Vernon Area Public Library is named among America’s Star Libraries for 2022, as announced by Library Journal this month. The distinction places the library in Lincolnshire among the top 20 public libraries in the U.S. in its budget category.

America’s Star Libraries is an annual ranking of public libraries by trade publication Library Journal. The index scores libraries according to amount of use, including in-person visits, circulation and use of electronic resources.

Among the more than 5,300 public libraries assessed for 2022, the top performers — "Star Libraries" — are assigned three, four, or five stars, much like Michelin Guide ratings. The result is a short list of public libraries nationwide that demonstrate the highest level of service to their communities. Vernon Area Public Library District received four stars.

“Libraries across the nation adapted services quickly to serve patrons during the first year of COVID. To be recognized by LJ for our work in 2020 is a wonderful honor. Our staff's connection to the community is a big part of our success,” said Library Director Anne Rasmussen.

2022 Star Library status was awarded to just 258 libraries nationwide. Neighboring Cook Memorial, Deerfield, Ela Area, and Indian Trails libraries also received recognition. 

Scores and ratings are based on the most recent data in the national database at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The data used for the 2022 rankings is from fiscal year 2020 — the first pandemic year.

During that measurement period, public libraries across the United States were affected dramatically by COVID, which changed and complicated the statistics for the year. Even so, Vernon Area ranked near the top.

At Vernon Area, door count and checkout of physical items decreased compared to previous years. Checkouts of digital materials such as e-books, downloadable audiobooks and streaming movies and TV increased. Program attendance remained level as staff quickly pivoted to online and attendees embraced the new format.

Jasmin Darznik is the New York Times bestselling author of three books, including The Bohemians, a novel that imagines the friendship between photographer Dorothea Lange and her Chinese American assistant in 1920s San Francisco. The Bohemians is this year's One Book, One Community selection. We had a chance to ask her a few questions:

You were born in Tehran and came to the U.S. as a small child. Lange was born on the East Coast and moved to San Francisco as a young woman. Are there elements of Dorothea’s story that you recognized in your own experience?

Having grown up in an immigrant family, I could well imagine the disorientation Lange must have felt when she was marooned in San Francisco in 1918. My telling of how she was robbed soon after she arrived in the city is true to the facts of her life, as is the larger narrative about how she fashioned a new life and a new self for herself once she came to California. I’m fascinated by how such accidents of history and circumstance shape us. Particularly for artists and writers these ruptures can change the course of one’s life. I really don't know if I would have become a writer if I hadn’t experienced immigration. It’s fundamental to how I see the world, a source of confusion and pain, but also of creativity. 

There is an interesting parallel between the way people accept photography as objectively true and the way people internalize historical fiction. How would you say the concept of “truth” relates to both photography and historical fiction writing? 

A photograph, no matter how seemingly documentary, is always also a reflection of the person who takes it. Historical fiction works in much the same way. What I see when I look back to the 1920s may differ quite radically from how others see it. When I looked at Dorothea Lange’s life my eye was drawn to the period of time when she was still finding herself. I was also intrigued by the mention of her Chinese American assistant. It occupies just a few paragraphs in her biography, but that relationship made me see not only Lange but her times in a different way. And yet there is a veracity to the tale, just as there is a veracity to a photograph. It's a version of her story that’s consonant with the known parts of her story. It's just that it draws on imagination to make it come alive.

Though this book is set more than 100 years ago, readers won’t have to work hard to find similarities to today. What wisdom or learning from the book do you hope readers might find useful in their own lives?
The idea of who is or can become American was hotly contested in the 1920s. That was a time of massive immigration, and it spurred white nationalist movements and anti-immigrant legislation. A hundred years later the fault lines of American history fall along those same lines. Racism and sexism are as much a part of our world as they were of Lange's. One thing that has changed is that we now have storytellers who're bringing unseen stories into the frame. That's definitely what most excites me as a novelist — that power to make the hidden parts of our history more visible.   

What’s next?

