In this issue...

2 Library Closings

4 Library Knitters

5 Holiday Gift Fund

6 Books Alive

7 Film Discussion Group

Winter 2010-11 Volume 25 Number 4off the shelves

board report

By Ann Lee,Secretary

Metropolitan Library System UpdateSince we ran an article in the last newsletter about the threatened demise of the Metropolitan Library System (MLS), many residents have asked for an update on the situation. In October, more than 50 librarians and trustees met to discuss a possible merger with four other regional library services in central and northern Illinois, including the North Suburban, DuPage, Prairie Area, and Alliance Library Systems. The goal is to streamline operations in order to cope with the loss of funding from the State. They enlisted the services of a consultant who has forged similar mergers of library consortia across the country. Together with the consultant, the merger team will develop a governance structure, write a plan for services, select an executive director, and submit a merger proposal to

the State of Illinois.

We believe that given the economic situation in Illinois, this merger is the best chance for our Library to continue sharing vital system services such as Interlibrary Loan delivery. In commenting on the second Merger Design Team meeting, Su Erickson, President of the DuPage Library System Board of Directors and Merger Design Team Chair, said, “While our library systems continue to face signifi cant challenges, the work of the Merger Design Team is building the foundation for establishing a more cost-effective and sustainable new system to serve libraries.”

In a related development, the MLS Board completed the process of spinning off SWAN, our shared online

catalog, as a separate legal entity. Member libraries will continue to be able to use this database, which has become indispensable for locating materials in their own collections as well as throughout the system. While our Library and librarians will undoubtedly lose many services that MLS provided in the past, the proposed merger will attempt to preserve “need-to-have” services, including, most critically, Interlibrary Loan. We appreciate the efforts of those residents who wrote to local legislators to voice their support for the Library. Your continued support will be important as the merger terms are fi nalized. Please continue to let our Governor and legislators know that you support Illinois library sys-tems, and visit www.lplibrary.org for further updates.

Join in the Fun at Holiday in the ParkSpend a fun-fi lled afternoon at the 2010 “Holiday in the Park” on Saturday, December 11, from 1 to 4pm. The event will be held at the Community Park District’s Recreation Center, 1501 Barnsdale Road.

Visit the La Grange Park Business Association’s website at www.lagrangeparkbusinessassociation.com for all the details and a schedule of events.

This annual event is sponsored by the La Grange Park Busi-ness Association.

Holiday Tree Lighting Friday, December 3 at 7pm,

at the corner of Beach Avenue and 31st Street.

programs for children

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Holiday Story TimesA four-week series of Holiday Story Times is scheduled to begin Monday, November 22 and continue through December 17. Parents may register their children beginning Monday, November 8, either in the Children’s Department or by calling the library at 352-0100.

Story Times for preschoolers ages 3 through kindergarten are planned for Mondays at 10:15am and Tuesdays at 10:15am and 1pm. Each 30-minute session will include stories, songs, fi ngerplays, and a short video story.

Toddler Story Times for children ages 2 through 3 ½ will be held on Wednesday mornings at 10:15am. These 20-minute sessions include stories, songs, fi ngerplays, and action activi-ties just right for energetic 2-year olds.

Holiday Story Times for day-care providers and their young-sters will be held on Friday mornings at 10:15am.

Books & BrowniesStudents in 1st through 4th grade are invited to Books and Brownies at 4pm on the fi rst Monday of each month. While a batch of brownies bakes, participants listen to a book being read. Of course, a warm brownie ends the afternoon. Please register one week in advance.

Looking for LegoBuilding with Lego bricks is a wonderful way for children to develop their fi ne motor and problem solving skills, as well as their creativity. The Children’s Department would love to be able to offer Lego Building Workshops each month. We will gladly accept your donation of gently-used Lego bricks.

Try Some New Non-FictionBugs and Bugsicles: Insects in the Winter by Amy S. Hansen

The Buffalo Are Back by Jean Craighead George

How to Make Slime by Lori Shores

Make Your Own Purses & Bags by Anna-Marie D’Cruz

A Wizard from the Start: The Incredible Boyhood & Amazing

Inventions of Thomas Edison by Don Brown

Winter Story TimesA seven-week series of Win-ter Story Times will begin the week of January 10 and continue through February 25. Story times will be at the same time as Holiday Stories. Please register beginning Monday, December 27.

Walk-In Family Story Times

If regular story times don’t fi t your busy schedule, come to our new walk-in family story times on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. Come for stories, songs, and maybe a game. Join the fun beginning January 12 and continuing through February 27.

