The 2011 Missouri High School Gateway Election was held on March 2nd in the Hillcrest Library. There were 58 qualified voters who had read three or more books.
“Election day for the Gateway Award at Hillcrest is very exciting. Every year we have a few more students who have qualified to vote, and that is by reading three or more of the 15 nominated novels, which is quite a time limit for high school students,” said librarian Linda Fredrick.
Three of the chosen Gateway nominees include “The Compound” by S.A. Bodeen, “Shift” by Jennifer Bradbury, and “Gracelin” by Kristin Cashore. Many students enjoy voting because it gives them an opportunity to voice their opinion.
“Voting for books is important because it shows people who read constantly throughout the year what they see is a good read, and what they know would be something that other people would enjoy to read on their own free time,” said Hillcrest junior Steven Freeman.
The librarians offer an ice-cream bar that the students can enjoy while taking their time to vote.
Winners in citywide voting in Springfield were announced last week. Here are the results:
1st “Hunger Games”
2nd “Compound”
3rd “Three Little Words”
4th “Gracelin”
Statewide results will be announced in April.
Linda Fredrick and Christa Lairmore recently decided that it was time to update the Hillcrest library web page.
“Mrs. Wooderson, the former librarian, and I created a site as a summer project about four 
years ago, but it’s good to adjust what we did and change it up,” said Fredrick.
“I went to a workshop that was conducted by Dr. Hammer and she explained to us how to go to wix.com and create a website. It’s the simplest one that I have ever used and it’s been a lot of fun,” said Fredrick.
As time goes by, the librarians will be adding and taking away from the web page constantly.
“The basic page will stay the same. I think it’s irritating to change things too much, people want to be able to rely on what they’re looking for and where to find it. But there are some sections on the site that we will be changing,” said Fredrick.
The site, which can be found here, http://www.wix.com/lfredrick/library, is now live and has great information about updates in the library and upcoming events.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has quickly become the latest book craze for high schoolers. In a fictional future where 12 districts are controlled by The Capital a girl faces life and death situations in the annual Hunger Games. The book has been an uproar among students and is in high demand in the library.
Librarian Linda Fredrick said, “The Hunger Games is building popularity by word of mouth. Reading it is like watching an action packed movie. It’s a great escapist book with a little romance, a lot of adventure and danger’s around every curve.”
Hillcrest Senior Holly Fees said,”I like that the book is like a movie, like when I read it’s really easy to visualize. And that it deals with more serious issues rather than the typical teenage drama. Bottom line, it’s just a good adventure book.”
The Hunger Games is the first of three books; Catching Fire is the sequel and the last book in the trilogy is set to release in August. “One student told me she loved the first book so much that she refused to read the second until the third comes out.” said Fredrick. The Hunger Games is also being made into a movie.
Christmas is coming up on December 25th, but a different kind of Christmas has already arrived in the library.
“When our yearly book order, worth over ten thousand dollars, arrives each fall it’s like Christmas for everyone,” said Librarian Linda Frederick.
The Hillcrest library received over 400 books this year. After only four months of school, the library already has 34 students eligible to vote on the Gateway Book Award, and 125 that are only one book away. To be able to vote, students have to have read three of the 15 nominees.
“That says something about Hillcrest.” said Fredrick.
“An author knows his landscape best. He can stand around, smell the wind, get a feel for his place.” This quote by author Tony Hillerman sets the theme for Teen Read Week.
Teen Read Week is a national library event, put on by Hillcrest’s librarians Linda Fredrick and Charlotte Wooderson. Each morning, a question will be asked over the intercom. Those who submit the correct answer to the library have their names placed in a drawing. The winners, including four students and one adult each day, receive a treat and a free book.
“Hopefully students can find a new author,” said Frederick. “It’s another reason to visit the library, and just to see what’s here.”
“Today is just an organizational meeting, setting up dates and times, and just sharing what we’ve read over the summer.”
With that welcome, Hillcrest librarian Linda Fredrick initiated a new year of the HHS Book Club, a group called, “Cover 2 Cover.” They meet once or twice a month in the library after school. As a group they discuss and compare books they read together. They also get titles of new books to check out.
This year the club is thinking about reading titles such as, Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, and Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen.
Hillcrest junior Nicole Obrey is a part of the club. She said, “It’s a good place to talk about literature and just hang out with a bunch of other bookworms….and more people should join.”
The meetings last around 30 minutes, and Fredrick provides snacks for the group. Students who want to join the club should see Ms. Fredrick before the next meeting in October.
The 2011 Missouri High School Gateway Election was held on March 2nd in the Hillcrest Library. There were 58 qualified voters who had read three or more books.
