January 2016

a bi-monthly publication of Bloomington Public Library
Books are just the beginning.
Find
Library director
retires; interim
director hired
Georgia Bouda, Director of Bloomington
Public Library, announced her retirement in
early November. Bouda’s last day in the
office was December 4. Her
official retirement date is
Friday, January 8, 2016.
While a nationwide search is
conducted for Bouda’s
permanent replacement, the
Bloomington Public Library
Board of Trustees has named
Georgia
Bouda
Walter “Terry” Lindberg to
serve as the Library’s interim
director.
Georgia Bouda
Bouda began her work as
Director of Bloomington
Public Library in July 2006.
Carol Koos, president of the
Walter
Bloomington Public Library
“Terry”
Board of Trustees said, “The
Lindberg
board is sad to see Georgia
leave, but after a successful nine years
leading Bloomington Public Library we can
understand her desire to retire and enjoy
her many other interests in life. Georgia has
been a great asset to Bloomington Public
Library and has done much to create a climate that encourages growth and strives to
remain current in collections, programming,
and technology.”
During Bouda’s time in Bloomington, the
library’s circulation grew from 764,271
items in fiscal year 2007 to 1,430,682 in
fiscal year 2015, an increase of 87 percent.
The number of people participating in the
OASIS, dies heirless, it is revealed
that he has bequeathed his billiondollar fortune and control of the
OASIS to whoever can solve the many
puzzles he’s hidden within.
See READY PLAYER ONE, page 3
About the Book:
Glutted with nostalgia, Ready Player
One is a quest novel set in a
virtual universe. It was written to
appeal to both teens and adults.
The year is 2044, and most of the
world has succumbed to poverty,
war, and environmental disaster.
Like most people, 17-year-old Wade
Watts (aka Parzival) spends the
majority of his waking hours living
behind his avatar cover and plugged
into the OASIS, a virtual utopia that
allows users to be anyone they want
to be in any location they choose.
When James Halliday, creator of the
See DIRECTOR, page 5
Hours
Inside
Participate
January-February 2016; Volume 10 Issue 1
Ready Player One highlights Bloomington Reads
• Winter Wonderland program returns Jan. 18 • IWU students to present global story times
• Celebrate Black History Month at the Library • Tabletop 101 offers board game instruction
• My First Reading Program begins January 11 • S.T.E.A.M. programming series added to lineup
See & Do
www.BloomingtonLibrary.org
Community reading program
to run January-March
Each January, Bloomington
Public Library chooses one book that
Library staff members are convinced
the community will love. Library
staff then order many copies of the
chosen book and encourage
everyone in the community to read
the selection and take part in
programs and activities related to
the book’s central themes.
This year, we’re asking you to read
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline,
and to then take part in programs
and activities we have planned
around the book’s themes of the
1980s and video games.
Use
Mon-Thur:9am-9pm
Fri & Sat: 9am-5pm
Sunday: 1pm-5pm
Contact
Foreword
Bloomington Public Library
309.828.6091
www.BloomingtonLibrary.org
Visit our Winter Wonderland
Monday, January 18 (no school today)
It’s time to shake off those winter blues, hang up your coat, and join in our
seasonal fun!
Stuff your gloves in your pockets and cozy up to a story time at 10am in the
Story Room. Then, from 10:30am-2pm, enjoy activities in the Children’s
Department such as winter crafts, “Arctic” bowling, Seek & Find, and Guess
How Many Marshmallows. There will be fun for the entire family.
Teen programs coming right up
DIY: Create a Mug
Monday, January 18
On this day off from school, teens
are invited to
come to the
Library’s Community Room from
3-4pm to decorate a customized mug for hot
chocolate, tea, or coffee.
Glazing takes more than 24 hours, so
participants will need to return to the
Library to retrieve their creations.
Supplies will be provided. Arrive
early; space is limited to the first 24
teens to arrive.
Anime Movie Marathon for Teens
Sunday, January 24
Teens are invited to join us to watch
a marathon of Anime shows from
1-4:45pm in the Community Room.
Speed Dating with Books for Teens
Monday, February 15
Are you looking for that special book to
share your life (or at least a few hours)?
