Blog

By Austin Nord, Adult Services Specialist, January 2023

Home to the coolest gadgets and awe-inspiring crafts, our Creative Studio is packed with a ton of potential for all patrons. From the wonders of 3D printing to the fun of designing T-shirts, our library’s makerspace has it all! However, of all the technology in the studio, our Sublimation Press for Mugs is by far my favorite. In today’s post we are going to discuss the basics of Sublimation Printing, how to print a design on a mug, where to find a mug, and how the library can help with any future projects!

by Emily Glimco, Communications & Marketing Coordinator  December 2022

Addison resident Taiwo Owoniyi is always working on something, whether it’s his art, his music, or his job as a CNA. But when he has the chance, he seeks out the library. 

When Allen Polich first moved to Addison in the fall of 2020, he didn’t expect he’d become a regular visitor to the Addison Public Library. But after receiving the library’s newsletter and spotting an intriguing volunteer opportunity, everything changed.When Allen Polich first moved to Addison in the fall of 2020, he didn’t expect he’d become a regular visitor to the Addison Public Library. But after receiving the library’s newsletter and spotting an intriguing volunteer opportunity, everything changed.

Debbie Spacko’s story starts like many Americans: in April 2020, she was furloughed from her job as a customer service representative. Networking soon led Spacko to the Addison Public Library’s job seeker services in the fall of 2020 after the library’s resources were shared at an event. She signed up for the Getting Addison Back to Work program and later used her new skills to land a great new job.

Did you know your business can get a library card? Addison businesses are taxpayers and entitled to a business library card just like our residents! Check out some of the things you can do with a business library card and learn how to sign up.

I love to learn about different countries. It’s always fun to see the world from a different point of view that I can’t get from everyday life! One of the best ways to do this from home is to read books by people from the country you are interested in, or explore the library’s online resources.

Your library card is the most valuable card in your wallet. We'll show you how to save money by putting your library card to use!

No matter where you are in life, your library card is your ticket to learning a new skill for free! At the library, you’ll find tons of online courses and interactive sites to help you find a new job, prepare for college, succeed in school, or simply learn something for fu

Picture this: you’re lying on the sofa or leaning back on your recliner, and you’d love for a novel to take you away to a distant (or future) time or place, but you can’t figure out what to read next. We'll show you a few different ways to find a book that will excite you!

One of the latest books on display at the Addison Public Library is the work of Addison resident Yusuf Keshavarzi, whose book Darkwood: Black Jaguar tells the story of a talented 13 year old boy in Toronto who gets recruited to work for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and in doing so, uncovers an evil plot. At just 13 years old himself, Keshavarzi has already demonstrated his talent as an author. 

Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans and celebrates African-American culture. In recognition and celebration of Juneteenth, we invite you to learn about this important day while you enjoy these upcoming events.

Tania Viramontes has lived in Addison since she was just one year old and has been using the Addison Public Library for as long as she can remember. She has fond memories of visiting the first library building as a child.

We love a good book with an awesome story and amazing puzzles that get you thinking! Here are four great books that test your knowledge and problem-solving skills while still giving you a great story.

On Saturday, July 27, the Addison Public Library celebrated its Class of 2019 Career Online High School graduates with an intimate graduation ceremony honoring Addison residents Ruth Joy Safsaf, Ashley Schira, and Cynthia Simpson. Career Online High School (COHS) is an online program in which participants can earn an accredited high school diploma while gaining career skills and graduate ready to work in the field of their choice. 

The Addison Public Library is one of 160 public libraries nationwide that received funding from the Public Library Association (PLA) as part of the PLA Digital Literacy Workshop Incentive that is supported by AT&T. With this funding, the library will purchase additional technology that patrons can borrow and will host a special bilingual series of workshops to help community members improve their technology skills.

Make this school year your best one yet! Use your library card to get help with homework, complete school projects, and more.

by Brittany Burns, Children's Services Associate  September 2022

I love learning about other cultures and people with different life experiences than mine. Let me tell you about a few titles highlighting diverse characters that I highly recommend: 

Our library values inclusion, respect, and diversity of thought. No one should ever feel that they aren’t welcome, whether it’s at the Addison Public Library or other spaces within our community. To build a space that is more just and welcoming to all, we are actively learning and unlearning through trainings and discussions that center on issues of race, culture, and equity. 

