Author Archive
Librarian Reads: October 2021 Book Review and Recommendation
Tuesday, October 12th, 2021
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
I absolutely fell in love with this story. And, while it has a slow start, it is well worth the journey. Backman has written a poignant comedy of errors, or idiots.
Anxious People reveals how a shared event can change a variety of people’s lives. Multiple interwoven events are uncovered as the story progresses, hooking readers as layers are peeled away.
When a young boy tries to stop a man from jumping from a bridge. When the man who jumped from the bridge leaves a note for another person. When a young girl contemplates what it might mean to jump from a bridge. What are the resulting impacts? Who do these people become and why?
When a bank robber doesn’t rob the bank and instead flees across the street to enter an open house, and takes a group of strangers hostage – these characters become the worst group of hostages in the world, or so says the bank robber. The hostages include a recently retired couple who purchase apartments to live in while fixing them for resale. A wealthy bank director who is shut off from her (and others’) feelings. A young couple about to have their first baby and who can’t agree on anything. An eighty-seven-year-old woman who is fearless. A real estate agent who just wants to close the deal. And, a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom.
The two policemen on the scene turn out to be father and son, and can’t seem to communicate with each other. Yet they try their best to discover who the bank robber is, where they disappeared to, and why the hostages are so reluctant to give a straight answer. It’s a convoluted trail that leads to a world of real insight into the human condition.
Originally published in Sweden as Folk med angest, in the end I couldn’t put it down. Full disclosure – a colleague absolutely hated this book. You be the judge.
Tina Hubert, Executive Director Six Mile Regional Library District
Anxious People is available from the Six Mile Regional Library District in hardback, as an e-book, and an e-audiobook. For more information, visit smrld.org or call 618-452-6238 ext. 730.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month & SMRLD Goes Fine Free!
Thursday, September 2nd, 2021Granite City – September 1, 2021
What’s in your wallet? A Library card gives you access to a wealth of information! September is Library Card Sign-up Month and now that SMRLD is fine free it’s a perfect time to get your Library Card.
Anyone living in 62040 is eligible to get a free SMRLD library card. To get your library card, either fill in the online form at smrld.org/connect/get-a-library-card/ or visit us at 2001 Delmar Avenue or 2145 Johnson Road. There is nothing more empowering than getting your own library card. It gives you access to technology, resources, and services to pursue your passions and dreams.
The Six Mile Regional Library District, along with libraries everywhere, continue to adapt and expand services to meet the evolving needs of our community. Libraries offer everything from early literacy programs to job search assistance, helping transform lives and communities through education. At SMRLD, you’ll find a wide variety of educational resources and activities, including Research Databases and Streaming Movies, Music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, & eMagazines for all ages.
The Six Mile Regional Library District is committed to providing equal access to every member of our community and eliminating fines offers our cardholders a fresh start to rediscover all that their library has to offer. By eliminating most fines, the library is removing barriers and making access easy, equitable, and enjoyable for everyone. Existing fines for overdue items will be forgiven to ensure that everyone can start a new chapter at their now fine-free libraries. Fees for lost or damaged items will remain on the users account.
Customers are still encouraged to return materials on time but are no longer charged daily overdue fines on most items. Items borrowed through certain interlibrary loan systems will still accrue daily overdue fines. Customers remain responsible for replacement charges for lost and damaged items. As in the past, customers will receive multiple overdue notifications before their account is blocked or replacement costs charged. Blocks and replacement charges will be removed once items are returned.
Libraries have traditionally viewed overdue fines as a means to ensure that customers returned materials on time. Recent research, however, suggests that fines may actually discourage customers from using or returning to the library. Fines can be punitive to the most active and loyal customers, and they can disproportionately affect low-income households. Libraries that have gone fine free report positive public response as well as an increase of customers returning to the library. Many bring back materials that they have had out for years. In addition, most libraries that have gone fine free report that a majority of their customers still return items on time.
Come in and get your fine-free library card today or!
For more information, call 618-452-6238 ext. 710.
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Contacts: Tina Hubert, Executive Director, 618-452-6238 ext. 781
Kate Kite, AD/Delmar Ave Manager, 618-452-6238 ext. 782
Betsy Mahoney, AD/Johnson Rd Manager, 618-452-6238 ext. 785
Six Mile Regional Library Receives Edwardsville Community Foundation’s Healing Illinois Grant
Tuesday, August 17th, 2021Six Mile Regional Library District received a Healing Illinois grant from the Edwardsville Community Foundation. The grant was available to schools and libraries to assist in the efforts to teach children and adults about racial differences through books.
