April 2016 Passages by Peoria PublicLibrary

newsletter of the Peoria Public Library Volume 25, No. 4

APRIL 2016

Transform Your Ideas About the Library: Celebrate National Library Week April 10-16 Libraries across the country are celebrating National Library Week by exploring how libraries transform communities. No longer just a place to pick up some books, libraries today are more about what they do, for and with library users. Today Peoria Public Library, along with libraries across the country, work with elected officials, small business owners, students and the public to discover and address the needs of the community. From offering online materials like e-books and streaming music to services for job seekers and English-language learners to public art to Great Courses, Peoria Public Library has listened and responded to the needs of Peorians. In honor of National Library Week, each branch will offer free coffee from Thirty-Thirty Coffee to patrons on Monday, April 11 while supplies last. Patrons are invited to write a short note saying how the library transforms them and leave it on the “libraries transform” board at the desk. You could win a $100 gift card from ALA and a copy of “Secret Coders,” by Mike Holmes and Gene Luen Yang, our National Library Week Honorary Chair when you celebrate National Library Week on social media. Post to Twitter, Instagram, or on the I Love Libraries Facebook page during National Library Week for a chance to win. Entries can be a picture or text. Creativity is encouraged. One randomly selected winner will win! Just be sure to start with the word “Because” and include the hashtag #LibrariesTransform for a chance to win. Just fill in the blank telling us why libraries matter to you or your community. Entries can also be submitted directly to the Libraries Transform website. Promotion begins Sunday, April 10 at noon CT and ends Saturday, April 16 at noon CT.

Main Library Adds New Meeting Room Groups interested in holding meetings at Peoria Public Library now have a new option at Main Library. The Monroe Room, formerly the Quiet Reading Room, on the second floor is now available for groups of eight to twelve during library hours. Peoria Public Library evolves as needs change. The Quiet Reading Room was not being used for its intended purpose and the need for meeting space is escalating. The room, which has glass walls and a spectacular view of Monroe Street, has two tables which can be used separately or pushed together. It also has seating at one end for breaks or more intimate conversations. Due to the glass walls, users will be unable to project in this room, so it is not viable for a presentation with electronics.

This room would be perfect for any type of discussion group, book club, board meeting or planning session. Not-for-profits groups will find it a great place for committees to meet or for any purpose that requires a private room with a great view. To book the Monroe Room, or any meeting room at any Peoria Public Library location, just contact the Programming Department at (309)497-2143 or by email at programmingdept@ ppl.peoria.lib.il.us. More information and downloadable forms are available at http://www.peoriapubliclibrary.org/reserve-ameeting-room. Please note that reservations may not be made on a walk-in basis.

Betty Friedan Hometown Tribute Presented Portrait to Peoria Public Library The Betty Friedan Hometown Tribute Committee

presented a portrait of Betty Friedan, painted by the late Bill Hardin, to Peoria Public Library on Tuesday, March 15 during the Board of Trustees meeting. The portrait will be on permanent display at Peoria Public Library Main Library. Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique in 1963, which is generally credited with igniting the Second Wave of feminism in the United States. She co-founded the National Organization of Women (NOW). She grew up Bettye Goldstein, living in a house her jeweler parents built at 1011 Farmington Rd, just north of Main St, in Peoria. She graduated from Peoria High School in 1938, going on to Smith College. Friedan went on to fight for women’s rights in a time when, for example, job ads were sorted by male and female. Diane Brown, member of the Betty Friedan Hometown Tribute Committee said, “Some now view her as controversial, but we see a Peorian who dared to make a difference. We honor her positive world impact and endeavor to educate current residents in her hometown - look who grew up here!” The group chose the library to display the portrait as Friedan was an author who also wrote The Fountain of Age, and Beyond Gender. Brown said, “It seems to us that this activist author’s portrait belongs with her hometown’s books at Peoria Public Library.” More information about Betty Friedan is available at www.bradley.edu/bettyfriedantribute/ and at Peoria Public Library.

Dig Into Gardening Programs at McClure! by Becky Kinney

Whether you’ve got a naturally green thumb or are a

complete amateur in the garden, you’ll want to check out some of the programs coming up at the McClure Branch! First we have Vegetable Gardening Basics on Saturday, April 2 at 3:00 p.m. in the McClure Room, where University of Illinois Master Gardener Lee Maki will help you learn all you need to know to have a thriving vegetable harvest this year. Learn about the optimal size and placement of your vegetable patch; about what kinds of vegetables are most suited to your particular needs; about the equipment you’ll need; and the secrets to caring for and harvesting your vegetables. If you have questions about your vegetable garden, Mr. Maki is reserving time at the end to help. Next, learn how to make your gardening space even more attractive with our Fairy Garden Fantasy program on Saturday, June 4 at 10:30 a.m. Learn all about these trendy little garden environments, and develop a plan for how to create your own fairy world, just with some simple crafts and embellishments. We’ll look at some brilliant examples of fairy gardens, discuss tips and techniques for developing your own, and craft a starter piece for your own fairy garden! Keep an eye out for more gardening programs at McClure Branch in the future. If you have any requests for a gardening topic that you would like to learn more about, please don’t hesitate to share it with us! Just call the McClure Branch at (309) 497-2700 or stop in to the Info Desk.

