Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library Newsletter

Winter 2011/2012 Vol. 28, No. 1 Live & Learn Library Construction Grant Groundbreaking

Alsip-Merrionette Park Library awarded $125,000 grant from State Librarian Jesse White

We are very fortunate and grateful to have received a grant of $125,000 that will greatly help toward the funding of our current building addition and remodeling project. These Live and Learn Construction Grants are awarded and administered by the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian to help public libraries pay for essential capital improvements. When this grant was awarded, Secretary of State and State Librarian -HVVH:KLWHVDLG³7KLVLPSRUWDQWJUDQWSURJUDPKHOSVSXEOLF On Monday, November 21, 2011 libraries pay for the cost of projects such as remodeling for WUXVWHHVEURNHJURXQGRQWKHOLEUDU\·V handicapped accessibility, new carpeting, interior or exterior renovation project. Pictured left to right: library director, Ruthann painting, and in some cases new construction or additions to Swanson with library trustees, Mary existing facilities. Many of our public libraries simply don't Jane Schneider, Lester Englebrecht, have sufficient funds to pay for these improvements on their Board President Mary McKendree own, though in some instances these grants do require local and Gerald Dujsik.

matching funds. Our public libraries are cornerstones of our See photos of the our construction communities, and they have never been more important. project at our website, alsiplibrary.info. Click on LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT During these difficult economic times, statistics have shown under our Quick Links. You can also that more and more citizens are using their local public library check us out on Facebook. for things like free Internet access, CD's, DVD's, newspapers and magazines. I am pleased to be able to award these grants through the Illinois State Library to help maintain the Visit us at our infrastructure of our public libraries, and help them remain the temporary location! best resource available to citizens for information." Even though the library building on Pulaski is under construction, you can visit the library at our temporary location, 12838 S. Cicero Avenue. All our materials are here and available for check out. Sorry for the inconvenience Programs are starting soon! Look inside for all the details!

Serving the communities of Alsip, Merrionette Park, and Garden Homes Winter Programs @ your library

Registration is required. Call the Adult Services Department at 708-371-5666 (ext. 109) for details. Leap Into Update Using Picasa for New Technology Your Job Skills Your Digital

Wednesday, Wednesday, Photos February 29 at 7 P.M. March 14 at 7 P.M. Wednesday, Program will be held at the Peggy Heenan, Admissions and March 28 at 7 P.M. Alsip Park District, 12521 S. Kostner Outreach Representative from Glenn Carpenter, college Adult & Youth Services are Moraine Valley Community photographer and imaging joining forces to present a College, will be at the library to specialist at Moraine Valley program of interest to the entire provide information for adults Community College, shows how family. The Geek Squad from who are considering returning to *RRJOH¶V3LFDVDFDQKHOS\RX the Lansing Best Buy will college to update their job skills, organize, edit and share your demonstrate the latest in train for a new career or explore photos. ebooks, tablets, and gaming personal interests. Registration limited to 25 people technology. Registration limited to 25 people

February 2, 2012 Book April 5, 2012

The Immortal Life of Discussion Blood, Bones & Butter

Henrietta Lacks Group by Gabrielle Hamilton

by Rebecca Skloot May 3, 2011

March 1, 2011 The Book Discussion Group meets 0DMRU3HWWLJUHZ·V the first Thursday of each month at The Uncoupling 7 P.M. If you would like to attend, Last Stand

by Meg Wolitzer sign up at the Adult Reference Desk. by Helen Simonson

Computer Classses

Instructor John Hojek will be back to teach beginning computer, Internet and email classes at the library. Classes are on Fridays from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M.

Beginning Computers Beginning Internet Beginning Email March 30 April 20 May 4 For beginners who are For beginners who are

Registration must be done in person at the library. Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District residents have priority; non-residents will be placed on a waiting list. A $10 non-refundable registration fee is due at sign-up ($25 for non-residents). If you have any questions, call the Adult Reference Department at 708-371-5666 ext. 109. Program registration begins Saturday, January 7, 2012 for residents of Alsip, Merrionette Park, and Garden Homes. Open registration begins Saturday, January 14. Programs run from January 23 through March 3. PLEASE NOTE: Children must have a valid library card to register. A fee will be charged to all non-residents.

