As a new mom, Jamie Jones,  branch manager for McClure, came up with the brainchild of 4th Trimester, a new ongoing series at Peoria Public Library for new and soon-to-be parents.

“It’s an interesting juxtaposition: the marvel and wonder of getting to know your beautiful little baby, and the anxiety and fear that you’re going to do something wrong while they’re so fragile,” said Jones. “So we wanted to put together a program that would help new parents get answers to the pressing questions they have from local experts who can help them overcome any anxieties they may have. Also, this program is meant to be a way for new parents to meet and interact – not only with local experts – but also with other parents in the same boat, helping them build a little parenting village of people they can maybe keep in touch with and share experiences as they travel the path of parenthood together. “

4th Trimester launched Oct. 8 with a program on baby sign language, taught by Communication Junction. Upcoming programs include everything from breastfeeding basics to car seat safety to postpartum support and how to get baby to sleep. Each one will be led by an area healthcare professional.

4th Trimester meets every second and fourth Tuesday from 3-4 p.m. at McClure, 315 W. McClure. For more information,  call (309) 497-2700.

Even though we staff five locations and a Bookmobile and put on more than 1,300 programs annually, our small yet mighty staff find time to help make our community a better place outside our walls.  Libraries transform. We believe it. We live it.

Left: Peoria Public Library Deputy Director Roberta Koscielski volunteered recently at Midwest Food Bank with the Rotary Club of Peoria. 

She also recently volunteered as a presenter for Bradley University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s “Literary Lions” series, presenting an hour session on Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. (She’s happy she didn’t have to wear a hair net for that.)

Above Right: Alyce Jackson, Manager of Programming, and Jami Carpenter of Outreach Services at Peoria Public Library brought the Bookmobile to Peoria PlayHouse’s Be Anything Career Day on Sept. 28. About 100 people checked out our mobile library that day.

While we can’t make every community event, keep the Bookmobile in mind, and we’ll do our best. 

Call us at 309-497-2068.

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page,”  
-author Jodi Picoult 

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 2 for the 7th annual Local Author Fair and an opportunity to meet those who successfully moved on from blank pages to published pages.

Two local authors will also discuss their paths to publishing.

Kate Bateman, who writes as K.C. Bateman, has been published by Random House Loveswept and Macmillan – St. Martin’s Press. Her Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, was a 2019 RITA® Finalist.

She will talk about the world of traditional publishing during a mini workshop. 

Bradley University Professor Sara Baker Netzley, who writes as Sara Whitney, has gone the self-publishing route and will discuss that during a separate mini workshop. Netzley is a 2019 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® award finalist. 

Local authors will also have their books available for purchase – a great way to shop local for the holidays – and a portion of their proceeds will go to support Friends of Peoria Public Library, the 501(c)(3) that underwrites much of the library’s programming.

Since 1984, Peoria Public Library has chosen to recognize one outstanding staff member with the Golden Drawer Award, a reference to the ubiquitous symbol of libraries: the card catalog drawer.

This year’s winner is Katy Bauml, a reference assistant at Lakeview Branch, who started with Peoria Public Library as a student page.

Bauml received multiple nominations, each noting her initiative and drive. In addition to starting Sensory StoryTimes at Peoria Public Schools and OSF Almost Home Kids, Bauml was integral in the first StoryWalk®, a joint project with Peoria Public Library and the Peoria Park District. She also was the driver behind reviving the Adult Summer Reading Party, a big success this year. Bauml has also instituted other programs which neighboring libraries have asked for her advice on, leading her to be a presenter at the 2018 Illinois Library Association conference. 

This nomination said it best: “Some people are recognized for big, obvious things, but (Katy) should be recognized for her initiative and creativity in filling holes others did not see.”

The Peoria Library’s North Branch presents a musical portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the quirky crusader in crinoline to whom Lincoln reportedly said, “So this is the little lady who started the big war!”

Local author Edith Barnard portrays the “writer, crusader, Victorian Cinderella and Domestic Goddess,” from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 24 at North Branch, 3001 W. Grand Parkway. 

Stowe’s book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was the best-selling novel of the 19th century.  Barnard brings her dulcimer and autoharp and is joined by Wes Sedrel, a classical guitarist, to sing songs from the Civil War and share informative and funny stories from Stowe’s life. Civil War garb encouraged.

Free and open to the public.

By Teri Miller

Holiday Books for December 201

Large print books are for anyone who enjoys the ease and convenience of reading larger type. Enjoy these Holiday titles appearing soon on a Large Print Shelf at your favorite branch!

Spirit of the Seasonby Fern Michaels: Joy Preston is a successful CEO in Denver. She miser her late grandmother but is shocked and angered to learn that the terms of Nana’s will expect her to take over a bed and breakfast in North Carolina for six months. Yet there’s no denying Heart and Soul’s charm, especially at holiday time. The B&B is always elaborately decorated for the season, with themed guest rooms and dazzling lawn displays created for the annual Parade of Homes competition. The entire town takes part in the festivities, and soon Joy, too, is joining in the gingerbread house contest and letting her reservations melt away. (Main, Lakeview, McClure and North)

Wreath Between the Linesby Daryl Wood Gerber: Just as Jenna Hart is decorating the Cookbook Nook for all the festive holiday events, her father’s good friend Jake shows up on her doorstep with a frantic report that his friend has been murdered – impaled with a Christmas tree star. When Jake himself is poisoned and nearly dies, Jenna knows she’ll have to whatever it takes to corner the culprit before its lights out for Jake. (Lakeview, Main, McClure and North)

Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder by Meg Macy: Just before Silver Hollow’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and village parade are set to begin, the parade’s mascot, Santa Bear – played by Mayor Cal Bloom is found dead, having been electrocuted. While the police investigate the grisly crime, Sasha attempts to track down the murderer herself. Can she wrap up this case in time for Christmas – or will Sasha meet her own shocking end? (Lakeview, McClure and North)

Owl Be Home for Christmasby Donna Andrews: its a few days before Christmas, and Meg’s grandfather is hosting a scientific conference on owls at the Caerphilly Inn. When an unexpectedly severe snowstorm traps the conference-goers in the hotel and one of the visiting ornithologists is murdered, it’s up to Meg to Save Christmas. (Lakeview, Main, McClure and North)

Christmas in Winter Hillby Melody Carlson: Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. The holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager oversees. Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the bigday? (Main, Lakeview, McClure and North)

A Christmas Haven by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall: For fans of holiday romances and Amish life comes a new Christmas tale of surprising expectations and discovering miracles. Old Order Amish Ivy Zook is wrestling with her need to shed her community’s ways and find modernization so she can grow the business of her dreams. When Ivy meets Arlan, from an ultra-conservation sect, the young people must discover what God has in store for them. (Lakeview, Main, McClure and North)