New Book Club Will Explore Various Genres by Jillian Rosenberger

A new Book Club is coming to the North Branch – and it’s a little

bit different than you may be used to! The Genre Evolution Book Club aims to take a look at the history of fiction by reading some genredefining classics from the 19th and early 20th centuries and discussing the origins of the month’s featured genre as a whole. Most book groups will choose one book to read and come together to discuss, but this group will have a list of several books to choose from! Participants should read at least one of the selections, but are encouraged to read as many as they are interested in. Discussions will center on these early examples and how they shaped their respective genres. Where did tropes we associate with certain genres actually come from? How much influence do modern writers draw from their predecessors? Which was the first book to use a plot device that now almost always appears? What is it about these books that makes them part of a certain genre, and when did they start being called such? The group will meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the North Branch. The first genre being explored is Mystery – and it will be discussed on Wednesday, May 11th. The list of early examples to choose from is below: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux, The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne, The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, any “Sherlock Holmes” book or story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

$3 Bag Sale April 30 & May 2-4 Noon to 5:00 p.m.

$Friendly Finds Book Sale Peoria Public Library Main Library auditorium Lower Level 2

107 NE Monroe, Peoria, 61602 309-497-2145

Choose from thousands of used fiction books!

HOT HOT New NewTitles Titles

April

by Robin Helenthal

Eligible: A Modern Retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Curtis Sittenfeld is a modern take-off of the classic. The book begins when sisters Jane Bennet, a yoga instructor and her younger sister Liz, a magazine editor leave New York to help with a family crisis in Cincinnati. The other sisters in the family are Kitty and Lydia who spend their time taking Cross fit classes and following the latest diet craze; and Mary who is working on her third online master’s degree and is a bit of a recluse. Their mother, Mrs. Bennet has one thing on her mind and that is to marry her daughters off especially since Jane is soon to turn 40. The bachelors in the story are Chip Bingley, a good-looking doctor who is appearing on the reality show called Eligible and his friend Fitzwilliam Darcy, a neurosurgeon who is much less charming than Chip. This retelling both honors and updates Austen’s tale but it also tackles gender, class, courtship and family today. The Murder of Mary Russell: A Novel of Suspense featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King continues the best-selling series of Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes. Mary Russell has her own dark secrets, as does her husband Sherlock Holmes but they have built a bond of trust over the decade they have been together. The other person Mary has also come to trust, is their longtime housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, but everything changes when Samuel Hudson arrives on their doorstep, claiming to be Clara Hudson’s son. What are the housekeeper’s secrets, why the disguise and what were her crimes? Sherlock Holmes must work to find the answers. There is death here, murder, trust betrayed and nothing will ever be the same.

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is the fictional story of three women during World War II, which is based on actual events and real people. Caroline Ferriday is a New York socialite who works at the French consulate but whose life is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in 1939 and then sets its sights on France. Kasia Kuzmerick is a Polish teenager with the role of a courier for the underground resistance movement where one false move can have dire consequences. Herta Oberheuser is a young German doctor who answers an ad for a government medical position which puts her in a male-dominated area with access to Nazi secrets and power. When Kasia is sent to Ravenbruck, the Nazi concentration camp for women, their lives are set on a collision course. Their stories cross the continents from New York to Paris, Germany and Poland as Caroline and Kasia try to bring justice to those who history has forgotten. The Decent Proposal: A Novel by Kemper Donovan is a debut book about two very different strangers whose live become intertwined when they receive an unusual proposition. Richard Baumbach is a struggling Hollywood producer who is twenty-nine, handsome, charming and broke. Elizabeth Santiago, known to her colleagues at work as “La Maquina” The Machine, is thirty-three and on the fast track to make partner at the law firm where she works. Richard’s and Elizabeth’s paths collide when they receive a proposal from a mysterious, anonymous benefactor. They will split a million dollars if they agree to spend two hours a week together – just talking - for a year. They both say yes. Richard needs the money and Elizabeth looks forward to the challenge. It’s a look at the ties that bind not just a guy and girl but includes a whole cast of interesting characters that take you on a journey through the twist and turns that can happen in modern-day life.

Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human? Coming June 17 through July 14

Smithsonian Institution

Apri

CALENDAR

April

Friday, April 1

MAIN LIBRARY, LAKEVIEW BRANCH, & LINCOLN BRANCH 1 to 1 Tech Help

LAKEVIEW BRANCH I Am Poem

LAKEVIEW BRANCH Inside Sidewalk Chalk Drawings – 11:00-11:45 a.m.

