New: Polish Story Time!

Once upon a time...I was a Youth Services (YS) Director. Back then a large part of my day involved programming, including Story Hour and a variety of creative activities.

I no longer work in YS but the core elements that entice and excite our youngest library users remain. The Homer Library Youth Services Staff have supersized traditional programs - adding jazzy titles and bringing in new activities and focus on board. "Story hour" is called a variety of things now and has really been expanded along with other youth programs in a most creative manner. For example, we offer:

• Wiggles 'n Giggles



• Story Time



• Stories in the Park



• Pajama Time



• Polish Story Time - brand new this Fall! We are pleased to offer this newest program with stories, a craft, and fingerplays in the Polish Language. Story time elements can help children develop their listening skills and prepare them for more structured learning activities. They are a wonderful and fun way to encourage reading and participation by our earliest learners and to instill that the library is a great destination!
  
  Visit our website to see the Fall newsletter, which details many of our great programs and services.

Power to the Librarians!

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) annual conference is always an excellent opportunity for both learning and networking with fellow colleagues. Sessions deal with a variety of issues libraries are facing. I find great value in attending and bring back new ideas (and energy!) to continue to serve my community well. See conference pictures here.

Pictured left: Anne Craig, Director of Illinois State Library and Sheree Kozel-La Ha, Homer Library Director (with grant award).

Grant Award
It was an honor to be recognized for our newest LSTA grant award Destination Station: A Learning R/evolution @ Homer Library. This award will fund new computers, software, and training for the community we serve. Grant awards offer an excellent opportunity (& needed funding!) to expand the ways we reach our community of users and to do some really neat things at the library. Homer Library will become a destination for the use of technology and tools that support the needs of the community - at every age and stage in a person's life. This includes the library helping customers process information and transitioning into a "learning center" or destination, not just an information center. We are convinced the Destination Station: a Learning R/evolution @ Homer Library project will enrich the community and that you will find more value than ever at Homer Library!

Fashion First!
Creativity was certainly on display at the Illinois Library Association Conference "Style from the Stacks" event. And what a fun event, where library "designers" used index cards, multimedia items, book bags, posters, and more to showcase fashion for trendy librarians! Fashion event pictures are posted here. I love being a librarian and salute my fellow library colleagues for such a creative effort.

Pictured right: a dress designed using paperback romance novel covers and book pages...tres elegant!

Relationships

Positive Connections Matter
We welcome home Sgt. Brent Annen from his second tour in Iraq. He is the husband of our Adult Services Director, Alexandra Tyle-Annen. And we bid farewell to long-time employee Mary Woolley who retired from her position in Outreach Services.

We nurture relationships - with our family, friends, colleagues, and with our customers. They are important. When welcoming new employees or recognizing the dedication of ones that leave I find myself continually noting the *family* we have created among our staff and acknowledging how it comes back to the relationships we initiate and foster, at every stage in our lives. Whether bidding farewell to a retiree or teen employee now leaving for college or welcoming new staff, customers, or friends coming home - making positive connections matter.

Known for our personal and friendly service, Homer Library has mostly long-time staff. I think this says something very good about our library. With proactive management and supportive trustees we have created a wonderful *team* who enjoy their jobs, look forward to assisting customers, and has great synergy with fellow colleagues and community members. There is a saying, "walk in our door and you are a friend" and that is true at Homer Library.

Changes
Change has led to wonderful growth at Homer Library. You will see expanded services and additions this coming year as we use grant awards, sponsorships, and Friends funding to develop a new *teen scene* nook, wii area, add or update computers, and begin our newest collection of DVD movies. We're listening to our users - that's you - and building more relationships, so you will find even more value @ your library this year.

Your Support is Needed
Please note that our space issues have not changed - we need a new building and the funding to support it soon. We are tax-capped and have lost more than one million dollars in funding over the past ten years. The library is tight in space for people and books, there are parking limitations, etc. So yes, at a future point in time we must address a referendum question. That is a certainty. And with your support we will continue to provide the best for you and the fast-growing Homer community.

p.s. Your donation of any DVD to help build the new movie collection will be greatly appreciated!

Homer Glen Olympian Brad Guzan

U.S. Soccer Team member from our 'burb!
Olympian Brad Guzan, goalie for the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team, is from Homer Glen. Our local newspaper, the Homer Horizon, featured Brad in an article here. We congratulate Brad & the U.S Soccer Team on winning their first game against Japan 1-0. What an exciting moment that must have been!

Olympian Behind the Scenes Insight
Brad is blogging throughout the Summer Games in China from a behind the scenes perspective. Check it out here. It is quite interesting to read and offers nuances that you would typically not receive from regular news stories. That is the wonderful thing about personal blogging and I am excited to share this Olympian's blog information.

Go Brad! Go U.S. Athletes....we are proud of all of you!

Book Sale Days!

Our first annual book sale is this week!

When:
Friday, August 15 - 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 16 - 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Homer Township Public Library, 14320 West 151st Street, Homer Glen

Library teens and staff are dedicating countless hours to sorting and organizing materials donated to the library. We have a wonderful selection of fiction and non-fiction reading for all ages. Visit the library and snap up a wide variety of great books during our sale days!
Pictured right: teen volunteer sorting donations.

Hope to see you there!