The Edwardsville Community Foundation is a group of local business and community leaders founded to impact the quality of life in the local communities, including: Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Moro, Dorsey and Worden and surrounding areas.
Six Mile Regional Library District used these grant funds to create multigenerational book kits. Each kit is designed to help facilitate conversations no matter the age.
There are eleven kits divided into two categories, Tough Topics and Experience Stories. The Tough Topics kits are primarily composed of non-fiction books about various issues including anti racism, immigration and activism. The Experience Stories kits are composed of fiction books that highlight lives of characters of minority backgrounds including, African Americans, Muslims and Asian Americans. All kits include one adult book, one teen book, one juvenile book and one picture book, plus a folder containing discussion questions.
The book kits are great for families to share together, inspire reading, and family discussions. They also work well for small book clubs or anyone interested in a particular topic or experience. You can find the kits in the parent collection of the youth department at our Delmar Avenue location or request one through our online catalog.
Multigenerational Book Kits
Tough Topics
- Activism
- Anti Racism
- Housing Insecurity
- Immigration
- Incarceration
- White Privilege
Experience Stories
- African American
- Asian American
- First Nation
- Latin American
- Muslim American
Reading Colors Your World! 2021 Summer All Ages Reading Challenge
Thursday, May 13th, 2021Six Mile Regional Library District announces it’s 2021 Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s theme is Reading Colors Your World!
Reading Colors Your World has a broad motif of “colors” that provide context for exploring humanity, nature, culture, and science, as well as demonstrates how libraries and reading can expand our world through kindness, growth, and community. Library customers young and old will be encouraged to be creative, try new things, explore art, and find beauty in diversity.
Each year the SMRLD summer reading theme is decided by iREAD. Who is iREAD? Librarians, which currently includes our very own Youth Service Manager, Erica Hanke-Young; the readers of all ages infant through adult participate each year; and the renowned illustrators create artwork for our materials. Where is iREAD? Developed by the Illinois Library Association, the program is adopted in other states including Minnesota, California, Alaska, Iowa, and Oregon, and worldwide by the Department of Defense for libraries on military bases. iREAD is implemented in thousands of individual libraries across the country.
Why participate?
There is also a serious side to summer reading. Research has shown that reading over the summer prevents summer reading loss. Studies also indicate children who read recreationally outperform those who don’t. They also read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests. Six Mile Regional Library District is committed to supporting lifelong learning and educational enrichment for all ages.
With the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge, Teens have the opportunity to choose how they would like to engage with the Six Mile Regional Library District. The Teen Reading Challenge includes many different ways for teens to earn reading credit through various challenges and reading badges. This allows for each teen to tailor the program to their own personal interests and needs.
The summer reading challenge is not just for kids! Ten years ago, we expanded our summer reading challenge to include adults so no matter your age everyone can participate in the fun. We encourage you to read or listen all year long and challenge you to finish an extra book or two over the summer. When you show off your reading habits, it encourages your kids, grandkids, and neighbors’ kids to pick up a book and read as well. No matter how many books you read this summer, everyone who has registered for summer reading will be entered into a weekly drawing for a Reading Colors Your World ceramic mug. If you do complete the summer challenge, you will receive a special edition SMRLD summer reading t-shirt.
How to participate?
There are two ways to sign up for the challenge. The first is online through Beanstack. What is Beanstack, you ask? It is an online platform to keep track of your reading. With Beanstack, you are able to participate in the library’s reading challenges and log your family’s reading through the SMRLD Beanstack website, the mobile app, or connect through Alexa. As you log your books, you earn badges that correspond to milestones within the reading challenge. You can also write reviews for books, read other reviews from Six Mile Library users, and opt to receive weekly book recommendations. It is an interactive experience you take anywhere, without worrying about keeping track of a piece of paper!
Beanstack
How do I use Beanstack?
- Website smrld.beanstack.com
- How to create a Beanstack account on the webpage: https://zoobean.wistia.com/medias/5nedhz8ivr
- How to log your reading on the webpage: https://zoobean.wistia.com/medias/4xan3g248d
- Beanstack Tracker App
- How to register for a Beanstack account through the mobile app: https://zoobean.wistia.com/medias/3wkb50dk3o
- How to register for reading challenges once you have an account: https://zoobean.wistia.com/medias/c5dz8mda78
- Alexa
- How to add Beanstack to Alexa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVz_v467hXo
Paper
If you still prefer paper, you may register in person at either library and pick up a paper log. Kids and teens will register in the Youth Services department and adults will register at the Customer Service desk. Once you complete a book, you will add the title and author to the paper log. When you have completed the challenge, return the log to the desk where you received it.
