MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
Spring Book Sale: March 8-9,
2003
Saturday, March 8
-- Members' Preview:
9 am to 10 am.
Open to All from 10 am to 4
pm.
Sunday, March 9, 2 pm to 4 pm -- A Bag Sale
There will be a bag sale of whatever materials are left, books,
magazine, records, tapes, videos, at $3.00 for each grocery bag.
There are fine donations arriving at the library, a variety of things
to read,
to watch, to listen to, including collectibles and rare items. --
Helene Cox
Friends’ Bake Sale, Raffle and Mini-Book
Sale,
Saturday, December 7, 10 - 3 pm.
This is a good opportunity to buy
baked items to freeze for holiday entertainment
and to stock up on some bargain
books for cozy winter reading. Great prizes to be
raffled off, too! Raffle tickets
are available at the Circulation Desk.
The Pecans are Back! Stop at the Circulation Desk and pick up one or two or three bags of Plain, 1 lb. -- $6.50 per bag. Or, Savor the Flavor of these: Chocolate-Covered, Pecan Caramel Clusters (also chocolate-covered), or Cinnamon-Vanilla, each 12 oz. -- $6.50 per bag. (Pre-wrapped for gift-giving). Click HERE for more information about the pecans and other items the Friends have for sale.
Dear Friends
of the Library,
In teaching children to read, two ingredients
that help to make them life-long readers are the following: first the experience
of having been read to repeatedly by a trusted adult, and second, leaving
the child to roam the library and discovering the kind of reading he can
make his own.
In this early emotional reading experience, the
adult joins with the child to explore the world of imagination through
stories. Thankfully, adults often choose some classic book which has passed
the test of time in its ability to absorb a child’s mind continuously as
he gets older. For me it was Grimm’s Fairy Tales, particularly “Hansel
and Gretel.” For older children who had missed out on these early tales,
James and the Giant Peach and Shiloh became important. It was found that
children’s reading levels and motivation increased as a result of being
read to for 15 minutes each day.
The second experience happens at the other end
of the reading experience when the child, already able to read, is left
alone to explore books, magazines (even comics), to find material that
has a personal meaning for him or her. Almost like an obsession, these
motivated children begin to devour everything in the fiction genre, i.e.,
The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew series, and stories about enchanting knights
and magical wizards. In non-fiction, biographies about sports’ stars
and men and women of remarkable courage captivate their attention. Real
and fictional characters become alter-egos for a child who goes on to live
out his or her own life of thoughts and feelings.
Finally, there are some adult fiction writers
who can capture the world of children in such a way that they teach us
again and again what it’s like to experience life anew. One such writer
is Ian McEwan in his recent book, Atonement. Check it out while you enjoy
the holidays.
— Frank Baecher, President of the Friends
FROM THE
DESK OF MARCELLA LUCAS. . .
'Tis that time of the year again” when
we find ourselves very busy preparing for the holidays and visits
of families and friends. We need to also think of ourselves and how we
can relieve the stress of the season so we will be better able to enjoy
the company of our loved ones. Which, of course, brings us to the library.
What better way is there to relax than to read a book, listen to music,
or watch a new video or DVD. Even if you do not have a few moments
for yourself at home, you can enjoy a Book on Cassette/CD or music
on Cassette/CD as you traverse the highways. And where do you find a great
selection? At the Park Forest Public Library, of course! Stop in and check
out some material for your holiday reading and while you are here, enjoy
the relaxing atmosphere of the Library.
Stop by the Ringering Room to see our new
chairs and to view the re-cycled chairs. Recently we had a fund raiser
to replace the aging, wooden chairs in our meeting room. Donors who
contributed $150 or more could paint a chair using their creative imagination
for display throughout the library (Donations are still being accepted).
Come see our CHAIRS-ON-PARADE. You will find Dr. Seuss, Little Piggy, Birthday
Cake, By the Sea, and a Button chair, to name a few.
The Library is joining with its neighboring South
Suburban libraries to promote “One Book, One Region.” The book chosen
for reading is Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor. The entire
south suburban region is encouraged to read, discuss and promote this book.
The Park Forest Public Library is scheduling special events during
the winter months. Watch for a flyer and help us promote family reading
in the community.
My best wishes to you and your families for a
happy, relaxing holiday season which I know will include curling up with
a good library book.
— Marcella Lucas, Administrative Librarian
AUTUMN
BOOK SALE UPDATE — $2780.78 Earned for the Library!
