Harrisburg District Library

e-readers

2011-02-02T11:05:00.005-06:00

I've been trying to find companies that allow more than one reader to download an e-book simultaneously. No such luck! Although our e-audiobooks will allow up to 5 listeners, the e-books will be just as the print versions: one person per checkout. Keep watching the website for the active links to e-books.

We have purchased e-readers for the library staff to familarize ourselves with three devices: Kindle, Nook, ipad. The Kindle is here; the others still on the way. The plan is to download some books (to learn how to help patrons) and have the devices at the desk to help patrons compare. Sorry, we won't be circulating the devices--can't compare them if they aren't here.

I've found some information about reading Kindle books on the Nook. Supposedly you can go to http://calibre-ebook.com/download for a program to help with converting ebooks. There is information at http://blogkindle.com/2010/12/read-kindle-books-on-nook-color/comment-page-2/ to re-root your Nook to access the Android Kindle app. Regular nook info http://nookdevs.com/Main_Page .

If you have tried these links or other and have information, advice, etc., please comment. Thanks!
Ruth

Winter weather and books!

2010-12-28T14:05:00.004-06:00

Did you know that more library materials are checked out when winter weather is predicted? Many of our patrons put the library on their list right after getting their staples at the grocery store. We all know there is nothing worse than getting snowed in at home with nothing to read!

Of course it is always best to check to make sure we are open before making the trip. The library sometimes finds it necessary to close due to the weather conditions. Remember that all fines and fees are adjusted if the library does have to close, so don't be concerned that you will be fined for overdue materials on a day the library is closed.

For those of you who are a little more technically advanced, the library is in the process of trying to find the best company for eBooks and downloadables. We certainly welcome your suggestions, just contact the Library Director at 618-253-7455. Keep checking our site for further updates.

Brown Bags and Books resumes next month!

Changes at the library...

2010-11-03T19:05:00.003-05:00

Autumn has arrived in southern Illinois and the leaves aren't the only thing changing! The library now has two new staff members. The new Assistant Director/Teen Librarian is Claire Ploegman. Claire is busy learning all the ins and outs of the library and its patrons. She looks forward to meeting everyone. Joey Henderson also joined the staff as a part time shelver and circulation aide. He too is busy learning all about the library. Be sure to introduce yourself if you see these new faces at the library on your next visit!

Be sure to check out the library's website for information about the Holiday House Tour.

Dog days of Summer

2010-08-13T15:20:00.006-05:00

"Dog Days" (Latin: dies aniculares) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer.

Visit your library to find out more about the meaning and origin of

"the dog days of summer"!

Don't forget the library is a great place to cool off. We offer computers,

WiFi, magazines, newspapers, audio books, DVDs and of course books.

It's all for free with your library card!

Reading is always COOL!

2010-07-16T19:12:00.003-05:00

Visit the library for some cool summer reading material! The hot humid weather makes it a great time to pick up a few books, audios or magazines and chill out. We get in new titles frequently, including the hot summer best selling authors. Come in, cool off and see what the shelves hold!

The Friend's of the Library Book store is open three times a week and has some of the best deals in town. It's a perfect place to pick up a super priced gently read paperback for reading at the beach or pool. Look for the July special deal....

If you haven't visited a library lately, you don't know what you are missing! Libraries are not just about books any more.

Happy Birthday!!!!

2010-04-09T22:42:00.002-05:00

Join us at the library this month as we celebrate the library's 100th Anniversary. Take a peek at the event calendar for this month to see the special events we have planned. Be sure to register for the bag full of goodies we are giving away.

On Sunday, April 11th 2:00-5:00, Jeff Biggers will be at the library as the guest speaker at the Friends of the Library's annual meeting. Mr. Biggers is the author of Reckoning at Eagle Creek. Everyone is welcome.

Next Saturday the library staff and friends will attempt to read 100 children's books during their all day read-a-thon! Children from birth to 100 are encouraged to stop in and listen as long or as little as you like. You might even hear an old favorite.

The library will also host a Reminiscence Afternoon on April 24th 2:00-5:00. Drop in and share your memories of Harrisburg from "days gone by". Feel free to bring pictures of Harrisburg to share with the group.

We hope you'll attend one of the special annivesary events or just stop by and tell us Happy Birthday!

Spring

2010-03-06T22:42:00.003-06:00

We are all busy at the library planning programs for spring which will offer a little something special for everyone to help us celebrate a very special occasion.

The Friends of the Library's annual meeting is in April and will feature Jeff Biggers author of the newly released Reckoning at Eagle Creek as the guest speaker.

Check out our website and calendar for all upcoming events...

