In the coming year, we will begin work on a building project that will help us be even more responsive to our residents’ needs. Many of the changes will revolve around helping residents use the technology that is becoming increasingly essential in school, business, and at home.

“Every day, we’re helping residents with their phones, eBook readers, and social media,” said Ming Heraty, Welcome Desk Manager. According to the Pew Research Center 35% of adults in the U.S. own a smartphone as of July 2011, up from 21% just 18 months earlier. Circulation of eBooks at the library has increased

We're 4 for 4! For the fourth consecutive year, the library has received a five-star rating in Library Journal's national rating of public libraries, the LJ Index of Public Library Service 2011. Five stars is the highest rating that a library can receive. Only 85 libraries across the country received this rating which is based on the annual number of library visits, circulation, program attendance and public Internet computer use. Thanks for making us a 5-star library!

On Monday, August 15, long time library volunteer Joe Cesario was awarded the fourth annual Dr. Kenneth Hood Award by Village President Arlene Mulder at the Village Board Meeting. This special award is given by the Village's Senior Citizens Commission.

 

After retiring from a long career at First National Bank of Chicago where he developed computer applications and networks, Joe turned to teaching computer classes for seniors and tutoring unemployed people seeking computer skills for work. For the past 11 years he has contributed over 3000 hours as a volunteer for the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, significantly impacting the

On Friday, July 29, Farm Bureau members from Cook and Kendall counties toured the library with State Representative David Harris as part of the Farm Bureau's Adopt-A-Legislator program.

 

Farmers from rural areas are matched with city and suburban legislators and visit their districts to learn about the important issues for cities and suburbs. Legislators like Representative Harris then visit the rural districts for farm tours to learn about the issues facing farmers.

 

In addition to the library, the tour also included Village Hall, the downtown business area, Tuscan Market, Metropolis and the Backstretch at Arlington Park. According to

The library's Flinstone mobile with Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and members of the Royal Order of Water Buffalos won first place for creativity (non-commercial category) in the July 4 parade. This is the fifth year that we can claim this distinction thanks to the talents of Information Technology Manager Mike Driskell and his family and friends who built the float.

 

Also participating in the parade was the bookmobile along with a group of our junior library volunteers, staff members and Trustee G. Victor Johnson. Our thanks to the Friends of the Library once again for generously funding the float

AHML's Job Seekers Program received the "Outstanding Service Award for 2010-2011" from Rotary District 6440 Governor Bruce Baumberger. The Library has received vocational grants totaling $8000 from the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights in the past 18 months to fund the Job Seekers program series at the Library. Accepting the award is Arlington Heights Rotarian Deb Whisler, the Library's Director of Communications & Marketing, who was also recognized with a "Distinguished Rotarian Award" for 2010-11.

On Sunday, May 1, recently retired Library Trustee Dick Frisbie was the guest of honor at a party sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Friends members, library staff and trustees, and village mayor, trustees and manager joined Frisbie family members and friends to celebrate Dick's historic 44-year tenure on the Board of Library Trustees.

 

A highlight of the event was Dick Frisbie's remarks which we share with you in this YouTube video filmed by his granddaughter, Nora Malone. Library Director Paula Moore and Paul Frisbie, Dick's son, also spoke.

It was May of 1967 when Dick Frisbie became a library trustee. On April 21 he retires after 44 years of serving on the Board of Library Trustees. He is the longest serving library trustee, and he leaves a legacy of inspiring leadership and dedicated service to the Arlington Heights community.

 

He has seen great changes over the years. During his tenure, the Library's circulation grew to over 2.6 million items, and the Library received national recognition, earning Library Journal’s 5-star rating for three straight years.

 

He has held every office on the Board, including serving as president

Arlington Heights Memorial Library is proud to have one of its own named one of Library Journal's "Movers and Shakers of 2011." Reference and Virtual Services Supervisor Bill Pardue was recognized as a "change agent" for his innovative work with virtual reference and his initiative encouraging librarians to log onto Q&A websites to respond to questions.

 

Bill is one of only 50 librarians from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Singapore and the UK to receive this honor. Congratulations, Bill! 

Want to know what happens on a typical day at the Library? On Wednesday, April 13, we joined libraries across the state participating in "Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Your Library."

 

Here are some of the photos that we took around the Library, Senior Center and bookmobile capturing the ways in which people use library services.

 

Photos from other Illinois libraries.