Have you ever wished you had your own personal technology guru to help you? Pick a time slot that works with your schedule and provide some information about the computer or device you would like help with. At the meeting, a librarian will be ready to help and focus on you. Drop in or call to schedule your session. April ALL LOCATIONS National Library Week Posting Board

We’re celebrating National Library Week all month with an opportunity for you to speak out. Has the library transformed your life in a positive way? We want to hear from you. Check out the National Library Week posting board at the Information Desk in any Peoria Public Library location. Fill out a post-it note with a short statement about what the library means to you and attach it to the board. Your post could make its way to our Facebook page to promote the library and our wonderful patrons. Use the hash tag #librariestransform to join in online. All ages are encouraged to participate. April MAIN LIBRARY Crafts-to-Go

In a hurry? Get your crafts to go. Kids ages 5-12 can pick up a craft packet at the 1st Floor Information Desk. April MAIN LIBRARY Boxcar Children’s Reading Club

Are you a Boxcar Children fan? Children kindergarten through 4th grade can join the club by picking up the Boxcar Children’s Reading Club book log in the Children’s Room. Read six of the books listed, check them off and bring your log to the Information Desk on the 1st Floor. Turn it in and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card to Amazon.

of programs and events

To Celebrate National Poetry Month, we’re holding a poetry raffle. Come fill out an “I AM” poem sheet at our display table. Bring your completed poem to the information desk to fill out a raffle ticket. Your poem will then go on display for all to see. The winner will be contacted on May 1st. For ages 13 and up. April MAIN LIBRARY Haiku Tunnel Book

What would you have if you put a syllable sandwich in a 3-D paper tunnel? A Haiku Tunnel Book, of course. A Haiku is a three line poem with a certain number of syllables for each line. A tunnel book, like a tunnel, leads from one place to another. In this case the two together lead to a fun and creative craft for kids 4th through 8th grade. Kits are available for National Poetry Month while supplies last. April 4-28 MAIN LIBRARY GALLERY The 35th Annual Congressional Art Show

High School students from the 18th Congressional District will exhibit their work at Peoria Public Library Main Library Gallery from April 4 to April 28. Congressman Darin LaHood will announce the winners of the competition at a reception in the Gallery on Monday, April 25 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The first place winner will have their work exhibited in the U.S. Capitol for one year. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Friday, April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 NORTH BRANCH Busy Bees Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Children of all ages.

Love to draw with chalk, but winter has been keeping you inside? We’ll let you get creative with your chalk inside. We’ll have special sidewalk sections we can put your name on so you can even take your masterpieces home at the end of the program. Ages 4 to 11. Friday, April 1, 8 & 15 MAIN LIBRARY Baseball Movies – 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Celebrate the return of baseball season with these movies, ending with a celebration of Jackie Robinson on April 15 – the day he made his Major League debut. April 1 – Million Dollar Arm starring Jon Hamm (PG) April 8 – For Love of the Game starring Kevin Costner (PG-13) April 15 – 42 (PG-13) Friday, April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 NORTH BRANCH A-Z Storytime – 3:00-3:30 p.m.

We’re learning the alphabet! Join us for letter-themed stories, songs, and crafts as we focus on learning the shapes of letters and the sounds they make! Saturday, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 NORTH BRANCH Busier Bees Storytime – 10:30-11:00 am

Did you miss Friday’s storytime? Join us again on Saturday! Stories, songs, and fun for the whole hive! Saturday, April 2, 9, 16 & 23 MCCLURE BRANCH D.E.A.R Picnic Storytimes – 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Drop Everything And Read with us this month. Bring a sack lunch and listen to fun stories while you eat. Meet in the McClure Room and if the weather is nice, we’ll eat out doors; if not, we will have a picnic inside. Drinks provided. All ages welcome.

Vegetable

Gardening Basics

Tuesday, April 5, 12, 19 & 26

Wednesday, April 6, 13, 20, 27

LINCOLN BRANCH Terrific Tattletale Storytime 10:00-10:30 a.m.

NORTH BRANCH English Conversation Practice Group – 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Ages 3 to 6.

Improve your English conversation skills in a friendly, low-stress environment with our weekly conversation gatherings. All levels of experience are welcome.

Saturday, April 2

Tuesday, April 5, 12, 19 & 26

MCCLURE BRANCH Vegetable Gardening Basics – 3:00-4:00 p.m.

LAKEVIEW BRANCH Owlet Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

What do you need to consider when starting a vegetable garden? What size should your garden be? How much should you plant? What equipment do you need, and how do you care for and harvest your vegetables? This program will be hosted by University of IL Master Gardener, Lee Maki. We will also have a display of materials about gardening from McClure’s collection for patrons to check out. Saturday, April 2 LINCOLN BRANCH Library Lock-In – 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Those interested in participating must be in grades 4th to 6th and read three books from a selected list of titles on display in the library. Each entry must write an essay as to “Why they should be able to attend the Lock-In”. All these requirements must be completed by Saturday, March 19th. Qualified attendees will be notified by the library staff. There will be lots of activities taking place during the lock-in including crafts, games, movies and lots of snacks. Sunday, April 3 & 17 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Sunday Crafternoon – 12:00-5:00 p.m.

The storytime room will be open for families to relax and read books, color, and work on projects. Some crafting supplies will be provided. Parental supervision is required. Monday, April 4, 11, 18 & 25 NORTH BRANCH – 10:30-11:00 A.M.

Wednesday, April 6, 13, 20, 27 LAKEVIEW BRANCH – 10:15-10:45 A.M. Tiny Tots Storytime

Ages 12 to 23 months. Monday, April 4 LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Story in a Bag – 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Tell me a story! Grab a story bag of random objects and create a story based on the items found! Grades 3 and 4.

Bring your little owls to a storytime including songs, movement, and coloring. Tuesday, April 5 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Bibliophiles Book Club – 1:30-2:30 p.m.

