Are U a Friend of the Library?

Join the Friends of the Library
A strong library is essential to the health and growth of the community. We need you!

The Friends of the Homer Township Library (FOHTL) group offers you an opportunity to join an association of people interested in books and libraries. You can make a positive difference and enjoy meeting people with similar interests.

Through the Friends group you can volunteer, sponsor events, raise funds for equipment and programs that are beyond the library's budget, increase community awareness of the library, solicit funding for programs and events, and generally help foster a love of reading and library use to everyone. It shows you care about the library. And we need that caring.

A non-profit, volunteer organization, FOHTL is supported primarily by dues ($5 individual / $7 family) and contributions from from sponsors or events, such as book sales, etc. Our Friends group is seeking new members. Your contribution is key and you can have a wonderful impact in your hometown!

Benefits for You - JOIN US!
~Enjoy meeting and networking with fellow library advocates.
~Help the library continue to provide the best for Homer residents.
~Help fund programs, equipment, and events that support life-long learners.
~Gain satisfaction that your work benefits all ages in our essential community center.

Rewards for Being a Friend:
--"Library Friend" sticker on your library card
--Monthly raffles provided by the Friends Group
--$5 in "Library Bucks" which can be used for book sales and classes
--Free back issues of magazines

Join the Friends of the Homer Township Public Library District today. Simply pick up an application at the circulation desk or on the web here. Call us if you have questions at 708-301-7908. We'd love to have you as a Friend!

Thank You Community & Sponsors

25th Anniversary...
A Successful Event!

State Representative Renee Kosel, Mayor Daley, Library Trustees, Local Dignitaries, the LTHS ROTC Color Guard, and our many wonderful library supporters and customers attended Homer Library's 25th Anniversary Festival of Culture Event held June 7th. View the many pictures being posted on the library's flickr photo site here. With more than 1,500 attendees the day-long event was busy and fun. Strolling mariachi bands, a variety of diverse entertainment, children's ethnic crafts, and a sampling of food from around the world at eight food stations was enjoyed by all.

All attendees received our most cool "going green" recyclable, washable, and reusable book bag. Our time capsule items are on view for you to see in our display case. And check out 25 Things You Didn't Know About Homer Library and our Library Staff's Top 25 Book Recommendations.

Many local businesses and organizations donated raffle prizes and funds that assisted us in presenting a most successful day. We thank our many supporters and sponsors who are listed on the Homer Library's web site here. We also thank the Will County Sheriff for their assistance in keeping our parking situation under control and above all safe for all visitors.

Exceptional Service for You @ Homer Township Public Library!
My appreciation extends to my WONDERFUL STAFF and the COMMITTEE members who all worked so hard over these past several months to coordinate this event, down to the last exceptional detail! I am blessed to have such a dedicated and visionary team, and that includes our library trustees who are such a support to all of us. What a wonderful day. I know the memory of this team effort will last forever. I raise a toast to the next 25 years of excellence in library service to our Homer Community.

The Festival of Culture event was partially funded through an LSTA grant titled: Character Counts: Bringing Ethics, Culture and Diversity Together. Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

pictured right: Sheree Kozel-La Ha, Library Director with Sara McCambridge, Assistant Director
pictured left: Ed, O'Brien, Board President with LTHS ROTC Honor Guard

We've Reached a Milestone - 25 Years!

Homer Library celebrates a key milestone - 25 years of excellence in service this year. We are so proud and pleased to make a difference and to serve you, our customers, well. You are the heart of all that we do!

We are running the most excellent LSTA grant called Character Counts: Bringing Ethics, Diversity and Culture Together. Funded in the amount of $100,000 this award has allowed us to creatively partner with nine schools, two senior villages, and many local businesses. New materials, quality programs, and innovative partnerships all embrace diversity and foster more positive relationships within our community. We have built on many alliances with this grant project to continue to offer the best to you. We will be celebrating the community's diversity at our upcoming 25th Anniversary Event.

FESTIVAL of CULTURES
Join us on June 7th, as we celebrate with a wonderful 25th Anniversary Festival of Culture day. A commemorative program begins the day's festivities at 10 am. We will have a variety of food to sample, diverse entertainment, and outstanding performers to celebrate the diversity within our community. All guests will receive our special "passport to adventure" that entitles you to receive our new "go green" re-usable and recyclable library book bag.

Enjoy an outstanding day with your entire family.
Come and have a blast!

Funding for this grant was awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Celebrating a wonderful library!

As we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, we honor what has been accomplished and look forward to leading our library in continued excellence in services for our ever growing community. I have been with the library as Director for eight years now, and we have seen continued expansion of services and many, many key changes. Celebrate a wonderful library and excellent staff. A key goal of ours continues:

More for you than ever @ Homer Library!

Celebrate Earth Hour & Make a Difference

Get involved! We are joining the Village of Homer Glen in support of LIGHTS OUT AMERICA - "EARTH HOUR"

This initiative urges that we turn off non-essential lighting on March 29, from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. and join the nationwide energy conservation event. Signs and information has been posted and the library outdoor and select interior signage will be dark. Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

Directly from the Earth Hour site:
"On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming - coal-fired electricity - by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world.

In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8:00 p.m. on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference - from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby."

It's so Simple!
15,773 business/individuals have signed up. At work, at home, we can all do our part.

Joining the Earth Hour initiative and turning the lights off for Earth Hour is a great first step. Take a second step and to really see a difference, make Earth Hour part of your everyday life. Recommend to your family and friends some simple changes to turn off appliances while not in use, switch light globes to energy efficient bulbs, and help the goal of reducing our annual emissions by 5%. Turn out lights when you're not in a room and investigate switching to "green power" cleaner sources of electricity.

Do it for our children. We/You/I can make a difference! Our library will be offering reusable, washable and recyclable book bags, and have put into use paper recycling bins. Homer Library can help you get further information about "going green" and living a different way to reduce global warming. Won't you join us?