The Big ReadThe La Grange Park Library will once again take part in The Big Read. This year’s selection is Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers. Planning sessions for program selection are now underway. Watch for more information in the new year.

Start your holiday season with a relaxing evening of music. This program will feature holiday favorites including Win-ter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Christmas in Killarney, Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, I Have a Little Dreidel, and selections from The Nutcracker. Come and sing along!

Carlyn Lloyd, fl utist, has performed hundreds of concerts and educational programs throughout the United States at concert halls, libraries, park districts, colleges, and elemen-tary schools, including recitals as part of the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, Illinois, and at the Jud-son Manor Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1987 she began her own series of concerts at Chicago-area libraries, which provide easy community access to classical music. She has served on the fl ute faculties of the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Acad-emy, and the Hinsdale Center for the Arts.

Sponsored by the La Grange Park Friends of the Library.

An Evening of Holiday Music

Presented by Carlyn LloydMonday, December 6

at 7pm

Library ClosingsDecember 3 Staff In-service

December 24 Christmas Eve

December 25 Christmas Day

December 31 New Year’s Eve

January 1 New Year’s Day

February 21 Presidents’ Day

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young adult programs

All programs are for grades 7-12.

Please sign up with Sam at the

reference desk.

Places You’ll Find YA Online:1. Library website – www.lplibrary.org/teens

2. Instant Messenger – screen name “lpplya”

3. Facebook – by searching for “La Grange Park Public Library” on Facebook, you can keep up to date with all the latest Library news.

4. MySpace – www.myspace.com/lagrangeparklibrary

5. Twitter – for micro-updates related to all things YA. twitter.com/lpplya

6. YouTube – for fun videos of YA programming, past and present. www.youtube.com/user/lplibrary

7. Shelfari and Goodreads – Join me on these sites for people who love reading. www.shelfari.com/lpplya www.goodreads.com/lpplya

New Materials in the YA DepartmentBooksThe Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Twelfth Grade Kills – Heather BrewerFor the Win – Cory DoctorowMonsters of Men – Patrick Ness

CDsGlee soundtracksNow That’s What I Call Music 34 & 35

DVDs90210: The Complete Second SeasonSupernatural: The Complete Fifth Season

Video GamesKingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep – PSPProfessor Layton and the Unwound Future - DS

For a complete list of new materials, visit www.lplibrary.org/teens/whatsnew.php or stop by the Young Adult Department for a print copy. Updated monthly.

Winter Reading Program

Read any two books during the month of December to receive a goody bag. Partici-pants will be entered into a drawing for one grand prize. For more details, stop by the Reference Desk.

Totoro Puzzle PartyWednesday, December 22

7pmI purchased a Totoro puzzle for us to hang in the YA area. We’ll watch My Neighbor Totoro, put together the puzzle, and eat snacks.

Pixel ClubThe Library is closed Friday, December 31, so there will be no Pixel Club that day. L

National Gaming Day 2010

Thank you to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this

fun-fi lled day!

And thank you to Galloping Ghost Arcade of Brookfi eld for their generous loan of an arcade

cabinet for the day.

Holiday in the Park The Library’s participation in last year’s Holiday in the Park was such a success that we are joining in the winter fun again this year! Volunteers in grades 7-12 are needed to assist in making S’mores on Saturday, December 11. If in-terested, please contact Sam for more details.

2nd Annual Rockin’ New Year’s Eve EveThursday, December 30,

7 - 8:30pmWhat better way to celebrate the end of the year than by playing Rock Band? This year we’ll rock out with Rock Band 3!

YA Holiday Happenings

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adult programs

In order to provide ample seating and refreshments, we ask that you register for our programs.

Visit www.lplibrary.org, stop by, or give us a call at 352-0100

to register.

Margaret Moon Memorial LectureThe Theatre of Western Springs

Monday, January 17 at 7pm

Join us for an evening of local history and more. Members of the Theatre of Western Springs will discuss the history of the 82-year-old institution. Cast members will also perform a scene or two from one of their current plays, The Quick-Change Room, which plays at the theatre from January 13-23. This program is being presented in memory of Margaret Moon, a reference librarian at La Grange Park for over 20 years and a longtime supporter of the theatre. Sponsored by the family of Margaret Moon.

