January 28, 2016
Look at the internet today. Things are happening online right now that would have been inconceivable even five years ago. With that in mind I have to say I can think of few topics more timely than the ones that will be raised at the upcoming Social Media Institute in Skokie at National Louis University. […]
January 27, 2016
When I moved from New York Public Library to Evanston I brought with me two small children, a husband, more doggone books than I know how to read, and my Children’s Literary Salon. Back in New York it was a monthly gathering of enthusiasts of children’s books who would come together for moderated talks. I […]
January 26, 2016
So. Did you see the new Star Wars movie? I bet. How many times did you see it? Just once? Twice? Three times?! Bet you’re wishing the next one in the series would come out tomorrow, don’t you? There a LOT of time to go before then. Well I’m going to let you in on […]
January 21, 2016
I don’t know if you noticed this past October but Evanston Public Library hosted its first annual Storytelling Festival. There were tents, international storytellers, events for people of every age, the works. It was also a massive success, selling out in almost every area. It seems fitting that EPL should salute storytelling since you could […]
January 19, 2016
In a sense, it was because of the children of Evanston that there even was an Evanston Public Library (but more on that tomorrow). As it happens, kids have always been integral to EPL’s success. So much so that in 1899 that Library formed a school children’s league. We don’t have enough leagues these days. […]
January 18, 2016
I think most of us can agree that $100,000 is a lot of money. A chunk of change. A veritable pot o’ moolah. In 1900 it was worth even more. That’s what so peculiar about today’s story. Imagine failing to earn $100,000 for something you really need. That’s pretty much what happened to Evanston Public Library […]
January 15, 2016
Today’s story is a sad one that also hints at the bizarre. Many bizarre stories do have a bit of sadness to them, of course. Would that all the weirdness in the world was wacky. Our tale today concerns one of the very first librarians to work at Evanston Public Library. When the library was […]
January 14, 2016
You. You there. The cute one. The one who writes all that poetry in your spare time. You are aware that Evanston has a poetry contest coming up, yes? You are aware as well that anyone who is a resident can enter, right? Child, teen, adult, there are categories for everyone and the judge is the […]
January 13, 2016
When you are a venerable public institution you have a tendency to forget things. Staff members come and go. Buildings are raised and razed. A library is a house of information but that doesn’t mean we necessarily know the story behind everything that’s here (particularly when there is more than one location). Case in point, […]
January 12, 2016
Not every library hosts bloodthirsty killers every spring. Not every library is Evanston Public Library. When I started my job as Evanston’s new Collection Development Manager I was given a lovely little desk with a window that looked west down Church Street. My desk came with a computer, a phone, and a pair of binoculars. […]