Annual
Holiday Treat
Saturday,
December 6, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Bake Sale, Mini Book
Sale, Holiday Raffle and Pecan Sale.
Beverly Myrow's Harp
Angels will perform 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at
the Circulation Desk at 1.00 each.
Exciting prizes will
be donated by many area businesses and creations by area craftspersons.
Really Big
Book Sale- October 25!
Welcome,
Barbara Osuch!
President's
Message
Marcella
Lucas Retires
Leslie
Simms Goes Back to School
Friends:
Busy Summer, Busier Autumn
Friends
at the Farmers' Market
In Memoriam
- Philip Krapp
Friends Board
SHOWCASE OF BOOKS WITH SPECIAL
APPEAL FOR BIBLIOPHILES
While you're in the library, check out the Showcase of books adjacent
the Circulation Desk.
There are specialty items in it available for sale now, at various
prices.
The book sale cart, closeby, is an ever-changing treasure trove
of items
at regular used book sale prices. See more about the cart HERE.
YEARBOOKS
Looking for vintage high school yearbooks? We may have what you're
looking for.
For instance, we just received a 1972 Lagoon (from Rich East)
in perfect condition.
It can be yours for $20.00. We also have other high school yearbooks.
For more information, please e-mail the Friends
HERE. (Click)
The Park Forest Library Board is pleased to announce that Barbara Osuch will be our new Administrative Librarian. We will be highlighting Barbara in the next issue of this newsletter. In the meantime, please stop in and say hello to her when she begins work in early October.
From the Desk of the Friends’ President…
The Friends would like to welcome Barbara Osuch, our new administrative librarian, and thank her for choosing Park Forest. We want to extend our support in helping her during the transition and to let her know she can always count on us.
We would also like to give our warmest “goodbyes” and best wishes to Marcella Lucas who is retiring after many years of dedicated service. Marcella was always the best of friends and we will miss her.
As we begin our Fall season, we are faced with new challenges and opportunities. We wish to extend an open hand to anyone who wants to join our group. We need your talents and expertise! We meet every 3rd Thursday in September, October and November at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Come share your ideas for making the Friends even more helpful to the library.
Finally, as parents are getting their children ready for the new
school year, I want to recommend our wonderful collection of books on helping
children with homework, peer relationships and discipline. As a social
worker in the educational field, I have always enjoyed the first days of
school, and seeing the sense of wonder in children’s eyes as they return
to the classroom – their excitement in meeting old friends and new, and
getting back to work. Both the school and the child’s parents share in
the social well-being and the learning process of the child. The library’s
collection of books can help everyone involved foster a love for life-long
learning.
-- Frank Baecher
Retiring Administrative Librarian, Marcella Lucas, was feted at various events for her many years of exemplary service to the library and the Village of Park Forest.
At a public meeting, the Park Forest Village Board delivered a proclamation honoring Marcella. Village President John Ostenburg said: “She began her career at the library as a reference librarian in 1980, spent several years as the director of technical services before becoming administrator in 2000. She helped establish Internet access for library patrons and also helped obtain several grants over the years. She has demonstrated an outstanding commitment of time and energy above the demands of her job. She has certainly earned her retirement, but the loss of her presence is going to be felt by the village.”
The Park Forest Library Board and staff, the Olympia Fields Library Board members, family members, Friends of the Library, village employees and other well-wishers attended a gala dinner in her honor at Lorenzettis. Penny Shnay, library board president, and Karen Blackwell, staff member, spoke for all in praise of Marcella. Among the many gifts Marcella received, perhaps the most welcome will be a well-earned weekend of rest with her husband Jim in Galena, Illinois.
Leslie Simms Goes Back to School
After 17 years of dedicated service as a reference librarian, Leslie Simms has taken a job as a school librarian at Illinois School in Park Forest. We thank her for providing answers to the hard questions and for her top-notch job as a proofreader for the Friends’ newsletter. We wish her a fond farewell and much happiness in her new job.
Friends
News...A Very Busy Summer!
Forecast: An Even Busier
Autumn!
The Friends hosted a busy ice cream social to start the summer reading club in Youth Services. Ice cream and appropriate toppings with cookies was served to eager readers who signed up for the safari themed program. It was the most successful kick-off so far, with more than 250 young people registering, and getting reading folders to enter the books read during the summer. Friends served the treats at one end of the reading room, and parents and young people visited, read, and chose books to check out and take home. Doing just what a library is for, attracting community, promoting reading, providing literature, the event was a treat for everyone.
