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 MTL NEWSLETTERAPRIL 2026 |
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New FAQ We recently added a helpful new FAQ section to our website! It’s a quick reference for common questions about visiting the library and borrowing materials. Aside from questions about our hours and location, one of the most common things we’re asked is: “Why do I have to pay for a library card?” The answer can feel a bit confusing, but it comes down to how public libraries in Illinois are funded. Morrison Talbott Library is a municipal library for the City of Waterloo. If you live within city limits, a portion of your property taxes supports the City, and the library receives approximately 0.17% of those tax dollars. In other words, residents contribute to the library through their taxes, which entitles them to a library card at no additional fee. If you live outside of the city limits, you do not pay taxes that support the City of Waterloo or the library. Illinois addresses this through what’s called Public Library Non-Resident Service. Libraries may choose whether or not to offer non-resident cards, but if we do, the State of Illinois requires us to calculate the fee using a standardized formula. We understand that the fee can feel high for some families. Currently, a non-resident library card costs $123 per year—about $10 per month. For perspective, that’s roughly the cost of a few new books, a couple of takeout meals, or a handful of coffee shop visits spread over a month. In return, an entire household can enjoy access to books, movies, digital resources, and so much more—all year long. Public libraries remain one of the few places where anyone can come in, explore ideas, and access information freely. Our mission is to connect our community with the resources they need and want. At the same time, the library depends on the support of both taxpayers and non-resident cardholders to operate, keeping the lights on, maintaining the building, supporting staff, and continuing to grow our collections and services. We are grateful to everyone who helps make that possible. Warmly, Jamie Wratchford Director |
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As spring arrives, Morrison-Talbott Library is excited to bring a variety of engaging outreach programs to our community. We’re especially looking forward to a library card sign-up day at Garden Place Senior Living Waterloo on Monday, April 20th from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents can sign up for their own library card and enjoy the convenience of having books, magazines, movies, and more delivered right to their door every two weeks using our new library van. This service is also available to anyone who is temporarily or permanently homebound—just reach out to the library, and we’ll be happy to bring materials to you. For those interested in family history, the Mobile Memory Lab will visit the library on Friday, April 24th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In partnership with the Illinois Heartland Library System, this program offers a wonderful opportunity to preserve your treasured photos, documents, and memorabilia. Items will be scanned on-site, and participants will receive digital copies on a thumb drive. These materials will also be added to the Illinois Digital Archives to help share local history with future generations. Appointments are required and scheduled in 30-minute time slots. In addition, the Daughters of the American Revolution will host an informational open house on Friday, April 17 from 1–4 p.m. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the organization or get started on your patriot lineage paperwork, especially fitting as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. To round out the month, join us on Saturday, April 18th at 2:30 p.m. for a fun and informative backyard birding program with Ariel from Wild Birds Unlimited. Whether you’re a seasoned birding enthusiast or just getting started, this program is a great way to learn tips and connect with others who share your interest. We hope you’ll join us for these wonderful programs and take advantage of all the library has to offer this season! For more information contact us at 618-939-6232 or mtl@waterloolibrary.org. Sherri Adult Services Coordinator |
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At Morrison-Talbott Library, we believe everyone deserves
access to great books, movies, and more—no matter their situation. If you or someone you know can’t make it to the library due to illness, a medical condition, or mobility challenges, our Homebound Delivery Service is here to help. |
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The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
by Abbi Waxman
Abbi Waxman is both irreverent and thoughtful.--#1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin The author of Other People's Houses and The Garden of Small Beginnings delivers a quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone's radar. Meet Nina Hill: A young woman supremely confident in her own...shell. The only child of a single mother, Nina has her life just as she wants it: a job in a bookstore, a kick-butt trivia team, a world-class planner and a cat named Phil. If she sometimes suspects there might be more to life than reading, she just shrugs and picks up a new book. When the father Nina never knew existed suddenly dies, leaving behind innumerable sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews, Nina is horrified. They all live close by! They're all--or mostly all--excited to meet her! She'll have to Speak. To. Strangers. It's a disaster! And as if that wasn't enough, Tom, her trivia nemesis, has turned out to be cute, funny, and deeply interested in getting to know her. Doesn't he realize what a terrible idea that is? Nina considers her options. 1. Completely change her name and appearance. (Too drastic, plus she likes her hair.) 2. Flee to a deserted island. (Hard pass, see: coffee). 3. Hide in a corner of her apartment and rock back and forth. (Already doing it.) It's time for Nina to come out of her comfortable shell, but she isn't convinced real life could ever live up to fiction. It's going to take a brand-new family, a persistent suitor, and the combined effects of ice cream and trivia to make her turn her own fresh page.