Read along with 62040 this summer and let reading color your world!
Important Dates
The challenge begins on May 28, however if you choose to use Beanstack you may preregister starting May 21.The challenge ends on July 23.
All Ages Summer Reading Challenge Finale: Saturday, July 24 | 11 AM at Worthen Park, 2599 Parkview Drive
Get Your Challenge Completion T-shirt Prize at the Shirts Galore Mobile Printer & Enjoy the Bubble Bus!
Important Information for RBdigital Users
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021
Due to a change in ownership of the RBdigital Media Company, the unlimited subscription model for lending eAudiobooks and magazines is no longer being offered for library licensing. In addition, the new owners announced the intent to discontinue the RBdigital apps and website in the near future.
Digital eAudiobook access on RBdigital ended March 15, 2021. Digital magazine access will end on March 31, 2021.
We do not have a replacement for digital magazines at this time, but we are in conversation with a company who may be able to provide a comparable consortial lending model which is what we are losing in RBdigital. Consortial lending models allow us the ability to offer a robust collection of titles at a cost we can afford.
While we do not have a replacement for the digital magazine content, we do have many other options for eAudiobook material. If you are not a user of the CloudLibrary or Hoopla, both have eAudiobook content and we hope you’ll enjoy our these or our other Streaming Services. Please, feel free to contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at 618-452-6238 with any questions.
We regret having to bring you this news as particularly the digital magazines were very popular with our users. We hope to have a solution in the coming months.
Ancestry® & HeritageQuest® Library Editions
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021Powered by Ancestry® & HeritageQuest® / Distributed by ProQuest
Ancestry® & HeritageQuest® Library Editions, the largest online family history resources available, provide unprecedented access to family history via documents that record the lineage of individuals from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more. Distributed exclusively by ProQuest, they bring the world’s most popular consumer online family history resources to your library. Access to these valuable Premium eResources are only available for free while accessing the internet in the library.
Answers await all users—professional or hobbyist, expert or novice, genealogist or historian—inside the thousands of databases of family information. User-friendly search tools and comprehensive indexing make it easy to start discovering personal histories.
MEET THE FAMILY FIRSTHAND …
… with millions of unique, full-text primary sources and enhanced images, including:
- Census records from the U.S., the U.K., Australia,
- and Germany
- Canadian Census (1851-1911)
- Birth, marriage, and death records for the U.S.,
- Canada, and the U.K.
- Canadian Genealogy Index (1600s-1900s)
- U.S. military records (back to the 1600s)
- Canadian military collections
- Drouin Collection of French-Canadian and Quebec historical records (1621-1967)
- Immigration, emigration, passport, and naturalization records
- Jewish family history records
- U.S. and Canadian passenger lists (1865-1935)
- Directories and members lists from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
- Court, land, tax, and probate records
- Freedman’s Bank & Trust register of depositors’ signatures (1861-1875) via HeritageQuest®
In addition to collections from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., Ancestry Library Edition also features major collections from France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Australia, and China.
SEE HOW THEY LIVED …
… with additional collections that add context and background to individuals’ stories, such as:
- Biographies and histories, including American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI) and WPA Slave Narratives
- Collections that bring together diverse materials on communities of people, such as Jewish Family History
- Photos and maps, ranging from postcards and panoramas to family photos and headstones
RECORD YOUR HISTORY …
… and find others on the same path. Ancestry Library Edition features helpful tools such as charts, summaries, calendars, message boards, and more. Beginners can use the tools and resources in the Learning Center to:
- Begin their family trees
- Get the most out of historical records
- Connect with other researchers
- Find answers to tough research questions
- And more
More advanced users can share their expertise with others by contributing content to the Ancestry.com Family History Wiki, which you can access through the Help tab.
Looking for more family history resources visit our Genealogy page. Interested in learning more about history check out some of our other valuable Premium eResources.
Librarian Reads: November 2020 Book Review and Recommendation
Monday, November 2nd, 2020
Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann
Who knew? I certainly didn’t. In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation. And why was that? Because they retained the mineral rights to the lands in Oklahoma to which they had been relocated – they owned the “underground reservation” that was rich with oil during the boom times.
