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The Mighty Twig, an experimental library and internet outpost, welcomes the public to celebrate the holidays with crafts that emphasize giving to others, a sing-a-long, cookie decorating, and wonderful holiday tale telling reflecting unique traditions and beliefs. Three local storytellers will celebrate the beauty of our community’s diversity at The Mighty Twig’s Holiday Open House on Thursday, December 15 from 6 to 8 PM, at 900 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.

The evenings’ featured storytellers are Bennett Johnson, publisher of the Evanston Sentinel, Isidro Lucas, who hosts regular story-times in Spanish for The Mighty Twig, and Jane Stenson, former long-time Baker Demonstration School kindergarten teacher and co-author of The Storytelling Classroom.

Fun “giving” activities will include making cards for wounded veterans and active personnel still on-duty abroad. Evanston artisan and PhotoPhlowers business owner, Evan Finamore, will lead stations for children to make presents for friends and family. Kids can create their own cookie masterpiece, take home a book, and possibly win a door prize. There are even little pouches of seeds and oats so children can spread a little holiday happiness to our animal friends.

The Mighty Twig, sponsored entirely by donations and run by volunteers of the Evanston Public Library Friends, provides a lending library, WIFI, children’s/teen/adult programming and free books to keep for your home library. To donate: write your check to EPLF and mail to P.O. Box 8001, Evanston, IL 60204 or visit http://www.themightytwig.com to donate online.

Please join us at The Mighty Twig

Celebrate six months of success and kick-start 2012!

Enjoy live Jazz, art by area students., and the excitement of an iPad2 Raffle!
Help us raise $25K by December 15th!
Saturday, November 5, 2011 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Appetizers & Drinks will be served.

Big Numbers Tell Our Story of Success: 

In just 6 months 

18,017 visitors,

3481 computer users.

2591 toddlers at storytime

509 children checked out 6062 books

15,297 free books distributed to 11 locations across Evanston.

Run with 3,431 volunteer hours, with volunteers ranging from ages 9 to 89.

Shelving arrived and is being assembled…

(thank you, Boston Street Lab for your generous generous donation, and your supervision of Situation Normal at the storage facility on the other end of their journey!) The Friends went quickly to work assembling the units — thanks to our volunteers, to Trish and our steadfast Board, and to Marcia Mahoney who’s going to single-handedly whip this thing into shape if it kills her! We’re looking forward to more volunteer help in the coming weeks, so please stay tuned, or volunteer some time 3/18 and 3/19 by emailing us at twig@eplfriends.org and let us know if you can help sort or stock, or stick labels.

The City Manager released his proposed budget Friday.

BUDGET CLOSES THE BRANCH LIBRARIES FEB. 28, 2011

Come to a City Council Meeting Monday Night 7PM at the Civic Center

This is what the City Manager’s report says about the branches in his transmittal letter at p. 13:

Library Services: There has been much community discussion about library services during the past nine months since my proposal in December, 2009 to close the North and South Branch Libraries. At the time, there was no organized support for the Evanston Public Library and the announcement of the proposed closure was met with silence initially from the community. Shortly after, the Friends of the Evanston Public Library were re-established and a tremendous fundraising effort was launched.

The Evanston Library Board also became re-engaged during this period.

Unfortunately, the focus on the library these past several months demonstrated the severe resource problems that the library has. There is no way to appreciably change this without substantial new revenue coming to the library to not only sustain the moderate level of resources currently available to the library, but resources to give the library greater ability to serve the public.

I am not recommending any new resources for the library with the proposed FY 2011 budget. I am proposing that the City close the North and South Branch Libraries on February 28, 2011 and use the budgeted resources for the branches to go toward enhanced support of the Main Library. I believe the City of Evanston has the best opportunity to support libraries by focusing resources at one primary facility to the best of our abilities and continue outreach efforts around the City. I am also committed to fundraising for the library to enhance our collection and to support outreach efforts.