The library offers story times for preschool children at specific ages and stages of development that provide emergent literacy activities as well as Drop social interaction. Registration is required. In

Mother Goose Toddler Time Craft Tuesdays 10³10:30 A.M. Time Stop by the Youth Mondays 10³10:30 A.M. Toddlers ages 2²4 years Services Department and

This program is and their caregivers are pick up a craft to make on designed for invited to come in from the your own in the library. babies, ages cold and have some fun with :H·YHSODQQHGDGLIIHUHQW birth through 23 books, music and craft for each week so months, and a caregiver. sensorimotor activities. GRQ·WPLVVRXWRQWKHIXQ Stories, music, nursery rhymes and unstructured play will be Toddler Art shared by all. Thursdays 10³10:30 A.M.

Come join us with your 2²4 Baby and Toddler year old for a story, songs, and Saturdays 10³10:45 A.M. Music Class a process-oriented art project. February 4, 18 & March 3

Fridays 11³11:30 A.M. Be sure to dress to get a little messy! Independent Each week babies and toddlers kindergarteners (6 months ² 35 months) and and up are their caregivers will sing a Music Medley Wednesdays 10³10:30 A.M. invited to come storybook, play games, and enjoy a variety of small instru- Preschoolers (3²5 year olds) and play ments while the instructor will make their own instrument BINGO! sings and plays guitar. and explore pre-reading through the use of music.

Mondays 7³7:30 P.M. Join us as we present a different activity, theme, or event each week for you and your children. A great chance to have family fun and share some quality time! After School Programs Youth Road Trip U.S.A. =RR.HHSHU·V&OXE

Mondays Tuesdays Volunteers 4³4:30 P.M. OR 4³4:30 P.M. OR Wednesdays Thursdays Kids in grades six through 4³4:30 P.M. 6:30³7 P.M. twelve may volunteer at the

Kids in grades kindergarten and Ever wonder where the animals library this winter. Volunteers may be asked to up are invited on a trip across the at the zoo come from? Kids from clean books, cut-out crafts, U.S.A. Join us as we explore our age 4 to grade 2 can join us as we assist children with craft great nation and, of course, stop discover and explore the projects or help out at the for snacks along the way! uniqueness of different animals. desk.

Bookalicious Call the Youth Services Art Class Department (708-371-5666 Thursdays ext. 111) and let them know 4³4:30 P.M. Tuesdays 7³7:45 P.M. which of the following times A delicious fun time for kids in Kids in grades 5 and up you are available to can learn drawing, cartooning, grades 3 and up. Read great volunteer: FKLOGUHQ¶VERRNVLQDIXQDQG and more in this fun class for Tuesdays informal setting and enjoy a kids. 6:30Ͷ8:30 p.m. tasty snack. Wednesdays 6:30Ͷ8:30 p.m. Special Program Saturdays Ceramics Club 10:30 a.m.ͶNoon

Saturdays 3³4P.M. Arrangements to volunteer

Children in grades 2 and up will paint a at the library must be made ceramic figurine that they will be able to ahead of time. take home the same day.

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ŽŶ͛ƚůĞƚƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌƐŶŽǁĂŶĚĐŽůĚŐĞƚLJŽƵĚŽǁŶ͘:ŽŝŶŽƵƌƐƉĞĐŝĂůƐŝdž-week reading program and win great prizes! Stop by the library for all the details.

