Our Annual Holiday Treat
Saturday, December 4, 10 - 3
Holiday Bake Sale, Raffle with
Wonderful Prizes,
Mini-Book Sale and a Heavenly
Harp Concert.
(Click on the links below for faster access to the articles.)
From the President's
Desk
Jennifer
Spinozzi Leaves a Big Gap
News from the Bottom
Shelf
Friends Annual Meeting
-- October 20, 6:30 p.m.
Park
Forest Library Family Technology Center: A First in the State of
Illinois
Summer Reading
Program a Success!
Join a Book Club
This Year!
Book Page
offered free at the Library!
Friends' Board Members
As we put the final touches on our Fantastic Fall Book Sale to be held on Saturday, October 2nd and Sunday, October 3rd, we are often asked where we get such excellent, varied and uncommon books. The simplest answer is that our book stock is almost all obtained through donations.
We accept hardcover books, paperbacks, records, CDs and videos that are in good condition, not damaged, musty, or moldy. Donations may be dropped at the back door during library hours any day except on Sunday. Occasionally, volunteers may be able to pick up your donations, but we reserve the right to decide this on an individual basis based upon manpower, distance, and cost. Just call the library if you are unable to bring in your donations to the library.
One other great source of books derives from our annual summer trip to the Newberry Library in Chicago. A group of Friends spends a morning browsing through the books left over from the annual Newberry Used Book Sale. We get to take as many books as we want, or as many as we can fit into a rented truck! We couldn't complete this operation without the hard work of everyone, especially the efficiency and muscle power of Mitchell Cox.
Another question regarding donations is how we evaluate the donated books, especially those special or very rare ones. Of course, we treat every donation as if it were our own, mindful that we are all dedicated, life-long readers. Therefore, we screen each book carefully for its rarity, interest, and importance. If we feel that a book is of uncommon value, we check book sources, and experts from the Friends and the library staff evaluate it. Sometimes, we decide to add the book to the library's circulation. Most often, however, we offer it for sale at our book sale. Occasionally, we will offer to sell it to a patron who collects that particular type of book.
Presently, we have several major finds including a four volume biography of Abraham Lincoln by muckraker journalist Ira Tarbell, originally published in the late 1800's. Another interesting book is Frank Booth's Artistic Reproductions from 1926.
We are often asked if a person can join our book-sorting crew, fondly known as the "moles." Yes, please join us if you love books, if you enjoy the friendly company of book lovers, and if you are available on Tuesday mornings. The moles, under the energetic leadership of book sale chairperson Helene Cox, sort, categorize, weed, and evaluate the bags and boxes of donations. We also accept magazines, and again, the moles are trained to assess material for its importance to our reading public. Please contact Helene Cox at the library if you want to try us out.
Where do the proceeds from our sales go? All money earned from book sales, whether from the Farmers' Market, the front entrance cart, or mini-book sales, goes directly to the library for acquisition of new books.
Over the years we have acquired a well-deserved reputation for the
variety and quality of our book selection. The major reason for this is
because of our unusually devoted South Suburban reading public, especially
those Park Forest and Olympia Field residents who have shared their reading
passion by donating some of their favorite possessions to our book sales.
Thank you all for contributing over and over again to help improve our
library.
-- Frank Baecher
Jennifer Spinozzi leaves a big gap
Our vice president for many years, Jennifer Spinozzi reluctantly
resigned her position on the Friends' Board because of job conflicts. Young,
creative, and energetic, Jennifer was a fantastic asset She was at the
forefront of innovative ideas and coordinated the annual holiday raffle.
If you would like to volunteer for the position as vice-president, leave
a message for Frank Baecher at the library.
The Friends are prepared for the semi-annual book sale on Saturday, October 2 and for the bag sale on Sunday, October 3. All shelves are filled with books from every category. Our expanded space, The Bottom Shelf, allows customers more browsing room with improved lighting. We have books on every subject as well as a remarkable collection of classics, rare, and vintage books. Don't forget our excellent bargains on records, audio and videocassettes, and magazines too.
All Friends are invited to the annual Friends Board meeting to be held on Wednesday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m. at the Park Forest Library. The revised by-laws will be voted upon at the meeting and elections for officers will be conducted. Everyone is invited to attend.
Park Forest Library Family Technology Center: A First in the State of Illinois
Thanks to your very generous contributions and to the innovative and dedicated leadership of our administrative librarian, Barbara Byrne Osuch, the Family Technology Center was officially opened on June 9, 2004 at a festive, community ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Completing the center was a community collaboration. The initial grant by the Illinois State Library provided the construction funds. The Friends played an important role in providing matching funds to help furnish the rooms. VanKampen Industries provided the computer desks and chairs in each room.
Author/illustrators Jan Spivey Gilchrist and Kevin Henkes donated posters of illustrations from their books. Ms. Gilchrist prepared some decorative children's furniture as well as attended the grand opening. Inspired by the illustrations, staff member George Manno and his wife Connie provided the creativity and the sweat equity in painting and decorating both rooms in family-friendly, delightful styles.
Everyone involved should feel proud of this pioneer feature in our library. Now families can work and play together in a comfortable learning environment.
Jan Spivey Gilchrist, award-winning local author/illustrator, helped
design one room based upon her wonderful books. Posters of two of Kevin
Henkes' books are displayed on the wall of the other room.
Summer Reading Program a Success!
Thanks to the hard-working and creative efforts of Golam Kibreah and his staff, the summer reading program was an unqualified success. The theme of Reach for the World allowed children to explore a variety of cultures through some wonderful books, activities, and programs. The Friends sponsored a June ice-cream social and an August end-of-summer pizza picnic. Both functions wouldn't have been successful without the organizational skills and experience of Mitchell Cox, Friends' volunteers, and Library staff. Most of all, congratulations to the young readers who enrolled in the Summer Reading Program! Children and young adults read a record number of almost 10,000 books.
Join other avid readers in a book discussion group. Both groups are open to interested readers.
Cultures Club -- Third Wednesday evening of the month, September
through June, except Dec.
One country, civilization, or culture per month. Call the library
at 748-3731 or email pfs@sslic.net to reserve a
spot
No fee.
Book Discussion Group -- Fourth Monday of the month
September through June, except Dec. 12:00 p.m. in Ringering Room.
Book is available at library 3 weeks prior to discussion.
No fee
Mark the Date: Saturday December 4
Holiday Bake Sale, Raffle, and Mini-Book Sale
Book Page offered free at the Library!
A journal of book reviews is available at the library featuring author
interviews and essays; it is filled with brief book reviews of current
adult and children's fiction and nonfiction books. One regular section
has suggestions for book club members. Book Page is an excellent overview
of recently published books of every genre.
President: Frank Baecher
Vice-President:
Secretary: Melinda Geist
Treasurer: Mitchell Cox
Book Sales: Helene Cox
Hospitality: Susan McGoldrick
Board Members At Large: Beverly Myrow,
Mary Krachey, Alice Racher
Administrative Librarian: Barbara Byrne Osuch
PFPL Bd. Liaison: Joan Larsen
OFPL Bd. Liaison: Corine Hawthorne, Joan Braden
footnotes
Editor: Susan McGoldrick
Contributing Editors: Joan Larsen, Alice Racher,
Frank Baecher, Helene Cox
Proofreader: Lisa McGoldrick
Friends' Webmaster: Elaine Brownlee
FRIENDS ONLINE: http://www.lincolnnet.net/friends/
LIBRARY ONLINE: http://www.pfpl.org/