Library Named "Business of the Year"

Energy. Excitement! So much of both at the recent Homer Township Chamber of Commerce Annual Installation Dinner where your Homer Library received the Chamber's Business of the Year award. It was a sweet and proud moment. There are many event pictures at the Chamber's photo site here or on the Library's photo site.

This has been a year of new partnerships for the Library. Most notably a unique collaboration was initiated with the business community through an outreach grant. We provided free programs, expanded our great collection of business materials, brought in national authors as specialty speakers, offered business computer classes, and made direct library contact with our local businesses. It was a year of firsts for us, as we initiated this "personal touch" campaign and began a new dialogue with a great group of customers in our many businesses.

Grant Funding - How it helps!
Grant funding allows us to go that extra mile for our customers, to try new and innovative programs, and to provide more in collections and specialty programming. Grants supplement our tax-capped budget. With grant support we have initiated programs that funded family art projects, supported children's literacy with reading to therapy dogs, developed a new collection of Polish and Spanish materials, purchased a bookmobile, and much more. I have written 30 grants that the library has been awarded over the past six years and other staff grant writing successes add to that total. It's an exciting time to be a librarian. Great community services that we envision do come to life!

Tell Us What You Want...
We seek your input and are listening to you - our customer. As the Library continues to evolve and change we strive to be user-centered and keep the library essential and meaningful to you. This means encouraging your participation and dialogue, reaching out to new users in new ways, and creating community. We need your communication to ensure the library remains vital and convenient. As our management team undertakes long range planning we continue to ask: What do you want to see here? How can we make the library a destination point for you? How can we assist you better in the area of remote access? What programs, collections, services, etc. would you and your family benefit from? Help me keep the user at the heart of library services - community conversation is essential for this to happen.

What is your vision for the future of library services?
I'm listening, so let me know.

Giving Back to the Community

Periodically we offer incentives to our customers to encourage the return of library items and assist the community. Through the month of November the library offered a Food For Fines program and accepted donations of non-perishable food items. Customers got an added bonus of not only helping out those less fortunate but also eliminating overdue book fines, which were waived with a canned donation. Thanks to your generosity, to date we have delivered more than 40 boxes of food!

Help a Women's Shelter or Support Our Troops
In December we will accept two different types of donations to assist a women's shelter or to send items to our troops. Donations of sealed, new personal care toiletries such as shampoo, soap, body wash, etc. will be given to families in need at a local shelter. Or you can donate from a more extensive list available at the library and those items will be sent to our soldiers.

Community work and involvement says much about us. Take a moment to give thanks for your blessings in life and then please bring a donation to the library to help us assist others.

Peace Poster Winner!

Congratulations to Kimmy N!

The Peace Poster is an annual Lions International contest. This year the theme is "Celebrate Peace." The library partnered with Lions Club to promote the contest this summer. We are so pleased that Homer Glen resident Kimmy N., a sixth-grader, was selected as the District winner. Her entry will now compete in the State finals and possibly the international finals. Kimmy drew a colorful illustration depicting children of the world united in peace circling a dove. Colorful flags of many nations adorn the poster (pictured at right). We congratulate Kimmy on her wonderful artwork and wish her success at the state and international finals.

Kimmy says, "Peace means happiness around the world, like one big happy family."

Lions Club International is the world's largest service organization. Our Goodings Grove chapter is one of 46,000 Lions Clubs and has done wonderful things for the Homer community. Their motto "We Serve" translates into successful community partnerships and services. The Goodings Grove Lions Chapter sponsors an annual senior harvest fair, eyeglasses for those in need, diabetic awareness day, free vision screenings and hearing examinations, and provides visual disability supplies to local schools. Recently our library was awarded funding from the Lions to purchase large print keyboards for all of the computers in our public internet room. Customers love them!

This is my second year as an officer on the Goodings Grove Lions Club Board. Making connections with community organizations, serving on their boards, and donating time in my community has strengthened the support and increased the visibility of the library. Our missions are surprisingly alike. We, too, serve our community well.

Did You Know? Lions Club is the only service organization in the world that has the distinction of holding a seat with the United Nations.

Wicked Winner from Homer Library!

Congratulations to Emma O'Shea

We applaud Emma O'Shea, age 13, from Homer Township Public Library, who is one of four Grand Prize Winners in the Wicked Essay Contest!

Emma (left) was presented with her very own Wicked Book by storyteller Megan Wells at a recent library program.