Winter Weather

2010-01-26T18:01:00.002-06:00

Many of our patrons find winter the time to curl up with a good book. Some prefer to tackle a classic while others want the latest best seller. What better place than your local library to find that perfect winter read? We offer hardbacks, paperbacks, audio books and e-Audiobooks. Along with magazines and videos. If we don't have the title you are looking for, we will try to locate it through interlibrary loan. Interested in a new or different recipe for cold weather meals? Planning your summer garden? Want to learn about history or your favorite movie star? We have a book that will help with that! Check us (and a book) out!

Holiday Open House Tour

2009-11-24T10:14:00.002-06:00

The Friends of the Harrisburg District Library Holiday Open House Tour is scheduled for December 5, 2009 11:00 to 4:00. The tickets are available at the Library for $15.00. Again this year refreshments will be provided at the Library. Please see our website for a listing of the homes and Church on the tour this year. What a wonderful way to start your holiday season and maybe glean a few decorating ideas!

Raffle tickets for the Department 56 Snow Village Scene are also available at the library. The village scene is sponsored this year by Mackie's Pizza in conjunction with The Friends of the Harrisburg District Library. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 tickets for $5.00. The village may be viewed at Mackie's Marion location.

Up and Coming

2009-11-02T15:54:00.002-06:00

Don't forget to check the library's calendar for upcoming events. The staff has some interesting things planned for the rest of the year. Holiday House Tour tickets are now on sale. Pictures of the homes (and Church!) on the tour are posted to the library's website. See you at the library!

Got genealogy questions?

2009-08-08T15:03:00.003-05:00

Are you stuck in your genealogical quest for long lost relatives? Wonder how to get started in genealogy? Ask our genealogist on Saturday August 15th 10:30 to Noon.

Genealogy is the study or investigation of ancestry and family histories. Genealogy is also an addictive hobby. Its like working a giant jigsaw puzzle, only you have to find the pieces before you can put them all together. Too frequently genealogists forget to factor in the historical importance of their family history. Spend some time researching the time period and the history of the location your family was in during that time period. You may be surprised at what you learn and how it could help you further your research, maybe even answer a few "brick wall" questions.

Don't forget to check the library's calendar for upcoming events!

50 Ways to leave your lover...Dead!

2009-07-07T22:13:00.004-05:00

From poison to pickaxes, the means mystery writers use to kill off their characters are many and varied. Join us at the library on Saturday July 18th when the Mystery Mavens (authors Lisa Buehler, Mary V. Welk and Sandra Tooley) will discuss unusual plot devices and methods of murder in an interactive program that encourages audience participation. The program starts at 1:00 p.m.

Another cool program @ your library!

2009-07-01T23:27:00.003-05:00

Mushroom Hunters Class

Joe McFarland author of Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois and Surrounding States: a Field to Kitchen Guide will be at the library on July 11th. His program will start at 1:00 p.m. in the Alice Barnes Conference Room. If you are interested in mushroom hunting, this guide is well worth a read. It is one of the better guides out right now. Come meet the author and learn a little bit about mushrooms.

Check out calendar for July on the library's website for more cool programming! There are some really interesting programs coming up that you won't want to miss.

Summer Reading Program

2009-06-24T17:13:00.002-05:00

The 2009 Summer Reading Program is under way, but it isn't too late to join. We have a program for every age group, from birth to adults. The theme this year is Read on the Wild Side, and several furry friends have joined the library staff to help get you in the mood for a wild read! For details on any of our programs, contact the library 253-7455 or just drop in. Check out our website for other upcoming programs. The programs scheduled for July and August are "cool"....keep checking for more information!

Genealogy Weekend & Illinois State Archives

2009-05-28T09:18:00.002-05:00

Special genealogy program for June....

A special Genealogy Weekend will be held at the library on June 13th and June 14th. The Genealogy Librarian will be here all weekend specifically to assist with genealogy questions, getting started in genealogy, assistance with HeritageQuest and Ancestry.com, and offer suggestions to further your genealogical quest.

Mr. Greg Cox from the Illinois State Archives will be the guest speaker on June 13th as part of the Library's Genealogy Weekend. Mr. Cox's program will start at 10:30. Mr. Cox is a fifteen year employee of the Secretary of State, State of Illinois. Formerly a Micrographic Equipment Operator filming historical documents, Greg is now employed with the Reference Section as a Records Archivist assisting patrons with their genealogical research. Greg is the Archives' resident genealogical speaker, utilizing a forum-style presentation involving audience participation. His presentation of approximately 45 minutes consists of the available genealogical resources found in the Illinois State Archives. Records he discusses in some detail include the Census, both State and Federal, death certificates, and County records held in seven State depositories. He also covers lesser-known resources such as the Application for Bonus of military veterans of various wars, original land registers, Civil War Muster Rolls, Servitude and Emancipation Records and more.

