February 28, 2010

Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries


We joined many libraries this past month when participating in "Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries"on Wednesday, February 10.

In Homer Township our library serves as many things to many people, and a typical library day includes events for babies through seniors. This unique "snapshot" provided us with the opportunity to document usage in a fun way, with pictures and by asking people to tell us exactly what they think. And they did! The results are interesting and much of what I learned reinforces that we serve as a true social center in our community.

We have compiled Snapshot Day comments with pictures and statistics into a handy little booklet, which we will be providing to our elected officials to chronicle our library's importance to the community and how customers truly rely on us.

YOU SAID...a sampling of Homer Library's customer comments:

1. The teen section is pretty cool. I like the colors and chairs. It's a cool place to hang.

2. The Library is the most important service that Homer Glen provides. I am an ardent user of it. The entire staff is just wonderful.

3. Funding for local libraries should be increased, not cut. In today's society, the library serves as one of the few good resources for families in a time when there are far too many distractions and mischief for our kids to get into.

4. I love the libraries in this system. I rely on them for entertainment, information and books! (My favorite things!) As I cannot afford home-computer internet access I utilize this also. I do NOT know what I would do without the Library and its helpful staff.

5. We could not live without it!

6. Going to the library is a favorite regular outing with my daughter (written by a dad!)

7. I LOVE my Homer Glen Library. Great selection of materials and anything I have ever wanted was available thru the Prairie Cat System. Also ALL those that work at my Homer Glen Library are Knowledgeable, Efficient, and Super Friendly!

8. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, my library receives a 25.

9. This is the "Best Library Staff on the Southwest Side." The people who work here do an "Excellent Job"

10. Our Library is a welcoming place for our community members and families. They offer great programming and a friendly, helpful staff. We visit our library weekly, as well as, our library's bookmobile. We enjoy using the library's computers, programs, and children's area.

11. The Homer Bookmobile is awesome! They have a bunch of books and DVD's! I love my Bookmobile!

Snapshot Day, was created as a project of the Illinois Library Association, and helped us to showcase libraries in a challenging and exciting time. The vibrancy of our services and value to the communities we serve continues to grow and we are more relevant than ever today. More than 90 libraries showcased photos of this special day which can be found here.

Visit your library today and look at it with fresh eyes to truly see what we offer. Imagine even more @ your library.

January 04, 2010

Come Play @ Homer Library

Play Literacy is based on the idea that children learn best through play. Early Literacy Play areas at Homer Library can help to stimulate a child's intellectual and social development and prepare children for structured formal learning and school activities. The SouthtownStar article describing this new library initiative is here.

Early Literacy Play Areas include:

LEGO CREATION TABLE - supports eye-hand coordination, creativity, thinking skills

INTERACTIVE & BOARD BOOKS - easy to hold, promotes reading readiness and exploration

PUZZLES - encourages problem solving, eye-hand coordination, develops fine motor skills

TRAIN ACTIVITY TABLE - develops social and thinking skills through interactive play

CABIN PLAY HOUSE - stimulates creative, interactive and social play

DOLL HOUSE - dolls of the world for creative play, modeling and social skills

PUPPETS - stimulates imaginative play and role playing

COMPUTERS - fun and educational games foster reading, math, science, and more

EDUCATIONAL GAMES/TOYS - encourages school readiness, fuels intellectual development

Bring your child to the library for a great start to succeed in reading readiness through play!

December 04, 2009

Teen Energy Leadership Academy coming again in 2010!

Watch for our flier and online information about the library's Energy: Teen Leadership Academy program. It's coming soon!

November 24, 2009

Save Money - visit us today!

Your library has many treasures for your enrichment. Whether you want to enjoy a great story, seek to learn something, or are planning some family time, your library has much to offer you.
And it's all FREE.

Books, CDs, DVDs, Books on Tape, programs, computers, and library areas that your whole family can enjoy. A teen nook. Children's and family computer areas. And yes, we have wifi, too!

Perhaps you would consider joining one of our book discussion groups or visit with our knitter's club? Maybe enjoy a Sunday evening library visit (we are open 4-8pm) to meet with friends and neighbors. Perhaps you would like to read one of our six local newspapers or select from more than 80 magazines?

It's all conveniently here.
It's all for you.

It's free.

Come visit us today @ Homer Township Public Library District!

p.s. did I mention that we have a phenomenal staff that is happy to assist you on your library reading and viewing journeys? We hope to see you soon!

October 30, 2009

Haven't seen the library changes lately? You're overdue!

Visit us and see the most recent changes @ your library. They begin with a dramatic change of color in the Youth area...no more pink walls! And more changes are coming.

We hear positive remarks about the creative use of space, additional tables, new equipment, and new look. Come in and see for yourself....

--With more than 900 visitors to our internet room monthly, we have established word processing areas outside of the public internet room to free those computers up for dedicated internet use. For your convenience word processing computers are now located throughout the building.

--Teens use the library both as a social center and a school support. The new area for teens has comfortable seating surrounded by YA books. We thank the Homer Library Friends group whose generosity was instrumental in the many changes in this area. Our local Home Depot store will soon be adding wood flooring to the teen area, courtesy of their community outreach initiative. We have much to be thankful for!

--Eye catching new signage is here!

--The addition of family friendly computer areas allow parents and children to work side-by-side at a pair of computers.

--Separated computer catalogs allow you to search for titles in more private and convenient locations throughout the library.

--Ten new AWE computers each contain more than 45 educational programs for children ages 2 through 10. Spanning seven curriculum areas, these programs are top rated by Children's Technology Review.

--Marketing of subject areas in our library collections has begun.

Discover more than ever before @ Homer Library!