SUMMER 2021

ISSUE VIII

From the Director, Susan Stickel:

Board of Trustees member Doris Heaton has officially retired from the Board of Directors. All of us wish to thank Doris and acknowledge with great appreciation her many years of service on the library board.

We want to congratulate Sue Wells on her re-election to the library board and welcome new board member Brian Crisp as both began their terms on May 17, 2021.

As we begin to be cautiously optimistic about the future, we have planned an awesome Digital Summer Reading Program for children. Please check out our website for upcoming details about the program that is set to begin June 14th. You may always contact the library for more details.

We are all looking forward to the near future when we can once again offer programming. Until that time, our beautiful Reading Garden is open for enjoyment. If you haven’t visited yet or it has been some time since, we invite you to come check it out. Six year old Jackson Clark recently visited and told his mother it was “magical”. I hope you think so, too!

Susan

NEW AT THE LIBRARY

Does your child love learning about real things like big trucks, dinosaurs, ocean creatures, parks, sports, other cultures, and many more topics? Come and check out the new easy non-fiction section located in the children’s area of the library. Easy non-fiction books are based on facts, real events, and real people. The early non-fiction books are aimed at the early reader.

DIGITAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM 2021

The “Reading Colors Your World” Digital Summer Reading Program kick-off is June 7th! Get registered today online through Facebook, our website, or at the library for a summer filled with colorful fun. We have loads of fun planned including Brag Tags for completing reading logs, craft kits, science experiments, weekly drawings and prizes, and awesome swag bags for registered participants! We are so excited to have you join us so we can share some wonderful books from our library shelves with you!

NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

Benton, IL Genealogy is a new Facebook group. Pam Teague is the administrator of the group, and there are over 1.4 thousand members. Included are town photos, obituaries, and many photos and news articles from the past. Anyone can join!

HOMEBOUND PROGRAM

Unable to come to the library? Our Homebound Program is going strong. We provide books, audiobooks, and movies to nursing home residents, assisted living residents, and those at home who are unable to come to the library. If you or anyone you know are interested, call the library and ask for MaryLou Payne.

THE READING GARDEN

Our beautiful reading garden is open during library hours. We have free WiFi in the garden. We also have yard games available: corn hole, yard dice, washer pitch, checkers, and baseballs and gloves. If you are interested in a quiet place to read, have lunch, or do work, we have benches throughout the garden and tables under the pavilion.

OTHER NEWS

Our movie selection is growing every day. We currently have over 2000 movies of all kinds.

Fishing poles are available to check out. Only children with library cards can check them out.

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of long time library employee Paula Lainfiesta. Paula worked at the library for many years before moving to Washington to be near her son and his family. Paula was loved by all her library friends and will be greatly missed.

MEET THE STAFF

This month’s featured employee is Kim Newton. Kim has been an employee at the library for almost 10 years. She loves books! She loves the patrons and staff. (She said great staff!) Kim lives with husband Dave, her dog, Rocky, and her cat named Ollie. Kim loves gardening, reading, fishing, bird watching, and working puzzles. She is a collector of cows and Sylvesters. Kim is a retired court clerk in Lake County, Illinois, where she worked for 21 years. Kim has donated 121 pints of blood!

INDEPENDENCE DAY

The library will be open on Sunday, July 4th, but will be closed on Monday, July 5th.