Capably organized by Hospitality chair, Susan McGoldrick, serving was done by Karen Blackful, Frank Baecher, Mitchell Cox, Steven Miller, Adam Cox, Helene Cox, and Susan. Special thanks to Penny Shnay for making an emergency ice cream run. Old Country Buffet sent 200 cookies, and a Bee to distribute reading and coloring materials. Cynthia Reed arranged for that. And thanks to Sterk's for their help in providing the ice cream. A fine beginning for the summer season.
The summer reading program came to a delicious and happy conclusion on August 1. Lunch was served at the pavilion in Central Park to over 250 readers and parents. Friends helped provide the food...and the service. Pizza was purchased, at a great price, by Chicago Dough Co. McDonald's sent orange drink, and Old Country Buffet donated over 250 of their delicious cookies. Friends served the food and tidied the pavilion area. The readers enjoyed a program at Freedom Hall, complete with boa constrictor. It was quite wonderful to reward these young people who read over 5,500 books during the summer, and on a picture perfect summer day.
The Friends paid for new computers to expand the OPAC system, currently replacing the tired card catalogue. Refreshments have been provided for Potpourri, for evening and afternoon programs, and for YS summer reading club.
An overdue and anticipated book sale will be held on October 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an early opening for members only, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (New and renewal memberships will be taken at the door.) There will be a new look in the lower level, bright lighting, and easier access to browsing. Over the summer, in addition to shifting the storage and display of materials, an enormous amount of donated materials have come to the committee for sorting. Betty Jacob's legacy of books that she collected over many years will be part of the sale, many from Philip Krapp’s donations, and a truckload of Newbery books and records gleaned by the intrepid Moles in late July. It will be the biggest and most varied sale the Park Forest library has held in many years; there will truly be something for everyone. There are books for keeping, for gifting, for reading enjoyment and information. Many, many records in all categories will be available. There are magazines, puzzles, videos and other recorded materials, children's books, collectibles, the popular “Piece of History” collection, and more. The library welcomes donations the year round during library hours....just never on Sunday. Check out the treasures on the book cart in the lobby any time you are in the library. Would you like more information on the book sale or how to donate books? Email here.
-- Helene Cox
FRIENDS AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET
The change of the season is upon us and
the Park Forest Farmers' Market continues to be a tradition with residents.
Mixed in with baked goods, kettle corn, vegetables and plants were a harvest
of used books. The Friends of the Park Forest Library were again included
as a participating vendor. Thanks to all of you who bought and for your
support of the Park Forest Library.
Special thanks goes to Melinda Geist,
Frank Baecher, Susan McGoldrick, and Helene Cox for their efforts. The
Friends of the Park Forest Library group have put money earned from our
sales at the Farmers' Market to good use. This enables the Friends to continue
our support of the Library to provide programs, services and the purchase
of equipment and books. Many have asked when we will return to the
Market. We plan to see everyone again next season. Thank you for your continued
support.
-- Jennifer Spinozzi
Philip Krapp, a 20-year member of the Friends’ Board, passed away on June 9th. Philip served as proofreader for this newsletter for many years and was the Friends’ historian. Not only did he donate many books throughout the years from his Tattered Pages book store for the Friends’ book sales, but many were also added to the library's collection. He remembered the library in his final days too, asking his nephew, Nicholas Adams, to donate his collection of books, videos and puzzles to the library. We are most grateful to Professor Adams for fulfilling Philip's request. Philip also volunteered in Technical Service for many years, and he gave interesting lectures on the English language for the Potpourri Lectures Series. Speaking several languages, he was always willing to translate letters and text for patrons. We will miss him, his wry wit, and his supreme intellect.
President: Frank Baecher
Vice-President: Jennifer Spinozzi
Secretary: Melinda Geist
Treasurer: Mitchell Cox
Book Sales: Helene Cox
Hospitality: Susan McGoldrick
Board Members At Large: Beverly Myrow, Mary Krachey
Administrative Librarian: Marcella Lucas
PFPL Bd. Liaison: Alice Racher
OFPL Bd. Liaison: Corine Hawthorne, Joan Braden
footnotes
Editor: Elaine Brownlee
Contributing Editors: Joan Larsen, Alice Racher,
Frank Baecher, Helene Cox
Proofreader: Leslie Simms
Friends’ Webmaster: Elaine Brownlee
