March 2013

Foreword
Bloomington Public Library
Books are just the beginning.
Find
The Fresh Market Wine Gala
to benefit BPL Foundaiton
Tickets on sale at the Library & The Fresh Market
The Bloomington Public
Library Foundation will be the
beneficiary of all ticket sales
for an April
18, 2013,
Wine Gala
being hosted
by The Fresh
Market.
Tickets for
this gala —
which will
take place from 8-10pm — are
$20 and may be purchased at
either The Fresh Market or the
Library’s Check-Out Desk.
Attendees will enjoy shrimp
cocktail, crab cakes, and other
delightful hors d’oeuvres as
well as distinctive cheeses and
up to a 15% discount on wine
purchases at this exclusive wine
tasting event.
Only 300 tickets will be sold,
so be sure to get yours before
they’re gone.
The Library Foundation
wishes to thank The Fresh
Market for its generousity in
hosting this event.
BPL readies for 6th annual
Día de los Niños festival
On Saturday, April 27, the Library
will celebrate its 6th annual Día de
los Niños / Día de los Libros (Day
of the Children / Day of the Books)
event from 11am to 1pm.
The day’s agenda will include
visits with Dora the Explorer and
other mascots, the Magic of Jesus
Rios, authentic Mexican music
by Explosivos, the creation of
Mexican crafts, and facepainting
by The Zoo Lady and her crew for
the first 150 children who request
• Genealogical Workshop set for April
• Tax Assistance ends April 15
• Train programs slated for May
See Día, page 5
Mon-Thur: 9am-9pm
Fri & Sat: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 1pm-5pm
Mexican hat crafts were very popular
during Bloomington Public Library’s
2009 Día de los Niños celebration.
Contact
• Small business owners & library resources
• Memorials: Sketch/Etching Collection
• Putt with the Prose brings in $4,360
Participate
March 2013; Volume 7 Issue 2
Hours
Inside
Check out the Library’s website for a great new
service!
Book News provides access to the Library’s bimonthly newsletter Foreword, as well as access to
lists of new materials
Book News
and bestsellers in the
Newsletter Offering
Library’s collection.
• The Library’s Newsletter
To access the serBook News List Offerings
vice, visit the Li• New DVDs
brary’s website and
• New Fiction
click on “Services
• New Nonfiction
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on “Newsletters &
• Best Selling Fiction
RSS Feeds.”
• Mystery Books
Once you’ve opened • Audio Books
a list and are inter• Romance Books
ested in a title, you
• Science Fiction Books
can go straight to the
• Business Books
catalog to see if that
• Sports & Leisure
item is available or to • Home and Garden
put the item on hold.
• Children’s Books
• Children’s Picture Books
Another option is
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• Book Club Picks
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brary’s newsletter
• Teen Books
or any of the individual category lists. • Hot Picks
Sign up for as many • Science and Nature
• Food & Cooking
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• Then and Now
wish. Updated lists
are emailed about the
middle of each month.
Book News is one more way you can learn
about new titles and library events at the website
or by having your choices emailed to you.
See & Do
www.BloomingtonLibrary.org
a bi-monthly publication of Bloomington Public Library
Book News delivers
browsing convenience
with inbox option
Use
309.828.6091
www.BloomingtonLibrary.org
Memorials, donations to BPL enjoyed by all
By Karen Moen
Bloomington Public Library is grateful to have been the recipient of a number of memorial items, estate
contributions and donations over the years. Our newsletter devotes this space in each issue to recognizing these gifts.
In Loving Memory of ...
Nora H. McCurdy 1841-1921
Collection of 61 etchings & sketches
Nora H. McCurdy was the mother of Bloomington
socialite Laura McCurdy.
During the early part of the twentieth century,
Laura traveled to Europe with relatives and began
collecting artwork which included etchings and
sketches. She continued building her collection, and
this collection came to include work by artists such
as Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Francisco Goya and
James Whistler.
In May 1922, Laura donated the 61 pieces to the
Withers Public Library in memory of her mother Nora
H. McCurdy. She asked that the collection be named
the Nora H. McCurdy Memorial Collection. Laura
believed “... a public library to be the most appropriate
place in which to hang fine prints ... I hope this collection may be kept permanently on the walls of the Withers Public Library.” (Laura McCurdy, May 19, 1922)
Originally, the Committee Room of the Withers
Library housed the collection. The sketches hung
over bookcases filled with art books.