Books ‡ Music ‡ Movies ‡ Television

New Books New Music New DVDs December xAshes and Fire by Ryan Adams x50/50 coming soon xThe Third Gate by Lincoln Child xWorship Music by Anthrax xAbduction xLocked On by Tom Clancy xDuets II by Tony Bennett xBored to Death (season one) x xDeath Benefit by Robin Cook xTailgates & Tanlines Change-Up by Luke Bryan xContagion xRed Mist by Patricia Cornwell xCome To the Well xThe Scottish Prisoner by Diana xCowboys and Aliens Gabaldon by Casting Crowns xCrazy Stupid Love xDown the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag xStronger by Kelly Clarkson xExpendables x77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz xMylo Xyloto by Coldplay xFriends with Benefits xD.C. Dead by Stuart Woods xWelcome 2 My Nightmare xGlee: The Complete Second Season by Alice Cooper January xHangover Part 11 xSweeter by Il Divo xThe Help xThe Rope by Nevada Barr xCeremonials x,'RQ·W.QRZ+RZ6KH'RHV,W xBelieving the Lie by Elizabeth George by Florence & the Machine xLarry Crowne xNeed You Now by James Grippando xSweeter by Gavin DeGraw xMidnight in Paris xA Devil is Waiting by Jack Higgins xTorches by Foster the People xMoneyball xGun Games by Faye Kellerman xWatch the Throne by Jay-Z x0U3RSSHU·V3HQJXLQV xCopper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz x&ODQF\·V7DYHUQby Toby Keith xOur Idiot Brother xThe Hunter by John Lescroart xOwn the Night xRejoice and Shout xDeadline by Fern Michaels by Lady Antebellum xRise of the Planet of the Apes xBreakdown by Sara Paretsky xFour the Record x6DUDK·V.H\ xPrivate: #1 Suspect by James by Miranda Lambert xTurtle: The Incredible Journey Patterson xUnbroken by Demi Lovato xWater for Elephants x*LGHRQ·V&RUSVHby Douglas Preston xClear As Day by Scott McCreery February xTh1r3en by Megadeth xCatch Me by Lisa Gardner xHere and Now by Nickelback xVictims by Jonathan Kellerman x,·P:LWK

Library Hours Monday Ͷ Thursday 9 A.M.Ͷ 9 P.M. Friday & Saturday 9 A.M.Ͷ 5 P.M. Sunday 12 P.M.Ͷ 4 P.M.

Library Closed DŽƚŚĞƌ͛ƐĂLJ Sunday, May 12 Memorial Day Weekend Sunday, May 26 & Monday May 27 Postal Patron Library Board Alsip, IL 60803 Mary E. McKendree, President Judy Buergel, Vice President Mary Jane Schneider, Secretary Sandra Cerretto, Treasurer Gerald Dujsik, Trustee Lester E. Engelbrecht, Trustee Robert Olson, Trustee

Ruthann Swanson, Library Director

Library Board meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 P.M. Minutes and ĂŐĞŶĚĂƐ ĂƌĞ ƉŽƐƚĞĚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ůŝďƌĂƌLJ͛Ɛ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͘

Why did you have to move Why did the library need :H·YHEHHQ during construction? a renovation? asked lots of questions about ,I\RX¶YHWUDYHOHGGRZQ3XODVNL In many ways we had WKHOLEUDU\·VUHQRYDWLRQSURMHFW recently you may have noticed outgrown our building. The since we moved to our temporary DOOWKHZRUNWKDW¶VEHHQGRQHDW renovation will give us an location on Cicero. Here are the the library. The west wall and additional 14,000 square answers to some of our most windows have been removed. feet. This added space will frequently asked questions. Construction machinery has provide room for more taken over the parking lot! computers, more meeting When will construction be Moving offsite has allowed the rooms plus quiet study finished? project to progress quickly and URRPV:H¶OODOVRKDYHPRUH keep costs down. seating space, a Teen area, Our estimated return date is plus a drive-up book drop. early 2013. :KDW·VJRLQJRQLQWKH People with laptops will find

Will there be a second floor? north parking lot? more places to sit and use Digging in the north parking our high speed Wi-Fi service. No. The two-story expansion The building will also get an refers to additional square lot is laying the groundwork for geothermal energy to be updated décor as well as a footage in the basement as well redesigned interior. as on the first floor. used to heat and cool the new building.