Over 500 essays were received on the topic of popularity vs. knowledge. "Glinda, the popular witch in Wicked, sings that it is more important to be popular than to have brains or knowledge. What do you think?" We are most proud that there was such an amazing response to this contest from area youth.

Take a moment to read Megan's essay. I love her quote: We shouldn't forget that while popularity unlocks the doors, it is knowledge that keeps us in the room. Visit your library to expand your knowledge. We are here to help!

Grand Prize winners include:

Emma O'Shea, age 13, from Homer Twp. Library (PALS)
Natalie Geoffroy, age 11, from Grayslake Library (NSLS)
Alexandra Hansen, age 12, from Woodridge Library (MLS)
Shannon Blum, age 11, from Bensenville Library (DLS)

Grand prize winners will have the opportunity to read their essays at Wicked Day on Sunday, October 29 at Daley Plaza.

Saying Goodbye is Never Easy When a Valued Staff Member Leaves!

Brian Smith's last day as our Adult Services Director at the Homer Library will be October 27th. He has accepted a position as Library Services Consultant from Prairie Area Library System (PALS).

Brian should be very proud of all that he has accomplished here. Homer Library has had the good fortune to benefit from his expertise these past five years. He will be missed by all of us.

Please drop by the library before he leaves to say farewell. We wish him great success in his new position!

View Our Kewl Teen Video

Created courtesy of our very own Brian Smith, we have a kewl video about Teen Read Week. It's fun, click the center button below to take a look!

Taped partially on location at Homer Library, this video will be linked from our newest endeavor, the library's very own YouTube account that is being built (coming live soon).

DO U IM? Ur Library Duz!

Communication - what works for you?

This is your library. We are here for YOU.

Drop in at 14320 West 151st Street, visit at one of our new bookmobile stops, call us on the telephone, send us an email, or IM the library. You can also sign up for our email news and get the latest sent directly to your inbox. Our newsletters go out several times a year and monthly calendars are sent to area schools and available at the circ desk and bookmobile.

What communication works best to meet your needs? I'd love to know!

Instant Messaging:

• AIM homerlib
• Y!M homerlib
• MSN homerlib@hotmail.com (Use for IM only)

Email:

• Ask A Librarian (Help Desk, etc.)
• Teacher Support (Assignment alerts, "Bag It" requests)
• Bookmobile Staff
• Library Director (Yes, I answer them all)

Telephone: 708-301-7908
Fax: 708-301-4535

AskAwayIllinois: 24/7 Online Chat (AskAwayIllinois is provided in collaboration with many libraries, so you probably won't be online with a Homer librarian.)

I welcome your input. Take our online survey.

Teens, DDR, and more @ Homer Library

Calling all teens!

What's the latest and greatest for teens at the library?

A teen website Homr.teens.online was created this summer and is being managed by the teen interns of the library. Check it out.

We also launched a teen events blog www.homerlibrary.org/teenevents.asp that presents program information and other teen/library related news.

The teen book review blog at www.homerlibrary.org/teenreviews.asp needs your comments to make it more complete!

The teen del.icio.us account at http://del.icio.us/homrteens is still in beta stage but we are working on it!

DDR Coming Soon
Our DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) events are eagerly awaited by all; get those dancing feet ready! Take a peek at our pictures from the last event on our flickr photo archive. Our next session is on October 23 at 4pm. We will soon finalize the future DDR dates, and notices will be posted with all of the details. Check out the teen event site often.

Teen Read Week
We are celebrating Teen Read WeekTM 2006 October 15 - 21st. The theme is Get Active @ your library. Get involved, visit with friends, find a great read at Homer Library!

SUMMER INTERNS - We thank you!
Our recent teen intern program was a great success with 60+ assistants who joined us for a variety of activities across many library departments. We were amazed at the enthusiasm and energy they brought to all that they did!

Leadership Academy
And for a sneak preview our staff are planning a new Teen Leadership Academy (TLA) in 2007 along with other great programs. We are seeking sponsors and grant support for the TLA. We will be describing these events with more detail in the next months. Sign up for our email news and be the first to get the details! More information will be forthcoming soon.

There were many outstanding entries in our recent teen photo contest. The interesting photo above was taken by our patron Cindy Kristufek of Claire. More great photographs are featured on our flickr site.

Writing Club & Author Fair

There is a writer in all of us...

I am writing again. It feels great. I wonder that I ever took such a long break from it! But such is life. I urge you to take some time for yourself and consider joining the library writers club, called Prairiesmoke, which meets monthly. We have a diverse and talented group of members whose writing is often featured weekly in the Homer Horizon newspaper column. It is a great support group for the beginning or experienced writer. Take this opportunity to nurture your talents. Come and join your peers!

