 |
 | |
Author Event: Maggie Stiefvater Comes to Peoria |
|
|
You won’t want to miss an afternoon with New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater. Her latest book, The Listeners is a mesmerizing portrait of an irresistible heroine, an unlikely romance, and a hotel—and a world—in peril. Already a bestseller!
Stiefvater has sold nearly 6 million books worldwide and is best known for her paranormal series The Raven Cycle and The Wolves of Mercy Falls, which began with Shiver in 2009. The Shiver trilogy spent more than 40 weeks on the NYT bestseller list.
Many of her books take inspiration from folklore and mythology and Celtic/Welsh tales in particular. Character-driven. Atmospheric. Magical.
Be sure to mark your calendars for her visit to Peoria.
Saturday, Nov. 15 ~ 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Main Library, 107 NE Monroe. Free and open to the public. |
|
|
|
| City Opens Historic 1897 Time Capsule |
Peoria Public Library was thrilled to take part in the opening of the 1897 time capsule on Nov. 2, exactly 128 years after it was placed in the cornerstone of Peoria City Hall during its construction.
|
The library’s own Local History and Genealogy Librarian Sue Kaufman served on the special City of Peoria Time Capsule Committee. Alex Dixon, Archival Programs Administrator-Conservation from the Illinois State Archives, noted that the contents were in excellent condition, which is unusual since oftentimes water gets in and ruins the contents of time capsules.
|  |
|
 |
The contents of the copper box included newspaper clippings, business cards, photos, a single buckeye (for luck), and an American Flag.
During restoration work on the city’s façade, construction workers came upon the time capsule. Since the city forefathers who laid the time capsule didn’t leave instructions for when it should be opened, today’s city officials decided to open it on Nov. 2 at 2 p.m., the day and time it was placed back in 1897.
Archivists and restoration specialists with the state of Illinois will catalog and hopefully restore the contents to a condition where they can be studied more thoroughly. Eventually, they will be returned to the city of Peoria and be held at the Peoria Historical Society for safekeeping. Interested in seeing the contents up close? Check out this reveal video
A new time capsule at Peoria City Hall is planned for 2026 to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday. The city is asking residents what they’d like to see put inside it. Learn more. |
|
|
| Speaking of History… It’s Your Turn to Preserve It | Are the upcoming holidays reminding you of all those photos you haven’t digitized yet?
|
Coming soon to Peoria Public Library Local History and Genealogy Department will be a memory preservation station…stay tuned for more details.
Want to get the scoop? Join Local History and Genealogy Librarian Sue Kaufman, guest speaker for this month’s Peoria County Genealogical Society meeting on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 6 – 8 PM at North Branch, 3001 W. Grand Pkwy. |
|
 |
You don’t have to be a PCGS member to attend. The public is invited. No registration necessary if you attend in person, but if you would like the Zoom link, you must register.
Kaufman will talk about how the library can help supplement, and possibly revolutionize, your research into your family’s past. |
|
|
|
| Congratulations on 40 Wonderful Years! | We said goodbye in October to one of our most devoted employees. Teri Miller devoted 40 years of her career to Peoria Public Library and our city.
|
She started in June 1985 in the Art & Music Department at Main Library, but transferred a year later to our Reference Department.
In 1988, she moved to Outreach and oversaw the libraries we managed at Peoria's three hospitals. In 1990, she became Manager of Outreach Services, a post she still holds today.
Photo: Teri at her retirement party with her Outreach Department Staff. Left to right, Tiana Helms, Teri Miller, Cari Pierce, Jami Carpenter
|
|
 |
Her department handles home delivery service, nursing home deposit collections, the Bookmobile (now retired), pop-up library services at daycares and schools and coordinates the Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service for PPL patrons.
She's been an integral part in so many big changes for PPL, including the fundraising campaign for the Bookmobile in 1999. (Remember those fiberglass pigs?!)
In the Fall of 2009, she was also asked to head up the packing, moving, unpacking and shelving of materials as PPL renovated all existing locations and built North Branch. "It was a challenging five years," she recalls.
In 2010, her peers awarded her The Golden Drawer Award, the library's most prestigious honor. Please wish her well with us. Happy retirement, Teri! |
|
|
| Goodbye Boundless. Hello Palace Project. | As you've probably heard, the Boundless app for eBooks and audiobooks is being discontinued due to the recent and unexpected closure of Baker & Taylor.
|
Over the next month, the collection of digital materials that was hosted on Boundless will be transferring to The Palace Project app. |
|
 |
Effective immediately – You can no longer place holds in Boundless. 11/17 – Boundless will stop functioning.
12/2 – Our eRead Illinois collection launches on the Palace Project app! Download the new app and start browsing again. Your holds and checkout history will not transfer to the new app so we recommend making note of any titles you're waiting for. You will have to place those holds again in Palace Project.
We understand this transition is inconvenient, and we appreciate your patience.
Questions? Call our Collection Development Manager at (309) 497-2149. |
|
|
| Peoria Public Library Receives $10,000 Carnegie Grant |
Big news! Our library is receiving a $10,000 gift from Carnegie Corporation of New York in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
|
 |
|
|
 |
We’re proud to be one of about 1,280 Carnegie Libraries still serving communities nationwide.
In fact, Lincoln Branch, Peoria's only Carnegie Library, still looks a lot like it did when it first opened in June 1911, thanks to a $20,000 gift from Andrew Carnegie. And still going strong in supporting our city with access to a world-class collection of resources.
Learn more |
|
|
| Peoria Public Library Joins CityLink’s Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive |
Help your community by donating to CityLink Peoria's annual Stuff A Bus food drive.
|
You'll find donation boxes at all Peoria Public Library locations, except McClure Branch. (Sorry, McClure is so small, we were afraid the box would cause a tripping hazard.) |
|
 |
CityLink has been a wonderful partner with Peoria Public Library, and other area libraries, by offering free rides every September to those who have a library card. Let's show our generosity by filling these boxes with nonperishable food through Dec. 1.
Donations will support Peoria Friendship House's Food Pantry. |
|
|
| New in November | Consider checking out our new ongoing techy programs at North Branch – one for kids and one for adults.
|
|
|
 |
Tech Check and Chat ~ Friday, Nov. 21 (Every 3rd Friday of the month) 10:30 – 11:30 AM at North Branch, 3001 W. Grand Pkwy.
Sip coffee and socialize while learning basic tech skills in a relaxed environment with this new monthly series. For the first meeting, organizers are hoping to learn what skills and areas potential attendees are most interested, so please come ready to share. Light refreshments provided. Geared to adults.
Books and Bots Coding Club ~ Saturday, Nov. 22 (Dates vary; Check calendar) 12:30 – 2:30 PM at North Branch, 3001 W. Grand Pkwy. Join us each month as we make friends and explore coding, robotics, and real-world problem solving. No prior experience required! Geared to ages 6-12. |
|
|
| Resource Spotlight: Craft & Hobby | Every month, we will highlight a different library resource you might not be aware of.
|
Since we’re coming up fast on the holiday season, let us remind you of Craft & Hobby, an extensive online platform with thousands of video tutorials in everything from cake design to woodworking. |
|
 |
Craft & Hobby is like YouTube, but the videos are taught by experts, who walk patrons through each technique clearly with step-by-step demonstrations, providing expert tips and tricks along the way. Learn at your own pace. No fees. No commercials.
All you need is your Peoria Public Library card to get started. https://peoriapubliclibrary.org/e-library/ |
|
|
|
|
|
