and we need your opinions on what our new building should look like, how much space should be given to teens, and what's most important to you. This is your chance to have your voices heard by the people who can do something about it!

• Saturday, April 27 At the Escondido Public Library’s booth at the Día de los Niños festival in Grape Day Park, 321 North Broadway in Escondido, from 11:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M.     
• Tuesday, April 30 At a public meeting at the Escondido Public Library (Turrentine Room), 239 South Kalmia Street in downtown Escondido, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.      
• Wednesday, May 1 At a public meeting at Oak Hill School (Multipurpose Room), 1820 Oak Hill Drive in Escondido, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. This meeting’s agenda will be the same as the April 30 public meeting. Community members are welcome to attend both meetings.

Spread the word (especially with your parents, teachers, neighbors, and friends)!

Learn more here.

Do you want to volunteer to help us run the Summer Reading Clubs this year? If you'll be 14 - 18 by June 17, 2013 then head over to our Summer Reading Club Volunteer page to download the application and get answers to all your questions!

Your extra pennies could help teens across the country!

The best part about spring cleaning your closet is filling it back up again! If you're in the market for new stuff, please consider shopping at JC Penney and participating in their JCP Cares program.

During the month of March, if you round up your shopping total to the next dollar, those extra cents will go to support the CRISIS TEXT LINE - a free texting hotline where teens can reach out to trained counselors 24/7.

Find out more about this program.

If you are, then I need your advice. I want to buy more video games for the library's collection. So what should I buy?

They have to be...

- Rated "E" for Everyone or "T" for Teen

- on a Nintendo platform (Wii, DS, Game Cube)

Email your suggestions to me at jaxelrod@escondido.org.

Our very own teen community service group, Crafty C.A.T.S., was featured on p.40 of the December 2012 edition of VOYA Magazine! VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) magazine is the leading library journal dedicated to the needs of teen librarians, the advocacy of teens, and the promotion of teen literature and reading. This is a big deal!!

Win $250 and showcase your graphic design skills by creating a logo to represent the Escondido R.O.C.K.s (Recreational Opportunities for City Kids) - a community-wide initiative to encourage youth ages 8 to 18 to participate in meaningful community activities.

• Contest is open to all high school students
• Entries must be emailed to dmlopez@escondido.org by January 23, 2013 with your name, school, grade, and contact info
• Submit your entry as a scalable vector graphic in EPS format or as a JPEG

Get more information.

• Bored and looking for something fun to do?
• Want to learn some new craft techniques?
• Need a gift for a friend or family member and just a little short on cash?

Then come check out Teen Crafternoon the 2nd Wednesday of every month in the teen area from 4 - 5 PM. There's no need to sign up, just show up ready to have fun! Here are the projects we'll be making...

• February - Friendship Bracelets
• March - Teen Tech Week computer parts craft
• April - Recycled, reusable shopping bag
• May - Scented Closet Bags (great for Mother's Day gifts)
• June - Duct Tape Wallets (perfect for Father's Day presents)

To celebrate the release of the movie, The Hobbit, we have goodies to give away!

• Posters
• Bookmarks
• Buttons
• Activity books
• Temporary tattoos

Stop by the media desk near the teen area anytime before Monday, December 31, 2012 to choose an item.