newsletter of the Peoria Public Library www.peoriapubliclibrary.org Read to Inspire a Safer Community with Winter Read DECEMBER 2014 Volume 23 n No. 12 Published monthly by the Peoria Public Library
Reading books and discussing new ideas often provide inspiration that can lead to solving problems. That is precisely what three groups: Peoria Public Library, Peoria Reads!, and Peoria Community Against Violence (PCAV) hope to achieve with a new city-wide reading program called “Winter Read.” All three organizations encourage individuals and groups in Peoria to read one or all of the reading choices, books that encourage discussion about building a safe community, and hold
MAIN LIBRARY 107 N.E. Monroe 309.497.2000
WINTER
LAKEVIEW BRANCH 1137 W. Lake 309.497.2200
READ
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 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Edward J. Barry, Jr. Stephen M. Buck Margaret E. Cousin Lucy D. Gulley F. Eugene Rebholz Debbie Ritschel Sid P. Ruckriegel Barbara Van Auken Jeanne Williamson DIRECTOR Leann Johnson EDITOR Trisha Noack DESIGNER Laura Fehr
or join book discussions in January. Public book discussions, open to anyone, will be held in 2015 but it is hoped that other book groups, groups of co-workers, church groups and more will make time to look at the ideas and experiences presented in these three books. All involve the successful conquest of the lifestyles that are plagued with gun violence. While Peoria has had success with the “Don’t Shoot” program that also began with a book discussion, more understanding and action is needed throughout the community. The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore “The chilling truth is that his story could have been mine. The tragedy is that my story could have been his.” Two kids named Wes Moore were born blocks apart within a year of each other. Both grew up fatherless in similar Baltimore neighborhoods and had difficult childhoods; both hung out on street corners with their crews; both ran into Continued on page 2
Author of Bridge Burner Recounts Intrigue During the Civil War on December 15 by Dorsey Dixon
“He was a scoundrel. In the opening chapter he stabs a man to death,” said author Mike Rucker. This is how Rucker describes the controversial subject of his new book, Bridge Burner. The book is a biography based on the life of William Parks Rucker, a Union supporter living in the heart of the Confederacy during the Civil War. “His name is Rucker. My name is Rucker. And although he is not a direct ancestor, his name would come up at family reunions. Consequently, I wanted to know more about him.” Rucker’s curiosity led him down a trail of breadcrumbs before he paid a visit to Louisburg, West Virginia at the Greenbrier Historical Society. It was there he first found solid information on the late Rucker. He said, “There wasn’t much published on him. I went to five different county courthouses in Virginia and West Virginia. Finally, I got information from The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion.” Rucker, whose previous work includes the Terry
the Tractor children’s books, assures readers that this biography marks a change in the direction of his writing. “Children’s books are about creativity, and teaching a fun lesson. However, biographies are all about research and references. Every single statement in this book is documented. You’ll find references in the book, and a gallery of around 40 images from the Civil War. ” Rucker knows that anyone with an interest in the Civil War will want to read it. Rucker is intrigued by the complicated story of a man who took the opposite side, was a spy, a prisoner, a soldier and much more. “We always hear either the Yankee version of the war, or the Confederate version. I want readers to have the full picture.” Rucker will be selling and signing Bridge Burner with 50% of the proceeds going to the Friends of Peoria Public Library when he speaks at Peoria Public Library North Branch on Monday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m.