The Withers Library, which was at Washington and
East Streets, was torn down in 1977, and the
collection was moved to Bloomington Public Library
at 205 E. Olive St. The collection hung in the Board
Room until the Library renovation/expansion of 2006.
The collection is now housed in the Administrative
Office areas of the Library.
What a beautiful and lasting tribute Laura gave to
her mother!
Whistler:
Black Lion
Wharf
Cassatt:
Solitude
Maternelle
Whistler:
Drouet
Goya:
Que
Guerrero
Degas: Au
Louvre-Museé
des Antiques
Cassatt:
Portrait
If you’re thinking of making a gift or bequest ...
Page 2
In the past, the Bloomington Public Library
Foundation has been the recipient of several generous
bequests in support of the Library.
In most cases, bequests are placed in endowment
funds that support the Library on an annual and ongoing
basis. These endowments are permanent cornerstones for
the Library. These funds ensure that the Library will have
additional resources each year to respond to the most
immediate and sometimes pressing needs of customers.
For information about gifts or bequests, contact
Director Georgia Bouda by phone at 557-8901 or by
email at [email protected].
Would you like to save some money?
The Library has the ability to automatically email hold notices and reminders about upcoming due dates to its customers. To benefit from this
service, simply ask a staff member at any of our Service Desks or on the Bookmobile to add your valid email address to your account.
4th annual
with
Putt the Prose
raises $4,360
With the help of our sponsors, the
Library’s 4th Annual Putt with the
Prose mini golf fundraiser raised
$4,360 for the Library’s Foundation.
The event was held the afternoon of
Sunday, February 12, and drew more
than 300 people to the Library where
mini-golf greens were run through the
Children’s Department, the Adult Services Department, the Lobby, and the
Community Room.
Please join us in thanking the sponsors, door prize donors, and volunteers
who helped to once again make this
event a success.
Many thanks to
our 2013 sponsors...
The 19th Hole
Golden Prairie
Public Library District
Hole & Table Sponsors
Kelly’s Bakery and Cafe
McDonald’s
of Bloomington, Normal,
McLean & Gibson City
Emmett-Scharf Electric
Great Plains Media
(107.7 The Bull, 92.9 Cities
& The Ticket 99.5)
Illinois Farm Bureau,
COUNTRY Financial, &
GROWMARK
YWCA of McLean County
WGLT
State Farm
Sugar Grove Nature Center
Kumon Math & Reading
Center
Little Jewels Learning
Center
Funk Gem and Mineral
Museum
Prairie Oak Vet Center
Farnsworth Group, Inc.
The Pantagraph
Prairie Pride Coalition
DNDC Telephone Co.
Door Prize Donors
ISU Athletics
Talbots
Walmart of Bloomington
Meijer
McLean County Museum of
History
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard
The Normal CornBelters
Barnes & Noble
Midwest College of Cosmetology
Holiday Inn & Suites Bloomington
Carl’s Ice Cream
Taco Bell
Upper Limits Climbing Gym
Aches Away Massage
Eastland Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites
Papa Murphy’s Pizza
Sylvan Learning Center
Jack Lewis Jewelers
Flingers Pizza Pub
B&B Awards and Recognition
Blain’s Farm & Fleet
Creative Cuts, Inc.–RestHAIRation
Jewel of Bloomington
Community Players
Weber Electric
Jimmy John’s
Fox & Hounds
Four Seasons Fitness Center
Chili’s
Pick a Princess Party
Commerce Bank
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Caterpillar Visitors Center
Money Smart Week
Illinois Shakespeare Festival
Volunteers
IWU’s Football Team
IWU’s Alpha Phi Omega
Chris Highland
Adam Pittser
Bloomington Public Library is on Facebook, and we’re also Tweeting. Check us out and become a fan or follower.
And when you’re done, invite your friends!
Page 3
We’re on Facebook and Twitter!
