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I like to joke that I'm not a librarian, but I play one on TV.

(But seriously, being a librarian is no joke. Librarians have master’s degrees and are some of the smartest, kindest, hardest-working professionals I know. And they are not in it for the money either, folks). 

But over my past nine years as the "non-librarian" head of marketing and communication at DPPL, I HAVE picked up all sorts of library tricks and tips I thought I’d share with you today. 

Continue Reading "10 Fab Things You Can Get at DPPL (That I Didn’t Know Until I Worked Here)" →

At the end of each year I become an amateur pollster.

I survey people to help me predict the winner of an election for which I am not even a registered voter.

Continue Reading "The Results Are In: The ALA Youth Media Awards" →

The gang at the Pint & Click Podcast are back! Dave, Jami and Tony have released their first two episodes of 2017, featuring some recommendations (and non-recommendations) of the latest books, movies and media. Have a listen below, or subscribe on iTunes here.

Pint & Click Podcast Episode 24: Do Not Recommend! (Kindle Fire, Extended Harry Potter Universe, The Dark Knight Rises, Terminator Genisys)

On this episode, Dave, Tony and Jami vent some of their disappointments and frustrations about the Kindle Fire tablet, the extended Harry Potter universe (essentially, any supplemental material released by J.K. Rowling outside of the original seven novels), and the blockbuster films The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Terminator Genisys (2015).

Pint & Click Podcast Episode 25: The Young Pope, Confessions, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

On this episode, Dave, Jami and Tony discuss the new HBO original series The Young Pope, the 2008 novel Confessions by Kanae Minato, the 2003-2005 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, and the latest film set in the Star Wars universe, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Did you know that you can check out a Roku from the library?

Here at DPPL, we have two circulating Rokus available to patrons for a two week checkout with their Des Plaines Public Library card. 

Continue Reading "Check out a Roku Today!" →

No matter what party lines you fall on, this past election year has been an exhausting one. The country feels anxious, angry and divided, and it can be overwhelming to think about where we go from here.

But it’s important not to lose sight of the simple things we can encourage in our children: compassion, empathy, inclusion, involvement, and kindness.

Here, in Youth Services, we try and find ways to embody these traits every day. One of the things staff love most about our library is that everyone is always welcome. On any given day, you can find children and families of all different beliefs and backgrounds, together, making our community strong.

This, we think, is so important right now.

Continue Reading "Raising Caring Children" →