One day we love to celebrate in Children’s Services is El Día de los Niños or El Día de los Libros, a great day where we celebrate children and their hopes and interests.

Judy Belanger has lived in Addison since 1965. In her 56 years living in Addison, she spent 30 of them serving on the Addison Public Library’s Board of Trustees. Before joining the library board, Belanger often visited the original Addison library with her family, creating many memories along the way.

You are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) at the library! We have special events planned for all ages. ¡Le invitamos a celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana (15 de sept.–15 de oct.) con la biblioteca! Hemos planeado eventos especiales para todas las edades.

The Addison Public Library is one of the many libraries across the country that has its own makerspace or studio, where patrons can explore their crafty side and pick up a new hobby. For Addison resident Efua Asssan, the library’s Creative Studio was the perfect space for her to explore sewing, where she quickly breezed past the basics to design and sew her first custom skirt.

Learn how to make a simple book to help you document family memories!

Finding a job can be a challenge, especially right now. Take your job search skills to the next level with our Getting Addison Back to Work program! In this series of workshops, you'll learn all the tools you need to launch your career. 

This program was made possible thanks to the Bouncing Back from the Pandemic Grant provided by the Illinois State Library.

Using egg cartons to start your garden is not only practical; it helps you recycle, too! We'll show you how to get started.

Mary Ann Spina is an avid reader and Friend of the Addison Public Library who knows firsthand that the library is more than just a building full of books. She shares her story in this article.

We interviewed Business Services Specialist Lesley Cyrier about her work supporting local businesses!

Creative Studio Open Labs

The Creative Studio is often busy in the winter as crafters prepare for the winter holidays, so we are trying something new to make sure everyone has a chance to use our space: Open Labs! During Open Labs, you can drop in to the Creative Studio to get help from trained staff with your project.

Open Lab Schedule:

Mon., Dec. 5, 12, 19  1:00-4:00

Tues., Dec. 6, 13, 20  5:00-8:00

Weds., Dec. 7. 14, 21  9:00-12:00

Fri., Dec. 9 & 16  1:00-4:00

Shop local this holiday season! From Sat., Nov. 26 to Sat., Dec. 10, shoppers can pick up a Shop Small Passport from the library and from our participating businesses. Shoppers will earn a stamp on their passport for each business they visit during the campaign. For every stamp you receive, you will be entered into a drawing to win a prize!

You now have even more ways to find factual information online! With these online tools, you can explore news coverage from the past and present and even explore your family’s history.

by Brittany Burns, Children’s Services Associate  August 2022

Did you know you can download our eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, TV shows, movies, and music straight to your smartphone, Kindle, tablet, or computer? When you borrow our digital materials, you can enjoy the library from anywhere in the world—or from the comfort of your couch.

The Library of Things collection includes a huge variety of educational, useful, and entertaining items that you can borrow, and everyone from children to seniors can find something useful to check out and take home with them.

On Monday, October 18, 2021 at 7:00pm, Addison resident Tony Szabelski will present Ghostology and Ghost Hunting in the Chicagoland Area with fellow paranormal investigator Jack Chavez at the Addison Public Library. 

When the market is up, everyone’s happy. When it’s down, people often make drastic changes to their portfolios that result in even bigger losses than necessary. Want to know the trick to keeping your cool? Knowledge!

Whether you want to get into genealogy or are a seasoned pro, you can find the information you need at the library! Explore our tools and dive into the past.

by Steven Slavick, Adult Services Specialist  December 2022

While we’ve always owned horror books, we’ve added a new collection to our shelves: horror novels, which you can find in between the Crime and Romance collections on the second floor! As a big fan of horror novels, I’d like to get you started with some of the rising stars in horror fiction over the past 5+ years with these author recommendations.

Rose Falcone, a resident of Addison for over 15 years, had been wondering what to do with her old 8mm and Super 8 film reels. Then one day, she opened the library’s March/April newsletter to find a promotion for the library’s film to digital converters, which she could use for free.

