Bringing New Lenox Library

referendum update

Bringing New Lenox Library out to the community

By Karen Meyer, Adult & Teen Services Specialist

One Referendum promise was to significantly expand and improve Library services, including reaching out into the community to bring knowledge of the Library’s resources to the public.

Meet our Outreach Coordinators, Liz Yolich of the Youth Services Department and Brianna Wyss of the Adult and Teen Services Department.

“It’s all about bringing the Library outside of the building and into the community,” says Brianna. “We’re finding new ways to publicize our resources and draw people in through such programs as our Homebound Delivery service and by actively participating in public events sponsored by the Village of New Lenox.”

“We work with organizations in the community, such as school districts, homeschooling families, the Park District, and Scout Troops, to let them know what resources we have available for them,” says Liz. “It’s a mutual process, where sometimes they’ll reach out to us to with an idea, and other times we’ll reach out to them to let them know about what we have going on that they might be interested in.”

Liz represented the Library at two big Fall events in October. She and Youth Services co-worker Liz O’Neill handed out Library information and other goodies at the Big Bad Pumpkin Party hosted by the New Lenox Park District on October 10 at Walker Country Estates Park, which included a pumpkin hunt, costume contest, and Lizzes O. & Y. at the hayrack rides. The two Lizzes also Big Bad Pumpkin Party participated in the Trunk-or-Treat event, part of the New Lenox Chamber of Commerce’s annual Halloween Fest in the Village Commons on October 30, where they gave out candy to trick-or-treaters from a decorated car trunk.

Brianna is concentrating on year-round activities designed to bring Library services to teens and adults.

“We’re planning on making visits to the high schools to let the students know what the Library has for them, such as volunteer opportunities to gain service hours, after-hours

Meet your new Outreach Coordinators! Brianna Wyss, Adult & Teen Services (left) and Liz Yolich, Youth Services (right)

activities, and our Teen Advisory Group. We’ll also be visiting the assisted and independent living centers in New Lenox to spread the news about our Homebound Delivery program, where we provide free monthly delivery service to patrons who are physically unable to come to the library.”

Brianna is also excited about the Library’s Teen Instagram, where she’ll post teen-specific book recommendations and special programs on a regular basis.

Brianna and Liz believe the new Outreach program will bring great benefits to both the New Lenox community and its Library.

“It benefits the Library because we gain access to new sectors of the community, and it definitely benefits the community because it lets people know that the Library has even more to offer than books,” says Liz. “It allows us to reach not only our usual patrons, but also certain areas of the community that maybe aren’t regular Library users, and offer them resources based on their particular needs.”

“It allows us to let the community know about all of the things we do that are beyond books,” says Brianna. “Some people out there might not know that you can also use a computer here, check out a sewing machine, or apply for a passport. It also allows us to draw in more people who might not have been patrons before, and it’s a great opportunity to show our value to the community.”

To request an outreach visit or Library tour, go to our website at newlenoxlibrary.org/outreach.

Brianna during Homebound Delivery