The Barnes Foundation Collection:

Its Past, Present, and Future

Presented by Jeff MishurMonday, February 14 at 7pm

The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia possesses one of the world’s great collections of late 19th and 20th century art. Art historian and profes-sor Jeff Mishur will introduce a number of outstanding works of art on display at The Barnes and discuss the eccentric and didactic instal-lations of paintings, sculp-tures, furniture, and applied arts devised by Dr. Barnes. Recent developments at The Barnes Foundation inspired the documentary The Art of the Steal.

The Film Discussion Group will present The Art of the Steal on Friday, February 11 at 7pm. Join us for both programs on this fascinating art collection. Sponsored by the La Grange Park Friends of the Library.

Slim in 2011Presented by

Dr. Victor Manzo, JrMonday, January 24 at 7pm

Are you looking to improve your health in the new year? Dr. Victor Manzo, of Dimen-sional Family Wellness, will provide information and guidelines to help you lose weight and detox. He will also speak about time man-agement and other ways to help make 2011 the year you wish for.

Dr. Manzo is a wellness chi-ropractor and a Reiki master with an offi ce in the lower level of the Village Market.

A Beginner’s Guide to the Golden Age

of RadioPresented by Steve DarnellMonday, February 7 at 7pm

Steve Darnell, host of “Those Were The Days” on WDCB-FM (College of DuPage), will be at the Library to talk about some of the big names and shows that emerged dur-ing the golden age of radio. He will also discuss how radio, as the fi rst mass me-dium, affected the lives of all Americans. Of course, he will have sound clips of famous and not-so-famous perform-ers and shows. Sponsored by the La Grange Park Friends of the Library.

For the past several years, the Library Knitters, a dedi-cated group of volunteers, has been meeting monthly and using donated yarn to knit items for local chari-ties. We meet for about two hours on the second Thurs-day of each month starting at about 10:30am. The group is very fl exible and relaxed, and the amount of time and energy you are interested in giving is entirely up to you. We are so proud of all the

items we have been able to donate to the Community Health Nurse Association of La Grange for their annual “Secret Santa” project.

We would love to have more members join our group. You would be an asset to our group, whether you are a beginner, an expert, or somewhere in between. There has never been a get-together that hasn’t produced some new idea, pattern, or

tip of benefi t to someone. So, if you would like to spend a couple of hours each month knitting items for charity, or just knitting with pleasant company in a bright, quiet place, please feel free to join us. There is no registration necessary. Simply come to the East bay on the second level of the Library and join in. We would love to meet you.

Library Knitters

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Dear Residents & Library Supporters:

A donation to the Library’s Holiday Gift Fund makes gift-giving a breeze from start to fi nish. Make your donation and the Library does the rest.

After receiving your donation and instructions as to how the gift is to be used, the Library’s collection development specialists, AKA librarians, will select the item or items. A letter or gift card (your choice) will be sent to the person or organization being honored.

While the Holiday Gift Fund doesn’t provide funding for the daily operations of the Library, each donation given through the Holiday Gift Fund augments funding to maintain and expand the Library’s collections of books and audiovisual materials.

It’s easy to use the gift fund; it can be done from the com-fort of your home. It’s a great way to help reduce the stress of holiday shopping and contribute to the community at the same time.

Each donation will be acknowledged by the Library, which will send an announcement of your gift to the honoree, or in the case of a memorial gift, to the family of the honoree.

In addition to the gift card/letter, a bookplate with the in-scription of your choice will be placed in or on each item purchased for the Library’s collection with gift fund dona-tions.

Because your gifts to the Library are tax deductible as pro-vided by law, the Library will send you a letter acknowl-edging your gift – and, as always, extend a BIG thank you!

On behalf of the Library Board and Staff, I hope your holi-day season is bright and the New Year prosperous.

Sincerely,

Dixie Malone ConkisExecutive Director

Your Name: ________________________________________

Address & Phone No.:

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Please check one:

❏ In Memory of ____________________________________

❏ In Honor of _____________________________________

Send Notifi cation to:

___________________________________________________

Address:

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Please make checks payable to the La Grange Park Public Library. Fill in the information and forward it with your payment to:

La Grange Park Public Library555 N. La Grange Road

La Grange Park, IL 60526

Your donation is tax deductible as provided by law.

Qty Price Description Total___ Wherever needed $________

___ $20 Children’s Book $___________ $20 Young Adult Book $___________ $20 Compact Disc $___________ $25 Fiction Book $___________ $25 DVD $___________ $30 Non-Fiction Book $___________ $50 Book on CD/MP3 $___________ $50 Art Book $___________ $50 Video Game $________ Total Amount $________

Holiday Gift FundGive a gift that will benefi t the entire community.