This month: The Scent of Wood Smoke by George Tanner Tuesday, April 5, 12, 19 & 26 LAKEVIEW BRANCH After School Homework Help – 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Bring your assignments to our after school homework help hour to work in groups or alone on assignments. A staff member will be on hand to assist with research and library resources. Grades 2-6. Tuesday, April 5 LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Vision Board Activity – 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Reflect on dreams, desires and inspiration by creating a Vision Board. You’re never too young to envision what you want in life. Join us as we design this powerful visualization tool that inspires you to go after your purpose. For grades 7 and 8. Wednesday, April 6, 13, 20, 27 NORTH BRANCH Brainy Baby Storytime – 1:30-2:00 p.m.

Develop your baby’s pre-literacy skills with this lapsit program for ages 0 to 23 months, designed to introduce children and their caregivers to books, songs, rhymes and finger plays that will help them understand new concepts and enhance their love of learning. Caregivers will be encouraged to engage their child, making reading time fun. Wednesday, April 6, 13, 20, 27 MAIN LIBRARY E-reader Assistance – 3:00-4:00 p.m.

Have a smartphone, tablet, or ereader but need some help learning how to download ebooks from the library? Free one-on-one help is available. Sessions are first come, first served. Other times are available by appointment. Call Cindy Wright at (309) 497-2000 to schedule.

Thursday, April 7 MCCLURE BRANCH Funny Favorites Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m.

April is Humor Month! Come listen to the McClure Staff’s favorite funny stories. Enjoy stories and a craft. Thursday, April 7, 14, 21 & 28 NORTH BRANCH Tadpoles Storytime – 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Ages 2 to 3. Thursday, April 7 LINCOLN BRANCH TNT Prankster Party – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Teens ages 12 to 18, we’re going to celebrate April Fools’ and we want you to come and celebrate with us! We’ll joke around, make a prank or two for you to use sometime later, play games, and eat snacks. Thursday Nights Are For Teens! April 9 & 10 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Book Sale

Stop by our book sale to stock up on books at a great deal. Hardbacks are $1.00 and paperbacks are $.25 or 5 for $1.00. If you are able to score a big haul of books at our sale, you may also want to purchase a Peoria Public Library tote bag for $3.00 to carry them home. All proceeds go to the Friends of Peoria Public Library. Saturday, April 9 NORTH BRANCH Math Challenge – 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Experience the joy of math by visiting the Beehive for a fun self-guided math challenge. Challenges will be geared toward students in grade three and up. Drop in any time. While supplies last. Saturday, April 9 LINCOLN BRANCH Minecraft – 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Ages 8 to 14 can join us for Minecraft in the computer lab. Our theme for this month is “Saddle Up.” Space is limited, so please call 497-2600 to register.

Calendar Continued Saturday, April 9

Tuesday, April 12

Wednesday, April 13

MCCLURE BRANCH Play to Innovate – 3:00-4:30 p.m.

LINCOLN BRANCH TAB @ Lincoln (Teen Advisory Board) – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

NORTH BRANCH The Big Read: Peoria Reads 2016 - We Shall Overcome--Music as Reaction and Reflection during the Civil Rights Era & Beyond – 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Many studies are showing that a little bit of downtime at work helps adults with creativity and innovation on the job. We would like to help you become more innovative with a series of playful programs designed to help you relax, have fun, and potentially think of your next great idea. This month: Sensory Mode

Play to Innvovate

Sunday, April 10 NORTH BRANCH Biography & Non-fiction Book Club – 3:00-5:00 p.m.

This month: When Books Went to War: The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Monday, April 11 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Soda Pop Tasting – 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Have you ever wanted to try some “fancy” sodas you see on the self at the store, but you aren’t sure if you’ll like them? Come to our Soda Pop Tasting where we’ll sample a variety of different sodas, rate them, and discuss our findings. Who knows, you may come out with a new favorite. For ages 14 and up. Monday, April 11 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Sci Fi & Fantasy Book Club – 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This month: Skin Deep by Mark Del Franco Monday, April 11 NORTH BRANCH Pajama Storytime – 7:00-7:45 p.m.

Join us for a picture book party! We’ll enjoy stories, songs, and a craft! Wear your pajamas and bring a blanket to bundle up --- you’ll be ready for bed when you head home! Thursday, April 12 LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Card Game Mania – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Are you up for a round of Old Maid, Go Fish, Uno, Crazy Eights or Memory? Join us for a fun filled evening playing these classic children’s card game. Grades 3 and 4 from 4:00 to 5:00. Grades 5 and 6 from 5:00 to 6:00.

Help to make your library an awesome place to be! Teens ages 12 to 18 are invited to discuss books, movies and music; share ideas; plan teen library programs and projects; enjoy snacks; and just have fun! We need your brilliance, creativity, and enthusiasm! Your ideas matter! Tuesday, April 12 LAKEVIEW BRANCH 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Club – 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Have you seen the book 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die? Have you been trying to watch all these movies, but just don’t seem to find the time? Stop by every month to see a movie from a different decade featured in the revised and updated edition of 1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Feel free to bring your favorite snack! This month: From Here to Eternity (NR, 1953).

Throughout history, music has long been used as a platform to convey the beliefs of its creators. From Pete Seeger to Public Enemy, this program will illustrate how the Civil Rights movement created a “call to action” for people of all generations. Presented by Stacy Peterson, Communication Specialist for the City of Peoria, and Peoria Reads planning committee member. April 14 & 19 LINCOLN BRANCH Puppet Show: “Lion and the Mouse” – 10:00-10:30 a.m.