I'm working on a novel set in Old Hollywood. It's about an actress, so it has me exploring new worlds. Like the world of The Bohemians, there's glitter and glitz, but also a story of a woman coming into her own. Lots of work to go on it, but I'm enjoying the research and writing tremendously.

Meet Jasmin at the One Book grand finale author event on February 26 at Stevenson High School auditorium or on Zoom. Check out and read a copy of The Bohemians between now and then, and attend related book discussions, lectures, and performances at any participating library. Learn more at 1book.org.

​Vernon Area Public Library will join libraries across Illinois to host a virtual event with Midwest Made cookbook author Shauna Sever. Sever will discuss holiday baking with Chicago Tribune food critic and podcast host Louisa Chu. The event will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, December 13, at 7 p.m.

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Shauna will share her love of food, baking, and some tips to make your holiday gatherings delicious. As a writer, Shauna’s work is best defined by her baking-centric cookbooks. Her fourth, Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland, was named among the Best Baking Cookbooks of 2019 by The New York Times.

The event is free and open to all. Signup is required.

The event with Shauna Sever is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events.  Illinois Libraries Present (ILP) debuted in 2022 as a way to bring virtual events with bestselling authors and diverse and esteemed speakers to communities across the state and counts more than 200 Illinois libraries as members. Joining forces for such events allow libraries to bring speakers to their communities that might not be possible due to budget constraints or production capabilities. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

As consumer attention turns to winter holiday shopping, your library is ready to help with the booklovers on your list.

“When it comes to finding the right book for every reader, librarians are the experts,” said Library Director Anne Rasmussen.

The fifth annual Vernon Area Public Library Gift Guide is now available in print at the library or as a digital download from the library website. It includes 66 hand-picked recommendations of books published in 2022. 

The selections are thoughtful and diverse. Adult suggestions range from acclaimed fiction like Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel to must-read nonfiction like An Immense World by Ed Yong and The Extraordinary Life of an Ordinary Man by Paul Newman.

There are also recommendations for teens, grade school kids and tots, including delightful reads like The Bad Seed Goes to the Library by Jory John and Don’t Eat Bees by Dev Petty.

Guides from past years are available on the library website, too:

• 2021 Gift Guide
• 2020 Gift Guide
• 2019 Gift Guide
• 2018 Gift Guide

The annual Gift Guide is just one great source of reading recommendations available to you at your library. Other self-service resources include:

• NoveList, a powerful book-specific search engine that you can log into using your library card number, 
• Book Talks, recommendations presented at local schools for readers in grades 1-8,
• Guide for Readers, reading recommendations from librarians

 
… or, just ask! We are always happy to have a conversation and make suggestions. Stop by the library for great ideas for every reader on your list.

“…a relentlessly curious and chipper tour guide to the underworld” — The New York Times​

Vernon Area Public Library is joining libraries across Illinois to host a virtual event with mortician, bestselling author and advocate for death acceptance Caitlin Doughty. Doughty will discuss the reform of Western funeral industry practices and more in conversation with Mark Bazer, host of WTTW’s “The Interview Show.” The event will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, November 16, at 7 p.m.
 
Doughty is the founder of a Los Angeles funeral home and the funeral reform collective “The Order of the Good Death,” which spawned the death positive movement. The effort has caused her to be regarded as a bête noire by the traditional funeral industry. Her educational web series, “Ask a Mortician,” has been viewed almost 250 million times. Doughty is also the author of the bestselling books Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (And Other Lessons from the Crematory), From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to find the Good Death, and Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? – Big Questions from Tiny Mortals.

Doughty will be joined in conversation with Mark Bazer. Bazer is the host and creator of WTTW’s “The Interview Show.” Filmed in a bar in Chicago, the series features conversations that are as substantive as they are entertaining.

The event with Caitlin Doughty is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. 

“We’re looking forward to bringing this event to communities across Illinois,” said Jennifer Czajka, Arlington Heights Memorial Library Program Manager and a member of Illinois Libraries Present’s steering committee. “Caitlin is a leading expert in a field which unites us all and we look forward to learning about her unique body of work, which aims to destigmatize talking about death.”

