August 7, 2010
Renowned artist and art historian, Dr. Samella Lewis, and author, Dr. Richard Long, will present a lecture at Chicago Public Library Woodson Regional Library at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Agust 14. The two lecturers will speak at length about James Richmond Barthe’ (1901-1989). Dr. Lewis is the author of, Barthe’: His Life in Art. For information, call (312) 747-8184.
Susan M.
July 6, 2010
The urban fiction panel, “PHAT Fiction: Engaging Hip Hop Literature in the Public Library”, co-moderated at ALA by librarian, (Evanston Public Library) Susan McClelland, and Chicago Public Library Book Club Coordinator, K.C. Boyd, was a rousing success! The Monday, June 28, program featured four urban fiction authors (Coe Booth, Paula Chase, Kia DuPree, and Tachelle Wilkes) and seven librarians (K.C. Boyd, Megan Honig, Christopher Lassen, D.L. Grant,Vanessa Morris, and Amy Pattee). The authors and librarians discussed aspects of urban fiction’s appeal to readers, its impact on publishing and options for library programming. The 200-seat capacity room was standing room only, and one lucky reader even took home twenty hardcover urban fiction titles, courtesy of Follett Resources who supplied books for a raffle drawing at the program’s end. Visit the wiki and view panel discussions and photos online.
Susan Mc.
Where it’s unsafe to be outside, libraries provide haven for kids
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Chicago Tribune (IL)-July 6, 2010
Author: Lolly Bowean, Tribune reporter
It was a warm and sunny day outside, but Xavier Parker, 10, was deep into a computer game at Thurgood Marshall Public Library when his father walked in and told the boy he was about to go to a store.
“Stay in here,” Xavier’s father, Jimmy Giles, said, leaving the boy in charge of his 6- and 8-year-old brothers. “Don’t go anywhere until I come back and get you.” Continue reading “Libraries and Librarians in the News”
June 21, 2010
Timely article on libraries’ efforts to juggle the provision of Internet services against cutbacks in funding and hours. Rural libraries in particular are often the only location to access the Internet for many patrons.
May 24, 2010
Having worked in bookstores and libraries for many years and having loved books for even more years, it was with great delight that I came across an essay Kristy Logan wrote for The Millions about her overflowing collection of unread books. Like Logan, I too am guilty of stockpiling far more books than I will be able to read in any reasonable amount of time. There is something thrilling about browsing little out of the way used bookstores, looking for hidden treasure. Like most book lovers I’ve got my list in hand of hard to find books that I’m hunting for, but the real joy of these visits is the unexpected finds I inevitably come across. On my most recent forays into Evanston and Chicago’s used book emporiums I did not come away with any of the titles from my list, but along the way I discovered a historical account of vampires in colonial New England, a collection of Ogden Nash poetry, and a book of x-rays from the Smithsonian of unusual fish and other deep sea creatures. I would have never thought to look for these books, but once I picked them up I knew that I had to take them home with me. Continue reading “The Joys of Reading (and Not)”
March 19, 2010
As Evanstonians are acutely aware, times are tough for libraries. The current economic climate has resulted in cuts to library funding nationwide. Large cities and small towns alike have been feeling the crunch of tight budgets and funding cuts. But for those of us who love and support our local libraries, there are still ample opportunities to have our voices be heard. For those looking to share some library love, there are a couple of easy ways to do so right now at EPL:
1.) Woman’s Day magazine and the American Library Association are currently running an essay contest for women who love the library. They are looking for original essays (by women) of 700 words or less, telling why the library is important in your community. Up to four essays will appear in an upcoming issue of Woman’s Day and online at WomansDay.com. Submissions are being accepted through May 09, 2010. Additional information and the official rules for the contest are available here.
2.) The week of April 11th is National Library Week and we’d like for you to help us celebrate. We’re looking to collect brief, 1 or 2 sentence testimonials from our patrons about why they love the library. We’re planning to post your comments on our website for the week to celebrate our patrons, our library, and our community. If you’re interested in contributing a comment, please stop by either the 2nd Floor Reader’s Advisory Desk or the 3rd Floor Reference Desk and talk to a librarian anytime.