No gift is too small!

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Visit the Friends’ Book Shop

In the Library Donated Books, Magazines, CDs, DVDs,

and Tapes are for sale at low prices!

Proceeds help support Library programs and special services

Hours:Monday - Thursday 10 am - 9 pmFriday and Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

Sunday 1 - 5 pm

Located on the fi rst fl oor (directly behind the elevator).

For more information: 708-352-0100

We would like to invite you to join us as we have fun, make new friends, and read great books.

We meet in the second fl oor Conference Room on the third Tuesday of every month at 2pm. Copies of the book are avail-able at the Circulation Desk one month before the meeting.

The settings of our winter selections include the emerging young republic of America, the royal house of Japan, and the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

December 21 Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter CareyWritten by the two-time Booker Prize-winning author, this tour de force, set in early nineteenth century America, fol-lows the friendship between a survivor of the French Revolu-tion and an itinerant English printer’s son. Although written about an earlier era, this novel holds a mirror to current times.

January 18 The Commoner by John Burnham SchwartzThis novel, a fi ctionalized version of the life of Empress Michiko, tells the story of Haruko, the fi rst commoner to marry the Crown Prince of Japan. She endures life at the royal court with unspoken courage and sacrifi ce, only to be tested again as her son chooses a commoner for his wife.

February 15 Bad Things Happen by Harry DolanThis witty and sophisticated book will be enjoyed by those who know and love good crime fi ction. The action revolves around the writers and editors of Grey Streets, a mystery magazine “where plans go wrong, bad things happen, and people die,” not just in the pages of the publication, but also in real life.

News from Friends of the LibraryBeginning in December, the Friends of the Library will be hosting a monthly drawing for a gift card from a local busi-ness. No purchase is necessary, just visit the Friends Book-store and complete an entry form. One entry per day permit-ted.

While at the store, browse the wide selection of books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs offered for sale at low prices. Our stock includes fi ction books in nearly any genre you can think of, including romance, sci-fi , mystery, military, and more. Non-fi ction selections include books on sports, art, cooking, music, business, travel, and nature, to name a few. There are also children’s books for all reading levels.

The bookstore is open the same hours as the Library: Mon-day through Thursday from 10am - 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am - 5pm and Sunday from 1pm - 5pm.

Donations of gently used materials are always accepted and arrangements can be scheduled to pick up materials if needed. Tax receipts are provided upon request.

The bookstore is an all-volunteer organization. Volunteers gave over 2000 hours of their time from January through Sep-tember 2010. Without their support, we would not be able to keep our doors open. THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Classic Movies in the EveningThis group will show classic fi lms and lighter family fare on the last Monday evening of the month at 7pm.

December 27 – Miracle on 34th Street Starring Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn

January 31 – The Maltese Falcon Starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor

February 28 – The Adventures of Robin HoodStarring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland

“A good library is a palace where the lofty spirits of all nations and

generations meet.”– Samual Niger

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First Monday Movies10:30am in the Community Room

First Monday movies are older movies you probably haven’t seen in many years. At the Library you’ll be able to view them on a large screen – not quite as large as a theater, but larger than television. Join us to relive these classic movies.

December 6 – Lemon Drop Kid Starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell

January 3 – Swing Time Starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

February 7 – Some Like It Hot Starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe

Books Recently Added to Our Fiction Collection

“Books may well be the only true magic.”– Alice Hoffman

The Good Daughter by Joyce MaynardThis beautifully written story is hard to put down and impos-sible to forget.

Page from a Tennessee Journal by Francine Thomas HowardA moving story of American desire and ambition, and the tragic, slippery boundaries of race under Jim Crow.

City of Veils by Zoë FerrarisA fascinating, insightful, and remarkably balanced look in-side a society unfamiliar to most readers.

Trail of Blood by Lisa BlackA page turner with riveting, utterly convincing details that testify to the author’s experience as a forensic scientist.

A Secret Kept by Tatiana de RosnayDe Rosnay plumbs the depths of complex family relation-ships and shows the power a past secret has to change every-thing in the present.

The Capitol Game by Brian HaigThis book will capture the interest of readers who favor thrillers with political overtones.

The Blasphemer by Nigel FarndaleLove, cowardice, and redemption are the themes that stalk Farndale’s beautifully intelligent tale.

The Cobra by Frederick ForsythWhen it comes to espionage, international intrigue, and sus-pense, Forsyth is a master.