Write your alderman, the Mayor, the City Manager and let them know how you feel about this. Copy us at info@eplfriends.org.

So, wow. That was something.

After being on pins and needles about what the Board would do regarding the Branches, last night felt pretty good. Thank you to all who came out, and to those who spoke on behalf of the libraries, with special thanks to Kingsley first-grader Leila Cornyn, who stole the show in her continued efforts for the library (Leila was previously our top Read a Thon earner), and also to former Evanston North Branch patron, artist, and best-selling author Audrey Niffenegger, who also spoke to the Board on behalf of Branch preservation, calling them, essentially, an extension of our schools. Which seems ironic then, that the only vote opposing support in the 7 to 1 vote, was by D65 Superintendent Hardy Murphy’s wife, Lynette.

We are also incredibly grateful to Gaylon Emerzian of Evanston’s Trillium Productions for her moving video documentary about Evanston’s West side and what library services mean. Gaylon also recently produced a similar video depicting South Branch, and those videos will both be up soon on our website.

In the end, the Board voted to pass a budget restoring branch operations to previous service levels without sacrificing hours at the Main. The collections budget will need a shot in the arm, but it seemed a wise decision not to ask for too much. As Trustee Susan Stone clarified, this isn’t asking for more, it’s simply re-instating what was previously in place. And as my dad is fond of saying, “the pig gets fat, but the hog gets slaughtered.” Better not to ask for too much.

All in all, a good evening — right up to the minute I got two moving violations on the way home as I pulled out of the Library parking lot. I’m not usually a conspiracy theorist (ok, I am) but really, I’ve gotten 4 tickets in one month since I put the EPLFriends magnet on the back of my car…

I’m just sayin’.

The City has posted the online survey of what to keep and what to slash — and the Libraries are in both sections.

It can be tricky since it’s worded so crazily, so pay attention. It literally takes a minute, so please do this NOW, as the online poll will only be live until Midnight on Tuesday.

Tell your friends – and be sure they vote.

• When: Thursday July 8th
• Where: Music Institute 1490 Chicago Ave Evanston (Chicago and Grove)

Enjoy an evening of Jazz at the Music Institute in Downtown Evanston

Where: Music Institute 1490 Chicago Ave Evanston (Chicago and Grove)
When: Thursday July 8th
Time: 6:15 Reception
7:00 Concert

Suggested Donation $5.00 Students and Seniors $10.00 Adults -Everyone Welcome

Hosted by Wendy Morgan – The Vocal Gymnasium on Behalf of Evanston Public Library Friends and in support of neighborhood libraries.

Performing Artists
Wendy Morgan Vocals
Don Stiernberg Mandolin
Dean Rolando -Piano

• blogger_blog: eplfriends.blogspot.com
• blogger_permalink: /2010/07/we-love-parade.html
• blogger_author: EPLF

Join the fun at 1 pm July 4th as we peaceably assemble at sector 7, position 83. (That’s parade speak for: Central Street, south side, between Hastings and Ridgeway. One block east of Bent Park). Make a poster, bring your bikes, roller-blades, Aunt Sally… Be sure to bring a water bottle and sunscreen to keep handy for the walk, and join us as we join the famous Librarian Book Cart Precision Drill Team for the Best Parade in Town! Wanna march with us? Have questions? email parade@eplfriends.org

• blogger_blog: eplfriends.blogspot.com
• blogger_permalink: /2010/06/shop-at-whole-foods-today-june-30th.html
• blogger_author: EPLF

Do your shopping for the Holiday weekend TODAY at either Whole Foods in Evanston, and help EPLF Keep our libraries strong.

• blogger_blog: eplfriends.blogspot.com
• blogger_permalink: /2010/06/thank-you.html
• blogger_author: EPLF

Last night EPL Friends presented our Interim Report at the City Council meeting outlining the details of our fundraising and outreach efforts to date.