Teens who come to our Valentine’s
Party will have a chance to speed date
with tons of great books and decide
which one they want to “commit to” at
the end of the night. Meet in the Community Room from 3-4:30pm; snacks
and beverages will be provided.
Book club, railroad program cater to
those who love their history
History Reads Book Club
In partnership with the McLean County Museum of History, this club meets
quarterly and focuses on books associated with Illinois history. This group will meet
at 7pm in the Governor Fifer Courtroom of the McLean County Museum of History.
•Tuesday, February 2 - discuss The Negro in
Illinois: The WPA Papers edited by Brian Dolinar
•Tuesday, May 3 - discuss The Fire That Will
Not Die by Michele McBride.
What’s Coming Down the Line?
Page 2
Sunday, February 7
Take a look at the railroad’s impact on the
nation’s economy, culture, folklore, and children.
This 2pm Community Room program will be presented by Mike Matejka.
We want your email address.
Celebrate
Black History
at your Library
Stories to Celebrate Black History
Monday, February 1
Oba William King, Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Award Winner for Traditional Folk-Arts, will
perform at 6:30pm in the
Children’s Department.
King is recognized as one of
the most exciting storytellers
in his peer group. He ignites
audiences with his ability to
capture their attention and release them into
the playful realm of rhythm and rhyme as he
masterfully combines professional theatrical
training with a distinct poetic style.
Program sponsored by Golden Prairie Public Library District.
Literature and Culture
Thursday, February 4
This entertaining and educational event for
people of all ages will look at literature and
culture through the lens of black history.
This 6:30pm Community Room program will
be presented by Professor Ricardo Cruz of
Illinois State University.
Uncovering Bloomington’s
Segregation Secret
Sunday, February 21
Our community has always been part of the
nation in both good ways and bad. While we
grew through the pioneer era and beyond
and developed regional importance with
the railroad’s entry, we also took on racial
attitudes that shifted with national changes.
Racial segregation was reduced sharply after
the Civil War, with Jesse Fell leading the way
in protecting African American’s rights. But
after 1900, these gains began to reverse,
following national trends. This story has long
been hidden, and even the more recent local
struggles of the 1960s are fading from memory. This 2pm Community Room talk will put
a spotlight on shifts in racial segregation and
local anti-segregation campaigns.
Speaker Mark Wyman retired from the ISU History Department in 2004 after 33 years teaching U.S. Labor and Immigration History. Prior to this, he worked in newspapers in
Wisconsin and Montana, ending as a labor reporter for the
Minneapolis Tribune. He is the author of six historical works.
The Library is able to automatically email hold notices and reminders about upcoming due dates to customers. To benefit from this
service, simply ask a staff member at any of our Service Desks or on the Bookmobile to add your valid email address to your account.
Activity program for youngest patrons begins in January
Monday, January 11-Sunday, February 28
Pick up an activity log for your child —
age newborn-35 months — for My First
Reading Program: Take 20 ... Read to Your
Bunny.
This reading/activity program is geared
toward our youngest Library users and
their parents.
Activity logs will be available beginning
Monday, January 11, at the Children’s
Desk, on the Bookmobile, and will be
available for printing from our website at
BloomingtonLibrary.org.
Ready Player One
From Page 1
Parzival, his avatar friends, and basically the rest of humanity, devote their
lives to studying these puzzles which are
based on their creator’s obsession with
1980s pop culture and video games.
A handful of years after the contest
launches, Parzival is the first to make any
progress. He soon finds himself beset by
players willing to kill to claim the
ultimate prize. If Parzival is going to
survive, he’ll have to solve the puzzles
and confront the real world he’s always
taken care to avoid.
In 2012, Ready Player One received an
Alex Award from the Young Adult Library Services Association division of the
American Library Association. The Alex
Award is an annual award that recognizes
10 adult books that have special appeal to
teens. The book also won the Prometheus
Award in 2012, and Steven Spielberg has
optioned the book for a movie.
Related Programs
Mon., Jan. 25 - DIY for Adults:
Macramé Wall Hangings
Come to the Library’s Community Room at
6:30pm and learn to create a macramé wall
hanging out of yarn and dowel rods. This
program is for registered adults ages 17+.
