FROM THE DIRECTOR

I am very excited to share that the conversion of the Hoffman Meeting Room into a Special Collections room is very near completion. Thanks to the continued generosity of the Hoffman family, we have purchased new tables, chairs, and a scanner. We would also like to thank the FRIENDS of the library for matching funds for the scanner purchase and helping to secure a glass case. The existing furniture was moved to the audio book area to create more study spaces. At this time we are in the process of moving historical items out of the basement and onto the shelves. We hope to have our scanner up and running by the end of the year. If you have historical materials for the city of East Moline and are interested in donating them to the library, please call the library. 

The East Moline Library has been awarded a $2,000 Literacy Grant from Dollar General to update and expand our children's bilingual collections. A large portion will be used to purchase new children's Spanish bilingual materials, but we are also purchasing children's Arabic, French, and Ewe materials. 

The first items of our new Home School collection have arrived and are on the shelves! The library will continue to purchase materials and grow this collection in the coming months. Please continue to check the shelves to see what we have added. 

Director’s Bookshelf

Book of Night by Holly Black: Holly Black is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I was very excited to read her newest book. Book of Night is actually part 1 of a duology with part 2, Thief of Night, having just been released September 23. Holly Black is known for her heavy world-building and beautiful language development, but Book of Night is a much more straight forward, simple read which I think makes it have a wider appeal. The plot, however, is anything but simple. Image that your shadow could come to life under the right circumstances and with a little bit of your own blood. Once awakened, your shadow could do your bidding, change shape, and even talk to you. This book held my interest and had several twists I absolutely did not see coming. The book really starts cooking as you get to the end with the final plot twist leaving me desperate for the next book. 

The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune was published in 2020 and I have no idea why it has taken me so long to read this book! A 40 something bachelor with an expanding waste line and grumpy cat, who works for the Department of Magical Youth, is sent out to investigate a level four top secret clearance orphanage on an island. The orphanage is home to the most magical of children, including a gnome, a shape shifter (who shifts into a Pomeranian), a Sprite, a Wyvern, a "Monster," and the son of Lucifer. What transpires is the most adorable story full of love, kindness, bravery, and family. I highly recommend listening to the audio book for the full affect of characters. 

Get ready to experience the library like never before as it transforms into a spooky haunted house that promises thrills and chills for all! But if you're looking for a fright-free adventure, visit our Daytime Spooktacular, specially designed for kids 12 and under!

The haunted house is brought to life by our amazing Teen Library Council, a group of 30+ teens who have been designing and planning since June! Admission is FREE, but donations are welcome and will directly support our Teen Programming!

All ages are welcome to participate! Earn tickets for grand prizes by logging one banned book and completing activities. The banned book you read does not have to be from the top 10 list - for a list of banned books, check out Goodreads, PEN America, and B&N. Register on the Beanstack website, or the Beanstack app.

This is a virtual live presentation. Marissa Bode will not be attending in-person at the library. If you cannot attend in person at the library, please register here to watch the Zoom presentation from home.

This is a virtual event and we will not be hosting in-person at the library. Please register here to watch the livestream from home. 

ADULT PROGRAMS

Nov 4, 6-7:30pm

This session outlines the general financial aid process and provides insight on how financial aid works, how to apply for it, student eligibility, and how it can be used to help pay for college. It introduces the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, along with summarizing state and federal aid programs among other topics. Sign up here!

Nov 10, 6-7:30pm

During this workshop students will be able to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). These are the forms used to apply for financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant and/or the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). Sign up here!

Nov 18, 6-7:30pm

ISAC partners with the American College Application Campaign to encourage students to apply to college in a timely fashion, especially for first gen students. During this workshop, Corps members will assist students with completing college applications to the college(s) of their choice and/or applying for direct admission through the state’s One Click College Admit program to participating Illinois public universities and community college. Sign up here!

TEEN PROGRAMS (Grades 9-12)

Oct 30 | 4-7pm

Join us for a night of spooky fun! Music, karaoke, snacks, and a costume contest! Prizes will be awarded to the scariest, most creative, and the crowd favorite! Register here!

Nov 13 | 4-7pm

Join us for a Friendsgiving Potluck Dinner! Share your favorite dish and try new things! Enjoy good food, friends, and fun! Register here and we'll send you a link to our dinner form so we can keep track of what everyone is bringing!

Nov 20 | 4-7pm

Friends don’t lie - the Final Season is here! Join us for one last adventure in the Upside Down - we will be celebrating this epic story with snacks, trivia, giveaways, and more! Sign up here!

TWEEN PROGRAMS (Grades 4-8)

Book Buddies Pick Up

Oct 15, All Day

Book Buddies is a book club for tweens in grades 4-8 and their reading buddy (older sibling, parent, friend, etc.). Stop by to pick up a kit which will include a copy of the book, a craft and discussion questions. One kit per child, while supplies last.

This month's book is The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien.

Oct 2, 9, 16 & Nov 13, 20

3:30-5:30pm

Play various board, video, and computer games!

Oct 7, 4-5pm

Stop by and create your own plush monster! This craft will not require sewing. All supplies will be provided. Sign up here!

Oct 17 & Nov 14

3:30-4:30pm

Kids can learn coding through fun games like Minecraft with Hour of Code. We will have laptops available or you may bring your own. Sign up here!

CHILDRENS AND ALL AGES PROGRAMS

Oct 4, 12-2pm

Let's Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Design a Piñata with your Country's Flag. Register here!

Nov 1, 12-2pm

Enjoy a movie and craft for Dia de los Muertos! We will be showing the movie Coco and making mini altars. Click here to sign up!

NOTES FROM THE FRIENDS

Fall is in the air... Fall is my favorite season! I love the smell of apple crisp baking in the oven. I also enjoy trips to various pumpkin patches with my grandsons. Orange is my favorite color and there are many things to buy, clothes, and decorations - I love to decorate my house for fall. I hope many of you enjoy this season too!

Thank you to all of you that came to our Musical Bingo Fundraiser on September 13 at the American Legion. We netted $2,328.00 - this money goes to helping with supplies and programming at the library!

In October, the City Council will proclaim the week of October 19-25 as Friends of the Library Week! Please stop in during that week and become a FRIEND - there will be a raffle basket you can win!

In November, we will again be having a Book & Bake Sale on Small Business Saturday, November 29. If anyone would like to bake for this, please email Tami for more info at tdcox715@yahoo.com. There is also a donation box for holiday wrapping paper in the lobby at the library - this will be used for the book sale. Donations can dropped off through the end of November.

We wish all of you the best in the coming months - enjoy!

Marcia Lintz, President of the FRIENDS of the East Moline Public Library