I Collaboratory is sponsored by Northwestern University and provides educational web-based activities in a variety of disciplines.  If you have any questions, you can contact Bonnie Thurber at 847-331-4633.

Submissions will be accepted through January 22, 2010. Please limit your nominations to one favorite book per level. Feel free to fill out any or all categories according to the age groups you serve. Remember that ALL BOOKS SHOULD HAVE A 2009 PUBLICATION DATE.

Submissions will be compiled and shared through Illinois library systems and posted on the Prairie Area Library System’s website. If you have questions, please contact Jane Lenser at janel@palsnet.info; 877-542-7257, ext. 4461 or Norma Applegate at normaa@palsnet.info; 877-542-7257, ext.2705.

“This special event is a night when parents and children are encouraged to turn off the television, computers, video games and other forms of entertainment and spend time reading together,” White said. “Studies have shown that reading together makes families stronger, creates a positive learning environment, and helps children develop a love for reading that can last a lifetime.”

This year’s Family Reading Night posters and bookmarks celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and feature a famous portrait from 1864 of Lincoln reading to his son Tad. Thousands of the posters and bookmarks have been distributed by the Illinois State Library and Illinois Center for the Book to libraries, schools, literacy programs and others to promote Family Reading Night.

This is the 18th year in which the Secretary of State’s office has sponsored Family Reading Night. The target audience for Family Reading Night is pre-kindergarten to 6th grade children and their families.

“Reading enriches and enhances all of our lives, and I applaud adults who take the time to regularly read to children,” said Secretary White. “Family Reading Night is a special way to spotlight the benefits of reading, and I look forward to another successful Family Reading Night November 19th.”

iREAD is now on Flickr!  Visit their page to see images of crafts from the current iREAD Summer Reading Program.  iREAD is now on Twitter!  Check out updates and ideas as they are posted.

2010 iREAD Resource Guides are in the mail!  Look for it to arrive at your library soon. The Resource Guide is being produced and distributed free to all Illinois public libraries with funds from the 2009 Barack Obama Commemorative License Plate sales.  If you want to order additional copies of the 2010 iREAD Resource Guide, the cost is $25 and orders may be placed on the ILA Web site or by mail or fax.

If you haven’t already ordered materials for the 2010 Scare Up a Good Book iREAD program, it is time!  View the catalog and order online. Order before November 6 to avoid a late fee.

“I am very proud to congratulate these talented writers whose works enhance our state’s long and rich literary heritage,” said White. “These awards are named in honor of two of our state’s literary giants–Gwendolyn Brooks and James Jones. Their legendary achievements will inspire readers for generations to come, and I hope the works of this year’s winners inspire readers and encourage more poets and short story writers to enrich our lives with their works.”

Winners of the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award are:

1st Vincent Francone “Chicago”
2nd Valerie Wallace “The Poem Stays”
3rd Mary Hotlen “Year of Psalms”

Winners of the James Jones Short Story Award are:

1st Baird Harper “Futures”
2nd Colby Cuppernull “At the End of the Day”
3rd Deanna Sue Cording “Driving Lessons”

Winners receive cash prizes and have their works submitted for review and possible publication in three Illinois literary magazines–Downstate Story, Ninth Letter and RHINO. The final judges in the competition were Kevin Stein for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and Kaylie Jones, the talented writer and daughter of celebrated Illinois author James Jones for the James Jones Short Story Award. A ceremony will be held next month at the State Library where Secretary White will present the awards to winners.

Read the winning entries at the Illinois Center for the Book website. The Illinois Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, nurtures and connects readers and writers and honors Illinois’ rich literary heritage.

All of the 2010 Scare Up a Good Book! incentives and prizes for children, young adults, and adults are now available at the iREAD online store.  Remember, place your order before November 7th to avoid the late fee.

As a coordinated, self-supporting effort between Illinois librarians and the Illinois Library Association every purchase from iREAD supports library advocacy.

The 2010 iREAD Resource Guide and CD will be distributed free to all Illinois public libraries in October 2009.  The Resource Guide is being produced and distributed free with funds from the 2009 Barack Obama Commemorative License Plate sales.  If you want to order additional copies of the 2010 iREAD Resource Guide, the cost is $25 and orders may be placed on the ILA Web site or by mail or fax.

ALL DAY festival & Stone Soup Dinner. Seating is limited, so be sure to order your tickets from the Dominican box office soon. 

Featuring three internationally recognized storytellers:

• Carol Birch of Connecticut, a master of the literary tale!
• Jim May of Illinois, founder of the Illinois Storytelling Festival who tells in the tradition of Mark Twain and Will Rogers!
• Tim Tingle of Texas who authored the collection of stories Walking the Choctaw Road.

AND a celebration of Illinois Storytelling with:

• Fred Berchtold, Sea Beast Puppet Company, Margaret Burk, Zane Chait, Lynne Clayton, Janice Del Negro, Donna Dettman, Suzie Garfield, Velma Gladney, Linda Gorham, Loren Hecht, Carol Kerman, Lainie Levin, Holly Nagel, Nancy Shapiro-Pikelny, Marie Ringenberg, Joshua Safford, Mike Speller, Megan Stepniewski, Jane Stenson, Susan Stone, Eric Swanson, Andy Talley, Janet Thompson and Megan Wells.

For festival schedule, prices, location, parking and all else, go to www.storytelling.org