Supplies will be provided.
Registration is required and space is limited to 10
This program is designed to motivate
families with young children to visit the
library, read, and enjoy educational activities together during the winter months.
Parents are asked to return their child’s
activity log to the Library by Sunday,
February 28, to receive a small completion prize and be entered into a prize
drawing for a basket of educational toys.
The drawing will be held on Monday,
February 29.
This program is sponsored
by The Gingerbread House.
participants. A waiting list will be created when the class
is full. Registration opens at 10am on Monday, January
11, and can be completed in person at the Library, online
at BloomingtonLibrary.org, or
by phone at 309-828-6093.
All of February
Play a selection of
1970s and 1980s video
games on three gaming
consoles from Arcadia,
the arcade museum in
McLean, IL. The consoles
will be located at the top
of the Library’s stairs,
and game play will be free.
Mon., Feb. 1 - Books on Tap
This book club meets on the first Monday
of each month at 7pm on the upper level of
Lucca Grill, 116 E. Market St, Bloomington. In
February, the group will discuss Ready Player
One by Ernest Cline.
Mon., Feb. 15 – Book Discussion:
Meet at 7pm in the Wetzel Reading Room to
discuss Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
Sat., Feb. 20 - 1980s Movie Marathon:
Join us from 10am-5pm in the Community
Room as we binge watch movies mentioned
in the book Ready Player One. Participate in
our very own version of a flicksync game and
make retro crafts as you enjoy the shows. Stay
all day, or just stop in for one movie. It’s your
choice. Movie start times are 10am, 12:15pm,
and 2:30pm. Call 309.828.6093 for titles.
Mon., Feb. 22 - DIY for Adults:
Record Album Journals
Are you still in love with the 1980s? We’ll
Registration is required and space is limited to 10 participants. A waiting list will be created when the class is full.
Registration opens at 10am on Monday, February 8, and
can be completed in person at the Library, by phone at
309-828-6093, or online at BloomingtonLibrary.org.
Saturday, February 27 1980s Trivia Contest with Twin City Trivia
From 2-4pm in the Community Room, teams
of 1-6 people, ages 10+, can compete in a
fun trivia contest centered on the 1980s.
Some questions will be from the book Ready
Player One. Snacks will be provided. Feel free
to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages to
enjoy while you play. Prizes include bragging
rights, books, and DVDs.
Sunday, February 28 - Music of the 1980s
Join IWU professor Michael Weis on a
journey through the music of the 1980s and
a discussion about how the music influenced
culture at that time. Clips of songs will be
shared during this 2pm program in the
Library’s Community Room.
Saturday, March 5 - Live Action PacMan
From 12-4pm in the Library’s Community
Room, teams of 2–5 people can race through
a PacMan maze. Can the ghosts catch
PacMan before all the dots are collected?
Ghosts will have their ankles taped to shuffle
through the game board. PacMan will be
on his/her knees with kneepads provided.
Wear comfortable clothes. This program will
provide fun for people of all ages.
Customers who are using the BookMyne App ♥ it! The app can be used on iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and Android tablets.
BookMyne links users to BPL’s catalog and allows them to see if a book they want is available, put an item on hold, view checkouts, etc.
Page 3
Get our mobile App!
be making journals out of album covers
at 6:30pm in the Community Room. This
program is for registered adults ages 17+.
Supplies will be provided.
Kiddie Drive-In Movies return in January
• Tuesday, January 26, at 10am
• Wednesday, January 27, at 6pm
Work together with your little one to turn a boring box into a cool cardboard car in the Community Room. Afterward, we’ll watch a short movie
based on a children’s book and enjoy popcorn in our cars.
Kids are invited to bring a favorite stuffed animal to come along for the ride,
and they’ll be able to take their car creation home to continue the fun!
This program is geared toward children age 2-5 years old with a parent or
caregiver. Boxes and decorations will be provided.
Space is limited. Registration is required and limited to 40 children per program.
Registration can be completed by phone at 309-828-6094, in person at the Library, or online at
BloomingtonLibrary.org.
