newsletter of the Peoria Public Library www.peoriapubliclibrary.org
FEBRUARY 2015 Volume 24 n No. 2 Published monthly by the Peoria Public Library
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 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
Peoria Chooses Enrique’s Journey for 2015 “One City One Book” Program Peoria Reads! has announced that the next community-wide read will be Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with his Mother by Pulitzer Prize winner Sonia Nazario. Enrique’s mother, Lourdes, left him in Honduras when he was five years old because she could barely afford to feed him and his sister, much less send them to school. Her plan was to sneak into the U.S. for a few years, work hard, send and save money, then move back to Honduras to be with her children. But 12 years later, she was still in the U.S. and wiring money home. That’s when Enrique became one of the thousands of children and teens who try to enter the U.S. illegally each year. Riding on the tops of freight trains through Mexico, these young migrants are preyed upon by gangsters and corrupt government officials. The breadth and depth of Nazario’s research is astounding, and she has crafted her findings into a story that is moving and polemical. The book, based on the Los Angeles Times newspaper series that won two Pulitzer Prizes, was chosen by the Peoria Reads! committee to further
insight and thoughtful discussion on the topic of immigration reform. Across the country this page-turner has become a classic about the power of family. Enrique’s Journey has been named one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Miami Herald and San Antonio Express-News. A series of book discussions and events will be held in April and all are encouraged to read Enrique’s Journey and talk about it with others. More information about the book may be found at peoriareads.org Peoria Reads is the annual “One City, One Book” project led by Peoria Public Library and Common Place Family Learning Center with the assistance of community partners including Bradley University and Illinois Central College. Every year since 2002, Peoria Reads! has selected a book, urged our community to read it and get involved in book discussions and other free public programs related to the subject matter and themes in the book. For more information about Peoria Reads! visit www.peoriareads.org.
Would you like to volunteer for a service organization but don’t know where to start? Here’s your chance to visit and volunteer By Teri Miller with non-profit service organizations. On Saturday, April 11th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Peoria Public Library North Branch, the Library will be kicking off National Library Week by holding a Community Day of Service. All ages are invited to participate in this community event to learn about service organizations and assist them with special projects. Drop in any time between 1:00 and 3:00 to lend a hand. Organizations represented at the event include HISRA, Goodwill Industries and more! Are you a non-profit service organization that needs assistance to work on a special project? If you interested in participating in the Community Day of Service, please call Karla at 497-2150 or Teri at 4972069. This event will provide organizations with an opportunity to connect with new people. Community Day of Service