Author Fair - Mark you calendars for October 17th to visit our Author Fair! Between 7:00 and 9:00p.m you'll be able to meet and chat with authors of many types of fiction- something for readers of any age! We have a wonderful line-up of authors for book signings, presentations, discussion, and more. We also will have raffles and refreshments. Please join us for a lively evening.

Featured authors include:

Daniel Betcher - Prince: The Great Uprising
Norm Cowie - The Adventures of Guy
George Kulles - The Curse of the Imperial Paperweights
Jim Martin - Push Not the River
Hellen Osterman - The Accidental Sleuth
Dona Parus - The Dark Plain
Rita Woods - The Color of Clouds
Adam Woodworth - Monsters Under My Bed

p.s. Don't forget the rapidly approaching holidays; a signed

book (personalized by an author) makes a wonderful gift.

Energy at the Mayoral Address

At a recent Chamber of Commerce event we had the privilege to hear Mayor Russ Petrizzo thoughtfully address the issues faced by our growing community.

How the future growth of the Homer area is handled will affect the quality of life for all of us. The Mayor's "State of the Village" address discussed area growth trends; a master transportation plan; a proposed Town Center (with new library); and planned tactics to help meet the challenges fast growth brings. There was lots of positive energy in the room as well as thoughtful discussion.

We were pleased to have the Library mentioned several times as a "community gem" which "is long overdue to expand to serve our growing community". A new library is included in the plans for the proposed Town Center on 159th Street. Library usage continues to rise with approximately 600 visitors daily.

Pictured above is: Chamber President Diane Seiler; Mayor Russ Petrizzo; State Representative Renee Kosel; and Library Director Sheree Kozel-La Ha. Below are Mayor Russ Petrizzo and Library Director Sheree Kozel-La Ha.

See additional pictures and other library events on our photo site at http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/. Also, visit the Village of Homer Glen's site for key information (including a handy listing of elected officials) at http://www.homerglen.org/.

Sunday Evening Hours...

It's all about convenience.

We thought long and hard about implementing Sunday hours. We asked and listened when residents noted how convenient it would be to have the option for Sunday visits. After reviewing when other neighboring libraries are open on Sundays (typically 1-5 p.m.) we decided to try something unique. Homer Library is open Sunday evenings from 4-8 p.m. Growing visit statistics show that timeframe to be a success and extends the regular library hours that we are open. (Hotlink to http://www.homerlibrary.org/hours.asp)

More than 600 people visit the library each day. As you wind down your weekend and prepare for the coming week remember we are open Sunday evenings with a friendly staff ready to assist you. We hope you find Sundays as popular and convenient as our 8:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday "early-bird" morning hours.

Of course our online resources are available around the clock: http://www.homerlibrary.org/findit.asp

Online Resource Centers
Article Finder (magazines, journals, newspapers, etc.)
Book Finder
Student Center (including homework help)
Business Center
Home & Life Center (computers, consumer info, health, genealogy, jobs, etc.)
Reference Center (dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, maps, statistics, Web searching, etc.)

September report to the Library Board.

The Library Board meets monthly, usually on the 4th Monday. This month, that's tonight. A schedule -- with links to meeting agendas and minutes, and my reports to the Board -- may be found on the Library Board page of our site. Here's a direct link to my September report (Word format).

Did you see the Library at Community Expo?

We hope you were one of the 1,000 visitors who attended the recent Homer Community Expo & Health Fair. We featured our Bookmobile on display outside and enjoyed visiting with you at our booth indoors. I am pictured at right with Homer Chamber of Commerce President Diane Seiler. Our eye-catching library booth is below.

More library and community photos can be found in the library's photo archive at http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/

It was a great opportunity to showcase your library!

~Sheree Kozel-La Ha, Director

Get carded this month!

We have lots of visitors to the library -- like Gianna, who brought her new puppy to the library! Check out more library photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/homerlibrary/.

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, and we have added the convenience of a new online form people may use to apply for library cards. Your card provides access to our many online resources as well as in-house materials.

We'll also be taking library card applications at Homer Community Expo at Hadley School on September 16; we'll have a table inside, and our Bookmobile will be out in the school parking lot during Expo.

Celebrated throughout the month of September, National Library Card Sign-up Month encourages everyone to check out what's new at the library. We offer more than just books; we are your community center. Lots of activities and programs are planned for this Fall and we hope to see you soon!

The Smartest Card is @ your library (R)! Get it, use it at Homer Township Library.