Library News

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Thank you to all of our wonderful customers, staff and community groups, 558 books were donated for children and teens for Wheeling Township’s Adopt-a-Family program. Special thanks go to library staff, the Rolling Green Nine-Hole Golf League and Chamber of Commerce Professional Women’s Council. Teen books were identified as a particular need this year, and Arlington Heights answered our call for materials needed for a broader age of readers, with many titles donated for teens and tweens. Since starting the holiday book drive in 1998, the library has donated 15,031 books to children in need. Thank you for helping
 
"I think I'm still a short storyteller at heart," author Cristina Henríquez told an audience of 200+ during an appearance at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre on Thursday evening, November 12. Cristina spoke about her novel, The Book of Unknown Americans, which was chosen as the 2015 One Book, One Village selection by the library. In an interview-style program moderated by Info Services Librarian Mike Monahan, Cristina spoke candidly about her book which she originally wrote as a short story before expanding - a task which took five years to complete and tells the story of two families
 
For the eighth consecutive time, Arlington Heights Memorial Library has received a five-star rating in Library Journal's national rating of public libraries. Five stars is the highest rating that a library can receive. Star ratings are based on the annual number of library visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use.
 
 In 2015, 7,663 U.S. public libraries —more than ever before—were scored on the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. Nationally, 261 libraries earned a three, four or five-star status including 19 in Illinois. Out of these 19 libraries, Arlington Heights Memorial Library was one of
 
Volunteer Julie Wright received the Kenneth Hood Service Award in recognition of more than 30 years of service to the senior community including teaching computer skills at the library's Senior Center.  Wright was presented with the award by Mayor Thomas Hayes at the Village Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, September 21.  Mayor Hayes cited Wright's outstanding resume of service which, in addition to volunteering at the library, ranges from helping seniors prepare their taxes to teaching the Secretary of State's Rules of the Road review course.
 
A longtime resident of Arlington Heights, Julie and her husband Don
 
One Book, One Village, the library's community-wide reading initiative, topped the agenda at the Village's Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, September 21. Deputy Director Jeremy Andrykowski took to the podium to spread the word about this year's selection, The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez
 
"This is the second year in a row that the library’s offering One Book, One Village," Andrykowski said, "And the idea is simple – we want to build community by inviting all of Arlington Heights to read the same book at the same time."
 
Andrykowski introduced a prerecorded video of
 
Did you catch our bookmobile out and about town this summer? It was a busy season for the bookmobile, which served at least 2,220 additional customers through outreach and community events.
 
The bookmobile attended regular Storytime in the Park sessions at both Pioneer and Frontier Parks. The program was extended to eight weeks, with storytimes and bookmobile visits every Tuesday and Wednesday. Bookmobile staff attribute this summer's great attendance to all that nice weather we had, serving at least 400 customers each month. On one day alone, the bookmobile saw 105 customers at Storytime in the Park events
 
The 9th Annual Teen Film Fest is in the books! More than 160 people came to Metropolis Performing Arts Centre to celebrate Arlington Heights' young filmmakers on August 21. This annual event is co-sponsored by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Arts Commission and Metropolis.
 
Congratulations to the winners:
Best Overall Film - ‘Checkmate’ by Brandon Martin
Best Comedy - ‘Prop Hunt’ by Jared Culm
Best Experimental - ‘Trigger Warning’ by Kathleen Oku
Best Animation - ‘Over the Phone’ by August Graham, Ben Klicker
Best Documentary - ‘Same Molecules’ by Rhegan Graham
Best Music Video - ‘Geronimo’
 
As part of their back to school preparations, approximately 40 new teachers to Arlington Heights School District 25 visited the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on August 20 to learn about library resources available to teachers, how to request classroom materials, upcoming author visits and fall programs students will be interested in. Teachers toured the library and heard a presentation by School Services Coordinator (K-8) Julie Jurgens.

The library serves all preschools, elementary, middle and high schools located in Arlington Heights or where Arlington Heights students make up at least 45 percent of the student body. For more information, visit
 
It was the Summer of STEM at the library. While school was out, the library was full of children of all ages engaging in science and technology.
 
Children and parents packed the Training Center for an introduction to 3D printing. Just a short walk away, in Kids' World, a group of toddlers and preschoolers were engineering structures from tubes and connectors in a free-play session. Problem-solving skills were on full display as the hard hat-wearing group of young builders figured out which piece connected where. Nearby, another young visitor played on a felt board featuring honey bees and
 
Thanks to everyone who turned out for Arlington Heights' annual Fourth of July parade and cheered on the library's two entries - the bookmobile and a float featuring our One Book, One Village 2015 selection, The Book of Unknown Americans. We also celebrated a special retirement along the way as bookmobile driver Al Piskorski topped off 10+ years of service behind the wheel for the library. Al drove in the parade as his final bookmobile assignment - now that's a finale!  See more parade highlights.