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So You've Been Publicly Shamed
by Jon Ronson
From the internationally bestselling author of The Psychopath Test, a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world's most overlooked forces.For the past three years, Jon Ronson has been immersing himself in the world of modern-day public shaming--meeting famous shamees, shamers, and bystanders who have been impacted. This is the perfect time for a modern-day Scarlet Letter--a radically empathetic book about public shaming, and about shaming as a form of social control. It has become such a big part of our lives it has begun to feel weird and empty when there isn't anyone to be furious about. Whole careers are being ruined by one mistake. A transgression is revealed. Our collective outrage at it has the force of a hurricane. Then we all quickly forget about it and move on to the next one, and it doesn't cross our minds to wonder if the shamed person is okay or in ruins. What's it doing to them? What's it doing to us?Ronson's book is a powerful, funny, unique, and very humane dispatch from the frontline, in the escalating war on human nature and its flaws.
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Having Fun Isn’t Hard, When You’ve Got a Morrison-Talbott Library Card! At Morrison-Talbott Library, we offer library cards for all ages, and yes, even babies can have one of their very own! Our “My First Library Card” program is designed especially for children from birth to age five. When they sign up, they’ll receive a special library card, a tote bag, a book, and a cuddly dragon stuffed animal, along with enrollment in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program. There’s no better time to make library visits part of your family’s routine. Reading helps children learn, grow, and imagine, while also building important lifelong skills. The books we share with children from an early age can shape their interests, spark curiosity, and help them better understand the world around them. And for kids & teens, there’s something truly empowering about choosing books and using their very own library card to check them out, so you should definitely sign them up for their own card if you haven’t already! We even offer a variety of fun card designs, including a dragon, hamster, and cat.  Did you know that reading to your child is one of the most powerful ways to support early learning? Sharing books helps develop pre-reading skills such as recognizing letter sounds, building vocabulary, and gaining background knowledge, all important for learning to read and kindergarten readiness. And our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program makes it easy and fun to build a daily reading habit. Any child who has not yet started kindergarten can participate. After signing up, families receive a folder with tracking sheets and early literacy tips. Each book read earns a star, and every 100-book milestone is celebrated with a special sticker. When children complete the program, they receive a backpack filled with books and school supplies, and their achievement is recognized in the newspaper. We hope to see your family at the library soon to share in the joy of reading! Warmest regards,
Ms. Stephanie
Youth Services Coordinator |
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Ways to Place a Hold on Your Items
Need the latest best-seller or the book-to-movie adaptation currently in theaters but it’s unavailable from MTL? We are connected to over 500 libraries in the Illinois Heartland Library System. You can request delivery at the circulation desk, by phone, online through Aspen or via the SHARE mobile Library app.
ASPEN
To request items through ASPEN, go to the Library Catalog by either selecting “Search Catalog”; or “My Account”, find the item you want, and click "Place Hold". You will then be prompted to sign in to your account, using either your username (firstlast) or the barcode number and your PIN. Your PIN number will be the last four digits of the phone number you gave when you sign up for your card. You can change your pickup location to any library.
SHARE Mobile Library App
You will sign into your account and select “Search Catalog”, find the item you want and select “Place Hold”. You can also change your pick up location.
When the requested item arrives at MTL, you will receive a phone call, text message or email depending on what your preference was when you signed up for your library card. You will have eight days to pick up your item. If you find that you have run out of time, or were able to procure your item before your hold came in, so long as your account does not say that your item is in a held status, you can cancel your request at any time. Kara Cataloger |
 Genealogy |
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 Illinois Libraries Present |
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