Trustees Rock!

Library trustees are wonderful people.  They give their time and expertise (unpaid!) to benefit the community.  Homer Township Library trustees made a commitment with me, many years ago, to add much needed space to our library.  After ten years of conservative budget oversight and monitoring the budget to save every dollar (along with $1.5 million in grant awards) we have expanded library space for you.  Hats off to our Library Trustees pictured below with me!

Grand Opening

The Grand Opening of the expanded and renovated Homer Township Public Library was a long-awaited dream.  We hope you love the space that was developed with our customers in mind.  There are areas to study, meet with friends, enjoy the sunroom view, read, visit, and use 24 new public computers.  Staff are ready to assist you!

 I believe there is an area here for you and am excited to have you visit and find your perfect spot @ your library.  We are very proud of the conservative budget oversight that allowed us to self-fund this expansion.  More than ever before @ Homer Library!

Milestone! 24,000 sf Library is OPEN

Your library is open!  Construction is finished!  Come visit us today!
(can you tell we are super excited?)

There is an amazing new space waiting for you - your Homer Township Public Library has self-funded a wonderful addition and remodel of existing space.  The new 24,000 sf library boasts automatic entry doors, bold colors, unique lighting, tons of natural light, 6 private study rooms, 24 public computers, a quiet reading room with fireplace and study tables, a family activity room and sunroom - both adjacent to the youth area, a copy center, more seating, additional parking, family restrooms, a teen room and specific junior area, and more!

We have created several community areas - enjoy a conversation in the table area looking out onto 151st Street.  Read a magazine or newspaper in the library's "living room".  Sit with your children in the diner booth areas. Appreciate the quiet in the Heroes quiet reading room. Enjoy working next to your child at the family computer area.  Watch the sports activity from the sunroom. Work with friends in a private study room or in the family activity room. We listened to our community and brought forward what residents asked for along with some special areas that we know you will love.

Outside covered benches and seating anchor a lovely garden bed.  More plantings and flower beds will continue to be placed around the building as the site work continues, along with a ring road and staff parking on the east side of the building.

More for you than ever before @ Homer Library!

Closed Sept. 30 - October 20 for the Final Move!

• It's the final move of 80,000 items and offices into the new space. 
• Youth services will move into its newly remodeled home and the addition will become all adult space. 
• Staff will move from the community room and side offices to rest in office areas in the remodeled space. 
• Safety issues require that we be closed for this move. 
• Like the layers of a cake each item has to be undertaken -- additional shelving and furniture will be delivered, constructed and placed; collections will be removed from shelves and packed; movers will unpack 80,000 items onto final shelf spaces; the final placement for library computers and phone lines, etc.

It's quite the process and while we know it temporarily closes the library we truly are so proud to bring this construction to completion!  Customers will love the opportunities to find a niche - we have created many community social areas for everyone to find their perfect spot or comfy zone, to be social or to study and read.   It is a busy and exciting time as the construction process ends and the final vision of the new space can be experienced.  The beautiful expanded and remodeled library features:

·         6 study rooms

·         Heroes Quiet Reading Room

·         Family Activity Room

·         Teen Room

·         Copy Center

·         24 public computers

·         Sun Room & more!

 This move and final placement of collections requires a 3-week closing period until we reopen on Monday, October 21^st.  A Grand Opening is being planned for later this fall.

Please direct questions to 708.301.7908 or visit our website for construction updates.

Addition open, construction continues...

We have completed the new addition!  Now construction work is nearing completion of the remodel of the existing space.  The move into this space is anticipated to be completed on October 21st.  Exciting things are happening @ your library!

Heroes Quiet Reading Room Dedication

The Michael C. Olivieri Heroes Quiet Reading Room dedication event was held on August 16th.  We were very honored to have the Lockport Township High School (LTHS) Air Force Jr. ROTC cadets perform the Presentation of Colors.  In addition, three LTHS Choral Program singers sang the National Anthem.  Both added lovely and moving moments to our program.

Library Trustee Phyllis Levine gave a touching speech about the many Heroes in our lives and the importance of this room and hero recognition.

Mikey's parents, Mike and Jody, spoke movingly about their son and detailed the custom artwork created for the room.  They thanked the community for the wonderful support of this room and the annual Mike Hike.

Board President Dr. Ed O'Brien officially dedicated the room.  It was a proud moment and a milestone in the library's history.

More than 300 people donated approximately $50,000 to the library for the Heroes Quiet Reading Room. 

We are gladly accepting donations to fund collections in the Heroes Quiet Reading Room, honoring all heroes in our military and the heroes in our everyday lives.  Donations can be sent to:

 

Michael C. Olivieri Memorial Fund

c/o Homer Township Public Library

14320 W. 151st Street

Homer Glen, IL 60491

Local dignitaries attended, as well as Representative Dan Lipinski, who spoke briefly during the program.

Pictured: Artist Sheri Law and Jody Olivieri in front of the custom art piece above the fireplace

 

Homer Library debuts StoryWalk™ @ Sendra Park!

Homer Township Library is proud to share details of our newest community partnership. The literacy + fitness program partners the library with the Homer Glen Foundation and Homer Township to develop our very own StoryWalk™ in Homer Glen. StoryWalk™ combines the healthy activities of walking and being outdoors while reading a book. StoryWalk™ features poster-sized laminated storybook pages that are placed every 100 feet along the Sendra Park path.

Libby and Barry were created as our two library mascots who depict activities on each storybook page. Reading and suggested activities at each station offer residents a unique family experience as they walk, read, and can enjoy fun movements that tie into the stories. We envision offering seasonal activities and will undertake quarterly book changes. The Ribbon Cutting Celebration for this event was held on July 31st at the Edmond J. Sendra Park, 14727 South Greenbrier Lane, in Homer Glen. A Splendid Friend Indeed by Suzanne Bloom is the book being currently featured.

Pictures can be found at Homer Library's photo site.