The Gendarme by Mark T. MustianThis is an important and unique journey, told with compas-sion and a stirring sense of humanity.

Wicked Girls by Stephanie HemphillThis is a fi ctionalized account of the Salem witch trials told from the perspectives of three real women who were in Salem in 1692.

Your Library - More Than Just BooksDid you know we offer a wide variety of materials and ser-vices for all age levels?

Movies, documentaries, and TV shows on DVDs (and even some on VHS)CDs in many musical genresBooks on CD, MP3, and tapePlayaway digital audio books3 Kindles, 2 iPads, and a Nook (for adults)Video gamesMagazinesLaptops (for in-library use by teens)ProgramsA great staff to help you fi nd what you’re looking for

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Film Discussion GroupJoin the Film Discussion Group on alternate Fridays at 7pm for presentations of fi lms on our large screen, followed by brief discussions.

12/3 Winter’s Bone (2010, dir. Debra Granik; 100 min.) This intense thriller follows a 17-year-old girl through the Ozarks as she tries to fi nd her missing father.

12/17 The Secret of Kells (2008, dir. Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey; 75 min.) Thrill to the gorgeous animation of this fi lm, inspired by Irish history and legend.

1/14 Sita Sings the Blues (2009, dir. Nina Paley; 82 min.) Nina Paley animated this fi lm, which combines biographical detail with Indian legend to stunning effect, almost entirely by herself.

1/28 Cyrus (2010, dir. Jay and Mark Duplass, 91 min.) This movie, from Film Discussion Group favorites the Du-plasses (The Puffy Chair, Baghead), explores the relationships between a man, his girlfriend, and her son with plenty of squirmy comedy.

2/11 The Art of the Steal (2009 dir. Don Argott, 101 min.) This must-see fi lm documents the fi ght for the priceless art collection of the Barnes Foundation. Learn more about the art contained in the collection in a lecture by Jeff Mishur on Monday, February 14 at 7pm.

2/25 Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010, dir. Banksy; 87 min.) Continue exploring the ever-fascinating art world with this hilarious documentary (or is it?), from famed graffi ti artist Banksy, which must be seen to be believed.

Postal CustomerLa Grange Park, IL 60526

La Grange Park Friends of the Library555 N. La Grange RoadLa Grange Park, IL 60526-5644

Non-Profi t OrganizationU.S. POSTAGE

P A I D Permit No. 612

La Grange, IL 60525

Off the Shelves is a quarterly publication of the La Grange Park Public Library District555 North La Grange RoadLa Grange Park, IL 60526-5644

Library HoursMonday through Thursday 10am - 9pmFriday and Saturday 10am - 5pmSunday 1pm - 5pm

Phone 708-352-0100 • Fax 708-352-1606 • TDD 708-352-1970E-mail: info@lplibrary.org • www.lplibrary.org

Board of Library Trustees: Mary Lou Hurley, President; Susan Fagan, Vice President; Ann Lee, Secretary; Cathy Foster, Treasurer; Mary Dominguez, Jerome Kaminski, and Rick Cavaliere, Members.

Dixie Conkis, Executive DirectorJoan Lux, President, La Grange Park Friends of the LibraryGabe Oppenheim, Copy EditorAndrea Barnish, Red Street Studio, Newsletter design

Bequests: Those who wish to help assure the continuation and growth of our programs, collections and services by means and mention in your will should contact the Executive Director for more information.

Disability Accommodation: If you or your child needs an accommodation for a disability to attend any program, please phone the Library at least fi ve working days prior to the scheduled program.

Library Board meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7pm. Visitors are welcome.

E NR I C

H I N G L I V E S

What’s a QR Code?A QR Code (Quick Response Code), is a 2-dimensional barcode that can contain different kinds of information, includ-ing web addresses, text, and more. They are readable primarily by smartphones equipped with cameras, but certain other types of camera phones should be able to read them as well. (An application for scanning barcodes is required.) This QR Code contains general information about the Library. In the future we will use QR Codes to highlight specifi c programs, services, and resources at the Library.

Join the Library on FacebookIn 2008, the Young Adult Department created a Facebook page to feature news and upcoming events. By posting videos, photos, event fl yers, and other information, the YA librarian found a new (and successful) way to interact with teens. Recently, the Facebook page was expanded to include the Children’s and Adult Services Departments, providing coverage for the entire Library. We will continue posting photos from our programs, highlighting new materials in all departments, and advertising future events. Please join us on our Facebook page by searching for “La Grange Park Public Library” on Facebook.