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 

1000 Books Before Kindergarten at LME Library

The Lillie M. Evans Library in Princeville is now participating in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge.  Reading to your child is a great way to bond and create warm memories together. It fosters a fondness for books that can last a lifetime. Early successful language activities, such as sharing stories, contribute to the prevention of reading difficulties in school.

Parents can sign up their children at the LME Library desk and pick up their reading packets during regular hours.  Numerous studies estimate that as many as one in five children have difficulties learning to read.  Reading has been associated as an early indicator of academic success.  Public formal education does not typically start until ages 5-6.  Before then, parents and caregivers are the first education providers during the 0-5 early critical years.

The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge is a simple and manageable endeavor. Read a book, any book to your child, with the goal of reading 1,000 before kindergarten. If one book a night is read, that equates to 365 books a year. In 3 years, more than 1,000 books will be shared. LME Library participants will receive a log folder to track their reading. Each time you read 100 books to your child(ren), bring your log to the library for your reward.  Parents can also include readings by others, such as grandparents or siblings, in the child’s reading log. Readers who complete the 1,000 books challenge are invited to an annual party!  

A home life that includes positive experiences with reading and the library ensures positive attitudes for reading once in school. The experiences with talking and listening during preschool years, such as when a parent and child read together, help prepare the child to master reading and writing skills in the early elementary school years. Reading has long been associated as an early indicator of academic success.

For more information about the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge, call the library at 309-385-4540 or visit our website at lmelibrary.org.

Do You NaNoWriMo?

This November, BiblioBoard is celebrating National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! Are you undertaking the 50,000-word writing challenge? Check out resources for writers, read hand-picked self-published novels, or get inspired by vintage images of famous authors. They’ve put all of these resources and more together in a special NaNoWriMo curation.

Our library system, RAILS, hosts BiblioBoard. Through RAILS’ partnership with BiblioLabs, any Illinois resident has access to thousands of other e-resources free of charge and without needing a login or library card. Items on the BiblioBoard platform have no holds or waiting for titles and can be read by multiple users at the same time. Good luck, and happy writing!

Illinois Bicentennial Programs in Princeville

Two hundred years ago on December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21^st state in the Union. The Illinois Bicentennial, now well under way, is a yearlong celebration of the people, places, things and events that have been born, built and grown in the state. In celebration, the Lillie M. Evans Library will be hosting two 1-hour programs in October 2018.  These programs will remind us of events that have shaped our past and impacted our rich and diverse history.

On Tuesday, October 16^th at 6:30pm, Sylvia Shults will present the program, Ghosts of the Illinois River. Be sure to join us as Sylvia gives an in-depth look at the Peoria State Hospital. Known as one of the most haunted places in Illinois, the haunted asylum is featured in many of her books.  Sylvia is a popular presenter in Central Illinois and is the author of several books, including Fractured Spirits: Hauntings at the Peoria State Hospital and 44 Years in Darkness.  

On Tuesday, October 30^th at 6:30pm, Tom Emery will present a program on the History of Illinois. Tom was a presenter during our popular Lincoln and the Constitution series in 2014. He is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville who has earned eleven awards from the Illinois State Historical Society.  His newest book, The History of Illinois, is a compilation of some of his newspaper columns and is intended to complement the state’s 200th anniversary. 

Want to learn still more about Illinois’ history?  The Illinois State Museum and the Illinois Association of Museums have developed a virtual exhibition titled The Story of Illinois: The Illinois Bicentennial Through Museum Objects. This exhibition consists of objects from the Illinois State Museum’s 13.5-million-object Illinois Legacy Collection along with objects from other Illinois museums.  The website is available online at http://story.illinoisstatemuseum.org/

Information about these programs and other LME Library events can be found on our website at http://lmelibrary.org. We hope you will explore, discover, and learn more about Illinois' unique history during this bicentennial year!

Audiobooks

Are you a fan of audiobooks?  Listening to an audiobook is just another way to enjoy a good book, and audiobooks are fast becoming the "it girl" of publishing. "According to numerous sources, audiobooks are the new best thing to happen in publishing: for six years in a row, they have enjoyed double-digit sales growth."

The Lillie M. Evans Library has audiobooks available in a variety of formats.  We have books on CD and playaways for all ages in the library to checkout.  Books on CD are just that, CDs that you put into a CD player (be it your car's CD player, your computer CD-ROM drive, your DVD player or a portable CD playing device).  

Playaways are recorded books that are on a device that plays the audio for you.  We supply the playaway device with the prerecorded book and a battery and you attach your aux cord (to play in your car), or attach your own earbuds, headphones or speaker.  We even have a device that you can checkout that will allow you to listen to the playaway through a radio without an aux cord.  Both formats are available for all ages: children, young adults and adults.  We can also borrow books on CD and playaways from other libraries.

