Wrap up to Long Range Planning

In the fall of 2010, the Lillie M. Evans Library District began working on a long range plan for the next 3 years. Community members participated in a focus group in November, and we compiled the responses and made them available on this blog http://librarylill.blogspot.com/2011/02/long-range-planning-update.html. During the month of December, we conducted a user survey, and those results have were also posted on this blog.

The Staff and Board of the Lillie M. Evans Library District have analyzed the information collected and have developed a long range plan for FY2012-2014. Three goals have been identified for each year of the plan. In addition, the library’s mission statement has been revised to more accurately reflect the role we play in the community. The goals and mission document is now available online.

Thank you to all who participated. Your input has helped us concentrate on the best materials, programs, and services for our community!

Biggest Loser Results 2011

The Biggest Loser ended April 26th with Leanna F. taking home top prize by losing 9.23%. Three other participants lost over 8% of their body weight, and over 50% of our participants lost more than 2% during the 8-week period. In addition to the benefit of adopting a healthier lifestyle, our 19 participants lost a total of 121 pounds!

Throughout the Biggest Loser program, we had exercise sessions scheduled at various times on Monday thru Friday and sessions on adult fitness, nutrition and osteoporosis; how to use the Spark People website; and a food talk with Suzy Gill. The library’s resources of fitness, health and diet books as well as our various fitness videos were featured during the program.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Biggest Loser II!

Find-A-Book/2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program

Today from the Illinois State Library:
"Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White is proud to join Governor Pat Quinn and Christopher Koch, Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education, in encouraging parents and librarians to check out an important website aimed at keeping children reading during the upcoming summer months when school is not in session.

The Find-a-Book website, www.lexile.com/findabook, has quick and easy access to a list of books that will match a child’s reading level and interests, as well as the nearest libraries carrying each title.

The Find-a-Book site uses a student’s reading score in Lexiles, a measure of reading ability and text difficulty derived from state standardized tests, including the ISAT. The website also features a search option to access appropriate book choices based on grade level and comfort with typical reading materials at that grade level.

Research has shown the powerful impact of continued reading. One review of the impact of summer reading found that children can lose up to 60 percent of their skills during a two-month vacation. Children who read during the summer months, however, can sustain their reading gains and are better prepared for learning when the school bell rings again in the fall.

Secretary White also encourages parents to talk with children about the fun and importance of summer reading and take them to the local public library. Librarians have information about Lexiles and other programs such as the iREAD program, a summer reading program offered through the Illinois Library Association (ILA)."

The 2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program theme is “A Midsummer Knight's Read.” Check the Lillie M. Evans Library website at http://lmelibrary.org for information on local programs and a calendar of events.

Snapshot Day - April 13th Results

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011 libraries across Illinois participated in “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries” by collecting information, comments, and photographs from events in a typical library day. The results indicate that the Lillie M. Evans Library provides invaluable services to our community.

In Just One Day at the Lillie M. Evans Library District:

• 81 people walked through the doors of the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 153 books, movies, and more were borrowed from the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 29 people used computers at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 45 children participated in programs at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 4 adults participated in programs at the Lillie M. Evans Library District

• 52 people visited the Lillie M. Evans Library District’s web site and blogs

Comments we received on Snapshot Day included:
“I love this library! Staff is great, friendly and helpful. Love to listen to books. Princeville is lucky to have a great library!”

“Today I asked what the inside part of a flower is. They helped me right away and I want to thank them.”

  

Statewide data was collected on April 13, 2011. Last year, 310 Illinois public, academic, and school libraries participated. Snapshot Day is a project of the Illinois Library Association, www.ila.org/snapshot.