It is National Library Week! In celebration, we are having drawings for two prize baskets, one for adults and one for the youth. There are also three water bottles full of candy that you can guess the amount of candy to win. Stop in and make your guesses and fill out your entries this week, because we will draw for a winner on Monday, April 12.

Byron Public Library has invited our patrons to attend this free event! Register here:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fow.ly%2FSLin30rz1Dp%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR25YNyt6Uj96-XW6J433PqnjySw00takeXwJfVrM163gNu1fMhOVUzkg18&h=AT05p5Q2nMduba5IwT5toE-HRJ6V_gVJl8HL3p6ND614TbWKTRqtRQWZemp5I2Zpx9bGl71T5oH3RhHUSlsEyiwxY0XMrxsdCu2oEr5pMmk8-F9qamHClpfwGlM0Yr4iCJ2O&tn=-UK*F&c[0]=AT2P6MC0nCzw1ZqUzS4s6OCNcwhzU7JUKZ8_1vE6Qjf_j28TBogoEbXipuUrmxuE4AXS4qAba6F7oEiE9IuI1dxrreJHETfxLjkqF4bEgLedTyS2jfei1G14SNOUTu7r59ZqWFwRdevsVFqheGPy1V6pZx6GzGT_wRS136Ll8cRZ76TQ

We are excited to announce that we are once again accepting clean, soft plastics for recycling.  Save your bread bags, outer wrapping on bulk items like water bottles and bathroom tissue, grocery bags, etc.  Drop them off during business hours: Mon-Thurs 10-7, Sat 8-Noon.  Please do not leave plastics unattended during non-business hours.

Bertolet Memorial Library will be closed Saturday, April 3 for Easter.

Story Time is back starting on Thursday, January 21! Private story time sessions are available every Thursday. These sessions are 20-30 minutes long, and include a story and an art project. Here is what to expect:

Registration is required to reserve your time slot. Register by Wednesday at 5 pm through the Sign Up Genius link below or by calling 815-738-2742.

Masks will be required for everyone three and older who is medically able to wear one, and when you show up for your session, we will do a quick temperature check.

We meet in the back room during the winter. Art is sometimes messy, please dress your kids in clothes that can get messy.

Please have a family member 16 years or older available to assist kids under the age of six with their project.

Reserve your spot below with Signup Genius: Click on the “Sign Up” button on the time you want to reserve, then be sure to click the Orange “Submit and Sign Up” button at the bottom of the page to fill in your information. Sign up will close at 5 pm Wednesday. Jana is looking forward to seeing you!

Thursday, December 24: Closed

Saturday, December 26: Closed

Thursday, December 31: Closing at 4pm

Saturday, January 2: Closed

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Story Time may be on pause through the holidays, but that has freed us up to create craft kits for all of our patrons! Like our Facebook page to keep up on what crafts we have available. New kits will be announced each week. Come in and get yours!

Wednesday, November 25 we will close at 5 pm, and we will reopen on Saturday, November 28 at 8 am. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

We have various office chairs available for anyone that could use them. First come, first serve.

Our Mitten Tree is up! We are collecting new winter accessories for our Mitten Tree. Bring in a new pair of mittens or gloves. Hats and scarves are also appreciated. Donations will be distributed through the Forreston Food Pantry in January.

This hour long video was produced in Rockford with the help of Harlem High School. Harlem HS has for years been video taping veterans stories. Most of this was filmed at the Field of Honor in Loves Park, some at the Victory statue near Veterans Memorial Hall & also the LZ Memorial (the clips with the Huey Helicopter). I believe Rockford formed the 1st Chapter of the group VietNow. If you look quickly, you can see Jerry Wickman’s photo in the bottom row toward the right. Thank you, Mary Rose Fillip for sharing this with us!

POW/MIA Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony Event

Do you miss working on our puzzle with us? We can color together virtually instead! Click here to go to a color by number that we can fill in together! Click a color circle on the right and then click on a square in the grid with the corresponding letter to fill it in. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Bertolet Memorial Library will be having the parking lot seal-coated over Labor Day weekend.  The library will be open on Saturday, September 5th, 8:00AM-12:00PM.  Patrons will be asked to park on Main Street as the lot will be closed to public access.

Bertolet Memorial Library will be closed on Monday, September 7th, in observance of Labor Day.

Don’t forget to complete your 2020 Census by September 30th! Get started here!

Virtual program for kids in grades K-5 on July 16 at 10:30. Register by July 8.

A patron of our library has generously decided to donate 300 of her Harlequin Romance novels from the last 3-5 years to anyone who would like them. If you are interested in some of these books, please call or send us an email and we can put you in touch with Judy.