One of the big questions for summer is: What are you going to do? Well, I suggest you check out an amazing online resource called ScienceFlix, which you can use to learn about all things science!

by Brittany Burns, Children's Services Specialist  December 2022

A new year brings all sorts of new things. In my case, every new year I make a goal for myself that I then have the year to work on. In 2022, my goal was to improve my drawing skills. I’m still trying to figure out what 2023’s goal will be. Here are some great options if you want to make learning a skill your new year goal.

We are excited to welcome local artist Antonia Ruppert to the library as our first Artist in Residence! Over the next two months, Antonia will hold collaborative creative workshops that will focus on the home of our memories and imaginations. Come share your story and be part of this artistic exploration of our community!

Applying for a new job or starting a new career can be a challenge, but we’re here to help make it easier! Whether you need assistance reformatting your resume or need to learn a critical skill for a new career path, we have plenty of ways to help you achieve your career goals.

 I have always loved other languages ever since I was learning to read and discovered Spanish for the first time. If your little one is like me, they might enjoy learning a new language with Muzzy Club.

Did you know more books were challenged or removed from U.S. libraries this year than any other since the American Library Association (ALA) started tracking book censorship more than 20 years ago? During Banned Books Week (Sept. 18-24), we’ll have fun activities and giveaways celebrating your Freedom to Read and highlighting the diversity of our collections. Come find out more about why books are being challenged and how a librarian can help you find the book that’s right for you.

Enjoy Free Lunch and more at the library this summer!

Addison Public Library cardholders can now check out interactive kits, called Memory Kits, to help their loved ones stimulate their minds in a fun and engaging way!

You already know that library shelves are filled with books, movies, and more. But do you know how those items get into the library’s collection for patrons to take home? Our Materials Management department works behind the scenes to bring the best materials to our shelves for Addison Public Library cardholders to borrow!

In celebration of National Library Week (Apr. 3-9, 2022), we’re shining a spotlight on 5 key ways libraries support their communities.

The Addison Public Library’s Board of Trustees voted on Tuesday, February 15 to update a circulation policy allowing middle school and high school students to get a Teen Restricted library card without a parent or guardian present. Under the new policy, these cards will now be called Teen Limited Access cards and will allow students to check out more types of library materials.

We're sharing some of our favorite books on display now in the Children's Services department! We think you'll love these stories with memorable characters.

Effective July 7, 2022, many Addison Public Library items will automatically renew when you check them out! This means you no longer have to remember to renew items you want to keep for longer than the original loan period. This also means you have more time to enjoy the items you borrow! 

Between completing the 2019 Chicago marathon, releasing his first book, The Blue Q: The World As I See It, in October of 2020, translating his published novel into Spanish, and seeing both the English and Spanish versions of his story on shelf at his local library, Addison resident Dennis Avelar has accomplished a lot in just a few years. But his latest accomplishment is perhaps the one he is proudest of to date: El Quetzal Azul: El Mundo Desde El Cielo, Avelar’s Spanish translation of his book, won second place in this year’s inaugural De la Página a la Fama author competition, which is a contest for Illinois authors whose books are written in Spanish.

Charlene English loves the Addison Public Library so much that she’ll talk enthusiastically about the library to anyone and everyone who will listen.

Rosa Biondo recalls going to her local library in Chicago as a child with her mother, who taught herself to read in English and wanted her children to be able to do the same. Now as a parent herself, Biondo has been finding joy in watching her son John, age 8, grow up with the Addison Public Library.

Make your next vacation your best one yet! We’re here to help you with every step of your trip. 

Catherine Ryan, who has lived in Addison for nearly 60 years and has been a patron of the library since the very beginning, shares her story.

Patients at Addison’s Hamdard Center will now discover Book Bins in the waiting rooms, thanks to a partnership between Hamdard, the Addison Public Library, the Addison Early Childhood Collaborative, and the Friends of the Addison Public Library.

Whether you want to learn something new for school or for work, we have the tools you need! Many of these online tools cover multiple subject areas, so be sure to explore them all to find what interests you.