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As part of an ongoing commitment to promote youth education, Peoria Public Library is proud and excited to announce it is an official 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee regional sponsor for Central Illinois, giving local students an opportunity to participate in America’s longest-running educational competition.
This marks the inaugural year for Peoria Public Library as an official Scripps National Spelling Bee regional sponsor, covering 8 counties and 300 eligible schools. The City of Peoria, Peoria County and Peoria Public Schools District 150 are key partners.
“We are extremely proud to step into this role, one that has been vacant for several years,” said Peoria Public Library Executive Director Randall Yelverton. “The Scripps National Spelling Bee ignites a love for learning through its unique experiences and opportunities, celebrates and builds confidence in those who are intellectually curious, and fosters an inclusive and diverse community. So do we. So, of course, as aligned as we are, it makes perfect sense for us to step into this role.”
Peoria Public Library hosting a Regional Spelling Bee in March means the winner from our 8-county area will advance to the national competition in Washington, D.C. in May, where they will have the opportunity to compete for the Scripps Cup.
Schools, including homeschoolers in the following counties, have until Jan. 31 to enroll at spellingbee.com. Eligible counties include: Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton, Marshall, Mason, Putnam and Stark.
“This is an exciting opportunity,” Yelverton added. “We haven’t been able to send a contender to D.C. for several years, but now we will. We also have some ideas to make their experience and send-off memorable. We’ll be reaching out to our community for some help with that.”
The Regional Bee will be held Saturday, March 28 at the Gateway Building on Peoria’s Riverfront. Interested schools can find more information at www.spellingbee.com while interested community partners can reach out to Peoria Public Library’s Manager of Public Relations Jennifer Davis at (309) 497-2141 or jenniferdavis@peoriapubliclibrary.org
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| Library Launches New Newspaper Digitization Project |
Peoria Public Library is excited to announce a newspaper preservation and digitization project that makes decades of the Peoria Journal Star, including historic issues dating back to 1951, available online.
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“This is a longtime dream project that we are finally able to offer our patrons, made possible by the library’s investment as well as an ongoing donation from the Friends of Peoria Public Library,” said Peoria Public Library Executive Director Randall Yelverton. “This will revolutionize local research into Peoria’s 20th century history.” |
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Digital scans of the Peoria Journal Star, as the issues appeared in print, are now freely available from 1951 through 2007. Issues from 2008 to 2017 are available, but still a work in progress. Digitized issues from 2019 to current day were already available for the Peoria Journal Star and continue to be added daily. All digitized issues are keyword searchable.
“Seeing our local newspaper, as it appeared, with its photographs, layout and ads, brings history to life in a way that just seeing the text of a story does not,” Yelverton said. “This will be ideal for classroom use too. We believe historic events – national or local – will be more meaningful and relatable to students when viewed this way.”
Peoria Public Library patrons can access this digitized newspaper archive remotely with an internet connection and library card. Otherwise, the collection can be accessed from within the library via our public computers or in our Local History and Genealogy Department at Main Library in Downtown Peoria.
Yelverton noted that while the library is committed to devoting significant resources annually to this project, the library is also grateful for community support, particularly from the Friends of Peoria Public Library. Anyone interested in contributing to the library’s ongoing digitization project can make taxdeductible donations to the Friends of Peoria Public Library. Please mail checks, specifying the donation is for digitization, to:
Friends of Peoria Public Library 107 NE Monroe St. Peoria, IL 61602-1070 |
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| Join Our Winter Reading Challenge ~ For All Ages | A few hundred of you have already signed up, but have YOU joined our Winter Reading Challenge yet?
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All ages can sign up to get rewarded for reading! We have invested in bigger, better prizes -- something the entire family can droll over. Just signing up gets you a small prize. |
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Visit peoriapubliclibrary.beanstack.org to register virtually or pick up a paper log at any of the Peoria Public Library locations to get started!
Complete your log by February 28th to earn a completion prize (fun plushie or campfire mug) as well as a chance to win a branch prize of a $50 Walmart gift card. Grand prizes for each age: ** Tonie Box 2 Bundle (ages 0-5)
** Yoto Mini Player Bundle (ages 6-12) **Samsung Galaxy tablet (teen & adult)! Free to enter. |
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| New Year, New You, New Library Programs | January is the time for resolving to start fresh. Eat better. Exercise more. Read more (that one is our favorite!).
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Peoria Public Library has several programs this month to help with your mental and physical health. A few of them with continue all year long. |
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NEW for 2026, Peoria Public Library is adding two new fitness programs at North Branch, both with live instructors. Drop-ins are welcome.
Enjoy Zumba every Monday (excluding holidays) from 5:30-6:30 PM at North Branch. Adults only. Dress for exercise.
Starting Jan. 17, Hatha Yoga will be every Saturday (excluding holidays)
3-4 PM at North Branch. Adults only. Bring a yoga mat.
Thursday, Jan. 22 ~ Attainable & Sustainable: Turn Your New Year’s Resolution into Reality
6:30-7:30 PM, North Branch Join Cindy, manager of Titan Fitness, as she shares tips for making your healthy habits sustainable all year long!
Yoga with Adriene at 12:15 PM. Every Tuesday and Thursday at Main Library. Adults only. Drop-ins welcome. |
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| Help Wanted: Peoria Public Library is Growing! | Peoria Public Library is looking to hire for a new position: Full-Time Assistant Manager of Facilities.
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Deadline to apply is Noon, Thursday, January 15th. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid vacation, sick time & holidays, IMRF pension plan, Employee Assistance Program and optional deferred compensation plan. |
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Salary: $47,840 EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE * High School Diploma or G.E.D. and
* Experience: 2-4 years of relevant experience, including cleaning, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and HVAC or equivalent combination of technical training, education or experience. Learn more and apply here JOB SUMMARY
The Assistant Manager of Facilities supports the Manager of Facilities with the coordination and administration of activities related to the cleaning, maintenance, and enhancement of the library’s buildings, facilities, grounds, electrical and mechanical systems and vehicles; performs other duties as assigned. Reports to the Manager of Facilities. |
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| Resource Spotlight: The Palace Project App | Every month, we will highlight a different library resource you might not be aware of, this month it’s The Palace Project app, a new resource for ebooks and audio books.
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Funded by a $5 million investment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Palace Project is a strategic partnership with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA). |
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Originally designed and developed by the New York Public Library, you'll find this app to be a robust suite of content.
Our patrons currently have access to the eRead Illinois digital collection, but more is coming. Stay tuned.
Download for free via Google Play or the Apple Store, enter your Peoria Public Library card number and PIN and get to browsing! https://thepalaceproject.org/ |
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