Bookmark Contest and Bookmarks

Recently we held a bookmark contest for the children who are served by our RIF program. The entries have been judged and the winning bookmarks are being printed. When done, they will be available in the library. Meanwhile, the remaining entries are on display in the hallway outside the library. Homer has some very clever and artistic children, and it was hard to chose the winners. But, in a very real sense, they are all winners.

News for You

What’s news this week in the Homer Library? Seven new adult fiction books and four new DVDs are waiting to get checked out. They are Born in Death by J. D. Robb, A Carol for Christmas by Robin Lee Hatcher, Under the Northern Lights by Tracie Peterson, First Impressions by Nora Roberts, H.R.H. by Danielle Steel, Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier and The Widow by Carla Neggers.

The new DVDs include Cars from Disney, Firewall with Harrison Ford, The Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves, and Dreamworks’ Over the Hedge.

We are still seeking input on our survey. Before we spend $3,000 on non-fiction audio books, we want to know what subject areas you are interested in. You can either pickup a survey form in the library, or take the survey online by copy and pasting the urls from our October 20 and 28 posts into your browser. The online survey is in two separate parts.

Thank you to all who have already participated.

What's New?

First - what we don't know. We don't know yet when we're moving. There are things to be worked out, preparations to be made. We will be moving 12,360 books, 170 music CDs, 820 DVD and VHS tapes, and 27 magazine titles with at least three years of issues of each title. Plus desks, tables, chairs, machines, shelving, supplies etc. It will be a big undertaking, even in a small library.

The first Reading is Fundamental (RIF) distribution will take place soon. Three times each school year, we give each child in grades kindergarten through fourth a free book of her or his choosing. Any books leftover from that (and we always have more RIF books in inventory) will need to be moved, also.

Our new books this week are Family by Karen Kingsbury, Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker and Dear John by Nicholas Sparks. We also have four DVDs on the United States Constitution.

We still need your input on audio books. Please see our blog entries of October 17 and October 20 for the link to the online survey, which is in two parts. Or you may get a paper copy of the survey in the library. Your input will be greatly appreciated.

Help Wanted

The Homer Library (Homer,Illinois)is looking for someone who would like to work on an occasional basis in the library doing clerical work. It would mainly entail checking items in and out, reshelving materials, and helping patrons. Anyone interested can call 217-896-2121, or come to the library at 101 N.Main, Homer. We are in the village hall, second door on the right.

Survey Part Two

Copy and paste the following link into your browser to access the second part of the survey. Your input is very much appreciated!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=151302757752

Library News Today

HOMER LIBRARY NEWS

The End is here! Really! Literally. As Lemony would tell you, “The end of THE END can be found at the end of THE END.” Anyway, The End, Book the 13th by Lemony Snicket is in. Is it really THE END? Read the book and see what you think.

Other new books this week include Echo Park by Michael Connelly, Short Straw by Stuart Woods, The Collectors by David Baldacci, Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans, When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin and The Innocent Man by John Grisham.

Our five cent book sale continues indefinitely. Come in and find some treasures.

You may have read in the newspaper that this library will be receiving a $3,000 grant for materials. We have specified that we will purchase non-fiction audio books. We want to know what you would like to hear. A survey is available online and in the library for you to register your interests. See the previous post for the link to the online survey. What you will see is part one. Please check back later for part two.

Attention Homer Illinois area residents...

We are conducting a survey to determine what local residents are interested in listening to. You see, we have been awarded a $3,000 grant to purchase audiobooks. Now, we want to know what you want to listen to. To give us your input, please copy and paste the url for the survey into your browser:

Copy and paste the following link to take survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=667032738082


This survey is designed for those who use the library in Homer, Illinois. Thank you.

New Stuff and a Move

HOMER LIBRARY NEWS

We’re moving! You probably already know that. We’re having a moving sale. Everything on and under the sale table is five cents. Books, VHS tapes, cassettes. Eveything.

Meanwhile, we’ve got lots of new books for you to read. They include Fool Me Once by Fern Michaels, The Mission Song by John LeCarre, Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich, Under Orders by Dick Francis (back to writing again after a hiatus of many years), 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber, Christmas Letters by Debbie Macomber, The Brethren by Beverly Lewis, Public Enemy by Will Staeger, Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg, The Owl and Moon Café by JoAnn Mapson, Dead Wrong by J. A. Jance, Night Light by Terri Blackstock, and A Slender Thread by Tracie Peterson.

Our new non-fiction is the Mayo Clinic Guide to Alzheimer’s disease by Ronald Petersen.

For the young adult readers we have The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman and Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes for junior readers.

Our newest DVD is Brother Bear 2.

More news about the move will be coming out soon, as well as a survey. The survey will help us determine how to spend the grant we were recently awarded. Watch for an announcement about the survey.

MOVING SALE

Due to our upcoming move, we are having a sale. Everyone on and under the sale table is five cents, one humble nickel. Books, videos, cassettes - whatever. It's on sale.

Bookmark Contest - changes made

There’s a change of plans in regard to the bookmark contest. We will be passing out entry blanks to children in grades kindergarten through fourth during the fall RIF distribution. That will take place sometime in October. Older children who want to enter will still have to pick up entry forms at the library.

Call 896-2121 for more information.