Help the little mouse save the big lion! Ages 3 to 6. Friday, April 15 LAKEVIEW BRANCH LEGO Builders Club – 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Calling all LEGO fans! Join us at Lakeview Branch for our Lego Builders Club. Drop in any time to play. Parental supervision is required. Friday, April 15

Wednesday, April 13 BOOKMOBILE National Bookmobile Day

It’s National Bookmobile Day! Visit the Peoria Public Library Bookmobile at one of our scheduled bookmobile stops to show your support. Grab a treat and a bookmark (while supplies last) or just come on to say hello and check out our wonderful selection of books, movies, and magazines. Wednesday, April 13 NORTH BRANCH – 10:00-11:00 A.M.

Tuesday, April 26 LAKEVIEW BRANCH – 2:30-3:30 P.M. Coloring Club for Adults

Come enjoy the latest stress-busting trend for grown-ups – good old-fashioned coloring. We will have a quiet space, beautiful patterns, and a variety of coloring utensils (or feel free to bring your own). We ask for no children in the room as this is for adults only!

LINCOLN BRANCH Hunger Games Gathering–3:30-5:30pm

Teens ages 12-18, you’ve been selected by the lottery of Panem to represent your District in the 2016 Hunger Games! Attendance is required. Mini-bow and arrows will be made. Snacks will be rationed. T-shirts will be emblazoned. Please bring a plain dark colored T-shirt (old or new) to decorate as tribute. May the odds be ever in your favor. Saturday, April 16 MAIN LIBRARY Minecraft – 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Ages 8 to 14 are invited to join us for 3 hours of uninterrupted play. Space is limited, so please call 497-2150 to register. Saturday, April 16 LINCOLN BRANCH Earth Day Make It! Take It! – 12:00-5:00 p.m.

Make a craft to celebrate Earth Day. While supplies last.

April 17-23

Thursday, April 21

Friday, April 22

LAKEVIEW BRANCH How Well Do You Know Shakespeare?

NORTH BRANCH Teen Group – 1:00-2:00 p.m.

April 23rd is the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. Show your love for The Bard by participating in our trivia challenge. Pick up a challenge sheet at the information desk and turn it back in for a chance to win a Shakespeare Swag Bag. The person with the most correct answers will win. In case of a tie, a name will be pulled at random. The winner will be contacted at the end of the day on April 23rd.

Something is happening in the library! It could be a movie, a game, a class, or a book discussion, but you’ll have to show up to find out! Grades 6 to 12.

NORTH BRANCH The Big Read: Peoria Reads 2016 Kimo Williams - Me, My Guitar, My M16: How Jimi Hendrix and the Vietnam War Turned Me to Music – 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 17 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club – 2:00-3:30 p.m.

This month: Close Your Eyes by Iris & Roy Johansen Tuesday, April 19 LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Critical Thinking 101 – 5:00-6:00 p.m.

We know that all great minds do not think alike. Are you open and willing to learn through Critical Thinking? Join us for activities that engage students and encourages critical thinking through real-world learning experiences. Grades 7 and 8. Tuesday, April 19 LAKEVIEW BRANCH YA for Adults Book Club – 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 21 NORTH BRANCH Third Thursday Film Fest–2:00-5:00 pm

Join us on the third Thursday of each month for a different film released in the 1960’s. Bring a snack and enjoy an oldie but goodie on the big screen. This month: True Grit Thursday, April 21 LINCOLN BRANCH Tween/Teen Writers Group (TWG) – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Words spilling out of your brain? Stories and characters scrawled across your school notebooks? Sometimes get lost for hours in a world of your own creation? Ever read something and thought, “I could’ve written that!” If so, then you need to join us for TWG! Come and meet other writers, discuss story ideas, get writing tips, enjoy snacks, and share your work. Write on!

Wednesday, April 20

Thursday, April 21

LAKEVIEW BRANCH Open Mic Night – 6:00-7:30 p.m.

LINCOLN BRANCH The Big Read: Peoria Reads 2016 Kimo Williams - Me, My Guitar, My M16: Developing Core Values Through Adversities – 6:00-8:00 p.m.

MCCLURE BRANCH “If you give a…” Fun Time Storytime – 10:00-10:30 a.m.

What happens when you give a mouse a cookie? Or a moose a muffin? Or a dog a donut? Enjoy these classic stories and a craft.

LAKEVIEW BRANCH Earth Day: Seed Me Grow–4:00-5:00 pm

Celebrate Earth Day by planting some seeds for a greener Earth and learning about photosynthesis and the parts of a plant. A variety of flower seeds will be on hand for you to choose from as you water, sow, and grow your very own plant.

NORTH BRANCH Thursday Night at the Movies – 6:00-8:00 p.m.

This month: Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Thursday, April 21

Friday, April 22

Thursday, April 21

Children of all ages (and families) are invited to join us every month for a family-friendly film. Feel free to bring a snack! This month: The Jungle Book

Celebrate National Poetry Month by joining us for Open Mic Night. Spoken word entries can be poetry, short stories, or songs ranging between 5-10 minutes in length. To reserve a spot in the lineup please contact Elise Hearn at 497-2200. Ages 13 to Adult.

