North Riverside Public Library News

The North Riverside Public Library will join other members of the Metropolitan Library System in participating in the Words and Music Partnership with Ravinia Festival. A limited number of free passes to selected Ravinia performances are scheduled to be available on a first come-first served basis beginning June 1. Look for further information in the library.

The library is a cool place to be on a hot summer day - literally. When the temperature hits 100 degrees outside, why not spend some time reading and relaxing in the library?

Who will reign over the North Riverside Public Library's vehicle in the village's annual Independence Day parade? The library will again conduct a contest to determine our king and queen for the day. Look for further information in the library. Also, look for the library cutout at Veterans Park during the Village’s Independence Day celebration and have your souvenir picture taken.

North Riverside Public Library patrons can now pay fines and bills by credit card online, using Ecommerce. Visa, Discover and MasterCard can be used for online payments and all patron and credit card information is secure. Once payment is accepted, the patron’s library account is updated. Patrons can access Ecommerce by using the SWAN link on the library website and clicking on My Account. The service is only available online. Credit cards still are not accepted in the library.

Organizers of the Friends of the Library's annual spring used book sale want to thank the volunteers who helped sort books, set up, work the sale itself, tear down and pack books. They are Carol O'Meara, Annie Delano, Jerry Hill, Mary Lou Marchetti, Kay Subaitis, Annette Corgiat, Candy Piegari, Rosemarie Kuczek, Mary Cooper, Joe Silhavy, Sue Galick, Margurite Durkin, Adrienne Smith, Mike Zamojski, Mary Lee, Jean Schindler, Maria Riojas, Micki Caldbeck, Mary Ann Riveria, Alexis Riveria, Louise Tompkins and Shirley Hoving. Special thanks go to Riverside Presbyterian Church Youth Leader Josh Fulton and his helpers, Jackie Grisafe, Kelly Grisafe, Jordan Ballerine, and Amanda Gregus.

Sufficient growth in the library's DVD collection has allowed us to relax our loan rules. Patrons can now check out not-new DVDs for one week. Also, although patrons still are limited to four movies per household per checkout, they can be all DVDs, all videocassettes or any combination of the two. Patrons still are limited to two new DVDs per checkout and new DVDs still are due the next day. The loan period for videocassettes remains one week.

The board and staff of the North Riverside Public Library are mourning the death of 13-year Library Board Trustee Alex Pankey, who passed away Saturday February 16. Trustee Pankey served on the Library Board from his appointment in July 1994 until his death. Longtime chairman of the Library Board's Building and Grounds Committee, Trustee Pankey was very involved in the construction of the current library facility, which opened in 1999.

Fourteen patrons of the North Riverside Public Library were the lucky winners in the library's annual National Library Week raffle.

Anne Blaszinski, Thao Dao, Veronika Harris, Mary Matthews, Celedonia Ramos and Debbie Sanders won tickets to the North Riverside Recreation Community Theater presentation of "Gypsy," donated by the Theater Group; and Arlene Grosser and Kathy Shrutek won Borders gift cards, donated by the Friends of the Library. Also, Teresa Hall and Bob Zymm won Darden Restaurants gift cards, donated by Golden Security Insurance Agency; Ted Esteghamat and Jeanine Watylyk won Blockbuster gift cards, donated by Golden Security; and Diane Loconte and Kaila Sweeney won Starbucks gift cards, donated by MidAmerican Specialites.

Patron were given a raffle ticket for each book they checked out during National Library Week, which was celebrated from Sunday through Saturday, April 13 through 19.

National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.

Free computer classes continue with the Introductory I class from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday July 19 and Saturday August 23. The class will focus on how to access the Internet for fun, information, learning, shopping, traveling, communicating with others via email and much more. Please bring your email address if you have one and don't forget to memorize your password. Also included is how to locate and reserve library materials through SWAN (System-Wide Automated Network). Bring your library card along to class. Class is limited to five people.

Registration, which is required, can be made in person at the library or by calling 447-0869.

The library has begun its summer schedule, by which we are closed on Sundays until September 7. Other west suburban libraries open on Sundays include Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Indian Prairie in Darien, La Grange Park and Oak Park.

The board, staff and patrons of the library would like to thank Fred Smith for providing the June exhibit and Bill Lilliquist for offering to provide the July exhibit.