“We’re excited to bring this event with Caitlin Doughty to our community,” said Vernon Area Public Library Program Coordinator Roz Topolski. “It will surely provide fresh ideas for our patrons to consider about this topic.”

“A Conversation with Caitlin Doughty” will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16. The online event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Sign up on Zoom or call 224-543-1485. 

About Illinois Libraries Present

Illinois Libraries Present (ILP) debuted in 2022 as a way to bring virtual events with bestselling authors and diverse and esteemed speakers to communities across the state and counts more than 200 Illinois libraries as members. Joining forces for such events allow libraries to bring speakers to their communities that might not be possible due to budget constraints or production capabilities. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). 

Ruth Spiro is the author of the bestselling Baby Loves Science board book series and a STEM-themed picture book, Made by Maxine, named a “Best STEM Book” by the National Science Teaching Association. She writes books that inspire kids to observe the world, ask questions, and dream big! She lives in Deerfield, Illinois.

Your Baby Loves... series covers some pretty sophisticated topics! What inspired the idea to create board books about STEM and political science?

In 2010, The New York Times ran the article “Picture Books No Longer a Staple for Children,” about a substantial drop in picture book sales. Some believed this was due to the choice some parents were making to start their very young children on more “advanced” level books like early readers and chapter books. It occurred to me that these parents might be looking
for elevated content — books that were fun to read but also age-appropriate and educational.

I think the reason my Baby Loves Science books have become popular is that they work on several levels. They’re beautiful to look at and appeal to even very young babies who do not yet understand the words. (Thanks to the brilliant illustrators, Irene Chan and Greg Paprocki!) As children grow and develop, they can relate the concept to a real-world observation or experience. Importantly, the books also appeal to parents and caregivers because they feel they’re learning something, too.

Similarly, the Baby Loves Political Science books felt important in the time leading up to the 2020 election. With so much going on in the media, my editor and I discussed the need for books that explain these ideas in simple terms for very young children. This collection includes Democracy, which is about how elections work, as well as Congress, Justice, and The Presidency.
As we head into election season once again, I think these books will be helpful both at home and the library.

Your process must involve quite a bit of research. Where do you begin?

Once I decide on a topic, I’ll read books and articles, watch videos, talk with experts and even take field trips if possible. While working on Baby Loves Quarks, I visited the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia and toured an actual particle accelerator. Throughout the writing process, I seek feedback to help refine the story and its relationship to the science concepts. I call upon expert reviewers, including retired physicist Dr. Fred Bortz, to check both the text and illustrations for accuracy.

While the Baby Loves Science books may appear simple, they’re the result of collaboration between an entire team, because we all believe that our young audience deserves nothing less.

How do you make those topics accessible for little ones?

My editorial priority is always the child. First and foremost, the books we share with our little ones should be age-appropriate, visually appealing, and fun to read. Then, if I can find a way to include even the smallest nugget of science while also producing a giggle or two, I’ve done my job!

I start with a list of things that are familiar to a baby or toddler — activities like watching a bird fly, building a tower with blocks, and dropping crackers from a high chair just to watch them fall.

Then I think about how they relate to what feels like a complex scientific concept. Without this context, the idea of “science” is too abstract for a small child. But when introduced in a story about something familiar, it becomes more accessible. That real-world experience becomes a key, unlocking the door to the science behind it.

There’s actually a growing body of research on this topic, mostly relating to the fact that babies are natural scientists. For example, a study at Johns Hopkins revealed that before their first birthday, babies intuitively understand that if you drop a ball it will fall, rather than hover in the air. This is physics and gravity! So rather than talking about babies learning science principles, I prefer to reframe the conversation as babies discovering science principles.

I imagine adults have plenty to learn from these books, too. What’s something surprising that you have learned while working on the series?

Writing about science for a very young audience has inspired me to look at the field with a fresh perspective. When I was in school, I thought that “science” meant memorizing facts and formulas. Working on this series, I’ve discovered that science is so much more than that because it explains the interconnectedness of our world.