Award winning Guitarist/Composer/ Educator, James “Kimo Williams” speaks about his life in music from attending his first Hendrix concert in 1969 and learning the guitar while fighting in Vietnam, to composing symphonies that are performed around the world. With audio, visual and a little guitar playing, Kimo Williams presents his personal journey of using the power of music and art as means of expressing his war experiences.

With audio, visual and a little guitar playing, Kimo Williams presents his personal journey from a dysfunctional family life, picking crops on his grandfather sharecropper’s farm instead of attending school, fighting in Vietnam in a segregated Army and how these adversities help in the development of his core life values. As a composer Kimo used music as a way to communicate about his life experiences. During this presentation he expounds on the importance of developing a set of core values that “determine how one functions as a citizen of humanity.”

April 23-30 MCCLURE BRANCH Money Smart Challenge for Kids

It’s never too early to start learning how to be smart with your money. Stop by to pick up a Money Smart activity booklet (and your prize for participating). Simply complete the activities and return it to the McClure Branch by the end of Money Smart Week to be entered in the drawing for a $10 Visa gift card and a piggy bank! Appropriate for grades K through 5. April 23-30 MCCLURE BRANCH Money Smart Challenge for Teens

Teens: challenge yourself to spend wisely! Pick up a Money Smart Challenge sheet and see how successful you might be at purchasing a car, saving for college, and more! Complete the challenge and return your sheet to the McClure Branch to be entered into a drawing for a $20 Visa gift card.

Calendar Continued Saturday, April 23

Tuesday, April 26

Saturday, April 30

MCCLURE BRANCH Recycle Our Crafts Make It! Take It! – 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Fantasy Tree House Design – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

MCCLURE BRANCH Everyday Money Smarts – 2:00-3:00 pm

Our stock of crafts is getting out of control! In celebration of Earth Day, we don’t want to hurt the planet by throwing away old craft supplies. Stop by the library and make crafts from all seasons and storytimes.

Make art fun by learning to draw Tree Houses using the 1 and 2 point perspective technique. Bring your imagination and draw a tree house in 3D design. Grades 3 and 4 from 4:00 to 5:00. Grades 5 and 6 from 5:00 to 6:00.

Sunday, April 24

Tuesday, April 26

NORTH BRANCH Music in the McKenzie Presents: The Sweet Potatoes – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

LINCOLN BRANCH Read On Book Club – 5:30-7:00 p.m.

The Sweet Potatoes come out of Southern California to dish up their own unique blend of country, folk and homespun Americana. Featuring acoustic guitars, ukulele, accordion and harmonica, this trio will bring a smile to your face with their sweet harmonies and finely crafted songwriting. Their music has a back porch charm all its own. They have two CDs out and do concerts around the country, sometimes with friends. Find out more at www.thesweetpotatoes.com. A portion of CD sales support The Friends of Peoria Public Library. Sunday, April 24 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Silver Screen Sundays – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

This month: Rebecca starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, directed by Alfred Hitchcock

This month: No More Mr. Nice Guy by Carl Weber Wednesday, April 27 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Club Read – 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This month: Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave Thursday, April 28 MCCLURE BRANCH Money Smart Retirement – 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Learn how to be “money smart” in your retirement years with these simple tips. Friday, April 29 LAKEVIEW BRANCH Baby Playground – 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Calling all babies! Join us for a special playgroup just designed to help you explore your world through creative play. Ages 9 months to 24 months.

The whole family can benefit from these simply Money Smart tips and concepts! Adults and parents can attend the Everyday Money Smarts presentation, while children enjoy a Money Smart storytime (appropriate for pre-K to 3rd grade). Saturday, April 30 NORTH BRANCH Engineering Challenge – 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Join us for a series of engineering challenges at the North Branch! This month’s challenge will focus on the field of Mechanical Engineering. Volunteers from the Bradley University Society of Women Engineers will share information about engineering principles and lead the challenge. Saturday, April 30 MAIN LIBRARY AUDITORIUM $3 Bag Book Sale – 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.

It’s your chance to stock up! Fill a bag with used books from the Friends of Peoria Public Library inventory and read away! Mostly fiction. Proceeds benefit the Friends and support Peoria Public Library. Look for our coupon on the library web page.

Monday, April 25 LINCOLN BRANCH Front & Center: Raised Salt Art Project – 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Show your artistic creativity with a little art and a little science. Design and create your own materpiece using water colors, salt and glue. Grades K to 2. Monday, April 25 NORTH BRANCH The Big Read: Peoria Reads 2016 Book Discussion – 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Bruce Thiemann, attorney with Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick, P.C., will lead a discussion of The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Mr. Thiemann served in the U.S. Army as a Helicopter Door Gunner with the 7th Squadron, 1st Air Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam in 1969. He is a member of the Peoria County Veterans Memorial Committee and has been active in many local veterans’ activities. Free and open to the public.

