Archive for 01/2016

Library Renovation

Get to Know the Second Floor Mural - Now on the First Floor!

More than 15 years ago, Texas artist Robert Jessup painted a 90 foot mural for the second floor of the library. Like all of the library's art, it was funded by generous donations from Des Plaines residents. The mural called on children's stories from around the globe - Rapunzel, Aladdin, John Henry, Sinbad, and many more. Colorful and durable, it covered the entire south wall, surrounding the fish tank and the Storytime Room. Then in 2014, we expanded the Storytime Room (now called the Program Room) to meet the greatly increased demand for children's programming. But this project changed the shape of the wall, and the mural had to go into storage while we decided on a new home for it.

Luckily, the renovation revealed the perfect spot for it - the long hallway by Room A on the ground floor. 

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Kids & Parents

And the Award Goes to . . .

newbary medal
This is the season for awards. The Grammys, the Oscars, ​but most thrilling of all, the ALA YMAs. What is that you ask? The American Library Association Youth Media Awards, of course.

The oldest of these awards are the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature and the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.

I am always excited to learn who wins the Pura Belpré, Coretta Scott King, Robert F. Sibert and Theodor Geisel awards, too.

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Staff Picks

Remember last January when I shared my (quite personal) 2015 goals?  Here’s how it went.

Last year about this time I went out on a limb and publicly shared my 2015 Goals, in hopes that doing so would make them stick. This time.

I resolved not to resolve.  Instead, I set goals, a long-term plan for an intentional way of living.

Nevermind that my goals have no numbers attached to them. I am told it's not a "goal" if it's not measurable. I'm choosing to ignore that. My goals, my rules, ha!

I shared books in the DPPL collection to help me on my journey, and created Pinterest Boards to inspire me on my journey.  

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Staff Picks

My Reading Resolutions for 2016

Blade Runner
The books I read are my “usual suspects”.

My Scandinavian mysteries, favorite authors, popular histories.

But, the other day I was reading yet another reference to the making of yet another media adaptation of another Philip K. Dick story.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?
Blade Runner is one of my all-time favorite movies. 

And yet, I have not read Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? the basis for Blade Runner.

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