While to some this might seem like a really fortunate life, for the Osage it was cursed with murder, misfortune, and disaster. And, for the United States, it was the birth of the FBI. The “Reign of Terror,” as this time in Osage history is known, was only finally dealt with by an undercover team leading the Bureau of Investigation’s first substantial case.
The story illuminates what was possibly one of the biggest serial murder conspiracies in US history and one of the most forgotten. From the 1910s through the 1930s hundreds of the Osage were murdered for their “headrights” – the legal grant of lands, or in this case the underground mineral rights. At that time there were about 2,000 Osage who were registered on the tribal roll; each one of them received a headright, or their individual share in the mineral trust. Headrights could not be sold, they could only be inherited, which made the Osage quite desirable spouses for unscrupulous persons.
At the zenith of the oil boom in Oklahoma, in the 1920s, the Osage had accumulated millions and millions of dollars, equivalent to about $400 million today. BUT the Osage control of and access to their money was limited by restrictions imposed by the US government. Many of the Osage were assigned guardians to oversee and supervise how the Osage spent their money. Becoming an Osage guardian was also a desirable position that was maintained by a handful of untrustworthy people.
This is a tale of families who were being methodically whittled down in order to funnel wealth for easier access by shameless reprobates. Reading like a novel, this book is full of intrigue, mystery, sleuthing, and human interest. Racism against Native Americans is startling and unfortunate. Using primary sources including both published and unpublished letters, diaries, family papers, and records from the FBI and other sources, the author paints a vivid picture. I recommend this title to those who enjoy history, mystery, thrillers, memoirs, and just plain interesting stories.
Tina Hubert, Executive Director Six Mile Regional Library District
Killers of the Flower Moon is available from the Six Mile Regional Library District in hardback, audiobook, as an e-book and an e-audiobook. For more information, visit elibrary.smrld.org or call 618-452-6238 ext. 730.
Ever wonder what your SMRLD librarians are reading? Well now you can follow along at smrld.org/librarianreads with some of their recommendations.
Librarian Reads: October 2020 Book Review and Recommendation
Tuesday, October 13th, 2020
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
As a teen I was enthralled with horror stories. I grew up reading HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, Shirley Jackson, Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Anne Rice, and more. I left the horror story stage behind and haven’t really read the genre for years. Well, it seems this is a good year to revisit it. I recently spent a Saturday reading this tale from beginning to end – everything else was put on hold.
Mexican Gothic is full of mystery and intrigue surrounded by the supernatural and unknown – a classic gothic novel. It’s more psychological horror than gore. In 1950s Mexico, Noemi Taboada is a glamorous debutante more interested in her own independence than being settled. After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging someone to save her, Noemi travels to rescue her cousin Catalina, with the promise from her father that she can attend the university of her choice if she will only do this one thing.
Arriving at the husband’s remote old family mansion in the mountains, Noemi has a true mystery to unravel. Catalina is kept secreted in her bedroom and Noemi roams the mansion and grounds trying to deduce what’s really going on. Noemi is a tough cookie; she’s not afraid of her cousin’s new husband who is both intimidating and alluring or the husband’s forbidding father or sister. She uses the husband’s young nephew to escape to the nearby town to send letters back to her family and to seek advice from both the town doctor and local wise woman. The family seemingly has a strange hold over the town and the mountain full of some dark ancient knowledge.
With plenty of menace, this tale evokes the atmosphere of the horror movies from the 1930s and 40s, where violin music would play in the background of the foggy craggy scenery. The story starts a little slow, but builds to a surprising crescendo. I thought I had it all figured out only to discover a truly unexpected ending. I couldn’t put it down.
Tina Hubert, Executive Director Six Mile Regional Library District
Mexican Gothic is available from the Six Mile Regional Library District in hardback, as an e-book and an e-audiobook. For more information, visit elibrary.smrld.org or call 618-452-6238 ext. 730.
Ever wonder what your SMRLD librarians are reading? Well now you can follow along at smrld.org/librarianreads with some of their recommendations.
Brought to you by the Six Mile Regional Library District: The Granite City Press-Record Online Archives!
Tuesday, September 15th, 2020
Brought to you by the Six Mile Regional Library District: The Granite City Press-Record Online Archives!
Granite City – Tuesdayday, September 15, 2020 –
The Granite City Press-Record Online Archives are available free-of-charge to the public through the Six Mile Regional Library District (SMRLD), starting with the decade of the 1960s. Because of the behind the scenes work that has to be done to ensure their readability, the newspapers will be uploaded one decade at a time. In a few weeks SMRLD will be ready to upload the 1970s.