Friday, April 29 PEORIA RIVERFRONT MUSEUM The Big Read: Peoria Reads Film Showing and Discussion – 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Bradley University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) presents a special cinema event featuring Last Days in Vietnam. The documentary depicts the struggle of the small crew of U.S. diplomats and military operative left in Saigon near the end of the Vietnam War. As the North Vietnamese Army closed in and the Communist victory appeared inevitable, the U.S. prepared to withdraw. When the anticipated evacuation of the South Vietnamese became terminally delayed by Congressional gridlock and the inexplicable optimism of the U.S. ambassador, however, the Americans grew concerned about the certain imprisonment and possible death of their South Vietnamese allies, co-workers, and friends. With time running out, several Americans took matters into their own hands, engaging in unsanctioned and often makeshift operations, in a desperate attempt to save as many South Vietnamese lives as possible. The filmmaker of this documentary was Rory Kennedy, the youngest child of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, who was not yet born at the time of her father’s assassination in 1968. Following the film, Dr. David Thompson, Professor of History at Illinois Central College and OLLI class instructor, will lead a discussion about the events that took place in those final days of the war. $5 – includes admission and presentation. Advance registration is required, either by phone at 309-677-3900 or online at https://bradley.eventsair.com/ CEPortal/olli-spring-2016/registration.

Peoria Public Library to Host Congressional Art Show in April Since it began in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has provided an opportunity for

members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. Rep. Darin LaHood (IL-18) has announced the commencement of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition, open to all high school students in Illinois’ 18th Congressional District. “The Congressional Art Competition places the diversity of our nation on display, creating a mosaic of images that showcase communities across America. The winner of this competition will represent the 18th District of Illinois on the halls of our national capitol for elected officials, dignitaries, visitors, and constituents to enjoy,” stated Rep. LaHood. “I am thankful for this program and the opportunity to recognize and applaud artistic talent among youth here at home. I encourage high school students to submit their artwork in this year’s Art Competition.” The show will open at Peoria Public Library Main Library on April 4 and winners will be announced at a reception on Monday, April 25, 2016 in the Main Library Gallery. The Gallery is open Monday through Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and is open to the public. The first place winner will have his or her artwork sent to Washington, D.C. where it will be displayed for a year in the national exhibition in the Cannon Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway leading to the United States Capitol. Visitors from Illinois to Washington, D.C. always take the time to admire the wonderful artwork created by Illinois high schoolers. A national winner will be announced at a later date.

What’s Trending?

At Peoria Public Library FICTION BOOKS

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

NON-FICTION BOOKS

MOVIES

After Alice by Gregory Maguire All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Best Seller List) The Art of War: a Novel by Stephen Coonts Ashley Bell: a Novel by Dean Koontz The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson (Best Seller List) The Bitter Season by Tami Hoag (Best Seller List) Blue by Danielle Steel (Best Seller List) Breakdown by Jonathan Kellerman (Best Seller List) Brotherhood in Death by J. D. Robb (Best Seller List) Cold Shot by Dani Pettrey And Then All Hell Broke Loose by Richard Engel (Best Seller List) Being Mortal by Atul Gawande (Best Seller List) Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Best Seller List) Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again by Donald J. Trump Cure: a Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body by Jo Marchant (Best Seller List) Dark Money by Jane Mayer (Best Seller List) The Devil’s Pleasure Palace: the Cult of Critical Theory and the Subversion of the West by Michael Walsh Extreme Transformatiion by Chris Powell The 4 x 4 Diet: 4 Key Foods, 4-Minute Workouts, Four Weeks to the Body You Want by Erin Oprea

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons A Beautiful Friendship by David Weber Blood Promise by Richelle Mead Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins Champion: a Legend Novel by Marie Lu Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare Conspiracy 365. August by Gabrielle Lord Conspiracy 365. September by Gabrielle Lord Althea Ant-Man Batman: Bad Blood Burnt Captive Chi-raq Dragon Ball Z. Resurrection ‘F’ Enchanted Kingdom Everest The Gift

For more of what’s trending, vist: peoriapubliclibrary.org/whats-trending

May Book Clubs

Join a book club at Peoria Public Library this month. New members are always welcome!

At Peoria Public Library

The Biography and Non-Fiction Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 p.m. at North Branch to discuss Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep. Surely everyone knows, or should know, about the Cherokee Trail of Tears - an ordeal imposed upon thousands of Cherokees, who, after fighting and winning a judgment in the Supreme Court against their removal from the Eastern Seaboard, were nonetheless dispossessed of their tribal lands and marched to Indian Territory in the early 1830s. The scale of the removal was staggering. Not only the Cherokee but also the Muskogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and many of their African-American slaves were removed in one of the largest and most brutal acts of aggression ever committed by the United States. But not till now, with this book, focusing as it does on the two key players - President Andrew Jackson and Cherokee Principal Chief John Ross - has this episode in American history been rendered in such personal detail and human touch. . . The story of the Cherokee removal has been told many times, but never before has a single book given us such a sense of how it happened and what it meant, not only for Indians, but also & non-fiction for the future and soul of America. book group

Club Read will meet on Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Book of Speculation by Ericka Swyler. Simon Watson, a young librarian on the verge of losing his job, lives alone on the Long Island Sound in his family home. His parents are long dead, his mother having drowned in the water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, works for a traveling carnival reading tarot cards, and seldom calls. On a day in late June, Simon receives a mysterious package from an antiquarian bookseller. The book tells the story of Amos and Evangeline, doomed lovers who lived and worked in a traveling circus more than two hundred years ago. Why does his grandmother’s name, Verona Bonn, appear in this book? Why do so many women in his family drown on July 24? Could there possibly be some kind of curse on his family--and could Enola risk the same fate in just a few weeks? In order to save her--and perhaps himself--Simon must try urgently to decode his family history while on from the past.