Spencer Smith
Tim Glover
ISU’s Women’s Golf Team
ISU’s Men’s Golf Team
Searching for Your Ancestors Workshop returns
Bloomington Public Library and the
Letitia Green Stevenson Chapter of The
Daughters of the American Revolution are
once again joining forces to help beginning genealogists search for their ancestors. Interested parties should meet in the
Community Room from 1-4pm on Saturday, April 6.
A short program will educate attendees
about available resources.
Members of the DAR will be available
to provide attendees with individual
attention.
Basic computer knowledge is required,
and computers will be available for program attendees to use during the workshop.
Additional participating groups include:
Colonial Dames of the Seventeenth
Century, Children of the American
Revolution, Sons of the American
Revolution, Jamestown Society, McLean
County Genealogical Society.
GOT BOOKS?
Library volunteers collect donations on the second
Saturday of each month. Donors can either bring these
materials to the Community Room or pull up under the
overhang in the Library parking lot where volunteers
will help unload cars.
Your donations of unwanted books, audio books, CDs,
DVDs, and Blu-Rays to Bloomington Public Library are
sold with proceeds benefitting Library programs.
From June-February, the sale of these items brought
in more than $16,000, and we can’t tell you enough just
how much we appreciate your donations.
Upcoming Donation Dates:
• April 13
• May 11
• June 8
• July 13
AARP Tax Assistance
available at the Library
AARP tax assistance is now available on various weekday
mornings at the Library. On days when this service is
offered, volunteers will be available to assist in preparing
and filing tax returns from 9:15am-1pm. The last return will
be started by 12:20pm each day.
Those seeking assistance should bring their Social
Security Card and all other relevant documents with them to
the Library. Neither age nor income restrictions are placed
on this assistance.
Tax assistance will be available on the following dates:
• Monday, March 18
• Monday, April 1
• Tuesday, March 19
• Tuesday, April 2
• Thursday, March 21
• Monday, April 8
• Monday, March 25
• Tuesday, April 9
• Thursday, March 28
• Thursday, April 11
• Monday, April 15
Upcoming Teen programs will make you wish you’re a teen
Minecraft Papercraft
March 25-29
Materials and instructions will be
available all week in teenZone
allowing teens to make their favorite
Minecraft characters out of paper.
crescent rolls. Try a few, or try them all
to see what recipe you like best.
Sleek, Sassy, &
Sophisticated Up-Dos
Page 4
Saturday, April 20
Are you a teen who’s interested in
being able to create your own unique
Iron Chef: Crescent Rolls
hairstyles? We can show you how.
Monday, March 25
From 3-4:30pm in the Community
The ingredient of the day is crescent
Room, we will be learning how to
rolls! Teens will meet from 2:30create up-dos for prom or any special
4:30pm in the Community Room
where they’ll make 6 recipes that utilize occasion. Bring your own combs and
Book News
brushes, and we’ll help with the rest.
International up-do artist Susan Girard,
owner of Studio 234, will be our instructor.
Chocolate Treat Bowls
Monday, May 13
Today, the teens will make dessert bowls by dipping balloons into
chocolate. Yes, that’s right; balloons!
Sounds strange, but we predict it will
also be fun and yummy … especially
after we then fill the bowls with ice
cream. We’ll meet at 6pm in the
Community Room.
Book News provides access to the Library’s bi-monthly newsletter Foreword, as well as lists of new materials and bestsellers in the
Library’s collection. Visit the Library’s website and click on “Services For You.” Then click on “Newsletters & RSS Feeds.”
Another option is to register to receive via email the Library’s newsletter or any/all of the individual category lists.
Small Business Brown Bags
teach entrepreneurs
about Library resources
SUMMER
READING
Library staff and guests will give short presentations
about resources and information available to the business
community.
In an informal lunchtime setting (lunch is not provided,
but feel free to bring your own), guests will gain an
understanding of the ways in which the Library can
contribute to, serve and support small businesses and their
efforts. Monthly meetings will take place at 11:30am in the
Community Room.
• March 26: Databases & Other Resources.
• April 23: County Clerk Kathy Michaels will discuss filing
for a DBA for sole proprietorship.
• May 28: TBD
Lapsits for Infants
Dia
Family Story Time will meet at
11am in the Story Room. Children of all ages will
enjoy stories, songs and finger plays. .
