Novel Resources at LME Updated 10/9/19

I did a post back in 2012 with information for writers.  Now we have another great tool just introduced called inkie.org.

Inkie.org is a partnership between RAILS and BiblioLabs, LLC to bring all Illinois libraries and residents resources to self-publish e-books, and access to collections of independently-published e-books by local authors.

Inkie.org is all about sharing and supporting local authors and our creative communities, as well as providing access to these resources and tools to everyone in Illinois. Users can:

• create books using Pressbooks software.  
• share their works for potential inclusion in the online Indie Illinois collection or Library Journal's Indie Author Project Select collections of e-books.
• read e-books by independently published local authors.

RAILS provides these services without fees to libraries or residents, as part of our tax-supported services and as a pillar of our e-content strategy

In addition, I've updated the resources that the Lillie M. Evans Library has that can help novel writers.  We have books by several famous authors that give some insights on their writing styles.  One of my favorites, Janet Evanovich, has one called How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.  Anne Lamott has written Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life and Stephen King’s book is simply called On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.  In addition to these, we also have Writer’s Market, MLA Handbook and Modern Library’s Writer’s Workshop.   

For other titles in our collection, click on the link below:Search RSAcat for authorship

Also, below are links to some helpful websites:

Amazon’s Self Publishing	http://www.amazon.com/gp/seller-account/mm-summary-page.html?ie=UTF8&ld=AZFooterSelfPublish&topic=200260520
Barnes & Noble’s Self Publishing	https://press.barnesandnoble.com/
CrimeSpace: A place for Readers and Writers of Crime Fiction to Meet	http://crimespace.ning.com/
Grammar Girl: Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing	http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/
Inkie.org	https://www.inkie.org/
Merriam-Webster Dictionary	http://www.merriam-webster.com/
National Novel Writing Month	http://www.nanowrimo.org/
Writers Write: Your One-Stop Resource for Information about Books, Writing & Publishing	http://www.writerswrite.com/
Writing.com	http://www.writing.com/

UPDATE 2/13/20: In addition to the above resources, we'd like to mention the Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project and the Indie Author Project (which is nationwide). Both were created by librarians to identify, recognize and promote indie fiction--both adult and YA. 

LME Library and Project Next Generation Grant

The Lillie M. Evans Library District was one of 29 public libraries statewide awarded a FY20 Project Next Generation (PNG) grants by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. Project Next Generation (PNG) offers grant funding to public libraries for establishing educational, after-school programs that not only provide access to computers, software and various technology devices, but also hire mentors who are crucial to helping students develop self-confidence and pride in their newly acquired skills. The goal of PNG is to bridge the digital divide by making recent technologies accessible to students who have limited access to computers.

The LME Library will be starting a Technology Ambassador program in fall 2019. We plan to:

• recruit and train junior high and high school participants to use some of our community’s most requested maker technology—audio/video production, Cricut machines, Silhouette machines, and 3-D printing.
• assemble and create written, video, and linked resources to provide documentation of targeted technology.
• create a technology ambassador program with participants team teaching adult learners who want to utilize these technologies.

Learners will cycle through training, documentation and teaching before moving on to the next technology. The goal is to increase access to maker technology in our rural community and allow students and community members to develop knowledge and skills. It will also provide inter-generational interactions and reinforce the library as a community anchor.

For the complete press release, go to: https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/news/2019/july/190723d1.pdf

LME Library FY2019 in Review

As part of our yearly review, we pulled together these figures to get an idea of the value the Lillie M. Evans Library had for our users. The Review is also available in .pdf 

Everyone Reads

Read and share the joy of reading in your community!

OverDrive, one of the LME Library's ebook vendors, is promoting "Everyone Reads". This literacy campaign takes the beautiful message that people from all walks of life read and recreates it for a digital age. 

At everyonereads.com you’ll find short video public service announcements (PSAs) from celebrities and authors explaining what reading means to them, as well as book recommendations that they love.  

New videos and book recommendations will be added frequently, discussing the joys of reading regardless of format. You’ll find celebrations of physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks, as well as book recommendations across all reading levels and genres. 

Music in the Square Concert series in June

The Lillie M. Evans Library District will be hosting our second annual free concert series in Stevens Square on the first three Fridays in June. The Princeville to Peoria St. Jude Run will provide a water and soda concession (sponsored by the Princeville State Bank) and local food vendors will provide food options in the Square before and during the concerts. Food will be available starting at 6pm and the concerts will start at 7pm. Please bring your own lawn chairs for your seating comfort.