Computer system

2009-05-14T20:31:00.004-05:00

The Harrisburg District Library is a member of the Shawnee Library System, along with most of the libraries in Southern Illinois. The storm that passed through the area on Friday May 8th, struck the Carterville headquarters for the Shawnee Library System, taking out their electrical system (along with part of their roof and various other damage). Thus our library lost major parts of our computer operating systems. The staff used an emergency system to enable us to check out books for our patrons. Without our computerized system we weren't able to provide the complete range of services our patrons are used to. We apologize for any inconvenience this caused our patrons, especially our Internet users. The Shawnee Library System staff have worked extremely hard to restore those services for us, so we can in turn resume our normal operations. Thank you all for your patience and understanding this past week.

Help with online genealogy research

2009-05-14T20:20:00.003-05:00

The May genealogy program will be held on Saturday May 23, 2009 10:30-11:30 in the adult computer lab. The workshop will provide hands on practice and tips on using various Internet sources for genealogical research. This program will focus on helping you become familiar with using the Internet to further your research , so bring your research material!

Watch for information regarding the upcoming genealogy weekend in June!

HeritageQuest focus of this month's Genealogy Program

2009-04-19T21:11:00.003-05:00

Did you know that the Harrisburg District Library provides our patrons with free access to HeritageQuest through the library's website? If you have a valid Harrisburg District Library card you can even access HeritageQuest from home at anytime! HeritageQuest is a subscription based genealogy research site. This month's Genealogy program will guide you through accessing the site, features of the site and how to use the site. The class will be on Saturday April 25th 10:30-11:30. This will be a hands on learning experience. Basic computer skills are required.

National Library Week

2009-04-10T20:42:00.002-05:00

Check out the library's calendar for special events during National Library Week, April 12-18, 2009. Events include the popular annual Trivia Night on Thursday night. Teams of up to six members welcome. Register early and pay $7.00 per team, or register at the door for $8.00 per team. Fantastic prizes for the winners! See how much trivia you actually know, you may surprise yourself!

Traveling Exhibit Tells Unknown Story of German POWs Held in Midwest Camps During WWII

2009-03-17T20:29:00.005-05:00

During World War II the Midwest was home to approximately 250 prisoners of war camps. Tens of thousands of the 380,000 Germans imprisoned across the U.S. during World War II were held in the Midwest, part of the millions of Axis and Allied prisoners held across the world. These prisoners embody ageless and timely themes of war and peace, justice during times of war, human rights, international reconciliation and potential lessons for avoiding future conflicts and human rights and wrongs. Housed in a bus made into a mobile museum with a 21-seat theater, HELD IN THE HEARTLAND illustrates this unknown story through narrative texts, artifacts & media.

On March 28, 2009 the library will host the TRACES BUS-eum, Held in the Heartland. The BUS-eum will be parked on the library parking lot and will be open for visitors 10:30 -5:30.

The TRACES Center for History and Culture is a Midwest,WWII history museum in downtown Saint Paul, MN’s historic Landmark Center (formerly 1896 Federal Courts Building). Each of its more than two dozen exhibits about Midwesterners’ encounters with Germans or Austrians between 1933 and 1948 forms part of a larger mosaic, a fuller image of a war that is often misunderstood or seen in clichés. At TRACES, WWII is a case study to learn from for today and future generations.

Please make plans to visit the traveling museum. The library is also scheduling interviews for the Veterans oral history project. If you are a veteran, please consider sharing your valuable memories with us and future generations. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the project or the traveling museum, call the library at 253-7455 and ask for Ruth or Sherry.

Preserving your photographs and documents

2009-02-18T20:49:00.002-06:00

Kristina Blevins the Assistant Director will be presenting this month's genealogy program. On Saturday, February 28th at 10:30, she will discuss methods for preserving your documents and photos. Kristina graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2003 with a B.A. in English specializing in pre-professional writing. She spent a semester as a post-graduate student studying museum practices and interned at the SIUC museum archives in the fall of 2006. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2007 with a Master's in Library and Information Science. During her tenure there she interned in the William T. Young Acquisitions Department, where she spent two days a week helping out in the conservation laboratory tipping-in pages, doing deacidification and humidification of documents, pamphlet sewing, constructing phase boxes, learning triage, and using the sonic welder to encapsulate.
Please make plans to join us and learn how to save your photos and documents for future generations to enjoy.