From Page 1
a facepainting ticket that
day.
In addition, LaBamba
Mexican Restaurant will
once again sell their Mexican
fare, and several community
groups will host informational booths focusing on health,
ESL, safety and other issues
pertaining to families. Each
child will also receive a free
book in their goodie bag.
The History:
Día de los Niños is celebrated annually in Mexico.
This tradition was brought
to the United States by Pat
Mora, an author of numerous
children’s books, who initiated the idea of combining
children’s day and literacy.
Bloomington Public Library’s
first Día celebration took
place in 2008.
Congratulations!
The winner of this year’s Take
20, Read to Your Bunny: My 1st
Reading Program prize drawing
is Edward McLaughlin!
Edward won a wonderful gift
package of educational toys
which were purchased with
profits from the Library’s used
Book Shoppe. Congratulations
are also in order for Edward’s
mother, Melissa McLaughlin,
who signed Edward up for the
program, completed the activities with him, and turned in his
reading log!
begins June 3
2013 Theme: Have Book - Will Travel
Story Times
Lapsits for Infants will meet at 10am & 6:30pm in the
Story Room. Enjoy 30 minutes of lap bouncing, nursery rhymes, music activities, and play time for infants
to 18-month-olds.
March 19 April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23
2nd Saturday Family Stories
April 13
May 11
Toddler Time
Toddler Time meets at 10am in the Story Room. Children age 19-to-35 months will enjoy stories, songs,
rhymes, & movement activities with a caregiver.
March 21 April 4 April 11 April 18
April 25
Wiggle Giggle Wednesdays
It’s time to get the wiggles out during this all-ages story
time which will meet at 6:30pm in the Story Room.
April 3
May 1
Preschool Story Time
Preschool Story Time will meet at 10am in the Story
Room. This 30-minute program will help your 3- to
5-year-old build independent listening skills.
March 20 April 3 April 10 April 17 April 24
Second Monday Story Club
The Second Monday Story Club will meet at 6:30pm
in the Story Room. Children in grades K-3 will enjoy
themed stories, poetry, and activities.
April 8 - Opening Day
Money Smart Week Story Time:
Does Money Grow on Trees
It’s never too early to learn about money. This 10-11am
Community Room story time will include a story,
activity, and take-home items for those in grades K-6.
Page 5
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Current Resident or
Join us in May for a series on “Trains & Railroads”
History Reads Book Club
Tuesday, May 7 (meets at the History Mueum)
In partnership with the McLean County
Museum of History, this book club discusses
books associated with Illinois history. Join us
at 7pm in the Governor Fifer Courtroom on
the 2nd Floor of the McLean County Museum
of History to discuss Bloomington’s C & A
Shops: Our Lives Remembered edited by local
editors Michael G. Matejka and Greg Koos.
Bloomington, the Boom Town:
How the Railroad Transformed Our Community
Thursday, May 16
Mike Matejka will enlighten attendees with tales of
Bloomington’s past at 7pm in the Community Room.
Until 1853, Bloomington was a rural market town. That’s
when the railroad arrived. Find out how the railroad put
the “boom” in Bloomington, established local industry,
attracted immigrants, assisted farmers, built unions, and
laid the foundation for ISU. Bloomington flourished with
the railroad, leaving a lasting impact on our community
and our local culture.
“All Aboard” with the Tea Ladies
Sunday, May 19
At 2pm, use your imagination to step aboard
the brand new transcontinental railroad and
experience a 19th century train trip out West
with the Tea Ladies. Learn all about the Harvey House Restaurants and what it took to be
a Harvey Girl waitress. Gambling is allowed,
but let’s hope there are no train robbers!
This is going to be a great Community Room program for
families to enjoy together.
Chasing Trains and More: Local Snapshots,
Snippets & Blurbs from a Lifelong Rail Buff
Thursday, May 30
Speaker Jack Keefe will present an anecdotal collection of
pictures and stories from his vault and beyond at 7pm in
the Community Room. He will cover railroads delivering
goods, trains leaving the rails, and more. The audience may
be aware of some of these tales without already having the
benefit of their back stories. Keefe is sure to amuse, inform,
entertain, and fill in some of the gaps.