Tooting Our Horn!

The Blue Island Public Library has been honored with a prize to cap off this great year. We are pleased and proud to share that we have won the 2009 MLS Best Practices in a Library Award for our programs and initiatives with the Spanish-speaking population.

Our successful offerings and engagement with the Spanish-speaking community has been a long time in the making; Lynne Ingersoll, Deb Beasley, Sonia Rodriguez, and I have worked hard with the support of the entire staff and our director, Jim Deiters, to make this library a comfortable and resourceful place for everyone in our community, regardless of language, color, or ethnic background.

In addition, Darren Thompson has won the 2009 MLS Innovation in Technology Award for his introduction of new technologies at our Library. Felicidades to him as well!

Hispanic Heritage Month--- a note from Dan

The Library celebrated Mexican Independence Day and opened its annual month long observance of Hispanic Heritage Month on September 16th with an appearance by the Holy Cross-Immaculate Heart of Mary Marimba Ensemble…Thanks to Eli and his staff from the Tenochtitlan Restaurant who made sure the turn away audience was well fed!






On Saturday afternoon September 19th we filled our parking lot with an all ages, family audience who delighted to Juan and Graciala, the ‘Pocket Circus’ from Argentina, another Hispanic Heritage Event….










We were indeed fortunate that our friends at the National Museum of Mexican Art offered us their photography display entitled “Mexican Chicago” for Hispanic Heritage Month again. As you recall, in 2005 we were the first venue outside the Museum to host this display. As happened last time, the most gratifying aspect of the display is the number of Blue Islanders who come in and see the pictures of family members in the display…




On Sunday, Sept. 20 the Sarabia family, (l-r) Bernadette, Vickie, Victoria and Maria Marine found a photo of their grandfather and grand aunt as children in Mexico.

We are also fortunate that Rita Arias Jirasek, one of the authors of the book on which the photo display was based, consented to join us again this month to appear at 2 events Sonia Rodriguez has organized for her ESL group and Blue Island Schoolkids.

Hispanic Heritage Month continues with a visit on October 6th from Dr. Antonio Delgado, a Visiting Scholar from the Smithsonian Institution, who will speak on the “Hidden History of Mexicans in Chicago”. We are fortunate that Dr. Delgado’s visit will be funded by the Illinois Humanities Council. WBEZ Radio has also indicated an interest in recording the event for later broadcast as they did for one of our Black History Month Events 2 years ago. It concludes with a concert by local favorite, Oscar Castanada.

Sign Up For A Card Today

52 Ways to Use Your Library Card
(for each week of the year)


1. Get to know your librarian, the ultimate search engine @ your library.
2. Update your MySpace page.
3. Research new job opportunities.
4. Find a list of childcare centers in your area.
5. Learn about local candidates for office.
6. Pick up voter registration information.
7. Check out your favorite graphic novel.
8. Pick up a DVD.
9. Get wireless access.
10. Participate in a community forum.
11. Find out how to navigate the Internet.
12. Prepare your resume.
13. Get new ideas for redecorating your house.
14. Get a list of community organizations.
15. Attend a lecture or workshop.
16. Hear a local author reading his/her latest novel.
17. Join a book discussion group.
18. Attend preschool story hour with your child.
19. Get homework help.
20. Look up all kinds of health information.
21. Research the purchase of a new car.
22. Trek to another planet in a Sci-Fi novel.
23. Call the reference desk if you have a question.
24. Research your term paper.
25. Learn about the history or your city or town.
26. Decide which computer to buy using a consumer guide.
27. Check your stock portfolio.
28. Borrow or download an audiobook for your next road trip or commute.
29. Use the library’s resources to start a small business.
30. See a new art exhibit.
31. Volunteer as a literacy tutor.
32. Find a new recipe.
33. Ask for a recommended reading list for your kids.
34. Make photocopies.
35. Get a book from interlibrary loan.
36. Enroll your child in a summer reading program.
37. Take a computer class.
38. Hear a poetry reading.
39. Take out the latest fashion magazine.
40. Enjoy a concert.
41. Trace your family tree.
42. Check out a special collection of rare books.
43. Check out a legal question or issue.
44. Find out how to file a consumer complaint.
45. Learn about home improvement.
46. Borrow some sheet music.
47. Learn how to use a database or computerized catalog.
48. Find the latest romance paperback.
49. Pick up tax forms.
50. Connect with other people in the community.
51. Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy.
52. Read a newspaper from another country.


-from ALA website

Kevin Trudeau---"Dangerous Huckster"?

Kevin Trudeau has sold millions of books. We have some of them here at the library. The Weight Loss Cure "They" Don't Want You to Know About. Debt Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About. Recession Cures -Get Rich In Tough Times. Free Money "They" Don't Want You to Know About. I always shudder a little when I see someone check one out, however, because I--- along with the Federal Trade Commission--- think the solutions, promises, and cures in his books are mostly unrealistic, misleading, and, at times, potentially dangerous.

Word to the wise. Read this Chicago Tribune article and investigate the author in whom many have mistakenly put their trust and given their dollars.

What do you think? Has Kevin Trudeau's books helped you or is the advice in them bad?

See the Chicago Tribune article here.

Book and VHS Sale: Going, Going, Gone!

Last Friday night after our last patron had gone innocently home, our team of guerilla librarians tackled our Adult Non-Fiction Stacks, looking for old, battered and outdated books and VHS tapes. We pulled, picked over, shook, examined and otherwise scrutinized our collection, til the shelves looked fresh and new again. We laughed, we cried. We lugged carts of dusty books around, we ate pizza. The job got done. Now we are selling those "weeded" books in the ongoing book sale in our entryway.

Attention: readers of biography, lovers of art, people with VHS players! We have many items on display for the cheap price of one dollar per paper bag, or fifty cents per bag if you have a cloth library bag(on sale at the Circulation desk for two dollars with first two fill-ups free!) They are roomy and handy and green!

Come and get it!

Kids-n-Pinatas! Couldn't Be Cuter!

Leyendo En Familia, A Bilingual Story-Time: July 2009, sponsored by the Children's and Reference Departments

Blue Island Public Library By The Numbers

A quick look at the Blue Island Public Library through statistics





12,969
Library card holders

92,343
Materials available to the public

51
Computers available to the public

92,058
Computer sessions last year
(Nearly 4 for every man, woman, and child in town!)

175,063
Visitors last year

384
Events last year

12,827
Participants at those events

34
Number of hard-working (and good looking) staff members

2
Articles in recent professional publications featuring the Blue Island Public Library

1
Winner of the 2008 Illinois Library Association Crosman Memorial Award
for outstanding new librarian (Skye Lavin)

22,361
Questions asked at both the Reference and Children’s Desks

9
Dedicated and determined Trustees caring for the Library

22
Percent increase in circulation for 2008

325
African-American featured items bought last year with grant money
from Bobby Rush and the Institute for Museum and Library Services

6,075
Materials in the Spanish collection

187,067
Items that circulated in fiscal year 2008-2009
(Almost 8 items for every person in town!)

59,478
Dollars under budget last year

Having a great Library in town . . .
you can’t put a number on that!