Chocolate & Whine

2009-02-06T17:55:00.002-06:00

Don't forget to visit the library on Saturday February 7th between 3:00 and 5:00 for the Chocolate and Whine tasting. Assistant Director Kristina Blevins has planned a lovely afternoon of taste testing a variety of chocolates. The selection of chocolates are certainly out of the normal and should prove to be very interesting. Whining, moaning, whinging, and commiseration welcome from all ages.
On Wednesday February 11th 6:30-7:30 a RadioShack DTV expert will be at the library to answer your questions about the upcoming digital television transition. Though the transition has been postponed, you still need to make sure you and your equipment are ready for the transition.

Brown Bags and Books

2009-02-01T22:31:00.002-06:00

The Brown Bags and Books program that was scheduled for Wednesday January 28th has been rescheduled for Wednesday February 4th at Noon. Dr. Roger Lyons will review Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult.
Brown Bags and Books is a monthly book review held January through October. For the past several years Dr. Lyons has ushered in the "New Year" of Brown Bags and Books.
Please visit the library's website to view a complete list of titles to be reviewed. The books are available for check out at the library, though it isn't required that you read the titles to attend the programs! The programs are free to the public and all are welcome.
Light refreshments are provided, but feel free to bring your "brown bag" lunch and join us for the Noon time review.

Library Closed

2009-01-28T08:10:00.003-06:00

The library will be closed today, January 28, 2009. The Brown Bags and Books program is also cancelled for today and is tentively rescheduled for noon on February 4th.
When winter weather threatens (or arrives!), check with the library to make sure we are open. If you must get out today, please use extreme caution. The snow is covering ice and that combination makes for dangerous travel conditions. Just walking outside can be an adventure!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T22:36:00.002-06:00

2009!
It is hard to believe another year has gone by. The library is gearing up for another wonderful year of programs for our patrons. Be sure to check out the current calendar on our website http://www.harrisburg.lib.il.us.

Did you see the Assistant Director/YA Librarian, Kristina Blevins in the newspaper? The online version actually had a video to go along with the article. Kristina has some neat programs planned, check for dates and times on the library calendar.

The Genealogy Librarian will be continuing monthly classes. The program this month will again be a working session, with the class and Librarian offering suggestions and assistance with your genealogy research problems. The session will be held Saturday January 17th, 10:30-11:30 in the Genealogy/Local history room at the library.

The staff is always looking for programs that will interest our patrons. We welcome your suggestions.

Winter Weather and Holiday closings

2008-12-17T11:04:00.005-06:00

The Holiday season is fast approaching along with winter weather. The library is always concerned about our patrons and their safety. During the winter season there may be days that the library closes or opens later than usual. The decision to open later or not to open at all involves evaluating the road conditions (as reported by the local police) and the condition of our parking lot and walk ways. Remember if we don't open we do NOT charge fines or overdues for that day. Please be sure to check before coming to the library.

The library will be closed December 24th and 25th and January 1st. We will be closing at 5:00 pm on December 31st. We will resume normal business hours on January 2nd.

Genealogy Workshop

2008-12-01T00:31:00.008-06:00

The next genealogy program will be held on December 20th 10:30 - 11:30. This program will be a little different. The class as a whole will work together on breaking through research brick walls. Hopefully we will be able to offer suggestions, techniques and tips to assist you with your research problems. The class will meet in the local history room upstairs at the library.

Class participation is encouraged, please come prepared to offer your assitance and guidance. If you need help with your genealogical questions or need suggestions on how to proceed with your research, please bring your research materials.

2008 Holiday House Tour

2008-11-17T09:58:00.005-06:00

Saturday, Dec. 6th 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

It is once again time for the Holiday House Tour. This year's tour includes four homes and one church. The homes and church on this year's tour are all "decked" out for the upcoming holiday season. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at Harrisburg District Library, Child of Mine, Dream Baskets, Pickford's Flowers and Gifts or from members of the Friends of the Library. Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Harrisburg District Library. Refreshments will be served at the library in the Alice H. Barnes Conference Room.

A luncheon is available at the First Church of God from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM for a $5 fee payable to the church at that time.

New this year is a Department 56 Snow Village raffle. The Friends of the Harrisburg District Library currently have the village on display at Banterra Bank in Harrisburg. You may buy a chance to have this village for your own Christmas display! One chance is $1 or six chances for $5, purchased at the bank or at the library.

Another snow village will be displayed at Harrisburg District Library.

Genealogy class at the Library

2008-11-15T14:00:00.002-06:00

Saturday November 22nd, the genealogy librarian will offer the class "Making sense of the Census". The class will start at 10:30 and run about an hour. The class will offer some history about the census records themselves and of course how to use the censuses as research tools in gathering information about your ancestors.