  It’s time to tap into your creative side. March is National Craft Month, and the library has plenty of resources to inspire and help you turn your ideas into reality.
Digital Resources Want to learn a new crafting skill in the comfort of your home? This month, hoopla has a curated collection of instructional how-to videos and crafting resources. Learn how to use watercolor, draw, sew, or improve your photography skills–all free to use with your library card. You have thousands of award-winning art and craft video classes available to you through Creativebug. Choose from a wide variety of classes, from needlework to flower arranging and cake decorating. There are even classes for kids and teens, starting as young as age four. There’s so much to explore! Knitting & Crocheting Groups If you’re looking to connect with other crafters, the library has two knitting and crocheting groups that meet monthly. All experience levels are welcome–beginners too. Bring your own supplies, and enjoy conversing with others while you work on your own project.
Make Homemade Gifts Do you enjoy making personalized gifts and other crafts? Open Makerspace is for you! This popular program does not include any formal teaching, but staff are available to assist you in using sublimation to make tote bags, pillowcases, tumblers, or mugs. (Watch this video to see how library staff made a customized baby onesie). You can also make cards or other crafts. Supplies are available to use for free. Find the upcoming Open Makerspace classes here, and be sure to set an alarm for when registration opens one month prior. Space is limited, and these fill up quickly! Next Open Makerspace: Monday, May 4 from 6:30–8:30 pm | Sign up opens April 4 at 9 am 3D Printing Did you know you get one free 3D print a month as a VAPLD cardholder? Explore existing designs or create your own, then submit your request to print. Some items you could 3D print include adaptive devices, jewelry, STEAM education and school projects, game pieces, puzzles, and more. Read the guide to 3D printing to learn more and to submit your print request. Crafting for Kids Stop by the library for Holiday Arts & Crafts. Learn about different holidays celebrated by people in our community while creating related crafts. These programs are open to all ages. No sign up required. Don’t miss these upcoming sessions:
Sticking around during Spring Break? Explore artist, activist, and educator Corita Kent with Miss Jane on Wednesday, March 25. Sign up for Exploring Great Artists to reserve your spot. Take & Make Craft Kits The library also offers monthly Take & Make Craft Kits for all ages. These kits include supplies and instructions for you to make a craft at home. Ask for the kit at the Youth Desk or drive-up window. Available while supplies last. Mark your calendar to pick up the Cherry Blossom Windsock kit beginning April 3, and check the calendar for upcoming Take & Make opportunities. These are just a few of the creative classes and activities you can find at the library. Be sure to check the library calendar for more upcoming maker and craft programs. Can't wait to see what you create!
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 Vernon Area Public Library has officially applied for the 2026 ComEd Green Region Grant. If awarded, this grant will help us transform an underutilized stormwater area on our campus into a vibrant bioswale and pollinator habitat.
The proposed project aims to improve how the library campus manages environmental challenges through nature-based solutions. By planting deep-rooted native grasses and perennials, the bioswale would filter pollutants from parking lot runoff before it enters the local water system. This habitat would also provide important habitat for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Using Illinois native plants further helps by building soil health and increasing landscaping resilience in a changing climate. Also included would be educational signage along pedestrian pathways to help visitors better understand how green infrastructure protects our local ecosystem. The library is partnering with RATIO Architects to ensure the project meets high environmental and aesthetic standards while aligning with our long-term campus plan. To help fund this initiative, the library has requested a $10,000 grant through the ComEd Green Region program. This project represents a practical step in the library’s ongoing commitment to sustainable land management and our goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.  Pictured left: Alexandra's mom, Maria R., shows off the dill they grew from seed. Right: Amelia B. cares for the family's hot pepper plant. After opening last year, around 2,000 visitors took approximately 13,000 seed packets from 95 different varieties to plant in their gardens. The most popular seeds were zinnia, marigold, cayenne pepper, basil, and several varieties of milkweed. Around 3,600 native seeds packets from 28 varieties were distributed. Library patron Alexandra B. took her seeds, and created opportunities for connection as she grew and nurtured a garden together with her mother and daughters.