All issues published from January 4, 1960, through December 31, 1969, can now be accessed at www.smrld.org/press-record/. SMRLD IT & Facilities Manager Tallin Curran supervised this project. He remarked, “Many of these issues from the 1960s have as many as 40 or 50 pages per issue. A few have even more. It’s a great mix of local news and advertisements from local businesses that are gone but not forgotten, such as Tri-City Grocery, Carp’s, the Washington Theater, Fleishman’s, and many, many more.”
The Granite City Press-Record was first published on April 22, 1903, as the Granite City Press. It ceased publication with the December 26, 2012, issue as the Press-Record. For many years, the Granite City Press-Record was well-regarded as the place to find out what was happening through the announcements, news, and human-interest stories about the people and places in Granite City, Pontoon Beach, Mitchell, Madison, and Venice, Illinois.
This multi-year project, undertaken by the Six Mile Regional Library District, actually began in 2012, when copyright permission was granted to the Library by Lee Enterprises to digitize and make the newspapers available online. Unfortunately, the costs for digitizing such a large project were prohibitive at that time. The real work began in 2019, when SMRLD signed an agreement with American Digital Memories (ADM) in Oklahoma to have over 369 reels of microfilm scanned and converted into electronic files.
After the many months of converting the microfilm reels into readable files was completed by ADM, it was time for Library staff to begin the arduous job of sifting through the files checking for readability. Files are checked and re-checked for clarity; when adjustments are needed the Library requests corrections from ADM. It generally takes Library staff approximately forty hours from receipt of the mega-files until a full decade is uploaded and ready to read online
Executive Director Tina Hubert said, “It’s been a dream of ours to make the Granite City Press-Record Online Archives available and we are thrilled that dream is finally reality. Keep watching for other decades to be uploaded in the future by liking or following the SMRLD Facebook page.”
The SMRLD Facebook can be found at https://www.facebook.com/smrld.org/
The Granite City Press-Record Online Archives can be found at https://www.smrld.org/press-record/
Contacts: Six Mile Regional Library District (618) 452-6238
Tina Hubert, Executive Director, extension 781
Tallin Curran, IT & Facilities Manager, extension 784
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Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month with SMRLD and Wonder Woman this September
Thursday, August 27th, 2020Granite City – August 27, 2020
Library cards empower students and fuel academic success
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the Six Mile Regional Library District joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step on the path to academic achievement and lifelong learning.
Anyone living in 62040 is eligible to get a free SMRLD library card. To get your library card, either fill in the online form at smrld.org/connect/get-a-library-card/ or visit us at 2001 Delmar Avenue. Youth ages 4-18 can receive a free book when picking up their library card. Books are provided in partnership between SMRLD, Transform GC, and GCHS teacher Jennifer Connolly; only while supplies last and only at the Delmar Avenue Library.
There is nothing more empowering than signing up for your own library card. Through access to technology, media resources and educational programs, a library card gives students the tools to succeed in the classroom and provides people of all ages opportunities to pursue their dreams and passions.
Libraries offer everything from early literacy programs to job search assistance, helping transform lives and communities through education. At SMRLD, you’ll find a wide variety of educational resources and activities, including Research Databases and Streaming Movies, Music, eBooks, eAudiobooks, eComics, & eMagazines for all ages.
“Libraries play an important role in the education and development of children,” said Executive Director, Tina Hubert. “SMRLD has programs that serve students of all ages and backgrounds such as 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, Saturday Science Lab, and TAG our Teen Advisory Group.”
The Six Mile Regional Library District, along with libraries everywhere, continue to adapt and expand services to meet the evolving needs of our community. To sign up for a library card or to learn more about the library’s resources and programs, please visit (www.smrld.org).
This year, DC’s Wonder Woman is embarking on a mission to champion the power of a library card as Library Card Sign-up Month Honorary Chair. In her new role, Wonder Woman will promote the value of libraries and encourage everyone to get their very own library card.
Since 1987, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September to mark the beginning of the school year. During the month, the ALA and libraries unite together in a national effort to ensure every child signs up for their own library card.
For more information, call 618-452-6238 ext. 710.
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Contacts: Tina Hubert, Executive Director, (618) 452-6238 ext 781
Erica Hanke-Young, Youth Services Manager (618) 452-6238 ext 787
Kate Kite, Research & Teen Librarian (618) 452-6238 ext 755
