Brochure Available for Inside Writing and Publishing Series

Chicago-area writers will share their writing and publishing expertise at a series of programs sponsored by libraries in the western suburbs. The free programs will be held from January 23 through February 23, 2010, at six area libraries. The Inside Writing and Publishing – DuPage Branch series is designed to encourage aspiring authors to learn more about publishing and gain know-how and inspiration from experienced authors.

If you would like to promote the series, please download and print this brochure.

The programs may also be promoted on your website via this program listing.

In the News

Aurora Public Library is planning to build a new downtown library. This article from the Beacon News provides the latest details.

Earlier this month, the Naperville Sun featured this article about Naperville Public Library's Executive Director Donna Dziedzic earning recognition as one of the most Influential Women in Business for 2009.

As the year comes to a close, take a look at how Wood Dale Public Library District is promoting library use with its "New Year's Resolution to Use Your Library."

Texting a Librarian in Carol Stream

Two librarians at the Carol Stream Public Library were interviewed for this feature story on how the public can send text messages to a librarian.   

"We need to be responsive to new technologies and figure out how we can use them to meet the needs of the community,” Assistant Director Julie Blackwell tells the Carol Stream Press.

Helen Plum Library Gets Makeover

The Helen M. Plum Memorial Library in Lombard IL, will be closed December 28, 29, 30, January 2, 3, 4, and 5 due to construction related to some library upgrades.

New upgraded features and amenities will eventually include: an expanded teen area, quiet reading room and reading nooks, coffee bar, new meeting room, a new circulation desk, and new carpeting throughout.

The library staff thanks everyone for their patience and understanding and is excited about the changes in the library building. Because of the closings, curbside book drops will be closed December 24 and 25, and from December 28 to January 5, so please keep and enjoy your items until January 11. Please pick up your holds or reserves by December 27 or you will have to wait until the library reopens on January 6, 2010.

Helen Plum Closed the Morning of Thursday, December 17

Helen M. Plum Memorial Library in Lombard will be closed the morning of Thursday, December 17, for a staff holiday party. They will reopen at 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Poplar Creek Public Library District will Closed Friday, December 11, at Noon

Poplar Creek Public Library District will be closing this Friday, December 11, 2009 at noon. That includes both the main library and the Sonya Crawshaw branch. The library will reopen on Saturday at 9 a.m.

In the News

DLS libraries are in the news:

Julie Blackwell, Carol Stream Public Library's Assistant Director is quoted in this article from the Carol Stream Press on the Macy's Museum Adventure Pass Program.

The Naperville Sun featured this article on how the library is serving the teen population. 

Denise Cote, a College of DuPage Assistant Professor and Reference Librarian is consulted for a book on "Hybrid Learning." More in this TribLocal post.

Take the DLS Survey!

DLS needs your response to our service survey, which should take only a few minutes to complete. We are asking DLS members to rank in order of importance the DLS services that are funded by the Area and Per Capita Grant for Illinois Library Systems. The ranking will be used to determine how to implement a 16.5% cut in grant funds. 

The survey has been released to two groups of members. The first group is library directors/DLS official contacts. The second group is any person working at or affiliated with a DLS member library. Survey findings will be compiled and reported for each group.

You may wish to review and prioritize this list and description of DLS services prior to taking the survey.

The survey for library directors/DLS official contacts is available at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LHXCH3V

The survey for persons working at or affiliated with a DLS member library is available at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V26FL6P

Please feel free to forward this to other persons working in or affiliated with your library so that DLS receives the largest possible number of survey responses.

Deadline: 5 p.m. December 18, 2009

DLS Board Member Earns Award

Donna Dziedzic, Naperville Public Library Executive Director and DLS Board Member, has been named among the Influential Women in Business for 2009 by The Business Ledger. Dziedzic received the award along with 21 area business women at an Oak Brook luncheon.

This is the 12th group of women to be recognized by the newspaper and its partner, the National Association of Women Business Owners, Chicago Area chapter.

“How could I not be thrilled by this recognition?” explains Dziedzic. “While I have long maintained that public libraries must be efficient businesses and provide our residents ‘good bang for their taxpayer bucks!,’ it is thrilling to be recognized for this by business owners. It’s wonderful that the business community acknowledges the vital role public libraries play as economic drivers for the community. At the Naperville Public Library, we work to provide excellent library services while carefully shepherding taxpayer dollars.”

The presenting sponsor for the luncheon was State Farm Insurance and corporate sponsors were B. Gunther & Company, Inc. and Leaderboard Tournament Systems.

Edited from information received from Naperville Public Library.

Quilt Auction to Benefit Scholarship Fund

Carol Stream's Seams Like Fun Quilt Group created a quilt and basket for donation to the DLS Scholarship Dinner. Due to the economic downturn, the dinner was canceled. Instead, scholarships were awarded at the November DLS board meeting.

A number of staff members at the Carol Stream Public Library are members of the quilting group, chaired by Laura Hays, the library's Adult Services Dept. Assistant Head. The group is dedicated to raising money for the Scholarship Fund and is auctioning the basket and quilt on eBay. The auction will be held until December 4, 2009.

The Dick and Jane lap quilt and gift basket features a generous lap quilt measuring 51 x 75 inches. The piece was professionally quilted by Blue House Quilting of Wheaton, Illinois. The basket also includes books, a 2010 calendar, small toys - and more. 

Visit the auction for this item on eBay and help support the DLS Scholarship Fund. And remember - shipping is free!