We would also like to thank our recent Display Case exhibitors - Komarek School physical education students, March; Jass Whirl, April; and Girl Scout Troop 4617, May.

The Display Case is available for several months in 2008. Library patrons and village residents interested in providing an exhibit should contact Library Director Robert J. Lifka at 447-0869.

The library would like to thank Rose DeRango for donating the book, "The Garden Primer: The Completely Revised Gardener's Bible," in memory of her late father, Guiseppe A. Aurelio.

In addition, the library would like to thank the Riverside Township Lions Club for donating $800.00, which allowed the purchase of 40 large print books for adults and children.

The library also purchased six books in memory of Village Clerk Charmaine Kutt. They are "Simply Perfect," "Blue-Eyed Devil," "The Complete Dream Book," "In Your Dreams: The Complete Dream Book," "Guardian Angels: True Stories of Answered Prayers" and "The Encyclopedia of Angels."

The North Riverside Public Library accepts tax-deductible donations for the purchase of books and other library material. Contributions are lasting tributes the community can recognize and enjoy. The Library Staff is willing to select from subjects or titles provided. Once the book or material has been selected, an acknowledgment will be mailed and the donation noted with a special bookplate. Additional information regarding memorial or commemorative donations is available by calling 447-0869 or inquiring at the Circulation Desk.

Those who can't wait for the next used book sale can select used hardcover, softcover and paperback books as well as videocassettes from the Friends of the Library perpetual book sale shelves during regular library hours.

The North Riverside Friends of the Library always are on the lookout for new members. It's easy to become a friend - simply pick up a form at the Circulation Desk, fill it out and return it with the applicable membership fee. Your membership and participation are most welcome and can make a difference. Your support will help us continue our fascinating programs, annual book sales and outreach into the local community.

Officer positions are currently open. The Friends of the Library generally meet the second Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the library meeting room. Come to our next meeting and "check out" the Friends.

They bring a smile to every patron and the library staff with their dedication, time, and hard work! We couldn't do it without each and every one of you! THANK YOU!!

Youth Services Volunteers - Peggy Bork, Vivian Furan, Dorothy Hamilton, Marilynne Higgins, Doris Hullihan, Rosemarie Jirasek, Dolly McDaniel, Alice Mickie, Eleanor Spevak, Donna Svaicer, Leona Wojtowicz

Friends of the Library - Annie Delano, Jerry Hill, Mary Lou Marchetti, Carol O'Meara, Louise Tompkins

Library Trustees - Curt Bley, Annette Corgiat, Andrea DeRosier, Brad Lanken, Mary Lee, Kay Subaitis

If you leave something with your name on it behind in the library, we'll try to contact you to let you know we found it. But items without identification often go unclaimed.

More recent arrivals in the lost-and-found collection include a pair of reddish-pink trimmed glasses; gloves (child's brown pair, child's black single, adult black leather left, girl's blue-gray pair, child or adult black right); hats/caps (boy's Star Wars, girl's multi-colored nylon, boy's green, child's lavender and white print with tassels); earrings (pink pair, silver with green stone single); a blue Sears glasses case; a set of keys; a green and white stuffed frog; and two Marion Davis VHS tapes.

Thanks to our friends at the Brookfield Zoo, free passes to the Zoo are now available for checkout to North Riverside Public Library patrons. Each pass will allow free admission for four people.

Adult patrons with valid library cards will be allowed to check the passes out for three days. A $20 cash deposit will be required and the overdue charge is $2 per day. Those who don't return the pass will lose the $20 deposit and be charged an extra $50.

The limit will be one pass per family. The passes do not cover the cost of parking or fees for admission to special attractions.

The North Riverside Public Library now offers three video magnifiers for use by our visually impaired patrons - one for in-library use and two that can be checked out for three months each.

A video magnifier is an electronic device that produces enlarged images of text and objects on a monitor or screen. Video magnifiers can be used to read printed material; look at photographs and illustrations; read prescription bottles and other product labels; write checks; and complete forms. An image of the material to be magnified is captured by a digital video camera. The digital video camera is connected to the monitor on which magnified images are displayed.

The senior drop-in program co-sponsored by the North Riverside Public Library and Riverside Township will be celebrating its seventh anniversary this summer.