Resolution time: Organizing chaos
Thursday, January 21
Have you made it your resolution to simplify your life?
Becky, from Organize My Clutter, a certified organization professional, will be
in our Community Room at 7pm to discuss ideas and recommendations for
solutions to organizing dilemmas.
She’ll give you the motivation you need to start paring down your home and life!
Board game instruction
offered during Tabletop 101
Wednesday, January 20
Teens and adults are invited to come to the
Library’s Community Room to learn, play, and
socialize over a tabletop game.
Staff from Red Raccoon Games will be on
hand to teach us a different, award-winning, and internationally best-selling
game on the third Wednesday of every
other month. In January, we’ll be learning to play Settlers of Catan.
Instruction and games begin at 6pm.
Saturdays at 11am
January 16, 23 & 30; February 6, 20 & 27;
March 26; and April 16
Join Illinois Wesleyan University international
students on a variety of Saturdays at 11am in
the Children’s Department as they read stories
about their home countries and provide
cultural lessons that highlight the diversity of
the world in which we live.
A different country and book will be featured
at each session. There will also be activities
such as simple songs, dances, and games!
Bilingual story times
open world of wonder
Is the book always better? Let’s discuss
Tuesday, January 26
Is the book always better?
Read the book. Watch the filmed version of the book. Discuss.
This group meets every other month at 6pm in the Community Room. In
January, we’ll discuss Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger after watching the
movie which is based on the book.
Fusion Brew joins us for Tea Talking Sunday
Sunday, January 31
We’re celebrating National Tea Month with a discussion about the history,
flavors, and uses of tea led by Virgil Hovar of Fusion Brew.
We’ll smell, taste, and learn about tea at 2pm in the Community Room.
Page 4
IWU international
students to present
global story times
Photography
• Tuesdays at 7pm
January 5 & 19; February 2 & 23
• Saturday at 11am
March 19
Open your child’s world of wonder page by
page with this bilingual story time —
página por página — at 7pm in the Children’s Department.
Children will explore the wonders of stories and
books through the side-by-side familiar rhythms
of English and the inviting rhythms of Spanish.
Whether your child knows only one language
or both, our volunteers will provide an atmosphere that is welcoming and encouraging,
opening your child to the beauty of languages.
This program is being provided by Conexiones Latinas de
McLean County and the Lawyers in the Classroom Program.
You may see Library staff taking photos during Library programs. These photographs may be used in both print & digital promotional
material. If you’d like to keep yourself or your child from appearing in these promotions, please make our photographer aware of your wishes.
S.T.E.A.M. programs added
for tots & those in grades 3-5
Tinker Tots
• Tuesdays at 10am
February 2, 9, 16 and 23
There is so much to explore!
Join us in the Story Room at 10am on
Tuesday mornings in February
for Tinker Tots, a
S.T.E.A.M.-based
story time for
preschoolers.
We’ll learn about
concepts in Science, Technology, Engineering,
Art, and Math.
We’ll also enjoy
stories and songs
followed by
plenty of time for discovery and learning
with hands-on activities.
This program is for kids age 3-5 years old
with a caregiver.
Director
From Page 1
annual Summer Reading program grew
from 4,864 participants in 2007 to 8,413
participants in 2015, an increase of 73
percent. Bouda also led the charge in
both designing and purchasing a new
Bookmobile which rolled out in the
spring of 2015.
Of the Library, Bouda said, “We have
accomplished a great deal. Through technological advancements we have introduced RFID tags, self-checkout stations,
and a five-bin sorter which immediately
removes returned items from a person’s
account and sorts them into locationspecific bins for speedier re-shelving.
These are the things that have made the
growth in circulation possible. Public
libraries serve everyone equally, and that
is the secret to their long life.”
Bouda has retired to Summerville, S.C.
Tinker Lab: S.T.E.A.M. Series
registration required
Each of the four programs listed below require separate
registration and are limited to 20 participants. Register by
phone at 309-828-6094, in person at the Library, or online
at Bloomingtonlibrary.org.
Full S.T.E.A.M. ahead! Registered kids
in grades 3-5 are invited to join us at
6:30pm for hands-on projects that focus
on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Math on the third Thursday of each
month. All supplies will be provided.