(815) 738-2742 bertolib@lrnet1.com

We are kicking off the Summer Reading Program on Monday, June 15! This year there will be no in-person program, but kids in grades K-5 can come in to pick up a take home bag of crafts and a reading log. New craft bags will be available each Monday through July 20. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Bertolet Memorial Library sent a challenge to the art students of Forreston High School this semester: design a new logo for our library. The students accepted! Under the guidance of art teacher Mrs. Dana Russell-Brown, the students learned about graphic design, including placement, colors, and designing for the customer. The results were outstanding! After discussion and a vote by the library board, the top three winners were chosen. Heinz, Erdmann, and Fox all received a gift card and new headphones for their efforts. You will see their work on our social media sites, our letterhead, and programming flyers. Congratulations to the top three designs and to all the students who created their best work!

Our 3rd Annual National Seed Swap Day will be held on Saturday, January 26th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon.  Bring your labeled seeds from this past fall to share with others, and see what new varieties are waiting for your green thumb.  A Master Gardener from the University of Illinois Extension Office will be on hand to answer any questions to help your garden succeed. 

Chicago’s first certified KonMari Tidying Consultant, Kristyn Ivey of For the Love of Tidy, will share home organization tips that focus on what you keep (does it “spark joy?”), rather than what or how much you discard. Learn about the revolutionary Japanese decluttering method made popular by Marie Kondo’s bestseller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This interactive  workshop will include live demos and giveaways that will prepare you to get tidy now!

This workshop will help you lead with gratitude and become an extension of a home that you honor and respect. It includes an overview of KonMari fundamentals and practical decluttering tips that fall under five signature KonMari categories: Clothing, Books, Paper, Miscellaneous items, and Sentimental items. Enjoy a live demonstration of the signature KonMari Folding technique. We’ll also discuss common myths and missteps as we address how to overcome your specific clutter challenges and barriers to success and true abundance.

Registration required for this free event by calling 815-738-2742 by September 25th.

Attention Patrons:
eRead Illinois will be down Saturday, May 19 & Sunday, May 20.  We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

YOU DID IT!!!! You helped us hit our goal of 500 pounds in plastic to recycle into this garden bench. We can’t wait to see the end result. We are so thankful for your participation in this project! Since we have met our mark, we no longer will be collecting plastic at this time. Thank you so much!!!

Attention Gardeners: Don’t forget to save and label your seeds from your flower and vegetable gardens as you harvest this fall.  The Annual Seed Swap will be returning January 27, 2018.

Did you know you can pay your fines and fees online? From the comfort of your home? In your PJs?  Well, you can!  Tab on over to Internet Resources and click on PrairieCat.  Once you have logged in, you can select the Fines/Fees you want to pay and follow the online prompts.  Easy, quick, and convenient…PrairieCat will securely apply your payment.  Cross an easy task off your to-do list today!

Lego

Lego Bricks

Lego Bricks Build

Bricks Build Imagination

Build Imagination

Imagine

Imagine What You Can Build

Join us on Wednesday, April 5th, at Bertolet Memorial Library!

A big thank you to Dawn Spengler for nominating Bertolet Memorial Library in the Lovin’ My Library contest! We have received 2 books by Ann Charles and 2 books by Freeport native Terri Reid. They are ready to be enjoyed!

Don’t forget to register for the Cooking for 1 or 2 class.  This program on Tuesday, November 29th is presented by the University of Illinois Extension office and will guide you through changing your meal planning and preparation for your smaller household. Registration ends Wednesday, November 23rd.

Help us find Dory!!  She will be so thankful!

Join us on Tuesday, November 22nd at 6pm as we make our way into the Thanksgiving holiday.  Family Movie Night will find us watching Finding Dory and feasting on popcorn!  See you there!

Fill Granny’s Mailbag with cards and letters for our Troops!  Cards and Letters must be brought in to the Library by Saturday, December 10th.

Granny is also collecting new wrapped or unwrapped toys for boys and girls through ages birth through 18 years.  Tags will be available to label your gift with boy/girl and age appropriate.  Toys will be collected through December 16th.

See what is happening this fall at Bertolet Memorial Library!

Fall 2016

Come learn how these little cute fur-friends are raised and trained to assist the blind in their everyday activities.  The Northern Illinois Puppy Raiser Group will be on hand to share their tips and techniques.  This amazing group is supported by another amazing group, our local Leaf River Lions Club!

Come jump start your learning on August 9th when “Hoo” Haven will be sharing and showing us their hawk, owl, and tortoise as we find out more about their habits and habitats! Come on over August 9th at 6:00 PM!

Look for the box and wish list gift tags at Bertolet Memorial Library beginning June 6th!

Family Movie Night returns with the newly released “Zootopia”! Join us at Bertolet Memorial Library on Monday, August 8th at 6:00 PM to watch this hilarious adventure as Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia’s police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.