Bookmobile is out and about

Have you visited the library's bookmobile?

The Bookmobile is a unique service of the Homer Township Public Library District, bringing the library closer to where people live or work. The Bookmobile, while functioning as a dedicated method of outreach, is not intended to replace traditional library services, but serves to bring library materials into areas of the library's 36-square mile district.

We also bring crafts, programs, and reading clubs to community members and attend touch a truck and Chamber events.  The bookmobile schedule showcases 36 community stops.  It is an amazing customized bus, transformed into a fun and inviting mini library.  I hope you get the opportunity to see it firsthand.

Calling all Crafters!

We are accepting applications for our first ever Art & Craft Fair to be held Saturday, May 3rd.  Applications are available at the library or online.

This event is also a Gleaners Join Hands Day event.  Gleaners is a life insurance company that has a philanthropic community giving program that is very generous.  Gleaner has "arbors" that work in the community to give back.  A group of community minded folk established the Homer Township Oak Arbor last year, where I serve as reporter and treasurer.

Join Hands Day funds an event that is actually a national day of service projects that provide opportunities to teens for leadership and community service.  The Gleaner Life Insurance Society contributes funding support for events such as these and other charitable efforts.

So any crafters out there?  We need you, come and join the fun!

World Book Night

Everyone here is buzzing about the upcoming World Book Night initiative.  Our library was selected as a distribution point and we have ten book giver's (advocates for reading) registered and tagged to our library.

So what is World Book Night about?  It's about sharing the love and joy of a book, as in handing a free book to someone who has never felt that experience of the gift of reading.  This encourages literacy and appreciation for books. 

We held a reception for our book giver's (pictured below) and learned more about where these advocates would distribute their free books.  It was impressive to hear that books would be given at a free distribution center in a homeless area of Chicago, provided to disenfranchised teens, and handed to people in other areas where a book may not be a necessity or even on the grid, so to speak.

We hope to create an "aha" moment for someone who is a non-reader or "reader lite".  It is an honor to be part of an initiative that could create a new reader at any age.

Yours in Library Love

I have a friend and colleague who signs her communications, Yours in Library Love.  When I receive an email from her, I find this always brings a smile.

We love our libraries.  They are always here for us; when life changes come about; when we need to sharpen skills; and when we need to just relax.  You don't have to have money to use them - in fact they can save you money.  Excellent staff are happy you are visiting and can recommend a great read or highlight a fun program.

Today, I walked our new library areas, as I do at 6:30 a.m. every morning when I arrive (yes, I am an early bird) and told myself "Happy New Year!"  It is a most amazing thing to know that my home community for the past 25+ years has this beautiful new library and I have the honor of being an integral part of it.  Come in and visit your library soon and count your blessings, too.

Yours in Library Love,
Sheree & Staff

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!