• January 21 – theme is Artbots;
registration opens Mon., Dec. 21, at
10am; meets in the Story Room
• February 18 - theme is Flextangles
and Papercrafts; registration opens
Mon., Jan. 18, at 10am; meets in the
Story Room
• March 17 – theme is Robot Test Lab; registration opens Mon., Feb. 15 at 10am; ;
meets in the Community Room
• April 21 – theme is Angry Birds in
Real Life; registration opens Mon.,
March 21, at 10am; meets in the
Community Room
Terry Lindberg
The Library’s new interim director, Terry
Lindberg, retired as McLean County Administrator in 2011. Since that time, he has
served as interim director for Mid Central
Community Action and interim director for
Central Illinois Regional Broadband Network. He was elected to the Normal Public
Library Board of Trustees in 2013 where he
currently holds the office of Vice President
and sits on the NPL Foundation Board.
Lindberg began his duties at Bloomington Public Library on December 16.
The Future
As for hiring a permanent director, Koos
said, “The board will conduct a national
search for a new director which will be
facilitated by a search firm.”
The Board has approved an RFP for a
library director search firm. Proposals are
due January 15. The Board hopes to have
a search firm hired by February 3 with the
hiring of a director to follow at a later date.
Each program in the Small Business Series with
SCORE begins at 6:30pm in the Community Room.
Get Ready!
Getting Your Business Off the Ground
Thursday, January 28
Gain a basic understanding of what
you need to get your business off the
ground. We’ll cover legal structures,
federal employer ID number, startup
expenses, and business plan.
Get Set! Funding Sources
Thursday, February 25
Examine the full range of funding
sources, both traditional and nontraditional. The pros and cons of
each form will be covered.
Additional sessions in this series will be offered in
March and April.
Relax your mind at our
adult coloring sessions
Tuesdays, February 2, March 1,
April 5 & May 3
Coloring is no longer just for children. It
generates wellness, quietness, and also
stimulates brain areas related to motor
skills, the senses, and
creativity.
At 5pm on the first
Tuesday each month,
we will host an hour
of coloring in the
Community Room for those age 17+.
The coloring pages will be designed
for adults and may be too complicated for children.
Comedic Classics
to entertain in January
Meet at 2pm in the Community
Room to watch a screwball comedy
classic every Wednesday in January.
• January 6 - movie stars Cary
Grant and Priscilla Lane
• January 13 – movie stars Cary
Grant and Rosalind Russell
• January 20 – movie stars Cary
Grant and Katharine Hepburn
• January 27 – movie stars Claudette Colbert and Joel McCrea
Bloomington Public Library is on Facebook, and we’re also “Tweeting.” Check us out and become a fan or follower.
And when you’re done, invite your friends!
Page 5
We’re on Facebook and Twitter!
SCORE, BPL team for
small business series
Bloomington Public Library
205 E. Olive Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Non-profit
Organization
U.S. Postage PAID
Bloomington, IL
Permit No. 216
Current Resident or
AARP brings tax aid to BPL
ISAC offers help with FAFSA
Workshop assists college-bound teens, parents
Mondays & Thursdays; February to mid-April
February 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, 29
March 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, 31
April 4, 7, 11, 14
Tax assistance will be available on Mondays and Thursdays
between Monday, February 1, and Thursday, April 14.
On dates when assistance is available, volunteers from AARP
Tax-Aide will assist people from 9:15am-1pm with the last return each day started no later than 12:15pm. Help is provided
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those seeking assistance should bring their W-2, social
security card, social security statements, and tax forms to
the Community Room. A social security card or statement is
required for each person whose name appears on a tax return.
There are neither age nor income restrictions to receive aid.
A representative of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will be on site to answer
questions and help teens and
their parents fill out the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This program runs from
5-7:30pm on Tuesday, February 23, in the Community
Room.
Attendees should bring the
following with them:
• Your Social Security Number
• Your Alien Registration
Number (if you are not a U.S.
citizen)
• Your most recent federal
income tax returns, W-2s,
and other records of money
earned.
• Bank statements and records of investments (if applicable)
• Records of untaxed income (if applicable)