The second thing I learned is that it’s never too early to introduce children to this way of thinking. I received an email from a parent who’d been reading Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering with her daughter. She mentioned that they’d be going on an airplane soon, and her daughter began talking about how an airplane’s wings do not flap because it has engines to lift it into
the air. The little girl may not yet understand the physics of flight, but she does know there’s a difference between a bird’s wings and an airplane’s wings, which is a brilliant beginning.

What do you hope children and families take away from your books?

A child’s job is to explore and experiment, because that’s how they figure out how the world works. I’m not advocating for teaching young children about science; I view it as encouraging exploration and curiosity while introducing some basic science vocabulary along the way.

My hope is that my books will spark an interest and then become jumping-off points for continued learning. Even if the science is new to parents, they can have fun learning right along with their children. If they don’t know the answer to a question, it’s fine to admit that and then say, “Let’s find out together!” By modeling curiosity and a willingness to investigate, they’re encouraging their child’s sense of wonder as well.

I also hope these books help parents and caregivers slow down, appreciate all the little things that children find fascinating, and experience them together. When we view the world from their perspective, every day brings opportunities for discovering something new.

What’s next?
​
I’m pleased to share that between 2023 and 2024 I’ll have seven new books coming out, including two additions to the core Baby Loves Science board book collection. The topics haven’t been revealed yet, but I promise they’ll be worth the wait. I’m also working on a brand-new picture book series
based on Baby Loves... but for early elementary readers who are ready to learn more about their favorite topics. In the coming months I’ll also be sharing more about three exciting new picture books. These are departures from my other books in that two are rhyming and one is lyrical and quite special, a
“book of my heart.”

Reach Ruth via her website, RuthSpiro.com, or on Twitter or Instagram @ruthspiro.

Information and forms are now available for people considering a run for Vernon Area Public Library Trustee in the April 4, 2023 Consolidated Election.

Prospective candidates can pick up nomination papers at Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire, during regular library business hours. The library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ask at the Adult Desk.

Information and forms are also available on the library website at http://VAPLD.info/candidates.

Public library trustees are nonpartisan community representatives. They determine the library’s policies, set its budget and advocate on its behalf. The library board meets monthly, typically on the third Monday, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Two of the board’s seven seats will be filled at the spring election. Trustees elected in April 2023 will serve six-year terms beginning in May 2023 and ending in April 2029.

To qualify to run, prospective candidates must meet residency and other requirements. They also must petition at least 50 signatures from qualified voters residing in the district. Prospective candidates may begin circulating nominating petitions, which are included in the packets, beginning September 20, 2022.

Completed nomination papers may be filed at the library during weekday administrative business hours beginning Monday, December 12, 2022. The last day to file is Monday, December 19, 2022. Paperwork may be filed by mail or in person, either by the candidate or their representative.

Those wishing to run for this office are strongly advised to obtain legal counsel regarding candidate requirements, the proper method for completing the petition forms, the qualifications of signers and circulators and other information.

This fall, join us in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have influenced and enriched our culture through their contributions to art, music, and literature with a selection of library programming for kids
and adults during National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15.

​Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President
Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.

The date of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of
independence for Latin American countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate
their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.

Join the celebration by stopping by the library to select a book for kids  or adults that honors Hispanic heritage. Or join in at one of these free library programs:

• Beginning September 15 – Take & Make Craft Kit: Hispanic Heritage Celebration (all ages)
• Sept 15 – ¡Lotería! Family Game Night [FULL]
• Sept 20 – Exploring Great Artists: Frida Kahlo (grades K–5) [FULL]
• Sept 22 – Pop Up Maker Space: Floral Jewelry (all ages)
• Sept 29 – An evening with author Erika Sánchez (adults)
• Sept 30 – Bilingual Storytime (ages 0–6)
• Oct 15 – Outdoor Family Concert: Alina Celeste & Mi Amigo Hamlet (families with children of all ages)
• Oct 15 – Live Art Demonstration: Vejigante Masks with Juan Ramon Jr. (all ages)

Also find us at Brushwood Family Fest at nearby Ryerson Woods on Saturday, September 17, from 10am-2pm for a festive celebration of nature, art, and culture. Stop by the library table featuring crafts from three Latin American countries.