Intercontinental Readers will meet Tuesday, May 17 at 1:00 p.m. to discuss Fallen by Lia Mills. A remarkable love story amidst the ruins of the First World War and the Easter Rising Spring, 1915. Katie Crilly gets the news she dreaded: her beloved twin brother, Liam, has been killed on the Western Front.A year later, when her home city of Dublin is suddenly engulfed in violence, Katie finds herself torn by conflicting emotions. Taking refuge in the home of a friend, she meets Hubie Wilson, a friend of Liam’s from the Front. There unfolds a remarkable encounter between two young people, both wounded and both trying to imagine a new life.This book is the One City One Book 2016 selection for Dublin and Belfast.

The Bibliophiles Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Soldier Girls by Helen Thorpe. More women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan than in any other conflict in our nation’s history, and today they compose about 15 percent of the armed services. Soldier Girls follows the experiences of three women in the Indiana National Guard -- one a young college student, one a single mother, and one a grandmother -who chose to enlist for different reasons, never expecting they would go to war. Though quite far apart in age and in their political views, the three women become close friends, and through their daily interaction we see how military service changes their relationships with their families, their lovers, and their children.

The Book ‘Em Mystery Book Club will meet on Sunday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Branch to discuss Whiskey Beach by Nora Roberts. For 300 years, Bluff House has sat above Whiskey Beach, but to Eli Landon, it’s home. Eli has had an intense year of public and police scrutiny after being accused of the murder of his soon-to-be-ex wife. Local resident Abra is a woman of many talents, including helping Eli take control of his life and clear his name. As they become entangled in each other, they find themselves caught in a net that has ensnared a man intent on reaping the rewards of destroying Eli Landon once and for all.

The Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club will meet on Monday, May 9 at Lakeview Branch at 6:30 p.m. to discuss The Goblin Emperor by Kate Addison. The youngest, half-goblin son of the Emperor has lived his entire life in exile, distant from the Imperial Court and the deadly intrigue that suffuses it. But when his father and three sons in line for the throne are killed in an ‘accident,’ he has no choice but to take his place as the only surviving rightful heir. Unschooled in court politics, he has no friends, no advisors, and the sure knowledge that whoever assassinated his father and brothers could make an attempt on his life at any moment. Surrounded by sycophants eager to curry favor with the naîve new emperor and overwhelmed by the burdens of his new life, he can trust nobody. Amid the swirl of plots to depose him, offers of arranged marriages, and the specter of the unknown conspirators who lurk in the shadows, he must quickly adjust to life as the Goblin Emperor. All the while he is alone, trying to find even a single friend, and hoping for the possibility of romance, yet also vigilant against the unseen enemies that threaten him, lest he lose his throne--or his life.

The YA Book Club for Adults will meet on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman. Revenge is worth its weight in gold.When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, it becomes clear some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

The Read on Book Club will meet on Tuesday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Lincoln Branch to discuss Love Frustration A Novel by RM Johnson. Jayson Abrahms wants nothing more than to settle down. In less than a week he will marry Faith Sheppard, the love of his life. But there is one issue: Jayson’s best friend, Asha Mills, who also used to be his lover. Concerned about Asha’s intentions, Faith delivers an ultimatum, forcing Jayson to make the toughest decision of his life: Either Asha goes, or Faith will. Jayson cannot bring himself to end the friendship. When he lies to Faith, he never expects Faith to learn his secret, but when she does, she decides to get even. Instead, it is Jayson who receives a horrible shock. He soon learns that not just Faith has been harboring secrets; Asha turns out to be a very different woman from the one he fell in love with years ago.

The Genre Evolution Book Club will meet on Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at North Branch to discuss early works in the mystery genre. Selections for this genre include The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, which opens with Walter Hartright’s eerie encounter on a moonlit London road. Engaged to the beautiful Laura Fairlie, Walter is drawn into the sinister intrigues of Sir Percival Glyde and his “charming” friend Count Fosco, who has a taste for white mice, bonbons and poison. The Woman in White is the most influential of the Victorian genre that combined Gothic horror with psychological realism. Or try The Red House Mystery, by A.A. Milne, a classic locked-door mystery by the author of Winnie the Pooh. Other selections include The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux, The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, and any of the beloved “Sherlock Holmes” books or stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Choose from the list, or read them all!

www.peoriapubliclibrary.org

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Edward J. Barry, Jr. Stephen M. Buck Norman H. Burdick Margaret E. Cousin Lucy D. Gulley F. Eugene Rebholz Debbie Ritschel Barbara Van Auken Jeanne Williamson DIRECTOR Leann Johnson EDITOR Trisha Noack DESIGNER Laura Fehr

MAIN LIBRARY 107 N.E. Monroe 309.497.2000 LAKEVIEW BRANCH 1137 W. Lake 309.497.2200 LINCOLN BRANCH 1312 W. Lincoln 309.497.2600 MCCLURE BRANCH 315 W. McClure 309.497.2700 NORTH BRANCH 3001 W. Grand Parkway 309.497.2100