Summer Reading Program 2010 - Book a Trip!

Let reading take you on a journey around the world!

Readers of all ages are invited to join and enjoy a summer filled with free activities and good books. The action begins on Thursday, June 3 and continues until the finale on Friday, July 23. For a full listing to print out of all our programs check out the PDFs on the Upcoming Programs section and the website calendar.

It is hard to believe that the Summer Reading Club is almost over. Here are some of the fun activities that the 800+ reading club members participated in:

www.flickr.com WoodstockPublicLibrary's Summer Reading Club 2010 photoset

The State of Illinois has not delivered on the promised budgeted funding for the nine regional library systems that provide, among many other services, the van delivery system that moves library materials (books, dvds, cds, etc) between libraries throughout Illinois. The library systems are struggling to stay open and maintain core services like van delivery between libraries.

If the State does not come through with funding to the library systems then there may be some changes in services for our customers. The first most noticeable change would be that our customers who request materials from other libraries may experience longer than usual delays in receiving materials. Woodstock and other area libraries are working together to find new ways to keep library materials moving between the libraries.

Illinois Regional Talking Book Centers may be shuttered until funding resumes. The inability of the State to deliver promised funding to the Regional Illinois Talking Book Centers will most likely result in two of the four Talking Book Centers to be closed by the end of July. Part of a federal program, the Talking Book Centers provide audio and Braille books for Illinois citizens with visual or physical handicaps that prevent them from reading printed books.

The Woodstock Public Library is a member of the Prairie Area Library System. Crystal Lake Public Library and McHenry Public Library (and most other libraries east of Woodstock) are members of the North Suburban Library System. 

Links for more information:

Federal Funding May Rescue Audiobook Service (6/7/10 Daily Chronicle) Referring to  Voices of Vision Talking Book Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

North Suburban Library System's Final Weekly e-Newsletter (5/28/10)

Prairie Area Library System Status Update (listing of services that are continuing or ending  5/27/10)

Illinois Regional Library Systems Forced to Slash Services/Staff (Library Journal 5/20/10)

Prairie Area Library System (PALS Board Agrees on Next Steps 5/18/10)

North Suburban Library System (NSLS's Immediate Future 5/11/10)

North Suburban Library System on Death Watch  (Sun Times Article 5/14/10)

The Summer Reading Club brings hundreds of children and their parents to the library. They will be participating in the 80+ programs offered by the Children and Adult departments. The majority of these programs are offered from Monday through Friday. As a result the library has the greatest demand on its services and staff during that period.

The City of Woodstock has a hiring freeze in place. In order to safely staff the building and provide quality customer service with the library's current staffing levels the Library Board and staff have made the difficult decision to close the library on Sundays for the Summer of 2010.

The Library Board and staff are committed to providing access to information for all residents of the City of Woodstock and the Rural Woodstock Public Library District. Residents can take full advantage of the many online resources that are always available through this website, our Online Branch, including downloads of eBooks and audiobooks, magazines, newspapers, genealogy materials and more. All that is needed to access these materials is a Woodstock Public Library card number. Full service Woodstock Public Library cards also allow residents the flexibility to check out and return materials from public libraries throughout the State of Illinois.

A complete listing of all the Summer programs will soon be available on the library's website and are published in the Summer issue of the City Scene newsletter.

Library Closed Dates:

Friday, May 14 - Closed until noon for staff training
Sunday, May 9 - Mother's Day
Sunday & Monday, May 30 & 31 - Memorial Day
Sundays, June-August 15 - Library Closed
Sunday & Monday, September 5 & 6 - Labor Day