Third Annual Bradbury Storytelling Festival—Literary Villains
Friday, October 17, 2008 – Tickets on Sale Now!
The Waukegan Public Library invites you, once again, to close your eyes for another hair-prickling literary ride. Please join us Friday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m., for the Third Annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival, held at the magnificent Genesee Theatre. This year’s theme? Literary Villains. As sinister as they come. Mr. Dark. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Mr. Dark of Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and Edgar Allen Poe’s Cask of Amontillado, Wicked stepmothers, and still others who cause shudders.

So, slink back in your seat. Our gifted storytellers, Megan Wells, Jim May, Dan Keding and Judith Black will take you on a spin from the fog-filled streets of London to the glare and blare of a traveling carnival. Dare to see what lurks in your own imagination.

Tickets remain a low $17 for the Friday, October 17 performance which will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 312-559-1212.

Prestigious Benjamin Franklin Exhibit
Comes to Illinois

“Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World,” a national traveling exhibition which looks at the remarkable life and achievements of one of America’s most beloved personalities, opens at the Niles Public Library District with a public reception on Sunday, October 19, featuring a keynote speech at 2pm from Dr. Ralph Lerner, the Benjamin Franklin Professor Emeritus in the College and of the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. Ben himself will make an appearance on that date, while harpsichordist Shirley Grudzien provides period music. Refreshments will be served.
The Niles Public Library District was selected as one of only 40 libraries nationwide and is the first public library in Illinois to host the exhibit. Besides serving his country as a skillful diplomat and negotiator, Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, humorist and philanthropist whose wisdom and wit continue to inspire and entertain us more than three hundred years after his birth. Franklin was dedicated to making the world a better place and himself a better person. His was the quintessential American success story.
The traveling library exhibit gives public audiences the opportunity to explore and to talk about Franklin’s life, his contributions to the founding of this country, and his high standards for work, citizenship and contributions to community. It looks at his background, his self-education, and his philosophical and religious beliefs and their effect on his work and life.
The Niles Public Library district is offering a wide variety of free programs, including a Colonial Concert, a timely lecture on “Ben’s View of the Presidency”, and an authentic tea party with a one-act play performed. Children’s events include an educational and fun one person Ben Franklin show, an ongoing scavenger hunt, and a kite making workshop. Several book discussions on Franklin’s life and a presentation his autobiography will also be offered.
The Niles Public Library is Located at 6960 Oakton St. in Niles, IL. Please call 847-663-1234 for additional information or visit www.nileslibrary.org or http://bencomestoniles.blogspot.com/ for more about Benjamin Franklin and his world.

The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, Philadelphia, and the American Library Association organized the exhibit with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): great ideas brought to life.

First Lady Laura Bush will award Skokie Public Library the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor for museums and libraries, at a White House ceremony on October 7. Each year, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in coordination with the White House, awards the national medal to five libraries and five museums that have helped make their communities better places to live. Each winner also receives a $10,000 award.

Skokie Public Library received the medal for
founding and continuing cosponsorship of the annual Skokie Festival of Cultures, which provides two days of ethnic foods, music, dance, crafts, fun cultural activities for kids, and a chance for integral community development;
the Library’s multilingual website and reading, visual, and audio materials; and presenting the Young Steinway Concert Series, now in its 27th year, which provides valuable performing experience for exceptionally talented youth and free concerts for the community.

“By its example, the Skokie Public Library shows us the kind of influence and impact that libraries can have on community life. Through its innovative programs and active partnerships, the Library addresses the urgent and changing needs of the community it serves,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director.

The other winners of the 2008 National Medal for Museum and Library Service are:
The Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, WY
The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA
The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, Crawfordsville, IN
The Jane Stern Dorado Community Library, Inc., Dorado, PR
The Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York, NY
The Miami-Dade Public Library System, Miami, FL
The Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL
The Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

This is the second year that IMLS has awarded medals to 10 institutions. In previous years, the National Medal was known as the National Award for Museum and Library Service and was awarded to three museums and three libraries annually. Skokie Public Library is the first public library in Illinois to receive the award.

LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS COME TO LIFE AT HIGHLAND PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the legendary Lincoln-Douglas debates as Lincoln and Douglas come to life at the Highland Park Public Library on Sunday, September 28. Experience the political drama of the famed debates, which helped launch Lincoln as a national political figure.

Veteran interpreters George Buss and Tim Connors will portray Lincoln and Douglas as they recreate the 1858 campaign when Lincoln and Douglas vied for a seat in the U.S. Senate. The men met for seven debates to argue the central issue of the day – the extension of slavery into the territories. Although Douglas defeated Lincoln, Lincoln emerged from the debates as a national political figure.

Buss and Connors are traveling throughout Illinois in the Debate Reunion Tour ’08, portraying Lincoln and Douglas as Illinois and the nation celebrate the 150 anniversary of the famous debates. See history come alive as they bring Lincoln and Douglas to the Library. The event is free and open to the public, and begins at 2 p.m.

The Highland Park Public Library is located at 494 Laurel Avenue, Highland Park. For more information, please call (847) 432-0216 or visit hplibrary.org.

Photo by Steve Becker/beckermedia.com

Prospect Heights Library
Goes Green



The Prospect Heights Public Library District has formed a Green committee, aptly named “The Green Team.” Their mission statement is to raise environmental awareness in our Library and community by making available programs, books, and DVD’s to assist patrons in choosing green options.

