September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

We love partnerships and have coordinated a great one for the month of September. Local businesses are helping to raise awareness of the importance of a library card. Simply show your library card to get some great discounts and offers. View I LOVE MY LIBRARY CARD benefits here.

If you need a library card, simply "come on down" and get our cool keychain library card in minutes. It's easy. It's free. It's yours for the asking.

DID YOU KNOW...
Your library card provides you access to books, music, movies, talking books, online databases, and more. We can order you almost anything - in case you don't find what you need in the collection of more than 120,000+ items that we have @ Homer Library.

Visit us today. If you haven't been in lately you will find More Than Ever Before @ Your Library!

Tweets from Homer Library

Check out our tweets! Homer Township Public Library is now on Twitter and also has a Facebook presence. Here's the scoop.

Facebook - Facebook is a social networking site that allows users to create profiles and networks. Users can interact with each other through posts, surveys, and games. The Library has a Fan Page here. If you are a Facebook user you can become a "fan" of the Homer Library. The library's page contains info about upcoming programs, book discussion lists, and photographs.

Twitter - Twitter is a social networking tool that allows users to connect and communicate with each other through short messages known as "tweets". The Adult Services staff has begun to create a twitter presence for teens and adults. Plans for use include promoting events, new websites, and new books as they come in.

Web Site - The web site goal has been to reach our users in their territory, so to speak, so that they find the value of visiting and seeing what the library is about. We are increasing our visibility to the teen and young adult demographic via the site. We have plans to consider a "library shop" where people can purchase t-shirts, etc., and the library receives a donation from any sales.

These communication tools help us continue a dialogue with you and extend awareness of the library's many events and great resources in a manner that's convenient and most comfortable for you. We hope you visit us soon - in person, online, or however you choose!

Yes, You Can... do more than ever before @ Homer Township Library!

DVDs ARE HERE!

We are pleased to announce our newest collection of DVDs, which launched on June 15th. This collection is very popular, with more than half of the DVDs currently in circulation at any given time. Needless to say, we are very pleased with the positive community response and usage!

THANK YOU HOMER COMMUNITY
Through resident generosity the Homer Township Public Library received a core DVD collection of movies. Especially exciting is that two-thirds of the collection was initiated through community support and donations. Approximately 400 DVDs were donated by local residents, groups and scouts. See the article here.

STILL SEEKING DONATIONS
Do you have DVD movies that you no longer use? We encourage you to consider donating gently used or new movies, especially children's, family viewing, or classics. We will accept any and all donations! A DVD donation box and signage has been placed in the new books area (where the DVD collection is being showcased). The library operates with a tax-capped budget and finding the funding and monies to establish this new collection has been difficult. Your donation and support for this collection is greatly appreciated!

Please check your home collections for movies you no longer need and feel free to mention to your friends, clubs, scouts, or other groups that Homer Library is still seeking DVD donations. The more people that know - the better! Again if you personally have any DVDs languishing on a shelf, send them to the Homer Library or give us a call @ 708-301-1078 and we can arrange to pick them up!

Come in today and enjoy a great DVD. Yes, they are FREE.
More than ever before @ Homer Library!

Summer musings...

More Visitors!
We are an open-design, bright, and inviting library, which has heavy community usage. Easily more than 600 people come through our doors each day! They bring smiles, questions, and sometimes frustrations. For many we are the highlight of their week, a cool spot in a hot day, and a welcoming face to help them with their reading and viewing travels. We serve in many roles to our community and are happy to do so.

Some of our customers come daily to read the news or shoot the breeze. Some children have to be almost torn away when it's time to leave because they so enjoy our Kids Connect learning lab, or chatting with the other teens or librarians. When the Teen area is finished soon, it will expand opportunities for many groups to socialize with books. I grew up with a library four doors away and spent my formative years soaking it all in; there is simply no better place to be!

Enjoy your summer, take advantage of our *cool* summer reading club (Thank You to our 40 sponsors = great incentives to read!) and continue to let us know what we can do for you.

In Loving Memory - Barry Levine

I would like to talk about my friend Barry Levine, a most unique individual and a Homer Township Library trustee whom I grew to love. Barry passed away Wednesday, April 29th of unknown causes. He was listening to a recorded book at the time and I think he would have thought it quite proper that he left us doing something he so enjoyed. But he left us much too soon.

Barry had three passions in life. The first was his family, wife Phyllis DiMonte-Levine, and their three children: Randy, Rachael and Sarah. They were the light and joy of his life and he spoke of them often. His other two passions involved improving service for the blind and physically disabled and advocating for libraries and their services. He often combined both, successfully contributing to advancing library services for the blind and physically challenged. Barry and Phyllis are the owners of an outpatient rehabilitation center, Functional Therapy and Rehabilitation, PC in Homer Glen. Barry was a popular and respected individual in local, state, and system library and accessibility arenas and he made a true difference in many lives.

Barry was recognized in 2001 by the Illinois Library Association and received the Trustee of the Year Award for his advocacy and efforts in the library world. In 2004 Barry received the Alexander J. Skrzypek Award for his outstanding contributions to library service for the blind and physically challenged. He was a mover and a shaker who prided himself on rarely missing one board meeting at either the local or system level in a combined total of 18 years. Barry was a true visionary, contributing to effectively moving libraries into the future and embracing service for all.

I think that I will end by telling you that Barry Levine was a dedicated, positive, proactive, and thoughtful man. He was also eloquent and very funny. I enjoyed both his intelligence and his wit; he loved a good story and shared many with us.

His motto was: "Become involved and stay involved in your community, where you can make a difference." He loved his life, he lived his motto. He made a difference. He left us too soon. And he will be greatly missed.

I wish I had one last opportunity to say "Thank you, Barry...you made a huge impact in my life and I am a better person for having known you."