So, an amazing thing happened on Saturday, and we’re proud you played a part in it. One month ago the Evanston Library Board voted not to fund the continuation of the South Branch Library. Undaunted, EPL Friends stepped up and decided to fund our own experimental space while the Library Board continues its visioning process. Without missing a beat, or running the risk of losing the interest and enthusiasm of our members and the SB community, EPL began work in an empty storefront at 900 Chicago Ave. That space, less than one month later, became the Mighty Twig. Smaller than a branch, (but mighty) the Twig provides kids and adult books, internet, computers, storytime and a community space for everyone.

More than 500 people came to check out the Twig on Saturday, and more than 300 of you took out books on our Honor system of lending. No cards, no fines, no fees, no fooling. Kids fill out a reading log to help them (and parents) get into a good habit of being responsible for the books they check out, and to help parents know which books they are looking for amongst the dust bunnies under their beds.

We’re thrilled — seriously couldn’t be happier — with the initial community reaction, and we hope that this success will carry over as a model that makes sense for elsewhere in Evanston.  If you haven’t seen the space yet, you have to come by. Twig is open Tues – Sat. 10 – 5, with later nights until 8PM on Thursdays beginning in mid-April.  Check out some of our press here: Evanston Now, Trib Local, take a video tour with Evanston Patch .

Lots of things are still in motion for The Mighty Twig, and we still welcome donations of time, books, and financial contributions. All in, we figure it costs approximately $154 per day to run the Mighty Twig, with our entirely volunteer staff.  We welcome your input and suggestions and thank you for your continued support!

Members of the Evanston Public Library Friends stormed out of a Library Board meeting Wednesday night, charging that the board’s action to adopt a zero tax increase guideline would in effect undermine months of work the group put in trying to save the city’s two branch libraries.

Group members showed their disgust with the action, leaving the downtown library’s community room as the board finished its 5-3 vote in support of the proposal by member Diane Allen-Jacobi.

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Evanston City Council members probed Library Board members Monday on their recent move to adopt a Library Fund model, giving them control on library budget decisions, in a sometimes tense meeting where neither side moved off of their position.

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Evanston’s City Council and Public Library Board of Trustees sat across from each other Monday night in an attempt to stem the tide of controversy surrounding the board’s recent transition to a library fund model

Read more.

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