The Library’s monthly newsletter, The Elm Leaf, has a new Green Team section where you’ll find earth friendly facts, tips and resources. The Prospect Heights Garden Club has donated a variety of books with a green theme in memory of Mary Tammen, former Library Board President. The new titles include Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step At A Time by Elizabeth Rogers, Go Green, Live Rich by David Bach, and Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Living by Trish Riley. Visit the Library and browse through these books- you may be inspired to live a more green-friendly life.

The Library has also invited Mary Allen, Recycling and Education Director for the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County to give a presentation entitled, “Talk Trash with SWANCC” on Thursday, September 11 at 7:00pm to teach us simple things we can do to help reduce waste and conserve resources as well as highlight currently available community recycling programs. Also keep an eye out for new green changes to our building including rain barrels, a compost bin and new plantings of low maintenance perennials.

Recipients of the FY2009 LSTA grants have been announced. NSLS member recipients include:

Elgin Community College - Renner Library Research Center
Chicago Horticultural Society
Huntley Area Public Library District
Park Ridge Public Library
Skokie Public Library
University of St. Mary of the Lake - Feehan Memorial Library

View details.

These grant project opportunities are made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, to the Illinois State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.

Wilmette Public Library is the recipient of the first ever ALA Presidential Citation for Gaming in Libraries (Education Category) for its Game Maker Academy program. The award was announced by ALA President Loriene Roy at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The award recognizes libraries that use games and gaming as tools for learning, literacy development and community development.

Skokie Public Library staff member Bruce Brigell has published an article in the ILA Reporter entitled "Rethinking 'Virtual' Reference." The articles covers some of the challenges facing remote reference and details some of the changes made to Ask Away. Read full article online or in print beginning on page 12.

NSLS Board President Edgar Mosshamer wrote an opinion piece for the ILA Reporter entitled "Closing the Gap." He describes the gap as "...the difference between where libraries are today and where they must be in the future." In addition, he talks about the need to move from advoacy to activism and what the NSLS board is doing to make changes in this arena. Read full column online or in print on page 31.

NSLS Board Member and Skokie Public Library Trustee Dayle Zelenka recently published an article in the ILA Reporter entitled "A Trusee for the Twenty-First Century." The article covers his search to discover the issues facing libraries today and how that affects the talents and behaviors needed by today's trustees. His findings center on three key elements: honing advocacy skills; exercising awareness, self education, and evaluation; and developing a firm grasp of fiscal policy while venturing into the realm of fundraising. Read his full article online or in print beginning on page 4.

Gail Borden Public Library was a recipient of the 2008 John Cotton Dana Award for its SPACE:Dare to Dream project. The library was also a Special Mention for Library Journal's 2008 Library of the Year.

Coffee is beginning to brew at Gail Borden Public Library. The library and La Tazza Coffee recently signed an agreement that will bring a coffee shop to the library this October.

La Tazza, (Italian word, meaning "The Cup"), was started in 1991 by Robert DeBenedictis. The company started serving specialty coffee beverages at black tie special events in many venues in Chicago such as the Merchandise Mart, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Drake, Knickerbocker and Palmer House Hilton hotels.

Since then, La Tazza has expanded to offering cappuccino and coffee services, plus an array of other menu items, to locations in the Loop on an on-going daily vending basis. Their flagship location is located at 321 N. Clark Street in Chicago in what used to be the old Quaker Oats building. La Tazza's corporate offices are centrally located in Lombard, IL.

"We are very excited to be opening a new location inside the Gail Borden Public Library. In addition to coffee and espresso drinks, we will be offering homemade parfaits, real fresh fruit smoothies, gourmet sandwiches, premium salads, fresh soup and chili daily, a complete pasta line, and a vast selection of snack items. To complement the coffee, we will receive daily deliveries of an extensive line of fresh baked pastries," said Val Valentino, an Elgin resident and he company's manager of Public Relations and Marketing. She added, "For an extra value to our patrons, we plan on having a very attractive Dollar Value Menu for children and adults. In addition, we are committed to give Senior Citizens a special value. Any senior can receive a cup of fresh brewed coffee for only 59 cents- all day, seven days a week."

La Tazza's beans are imported from Italy and European grown.

"There has seen a lot of growth in Elgin and we are excited for the opportunity for La Tazza to be contributing to the magnificent transformation of our downtown Elgin business area." Valentino added. Val will be responsible for developing seasonal specials and promotions at the coffee cafe while assisting the Gail Borden's customers with their special event coffee and catering needs.

Library Deputy Director Karen Maki, said, "Our library building was designed for a coffee shop and we are very pleased to be able at last to offer our customers this amenity. La Tazza will provide a wide selection of quality products at competitive prices in an inviting atmosphere. We look forward to this new venture."

The coffee shop will be located in the library's concession area, on the first floor next to the community rooms. It will feature both inside and outside dining.

"We are scheduled to open the La Tazza Cafe this October and we are thrilled with the enhancements occurring at the library in preparation for this new endeavor. La Tazza hopes to not only provide a necessary service to the library customers, but also looks forward to becoming a community coffeehouse favorite!" added Valentino.

Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich received two honorable mentions for graphics at ALA's Best of Show.

The fifth edition of Excellence in Library Services to Young Adults, published by ALA, was authored and edited by Amy Alessio, Teen Librarian at the Schaumburg Twp. Library. Roxy Ekstrom, also of STDL, was one of the judges selecting items to be included in the publication.

The Schaumburg Twp District Library won second place and a $200 Demco gift certificate for their presentation at the ALA Diversity and Outreach Fair. The title of the exhibit was "Having Fun Learning the more we're Different, the more we're the Same" with the subtitle reading "Diversity is just another way of saying how we all contribute to one another". The display represented the Library's multicultural outreach in Extension Services and Youth Services, says Barbara Adrianopoli.