YEAR IN REVIEW, 2013-2014

The Lillie M. Evans Library District just wrapped up our fiscal year of July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014.  From completing our carpeting project to hosting the Lincoln Exhibit, it was a very busy year for us.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Our Friends of the Library group once again had a very successful book sale.  As a result, they purchased additional Ellison die cutters, an Ellison cart, a rug for the class visits, and an audio system for the meeting room. They also continued their sponsorship of an additional entertainer for the SRP, help with the Teen SRP grand prize, SRP refreshments at the pool party, and a gift card for the Holiday Homecoming raffle.
• We completed our final carpeting phase in August.  Once all the upgrades were complete, we shifted the adult fiction and non-fiction collections. All the non-fiction, fiction, large print, playaways, biographies, and young adult fiction were also moved.  The Turner picture was reframed as per our interior designer’s recommendation, and we had our open house on September 11^th. Both Senator Darrin LaHood and Representative David Leitch attended. 
• Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War exhibit was a very successful collaboration with the Princeville Heritage Museum.  It was on display from April 7, 2014 through May 9, 2014.  We had a total of 1,278 visitors and 23 class visits. We were very fortunate to secure grant funding for this exhibit.  It was organized by the National Constitution Center and the American Library Association Public Programs Office and was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.  In addition, we were able to secure funding for 2 of our programs through grants from the Illinois Humanities Council.  The Museum hosted the opening reception and our programs included:  Illinois in the Civil War presented by Tom Emery, Black Jack Logan: Civil War General, Senator, King-Maker with Brian “Fox” Ellis, the Anti-Slavery Movement in Black & White presented by Jeanne Schultz Angel, and by far our most successful program, Mrs. Lincoln’s Tea & Salon with historical impersonator, Debra Ann Miller. Thank you to the Princeville Heritage Museum & especially, Julie Delbridge for all the time and effort provided and to everyone who attended and supported this exhibit and programming.
• This year the extreme weather conditions impacted on our statistics.  We had to close the library on January 6^th due to weather, and we cancelled several programs due to the closure of Princeville CUSD for weather related reasons. Additionally, storms and continued inclement weather definitely had an impact on patron visits.  Our overall circulation was up a little over 1% from last year, but our attendance was down 5% overall. Our total materials circulation for FY14 was 48,485 which averaged 4,040 items/month.
• We added a Fabric Crafts and Fiber Arts show in November/December. This was a non-juried show but was fun and looked great in the library.  We had 50 pieces on display. It was up during Holiday Homecoming and the Princeville Woman’s Club Home Tour.  Unfortunately the weather was not good for the home tour, but we still saw 28 people that evening.
• This was our second year that we hosted the redesigned Art Show during Heritage Days.  This year we made some additional changes by expanding the drop off and pick up times, adjusting the hours during Heritage Days, and provided more time for set up and judging.  The opening reception was on Friday, June 20^th and we had over 80 people attend.  In addition to the Heritage Days hours, the Art Show continued to be on display during our regular library hours through July 5^th.   We had 21 artists participate this year and 61 pieces of art exhibited. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating art and artists in our community!
• We are working on our long range planning.  It’s hard to believe we just completed our last 3 year plan.  Thank you to everyone who attended our focus group or filled out our library survey.  We’ve completed the FY15 plan and are finishing up with FY16 & FY17.  We are also updating our Technology Plan and working with a consultant to identify building needs.
• Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) completed their long range planning process in 2013-2014.  In fall 2013, they received a grant from the Illinois State Library to start an eBook consortium using Baker & Taylor’s 360 Axis. This collection, eRead Illinois, only includes ebooks but RAILS has structured it to be sustainable after the grant funding ends.  Even though we have joined eRead IL, we continue to participate in the Alliance Digital Media Library (ADML) which is supported by Overdrive and provides ebooks and audio books.

LME Open House Visitors

At our September 11^th Open House, both our Representative David Leitch and our Senator, Darin LaHood joined the celebration.  The LME Library recently completed several renovation projects to improve the overall condition and aesthetics of the library interior.   

Senator LaHood is pictured with Gayle Brackett, President of the LME Library Board and Beth Duttlinger, Library Director.  

Representative Leitch is pictured with Gayle Brackett, President of the LME Library Board.

The renovations included several projects.  In the first phase, the doors at our library entrances were replaced with tempered glass to improve safety and energy efficiency.  The interior was repainted to make the library a more inviting place.  Finally, the carpeting has been replaced with a wood look vinyl plank and new carpeting designed to resist and hide stains.  All these improvements were made during and after regular library hours.  Without the support and assistance of our patrons and staff, we would have been unable to stay open and operational during this entire process.   Below are additional pictures of the completed renovations.

The meeting room is now a plank looking vinyl.  It's easier to clean and the new rug can be brought out for children's programs.

The Children's Area--the soft furniture was donated by the LME Library Friends.

Our computer area now has vinyl under the task chairs.

Kathy Sullivan donated 22 hours to complete the "splash" mural in the Teen Section.