Business Expo in Homer and New Materials

Tomorrow is the Business Expo in Homer. Be sure to stop in at the Homer Grade School between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It looks to be an exciting day.


The Homer Library will be there with a selection of items from our book and video sale. Also, we are sponsoring a bookmark contest for children ages 3 through 12. It will be broken down by ages so that the young ones are not competing against the oldest ones. Some of the prizes to be given out will be on display. So kids, get out your crayons, markers, whatever materials you prefer, to make a book mark.

Library Board members will judge the entries by age groups and award prizes. Winning bookmarks will be printed out and available in the library.

Our newest materials are Public Enemy by Will Staeger, Dead Wrong by J. A. Jance, The Owl and the Moon Café by Jo-Ann Mapson, The Mayo Clinic Guide to Alzheimer's Disease by Ronald Petersen, and DVD Brother Bear 2 from Disney.

New Stuff for you

There’s always something new in the Homer Community Library. We anticipate having a book order come in later this month, but in the meantime, here’s a small selection of new items for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Our newest adult fiction includes Vanish by Tess Gerritsen, An Unexpected Song by Iris Johansen, and Dead Run by P. J. Tracy.

All Parts Together is an historical novel of the Civil War. As it is part two of a series, you might want to want until the backordered part one arrives. The series is written for young adults and above.

Our new DVDs are Love’s Long Journey, based on the book of the same name by Janette Oke, Hoot, and RV with Robin Williams.

We are open from 2 to 7 p.m. each weekday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. We will be closed Monday, September 4, Labor Day. Our phone number is 217-896-2121.

Good Reading Ahead

After a week of vacation in New Hampshire, getting caught up afterwards, and having the computer out of commission for a week, I’m finally getting caught up again.

The big news here is the potential move into a much nicer, newer and more spacious facility. It’s not a done deal yet, but we’re hopeful.

Meanwhile, there are new books on the shelves. In the adult fiction department there are:

The Rapture by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
Copycat by Erica Spindler
Walking Lazarus by T. L. Hines
No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Telegraph Days by Larry McMurtry
Judge and Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross
There’s Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Talk Talk by T. C. Boyle
Found by Karen Kingsbury
Gone by Lisa Gardner
Faithless by Karin Slaughter
The Island by Heather Graham

Two others are
Roots, Shoots, Buckets and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy, a book about gardening with children
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, for the young adults

Our new DVDs are:
The Water is Wide, based on the book by Pat Conroy
The Shaggy Dog with Tim Allen

Please welcome Holly back

Holly has been on medical leave since mid-May. Please welcome her back when you come in.

Photos

Photos from the final session of the Summer Reading Program 2006 may be viewed at the library. They are located in the denim backed photo album.

Voyage to Book Island 2006

Wednesday, July 19, was the final program of our Summer Reading Program 2006, Voyage to Book Island. The children played games, and enjoyed snacks. We held a hula hoop tournament throughout the seven weeks, and the two children with the best times, of those who were present the last day, got to take home the hoops.

Prizes were awarded to all who attended. Rick Bates of the Homer Country Market, Christine Cunningham of the Homer Emporium, David Groth of Fazoli’s in Champaign, and Monical’s Pizza supplied food and prizes for the children.

It is just over one month until school starts again. We encouraged the children to keep reading, even though the Summer Reading Program is over. They will have an easier time when school starts again, than if they neglected to read.

Our thanks to the parents and day care people who brought the children and encouraged them to participate, and to Sue Jones for her assistance.

The Big Dig

Have you heard of the recent tragedy in Boston where part of a tunnel broke away and killed a motorist? The tunnel was part of the Big Dig.

Growing up in southeast New Hampshire, I heard rumors of corruption in regard to the building of a highway that skirted Boston. I believe it may be part of I-95 now. The rumors were of shoddy workmanship in particular, and probably cost overruns, and whatever else people could get away with. Such rumors surrounded the Big Dig project, too. So much so, that author Linda Barnes wrote a book by that title, The Big Dig. The book came out in 2002, the collapse occurred in 2006, and now authorities have a huge job ahead of them in making sure the rest of the project is safe. Be glad you don’t have to drive it!

If you want to read the book, the Homer library has a copy.

Homer Birthday calendar

If you have never received a Homer birthday calendar, you can sign up for next year's at the library. If you have gotten a calendar in the past, someone will be contacting you about next year's. Just wait for their call.

That .... front door lock

We're still having trouble with the front door locking when it shouldn't. I've been keeping the side door unlocked. However, it's harder to open. If the sign says it's unlocked, it is unlocked. You just have to try harder--- a lot harder!! Hopefully the situation will get resolved soon!!

If you still can't get in, please call us. 896-2121

Reading Opportunities

As promised, here is a list of our latest acquisitions!

Promise Me by Harlan Coben
Full Scoop by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen
A Thousand Tomorrows by Karen Kingsbury
On Every Side by Karen Kingsbury
The Husband by Dean Koontz
Yukon Quest by Tracie Peterson, 3 books in one
Summer of the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson
Sandcastles by Luanne Rice
Coming Out by Danielle Steel

For the young people we have:
The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett
And
Rain on My Wings by Evelyn Horan

The last one deals with child molestation by a relative. It is geared for young adult readers.