On a fine fall day, booklovers came from all
over to browse and buy and choose reading for the cold months ahead.
A wonderful mix of Friends' members, book dealers, local and long distance
visitors carted away an enormous quantity of books during Saturday's sale
and the bag sale clearance the following week. The "piece of history books,"
sometimes old and neglected, found good homes at the sale in addition to
the fine mix of other books and recorded materials that were offered. The
silent auction was quite successful, both for the bidders and library funds.
The grand total earned for the library is $2780.78.
The year ‘round book sorters do a diligent and
innovative job of sorting, shelving, and readying the materials for sale.
The library staff is patient and good-humored dealing with questions, merry
confusion, holding books for pickup, and general help. The volunteers
who work throughout the sale are essential. And, of course, the buyers,
serious, earnest shoppers, new ones and returnees, are those who come to
visit as much to buy. All help turn old books into new ones. The Friends
are grateful; the library is grateful. Donations of books, recorded materials,
puzzles and magazines are welcome all year, just never on Sunday.
— Helene Cox, Book Sale Chair
FRIENDS
AT THE FARMERS’ MARKET
Since the early 1970's the Park Forest
Farmers' Market has become tradition with residents. Among the fruits,
vegetables, garden plants and freshly baked breads there stands the book
table. Included in the vendors list this past season was the Friends of
the Park Forest Library.
Rising early with the chickens, setting
up became a pleasurable experience as vendors came to visit and talk about
the morning weather. It is comforting to know you are with friends. Much
conversation surrounded what each person is passionate about concerning
his or her reading or listening delights. As shoppers sorted through our
selections it was amazing to see the reaction on their faces when they
came across that special book or CD for which they had been searching.
Ironically, I always came away with books that I could not live without
as well.
Thanks to each of you for your support
of the Park Forest Library. Special thanks goes to Rikk Dunlap for his
recent donation and support. 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 new equipment and books.
Many have asked when we will return to
the Market. We hope to see everyone again next season. Thank you for your
continued support.
— Jennifer Spinozzi, Vice-President
CHAIRity
BASH
Just as whimsical as the decorated “Downtown
Chicago Cows,” are some of the old Ringering Room chairs that were repainted
and decorated in amusing themes for the Park Forest Library’s “CHAIRity
Bash” which was held as part of the “Endow-A-Chair” fund-raiser to purchase
new chairs for the Ringering Room. The Friends of the Park Forest Library
participated by purchasing 6 chairs which Jennifer Spinozzi, Vice-President
of the Friends, and Melinda Geist, Recording Secretary, decorated for the
Friends. The new chairs will replace the vintage 1969 chairs which were
originally purchased by the library’s first librarian, Leona Ringering.
It’s not too late to Endow-A-Chair; see Marcella Lucas, Administrative
Librarian, for details on how to do this.
Melinda Geist created the “Doctor Seuss” chair
which received much applause. Jennifer Spinozzi painted two captivating
chairs (with two more on the way for the Friends!) entitled “This Little
Piggy” and “Rocket Ride to the Moon and Stars.” You can see a photographic
sampling of the chairs that were created by Melinda and Jennifer, and by
patrons and groups, on the Friends’ library website at http://lincolnnet.net/Friends/chairs.html
There are also photographs of the chairs on the
library’s website at: http://www.pfpl.org/CHAIRity.html
(with information on how to Endow-A-Chair).
These colorful chairs will be displayed in the
library on a rotating basis but you can get a preview of many of them at
the Friends’ Bake Sale & Raffle and Mini-Book Sale on December 7 in
the Ringering Room. Be sure to stop in and see them. —
Elaine Brownlee, Editor
We extend our deepest condolences to Marcella Lucas and her family
on the death of her father, Walter D. Ahner, Sr.
Memorials may be made to the Park Forest Library’s Endowment Fund.
We wish you and yours the happiest of Holiday Seasons with thanks for all your support.
FRIENDS' BOARD MEMBERS
President: Frank Baecher
Vice-President: Jennifer Spinozzi
Recording Secretary: Melinda Geist
Corresponding Secretary: Dean Oedzes
Treasurer: Harold J. Cox
Book Sales: Helene Cox
Hospitality: Susan McGoldrick
Historian: Philip Krapp
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, Jennifer Spinozzi
Proofreader: Leslie Simms
Friends’ Webmaster: Elaine Brownlee