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
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
