MPL Teens

Announcements

December YRCA Registration now open

Register here: https://forms.gle/JgnFLw6m27hyEmmV7

 

 

 

 

 

The Marshall Public Library partners with StoryForge.com due to hilarious ChatGPT fail
This is a story about writing, chatGPT, and unexpectedly awesome partnerships.
It’s my first year as the teen librarian at the Marshall Public Library. A few months ago, I started the MPL teen writing club and was blown away by the number of incredible teens that wanted to participate. These were some really talented teens that were kind and fun to be around. One of the teens lamented that their older siblings could not participate because they had aged out of our teen program.
I set to work putting together a writing event that would be open to library patrons of all ages, and settled on a November writing challenge that invited participants to write for thirty hours in thirty days rather than hit a specific word count. This would allow writers of all ages and skill levels to participate. It was an exciting event and I needed an equally exciting name to match it.
I thought: “Hey, chatGPT can help with that.”
I asked AI to give me a list of names that would be suitable for a public writing challenge, and one of the suggested names was StoryForge. I fell in love with the name, threw together a home-made logo on Canva, and started advertising the challenge on the library’s social media platforms. I would have found out it was the name of an existing writing challenge if I had bothered to google the name.
I didn’t.
I got an email from the COO of the original StoryForge Writing Challenge, Derek Rucker, notifying me that I was using their trademark. But rather than come at me with fists swinging, he asked if we’d be interested in a partnership. I finally googled the name and found they had a cool website and awesome mission, one that was closely aligned with my vision for the library’s writing challenge. But what sold me was the logo. It. Had. A. Cat. They don’t call me Supreme Cat Lady for nothing.
The Marshall Public Library is thrilled to announce a partnership with the OG StoryForge writing challenge in an attempt to reach even more writers. StoryForge has been such fun to work with, and have made this potentially disastrous situation into a really exciting partnership.
And I’ve now vowed to at least fact-check when I use chatGPT.
–Gracie Marsden

Teen Events & Clubs

Teen Night

First Monday every Month at 5pm, Marshall Public Library Exploration Room
Join us for Teen Night, where each month brings a new and exciting activity just for you! Whether it’s movie nights, creative crafting sessions, or hands-on STEM projects, there’s always something fun to do and new friends to meet. It’s the perfect way to unwind, get creative, and enjoy a night out with your peers. Come see what’s in store this month!

December: Teen & Adult Combined activity “Blankets & Books”

December 14, 2-3pm
Registration is FULL. Email gracie.marsden@marshallpl.org to be added to the waitlist. 

 

Teen Yarn Club

Wednesday from 5-6 pm, Marshall Public Library Exploration Room
Join us for our weekly Yarn Club, where you can come knit or crochet in a fun and supportive environment. Whether you’re a seasoned yarn enthusiast or a complete beginner, this club is perfect for everyone. Supplies are provided, so you only need to bring your creativity and enthusiasm. If you need one-on-one help, arrive 30 minutes early to get assistance from the experts at the Pocatello Knitter’s Group. It’s a great opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and create something beautiful with your hands. So, grab your yarn and needles, and join us for a cozy and creative time at Yarn Club!

Teen Creative Writing Club

Thursday from 5-6 pm, Marshall Public Library Exploration Room

Get ready to unleash your imagination at our Creative Writing Club, meeting twice a month, for an adventure in storytelling. In our first session of the month, dive deep into an intensive writing lesson where we’ll explore specific writing skills, from the intricacies of worldbuilding to crafting suspenseful narratives. It’s your chance to sharpen your writing prowess and add new tools to your literary toolbox. Then in in our second session, it’s all about you! Bring your original pieces to share with the group for constructive feedback and encouragement. Whether you’re a budding novelist, poet, or short story enthusiast, our club offers a supportive space for honing your craft and connecting with fellow writers. Please email workshop pieces to gracie.marsden@marshallpl.org.

Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club

January TBD 

Join our D&D Club for Teens, where imagination meets adventure! Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, come together with fellow adventurers to explore epic worlds, craft unique characters, and embark on thrilling quests. This club is all about creativity, teamwork, and having fun in the fantastical realms of Dungeons & Dragons. Let the dice roll and the stories unfold! REGISTRATION OPENS EARLY DECEMBER. 

 

 

YRCA Book Club

December 3; Intermediate division 5pm, Senior division 6pm. Glean Coffee Roasters
January 7; Intermediate division 5 pm, Senior division 6 pm. Marshall Public Library Exploration Center

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Friends of the Marshall Public Library, we now have funds to host our monthly teen book club! December’s registration closes 12/4.

Register for the December books here: https://forms.gle/JgnFLw6m27hyEmmV7

The Young Readers Choice Awards is a voting system developed by the Board of the Pacific Northwest Library Association where teens vote on the best YA books. Nominations are released every year for an intermediate division (grades 7-9) and advanced division (graders 10-12). The YRCA is the only book award where teenagers get to choose the winner!

How does it work?

Every month, we will select one of the YRCA nominees to read. There will be one book for the intermediate division and one for the senior division. You may select the book the book that interests you, regardless of your age (so long as you are a teen). We will order the books and you will come pick it up at the library to take home and read. We then meet at the end of the month to discuss the book! You are welcome to join only on the months where there is a book that interests you. You are not required to participate every month if you do not want to. You are also welcome to use the books read for the book club in any other book reading challenges, such as 50/50 or the ITRC.

WHat is the banquet?

In March 2025, all participants of the YRCA book club are invited to celebrate all the books we’ve read and to cast votes on the book you believe ought to win the 2025 YRCA award.

What books are next?

Intermediate

Messy Roots by Laura Gao (Graphic Novel)

Places We’ve Never Been by Kasie West

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

The Elephant Girl by James Patterson

A Song Called Home by Sara Zarr

Senior

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson (Canadian)

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin

This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi

The Silence that Binds Us by Joanna Ho

Castles in Their Bones by Laura Sebastian

REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Just some of our teens doing some pretty cool things!

About the teen librarian

Gracie graduated with an undergraduate degree in the Humanities from BYU-Idaho, and a master’s degree in teaching from Idaho State University. A proud Taiwanese-American, Gracie is OBSESSED with cats, enjoys knitting/crocheting, and going on hikes. Gracie is a writer and recently sold her first novel to Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. She has two little kids and three cats, whose names are Totoro, Chewie, and Kikkoman Soy Sauce.

Gracie enjoys reading in various genres, but has an affinity for speculative fiction with a literary bent. Almost all of her favorite books have made her ugly cry at some point. She enjoys meeting new people and is always open to recommendations for new programs and activities for teens at the Marshall Public Library. Did she mention she is OBSESSED with cats? 

Her favorite song on Taylor Swift’s TTPD album is “The Black Dog”. She may or may not regularly sing it in the shower while sobbing uncontrollably. 

She can be reached at gracie.marsden@marshallpl.org, or by saying “meow” three times in a mirror.

Marshall Public Library

113 South Garfield Avenue
Pocatello, Idaho  83204
Phone:  208-232-1263
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Did You Know?

The Library has its own mascots, Booker the Cat and Marshall the Lion, who spend their days in the Administrative Offices.