American Library Association President Maureen Sullivan presented G. Victor Johnson with the ALA Trustee Citation, the highest honor given to public library trustees for distinguished service to library development. A longtime library leader, Vic served on the AHML Library Board of Trustees for 31 years and was president of both the North Suburban Library System Board of Directors and the ALA Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations. Currently, he teaches a library trustee orientation course at Dominican University in River Forest.

The award presentation was made at the ALA annual conference in Chicago, where Vic was also

The library's bookmobile has been traveling around Arlington Heights for 40 years meeting and greeting residents in their neighborhoods. Pictured are the first bookmobile circa 1973 and today’s version. In 1973 the bookmobile stopped at 11 Arlington Heights parks four days a week. Today it makes 30 stops every two weeks at parks, schools, apartment complexes and neighborhoods bringing the latest books, music, movies and magazines. Enjoy our celebration video of the bookmobile, then find out when it stops in your neighborhood here.

 

 

 

The holidays will be brighter for many families thanks to the generosity of our library users and community partners.  We were able to donate 826 books to Wheeling Township’s holiday Adopt-a-Family program.  We would like to thank everyone who contributed.  Special thanks go to Rolling Green Nine-Hole Golf League, American Legion Auxiliary Post #208; and our community partners: Tuscan Market & Wine Shop, Mariano’s Fresh Market, California Pizza Kitchen, Northwest Speech and Hearing Center at Northwest Community Hospital, California Pizza Kitchen, and the Chamber of Commerce Professional Women’s Council.

Since we have started the book drive in 1998, we have

We're five for five! For the fifth year in a row, the library has received a five-star rating, the highest of Library Journal's national public library ratings. We are one of only 30 libraries across the country to have received this distinction for all five years that Library Journal has named Star Libraries. This award speaks to the tremendous support we receive every day from you, our five-star community! 

 

See Library Journal's 2012 Index of Star Libraries.

Instead of its usual Wednesday stops, the bookmobile took a slightly different route on July 4 - the parade route! With giant banners on two sides, the bookmobile helped spread the word about the summer reading program for kids. Library trustees, staff and 32 Junior Library Volunteers marched along the route as well and treated parade watchers  to train-shaped silly bands as giveaways. Another library connection to the parade was our Executive Director Jason Kuhl (pictured above with pen in hand) who was one of the parade judges.

 

If you weren't able to come to the parade, we still

At this year's Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, sponsored by the Friends of the Library, we celebrated a huge milestone in library history - 500,000 hours of service to the library since the volunteer program began in 1979.

 

Our 295 volunteers work in the library, on the bookmobile and at the Arlington Heights Senior Center providing 28,074 hours of service this year alone.

 

This year's Volunteer of the Year is Sandy Kaempen who contributed 611 hours of service in 2011.

 

We would like to thank all of our wonderful volunteers for all of their help. We couldn't do

For 11 years, Library Journal's Movers & Shakers list has been spotlighting librarians and others in the library field who are doing extraordinary work to serve their users and to move libraries and library services forward. This year, Digital Services Manager Richard Kong made the list as one of the tech leaders of 2012.

 

Read about his technology innovations, including launching the Studio, our new digital media lab.

 

Congratulations to Richard!

Wednesday, January 18, marked the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the village of Arlington Heights, and the library played a key role in the village's celebration festivities.

 

Thanks to the efforts of Local History and Genealogy Librarian Michael Mulholland and IT Manager Mike Driskell, an antiqued facsimile of the incorporation papers was displayed at the event. The two library staff members traveled to the Cook County archives in Chicago to scan the incorporation document which was then printed on paper that looks like parchment.

 

Pictured above at the celebration are Executive Director Paula Moore, Michael Mulholland, Mayor

 

The library was voted the 2011 Business of the Year by the members of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce at their annual installation and recognition dinner. Celebrating the honor were, front row, Brian Shepard, Mike Driskell, Shannon Scanlan, and Diane Accurso. Back row, Jennifer Nitch, trustee G. Victor Johnson, Deb Whisler, trustee David Unumb, former trustee Jim Bertucci.

"We're honored to receive this award from the business community. We value our opportunity to partner with them," says Deb Whisler, Director of Communications and Marketing.

Whisler was also an honoree. She received the 2011 President's Award from outgoing president