"Our family benefitted tremendously from the Seed Library," Alexandra said. "We were able to grow vegetables and herbs, educate the girls about gardening, and get them excited enough to try new foods (a huge success in its own right). It has been amazing to see, and we are hoping for even greater success this summer." Alexandra and her family grew dill, eggplant, spicy peppers, and cucumbers from Seed Library seeds. The most popular seed requests were for okra, more hot peppers, and more tomatoes. All these and more will be available to pick up when the Seed Library returns on Monday, March 2. "[The Seed Library] not only allows you to be part of a larger community, but–just as a great library does–it educates our family," said Alexandra. "The gardening books available at the library make it possible to learn about a specific topic, then immediately put that knowledge into practice by checking out seeds and growing them ourselves." The Seed Library is a great way to try new plants without a financial commitment. Borrow seeds, cultivate them into beautiful gardens, and return some of your seeds at the end of the season (optional) to keep the library sustainable. Learn more about the Seed Library, and see what seeds are available at VAPLD.info/SeedLibrary. Want to grow your own garden this year? This program provides some guidance: Starting a Garden from Seed Wednesday, March 4, 7–8 pm | Sign up Discover the secrets to successful seed starting and how to grow strong, healthy seedlings ready for your garden with garden coach Amy Powers. 10 Years, 10,000 Readers, 'One Book'1/29/2026  “One Book, One Community” turns 10 this year, and organizers at Cook Memorial, Indian Trails, and Vernon Area public libraries are delighted at how the program has evolved, becoming a regular fixture in each library’s annual calendar of programming.
The “One Book” concept is simple yet profound: encourage thousands of neighbors to all read and discuss the same book. Additionally, the series provides opportunities for neighbors to consider and connect over the issues and themes in the story. “‘One Book’ programs are a way to create a common cultural touchpoint,” said Vernon Area Public Library spokesperson Catherine Savage. “When a community all reads the same book and considers the situations in it, it builds empathy both for the characters in the story and each other.” This year’s selection is Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano, named among the best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, LibraryReads, The New York Times, NPR, Amazon, and others, and selected by Oprah Winfrey as the 100th pick for her book club. This exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic Little Women is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it. The series launches each December when Cook Memorial, Indian Trails and Vernon Area public libraries each inject hundreds of copies of the selected book into their community through giveaways and checkouts. Over the following weeks, each library presents public programs that complement the themes, characters, or settings featured in the book. Programs typically include book discussions, film screenings, art exhibits, lectures, and performances. This year, participants attended art workshops, learned about men’s mental health and sports injuries, and wrote their life lessons and legacies. All programs are free and available to all area residents, regardless of home library affiliation. The series culminates with an author presentation and book signing with novelist Ann Napolitano on Sunday, March 1, at 1 p.m., in Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s West Auditorium and online on Zoom. Signup is open for this free event and other “One Book” programs at 1book.org. A Decade of Partnership and Recognition The "One Book, One Community" series, which began in 2015, was born out of a shared desire to connect area readers through a shared reading experience. However, the cost of hosting popular authors was often prohibitive. This challenge led to the creation of the “One Book, One Community” program. “I reached out to our neighboring library districts, Indian Trails and Cook Memorial, to inquire if they would be interested in partnering with us and splitting the cost,” said Roz Topolski, Community Engagement Program Coordinator at Vernon Area, who initially envisioned the program. “They were immediately excited about the idea, and it’s been a fantastic partnership." Over the last decade, “One Book, One Community” has remained true to its goals of having a shared reading experience within the community, encouraging conversation, and reflecting on how the books might help us better understand ourselves and others. Since its inception, the program has drawn 10,168 attendees. The program is funded in part by the Foundation for the Vernon Area Public Library District, the Friends of the Cook Memorial Public Library, and the Foundation for the Indian Trails Public Library District. The collaborative effort was recognized in 2019 by the Illinois Library Association (ILA) for excellence in interlibrary resource sharing. The ILA noted the program “exemplifies a unified front for libraries working together, particularly in a mobile suburban area that shares geographic borders and can maximize taxpayer resources.” About “One Book, One Community” Now in its tenth year, “One Book, One Community” (OBOC) is a partnership among Cook Memorial, Indian Trails, and Vernon Area public library districts to encourage dialogue and build community through a shared experience of literature. Past selections included The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, The Bohemians by Jasmin Darznik, This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel, Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson, Circe by Madeline Miller, The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar, Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese, and Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford. Find details, program signup, and related resources at 1book.org. Library Rewind 2025: Your Year in Review12/23/2025   As we wrap up the year, let’s take a look back at some of your top reads and library highlights in 2025. Reminisce about some of your favorites, or discover something to add to your list in the new year.
In no particular order, your top eBooks for 2025 were:
Other highlights include:
‘Twas a great year for library programming. We hosted over 1,033 programs (that’s only through October 2025)! Your favorite program for adults was Book Club Bash, where 96 attendees heard fresh reading suggestions from a Random House rep and The Good Book Fairy blogger. The most attended youth program was Nanny Nikki, where 172 people danced and sang along in this concert for all ages. This year, library volunteers worked over 4,073 hours at the library! 669 people volunteered at the library in 2025, helping with crafts, programs, shelf reading, as ELL conversation partners, with Senior Connections, and so much more! See the full Library Rewind on Instagram. Thank you for a great year at the library! Over 195,382 people walked through our doors this year. We look forward to seeing you in the new year. |
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