Seniors can enjoy cards, refreshments and socialization every Friday in the library. Although the program is sponsored by Riverside Township, its open to all North Riverside senior citizens and their friends.

The free program is held in the library's main level meeting room from 10 a.m. to noon. No registration is required.

The North Riverside Public Library Meeting Room on the main level and the Storytime Room in the lower level are available to North Riverside non-profit groups at no charge. North Riverside for-profit groups and non-profit groups from outside the village will be charged $50.00 and for-profit groups from outside North Riverside will be charged $200.00 to use the Meeting Room for a maximum of four hours.

A refundable security/cleanup deposit will be required of all groups at the time the application is filed.

Refreshments are limited to light refreshments such as cake and coffee. Those using the Meeting Room or Storytime Room must provide all of their own supplies. Groups have access to the librarys slide projector and overhead projector.

The North Riverside Public Librarys website is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Check us out, the website is filled with loads of information about the library, policies and our Board of Trustees. It includes separate pages for adult services and youth services plus a monthly calendar of events.

The library has purchased several of the Mavis Beacon series of self-instruction programs to our computers. Learn how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Web Page Design at your own pace. The program currently is available only on Terminal No. 5 in the Public Access Computer Room.

Just a quiet reminder: Cellular telephone conversation and music from headphones can disturb your fellow library patrons. Please be courteous and not use your cellular telephone or headphones inside the library.

Although we are not conducting a survey this year, we still want to hear what patrons and residents have to say about our library in general, as well as our staff and collection in particular. If there's a particular book, compact disc or movie you'd like to see in our collection, please let us know. If we can add it, we will. Patrons can place their written recommendations in the Suggestion Box or mention it to one of our staff members at the Circulation Desk.

To better serve our senior patrons, the North Riverside Public Library offers homebound delivery for North Riverside patrons with a valid library card. Through the service, library staff will delivery library materials to the residences of patrons who are homebound or who have a difficult time getting to the library. After registering, patrons can simply call the library to request materials and the library staff will set up a mutually convenient delivery time. When patrons are finished with their items, they may call the library to schedule pickup and delivery of new material.

Additionally, as an alternative, homebound patrons can sign up for proxy borrower services. Under this arrangement, a library patron can call the library to have their materials held to be picked up by a designated friend, neighbor or family member.

To register or obtain additional information, call the library at (708) 447-0869.

Don't forget to report lost library cards. Patrons will be held responsible for materials checked out and not returned by somebody using their library card. The fee for replacing a lost library card is $1.

The North Riverside Public Library's community bulletin board is available for village groups to publicize their activities. Community organizations or non-profit groups posting flyers throughout the village are encouraged to drop one off at the library and we'll help spread the word.

The privileges of all library cardholders living in the same household with any individual who owes the library $5 or more in fines will be suspended.

The library has a trackball mouse for use in the Public Access Computer Room. Those who prefer using one can request it at the Circulation Desk when registering for computer use.

We have only one so if it's in use when you request it, you'll have to wait. If it proves to be popular, we will obtain more.

North Riverside Public Library cardholders have access to materials at the other 85 public libraries within the Metropolitan Library System. Patrons who are looking for a book that's already been checked out or one that is not in the North Riverside collection can borrow it from another library. Just fill out an interlibrary loan request card at the Circulation Desk and we will obtain the book from another MLS library for you. We'll even call to let you know when it arrives. Or, if you prefer to wait until the North Riverside copy is returned, fill out a reserve card and we'll call to let you know when it's your turn.

The library, in conjunction with the Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS) now has a CRIS radio available for checkout. CRIS radio is an information service for the visually impaired. Various newspapers and magazines as well as other items of interest, are read aloud and broadcast through the CRIS radio transmitter. The CRIS radio, along with a monthly program guide, is available for checkout at the Circulation Desk.

Literacy Volunteers of Western Cook County is a not-for-profit organization that recruits volunteer tutors and matches them with adults who read below the ninth grade level. Literacy Volunteers understands the diverse needs of its tutors and has arranged that tutors schedule an hour and a half a week to spend helping another adult either learn to read or improve their English fluency or help someone pass his or her GED exam. Additional information is available by calling 848-8499.

Last modified: 6/11/08