Our wonderful Turner Room is now more colorful--it's a perfect place to enjoy the garden views.

Celebrate World Book Night in Princeville on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

In honor of World Book Night on April 23^rd, several local community members will be distributing books in Princeville.   Tina Fey’s Bossypants will be given away at the softball field and the large print version of Favorite American Poems will be distributed at Princeville Women’s Club.  James Patterson’s Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life will be given out at the grade school. 

What is World Book Night?  In the U.S., a half million free books will be handed out in towns and cities across America all on one day—April 23, 2013—by enlisting 25,000 volunteer book lovers to help promote reading by going into their communities and personally handing out specially printed copies to light or non-‐readers and to those without the means or access to printed books.

How did it start?  World Book Night was first celebrated in the USA in 2012.   What better way to spread a love for reading than to inspire passionate readers to go out into their communities and share copies of their favorite books with those who don’t regularly read?  Giving is an incredibly powerful part of our culture—and culture, art, and a writers’ talent are all themselves ‘gifts’.  Last year, almost 80,000 people gave out over 2.5 million books in four different countries.  

How does it work?  Each year, 30 books are chosen by an independent panel of librarians and booksellers. The authors of the books waive their royalties and the publishers agree to pay the costs of producing the specially-printed World Book Night U.S. editions. Bookstores and libraries sign up to be community host locations for the volunteer book givers.  After the book titles are announced, members of the public apply to personally hand out 20 copies of a particular title in their community.  On April 23rd, they give their books to those who don’t regularly read and/or people who don’t normally have access to printed books, for reasons of means or access. 

Why does World Book Night exist? Reading for pleasure improves literacy, actively engaging emerging readers in their desire to read. Reading changes lives, improves employability, social interaction, enfranchisement, and can have a positive effect on mental health and happiness. Book readers are more likely to participate in positive activities such as volunteering, attending cultural events, and even physical exercise (“Reading at Risk: A Survey of LiteraryReading in America,” National Endowment for the Arts).

Resolutions for 2013

Setting your New Year’s resolutions? Here’re some suggestions from the LME Library that can make 2013 great!

1. Resolve to get more fit.  Our 5th season of LME Library’s Biggest Loser starts January 9th.  This 8 week program can help you get a kick start on your fitness goals.  Did you know the library has a great selection of workout DVDs and offers yoga, Zumba, and hooping classes?  Our yoga group meets on Mondays and Fridays at 9am.  Zumba is a workout class for adults featuring Latin music and dance for a great cardio workout while hooping works your core, hips and thighs.  Zumba is on Tuesday evenings at 6:15pm and hooping is on Thursdays at 6pm.  No preregistration is required and participation is free. Come to the staff entrance on Walnut Street (near Harvey Stahl Plumbing) for classes that take place after the library is closed.  Don’t forget the cookbooks!  The LME Library also has variety of cookbooks for those looking for healthy recipes.  
2. Resolve to declutter your home.  Are you looking for a place to bring your used books, DVDs, or ink cartridges?  Donate them to the LME Library!  Items not added to the library collection go to the Friends of the Library for their booksale.  Over the years, the Friends have supported the library by donated materials, equipment, furniture, and funds for children’s programs.   The Friends are also collecting empty inkjet cartridges for recycling. Cartridges can be deposited in our collection bin at the library.
3. Resolve to stop paying overdue library fines.  You can when your books are never overdue.  Sign up for Shoutbomb text notifications or email alerts, and you will always know when your loan period is up.  Then you can renew your books online, by text message, in person, or by phone.  Don’t forget that you can return all items in the drop box outside the library even if the library is closed.  You can also use our e-book service (http://alliance.lib.overdrive.com) and the e-book will expire when the loan period has ended. 
4. Resolve to save money.  Your LME Library has many services.  We are the only Wi-Fi hotspot in Princeville offering free wireless access.  If you don’t have a computer or Wi-Fi device, we have 9 public access computers for use.  Want to read a book by your favorite author?  You can borrow it from our library or one of the 180+ libraries in our region.  We have audios, magazines, and DVDS as well as e-books.  Last year over 46,000 items circulated from the LME Library.  Our databases include full-text magazines articles from nearly 3,000 publications, newspaper articles from Peoria & around the US, e-books & audio books, kids interactive books, genealogical research sources, and fiction read-a-like lists.  We offer a variety of children & adult programming—last year over 6,300 participants attended one or more of our 550 programs.
5. Resolve to read more.  Reading is an active mental process – by reading, you think more and become smarter.   It is a fundamental skill builder–books provide information that goes deeper than just classroom discussion.  It improves your vocabulary –while reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to words you wouldn’t be otherwise.  Reading gives you a glimpse into other cultures and places –books can expand your horizons by letting you see what other places have to offer before you visit them.  Reading has many benefits–in addition to improving your focus and concentration, reading is entertaining and fun!

It’s a whole new year, and we want to make it easy to start and keep your resolutions.  Stop in or visit the LME Library website at http://lmelibrary.org. You'll be glad you did!