Music in the Square will feature the Central Illinois Banjo Club on June 7th. The Central Illinois Banjo Club is a group of music enthusiasts who love to get together to play and share music with others. An important part of the Club’s culture has been that they try to expand and encourage other people to play the banjo. The Club gives everyone the opportunity and a place to play. If you’re interested in joining the Club, talk to one of the Club members after the concert.

On June 14th, we will be hosting P.S. Jazz. P.S. Jazz performs adult contemporary and jazz music for a variety of venues and settings. This Peoria area group provides a pleasurable listening experience that's easy on the ears and just right for whatever mood. Understated, smooth and sophisticated, they are perfect for settings where people enjoy good music, but also want to enjoy each other’s good company and conversation.

On June 21st, the Kewanee Community Band will be back to entertain us. This is their third concert appearance in Princeville in as many years. The Kewanee Community Band draws musicians from not only Kewanee, but many surrounding towns and counties. Band members range in age from eighth-grade students to those in retirement. The Band plays a variety of musical selections and promises a little something enjoyable for all audiences. New members are welcome to participate in rehearsals at the Kewanee Senior Center on Mondays at 6pm.

For those interested in seeing the Caterpillar Employees Big Band, they will be performing during Princeville Heritages Days on Thursday, June 27th. That concert starts at 6:30pm. Last year’s concert was extremely well received and the Princeville Civic Association will be bringing them back to Princeville! Originally started by an engineer and a factory worker, the Band continues to play in Peoria and beyond. The Band has a repertoire of arrangements made famous by the big bands of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s and is supplemented with contemporary jazz and popular tunes.

We invite the public to join us during Music in the Square for these fabulous evenings of food and music. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be moved to the Library’s large meeting room. More information about this and other library programs can be found on the Lillie M. Evans Library website at lmelibrary.org.

New resources to promote movement

As people age, their mobility, or ability to get where they want to go, when they want to go there, may be reduced due to physical changes, increasing or worsening chronic health conditions, or use of medicines that can affect their cognition and physical function. These mobility changes may adversely affect older adults’ health and independence and are often related to an increased risk of falls and motor vehicle crash injury—the two leading causes of older adult injury.

In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the new MyMobility Plan to encourage older adults to prepare for potential mobility changes in much the same way they may plan financially for retirement. MyMobility Plan provides resources and tips for older adults to help manage their health to maintain mobility, make their homes safer to prevent falls, and consider alternative transportation as they age so they can stay safe, mobile, and independent longer. Take a look and think about sharing this new resource at your library or incorporating it into a public program.

In addition to MyMobility Plan, the CDC also recently unveiled a new Physical Activity campaign: Active People, Healthy Nation campaign. Physical activity is one of the most important things Americans can do to improve their health. Regular physical activity can reduce the burden of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, and can prevent early death.

ADML's app makes the Time best app list

           

The Alliance Digital Media Library's (ADML) app, Libby, was named one of Time magazine's best apps for 2018. ADML from the vendor, Overdrive, is one of LME Library's e-book and e-audio book providers.  Overdrive updated the app last year, and it has been very popular with users.

The LME Library card holders have two e-book/e-audio book services: ADML from Overdrive and eRead Illinois from vendor, Baker & Taylor.   

What are the differences in the services? The only real difference are the apps (ADML uses Libby and eRead Illinois uses Axis360) and the size of the collections. Both provide both e-books and e-audio book downloads and materials are available for both children and adults.  Both services are also shared consortia collections which provide larger selections of materials yet reduce the costs to the libraries.  However, patrons seem to prefer the ADML app, Libby, even though eRead Illinois has a larger collection and shorter wait time for holds.

Which service do you prefer?  Both services are available through the library website at lmelibrary.org.  If you are a LME Library card holder, you can login with your barcode number and your PIN.  Feel free to contact the library at 385-4540 for more information!

Sanborn Maps from the Library of Congress

Have you heard the news about the Library of Congress’ new digital Sanborn maps? Nearly 25,000 maps are now online, with more to be added over the next three years for a total of 500,000.

Sanborn fire insurance maps were published for insurance companies to assess a structure’s risk of catching fire. They were published in different years for different places, and usually after 1920, a set of maps for a particular town might be updated by pasting over a new building.

The maps show subdivision names, streets, buildings, and building details such as address, purpose, composition, windows and doors. You can locate your ancestor’s address before renumbering and renaming that might’ve happened, and you get a good look at your ancestor’s neighborhood at the time.

Colors indicate construction materials. You’ll find a key on the index map page and more information about the colors and symbols here, along with notes such as the area’s population and size of the fire department.

For genealogists and historians, these maps are an opportunity to get a glimpse into the past.  For more information go to: https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/