Comments on: Tell Your Story

By: Roberta V. Harris

Roberta V. Harris — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:09:10 +0000

Being unemployed for several years has resulted in a lot of cutbacks in my budget. I can no longer afford the internet, to rent dvd’s, or- some days- a newspaper. I now rely on the library for these services. However, the most important reason that I visit the library, almost daily, is to use the computer in my job search. I utilize six different libraries in the south suburban area. For people without a home computer, the library has been an invaluable resource.

By: Julia Driscoll

Julia Driscoll — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:42:19 +0000

The Matteson Public Library, along with Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library, Grande Prairie Public Library, and Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library made a video to promote library funding to our legislators.

For interested viewers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H97TEZJYdoY

Hope you enjoy it.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:11:46 +0000

As a boy still in the stroller my mother would take me to visit ALL the libraries in and around the Warren Newport Public Library in Gurnee IL. I remember enjoying “story time” and all the fun child friendly activities at the library, with librarians whom still today know me by name. Today I’m a 21 year old Electrical Engineering student studying at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and am proud to say that I visit the Edwardsville Public Library once a week. As a college student I enjoy renting a movie for the weekend as it provides for cheaper entertainment than the $20 it would cost me to see a movie with my girlfriend in theaters. She accompanies me as well as she is an avid reader and loves to discover new books that the library provides. Libraries are a vital part of a lot of people’s lives from young children to teenagers, to elderly residents as well. I feel the library systems do more good for our communities than we may ever realize.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:21:13 +0000

The founding fathers would be appalled at Illinois. I live in the outside the limits of Edwardsville and pay over $7000 a year in property taxes. I am not allowed access to ANY local library because I am not in the city limits. Why should libraries be frre for some and not for all taxpayers?

By: Dezarae

Dezarae — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:58:27 +0000

I live in Stonefort IL and my son and i visit the carrier mills and Harrisburg Library at least 4 time a week and there are always alot of people there. Lets keep the Librarys open and shut something else down that is hurting our children not helping them

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:19:19 +0000

I worked for the Dundee Township Public Library for a year and a half, and the Algonquin Area Public Library for nearly 18 years. I witness the growth of these communities between 1980 and 2005, and the increased use of libraries. I cannot express strongly enough the vital importance of public libraries and all their available resources. I live in Salem, OR now and the library is run by the city. With budget limitations they rely on over 35 volunteer workers and they let the the administrative librarian go last year. It’s not a happy situation. Illinois libraries have had a reputation for being among the best in the nation. Let’s maintain that status.

By: Shirley Lucille Brown

Shirley Lucille Brown — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:12:56 +0000

I am a retired school teacher. I retired earlier than I wanted due to numerous heaIth problems. This service has saved my sanity, if not my life. Being unable to sleep, having books to help the long uncomfortable nights pass.
The state hasn’t been paying the money it grabbed from our pension fund so I fear that my small pension is going to disappear too. This state takes care of its Chicago teachers(evening using some of our money to make them fully funded), while we poorer teachers have continually had over 9% of our income where the state can help itself. The little people are always forgotten, aren’t they. Please don’t take this away too. All social services are cut. How about those salaries, nice insurance and all the benefits that career legislators. Why can’t they sacrifice some in these times too? Sincerely Shirley L Brown

By: Lesley Williams

Lesley Williams — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:10:55 +0000

I posted this to my Facebook page, and have sent versions to various local blogs and newspapers…

Save ALL Illinois Libraries

I know all of you are dealing with local budget challenges, and of course if you live in Evanston, the dilemma involving the branch libraries has been on your mind. Yet I wanted to draw your attention to a little known issue which could radically change the quality of library service in Illinois.

When the Illinois General Assembly cut 50% of general revenue grants in the FY 2010 budget, it eliminated all funding for the Illinois library systems. If the state of Illinois does not restore full funding in the next budget, we could lose our delivery service, much of our continuing education, and our group purchasing power.

What would that mean? Have you ever placed a hold on a book at your home library, and gotten a copy from Northbrook or Niles? Ever returned a book you checked out at Wilmette to Skokie or Evanston? Not any more you won’t. System funds pay for delivery service, and individual libraries wouldn’t be able to afford this service. This means that instead of the breadth and depth you currently enjoy from hundreds of libraries across the region, you would be pretty much limited to what you could find in your local library.

You’ve heard about how libraries benefit the business community. Some of our most useful online business resources: our Lexis-Nexis subscription, online business planning handbooks, and our demographics database, were purchased through systemwide group agreements. We were able to cut better deals for the public because we were a system, and because we had system staff to do the coordinating and negotiating. Ditto our online children’s reference collection and encyclopedias.

The North Suburban Library System has a terrific training program. Over the last 12 years, I’ve taken free classes in business reference, legal reference, teen literature, storytelling, website design, and document preservation. There’s no way EPL could have afforded to send me to all those classes, but if I hadn’t gone I would be providing far fewer services to Evanston residents.

And bear in mind, Evanston is a fairly well-off community (despite recent events). Think of all those rural, impoverished communities across the state, that get almost all their materials and services through systems.

So, what can you do? Go to http://www.saveillinoislibraries. com/ and send a letter to the governor and the state comptroller. Contact your legislators, (Julie Hamos and Jan Schakowsky are already on the list of legislators committed to supporting library funding). And talk it up! There’s an election coming up: where do the candidates stand on library funding?

I know there are a lot of articulate, energetic people out there committed to the values of education and literacy. Please join us to ensure that all Illinois communities have full library service.

By: Renee Anderson

Renee Anderson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:02:06 +0000

Staff at libraries are doing so much these days – with less. It is heartwarming to learn how libraries are stepping up to serve job seekers in this difficult economy. From library career centers to job clubs and programs, to help with resumes, libraries are bringing new skills and opportunities to those impacted by tough times. Yet libraries and library systems are facing uncertain times regarding funding. It is at these critical times in history that our public libraries are needed more than ever.

By: angela walton

angela walton — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:33:42 +0000

i want yall to continue to fund libraries because it is usful for the town to have access to the libraries so kids can have acces to the books for school work and adult have advantages to the library from the computers to the copy machine so keep libaries going