In addition, we subscribe to two ebook services that also include eaudio books.  The Alliance Digital Media Library commonly known as ADML is from the vendor, OverDrive.  We are part of a consortium that allows our library cardholders to checkout out materials with their library card and PIN.  Users can download eaudio books (and ebooks) onto a variety of devices using the app called Libby.

We are also a member of the eRead Illinois which is from the vendor, Baker & Taylor.  This is also a consortial product that allows our library cardholders to checkout materials with their library card and PIN. Users can download eaudio books (and ebooks) onto a variety of devices using the app called Axis360.

Whatever audiobook format you decide to use, feel free to borrow them from the Lillie M. Evans Library! 

Music in the Square Concert series in July

The Lillie M. Evans Library District will be hosting a free concert series in Stevens Square on the first three Fridays in July.  The Princeville to Peoria St. Jude Run will be providing a water and soda concession and is working with local food vendors to 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.

Music in the Square will feature the Central Illinois Banjo Club on July 6^th. 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 July 13^th, the Kewanee Community Band will be back to entertain us.  They performed last September at the Library’s ice cream social.  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.

Finally, the Caterpillar Employees Big Band will wrap up the series on July 20^th. This year is the 40^th anniversary of the Caterpillar Employees Big Band. 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.  From regular engagements in Peoria and Metamora and surrounding towns to a corporate function in Las Vegas, the Caterpillar Employees Big Band continues to bring the big band sound to a new generation of enthusiastic fans.

We invite the public to join us during Music in the Square for these fabulous evenings of food and music.  More information about this and other library programs can be found on the Lillie M. Evans Library website at lmelibrary.org.

What is a cozy mystery?

Looking for a new read? Cozy mysteries are very popular at LME Library.  We have many people who love to read these books.  Some of the cozy mystery titles/authors in our collection can be found here. 

If you are not familiar with this genre, Publisher's Weekly has a great article called: "What exactly is a cozy mystery?"  Enjoy!

The Great American Read

Have you heard about the Great American Read?  In May, PBS will premiere an eight-part television series that asks, “What is America’s favorite book?” The two-hour premiere debuts on May 22 and is hosted by Meredith Vieira. The television series features entertaining and informative documentary segments, with compelling testimonials from celebrities, authors, notable Americans and book lovers across the country. It is comprised of a two-hour launch episode, five one-hour theme episodes, and a finale, in which the results are announced of a nationwide vote to choose America’s best-loved book.

Just this week, PBS posted its list of “100 most-loved books.” This list was created using a public opinion polling service and about 7,200 responded. 

If you're wondering what books are on this list and how many of the 100 books have you read--take the quiz!

More information can be found on Great American Read website at http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/home/

Story of Illinois from the ISM

ISM Launches “Story of Illinois” Website as Part of Illinois Bicentennial Celebration

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois State Museum (ISM) is highlighting artifacts that tell the story of Illinois’ rich heritage as part of the state’s Bicentennial celebration.

They partnered with the Illinois Association of Museums to launch the “Story of Illinois” website, featuring objects from the ISM Illinois Legacy Collection, as well as collections from other museums across the state that help bring the state’s heritage to life.

“The collections from museums in Illinois help tell the unique story of Illinois, from statehood 200 years ago and beyond,” said Illinois State Museum Interim Director Robert Sill. “The new ‘Story of Illinois’ website will allow anyone to go online and sample some of the best of Illinois history, art, culture, and science.”
The new website, built by the ISM, previews some objects that will be on display in the “Bicentennial and Beyond:  The Illinois Legacy Collection” exhibition, which will open at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield on June 30. 

“You will find some rare, quirky, and beautiful objects on the website, such as the Lone Ranger’s saddle used by Brace Beemer from the Wabash County Museum, a ceremonial war club used by the Potawatomi Indians from the Chicago History Museum, a painting by Illinois native and American Impressionist Ivan Summers from the Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, and a photoelectric relay used at the Chicago Century of Progress Exposition of 1933-34,” said Illinois Association of Museums President Karen Everingham. “Each item has its own story to tell.”

While Illinois became a state 200 years ago, the collections held by Illinois museums help tell a story of Illinois dating back approximately 500 million years.  From animals, fish, insects and plants to minerals, jewels, paintings, manuscripts, stone tools and fossils – the “Story of Illinois” website will feature some of the best artifacts and treasures from the collections of the participating museums.

Objects will be added to the website regularly during the celebration of the Illinois Bicentennial this year and promoted through the ISM Facebook page.
Find the website at this link: http://story.illinoisstatemuseum.org 

For more information on the Illinois Association of Museums:
http://www.illinoismuseums.org

For more information on the collections, programs and exhibitions of the Illinois State Museum:
www.illinoisstatemuseum.org