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Reading

General, Literacy, Programming, Reading
The Poetry Foundation Gets a New Library
August 31st, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The new library of the Poetry Foundation in Chicago has announced its first program, Collection and Cocktails: A Poetry Foundation Library Open House, to be held on September 7, 2011. Eight local poets will be reading from the library’s collection and attendees will have the opportunity to record themselves reading any poem within public domain.

The Poetry Foundation Library is the only library dedicated exclusively to poetry. The library features a collection of over 30,000 volumes and private listening booths to experience audio and video recordings. More information can be found in Greg Landgraf’s recent article, A Library Home for Poetry.

Admission to the open house is free, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
Literacy, Reading, School Libraries
Letters About Literature
August 26th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White urges students in grades 4 to 12 to enter the 2012 Letters About Literature (LAL) contest, a national reading and writing competition sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Illinois Center for the Book in partnership with Target.

Entries must be postmarked by January 6, 2012. State winners will be announced May 2012. For more information about the competition, contact Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or bmatheis@ilsos.net.

Information can also be found at Illinois Center for the Book .
Illinois State Library, Reading
Letters about Literature Winners
May 16th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Secretary White hosted a ceremony in his office in Springfield Wednesday for students from Lincolnshire, Naperville and Bloomington who were named the Illinois winners of the 2011 Letters About Literature contest. Letters About Literature is a national reading and writing promotion for students sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book in cooperation with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and in partnership with Target.

Students in grades 4–12 read a book and write a personal letter to an author, explaining how the book changed their views of the world or themselves. Students may select authors, living or deceased, from any genre—fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. The Illinois Center for the Book appointed judges who selected the top essayists on three competition levels.

This year’s winners are:
- Level I— Grades 4–6: Conrad Oberhaus of Lincolnshire, who wrote to author Daniel Defoe about his book, Robinson Crusoe. Conrad is in the 5th grade at Daniel J. Wright Jr. High School in Lincolnshire. Conrad was also selected as a National Honor award winner.
- Level II— Grades 7–8: Naasir Haleem of Naperville wrote to author Mark Pfetzer about his book, Within Reach. Naasir is in the 7th grade at Jefferson Jr. High School in Naperville.
- Level III— Grades 9–12: Stacie Cler of Bloomington wrote to author Helen Siiteri about her book, The Adventures of Nicholas. Stacie is a Senior at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington.
Read the winning essays at http://illinoiscenterforthebook.org/projects/projectse.html.

“These three talented young readers were among 6,700 Illinois students who took part in this year’s contest,” said Secretary White. “For the fourth year in a row Illinois had more entries than any state in the nation. I am extremely proud of all of the students who took part, because they are developing a lifelong love of reading and learning.”

Letters About Literature awards prizes on both the state and national levels. Each of the three state winners received a $50 Target gift card, a $200 U.S. Savings Bond from the Illinois Center for the Book and a plaque and personalized Illinois Blue Book from Secretary White.

As a National Honor winner in his age group, Conrad also received a $100 Target gift card, and a $1,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant was awarded in his name by Target to Daniel J. Wright Jr. High School Library. The library will also receive a $100 check from the Illinois Center for the Book to honor Conrad’s national recognition
Illinois State Library, Reading, Youth Services
Find-A-Book/2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program
May 9th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White is proud to join Governor Pat Quinn and Christopher Koch, Superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education, in encouraging parents and librarians to check out an important website aimed at keeping children reading during the upcoming summer months when school is not in session. The Find-a-Book website, www.lexile.com/findabook, has quick and easy access to a list of books that will match a child’s reading level and interests, as well as the nearest libraries carrying each title.

The Find-a-Book site uses a student’s reading score in Lexiles, a measure of reading ability and text difficulty derived from state standardized tests, including the ISAT. The website also features a search option to access appropriate book choices based on grade level and comfort with typical reading materials at that grade level. Research has shown the powerful impact of continued reading. One review of the impact of summer reading found that children can lose up to 60 percent of their skills during a two-month vacation. Children who read during the summer months, however, can sustain their reading gains and are better prepared for learning when the school bell rings again in the fall.

Secretary White also encourages parents to talk with children about the fun and importance of summer reading and take them to the local public library. Librarians have information about Lexiles and other programs such as the iREAD program, a summer reading program offered through the Illinois Library Association (ILA).
The 2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program theme is “A Midsummer Knight’s Read.”Local library iREAD programming will include activities, games, art, reading lists and much more for children, teens and adults. Check it out at your local public library or go to the ILA iREAD website at http://www.ila.org/iread/iread-summer-reading-program
General, Programming, Reading, Youth Services
Illinois Arts Council Grant Will Provide 50% Support for Summer Reading Program Performances
May 5th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Illinois libraries have a great opportunity to receive Illinois Arts Council (IAC) 50% matched support when they book Judith Heineman and Daniel Marcotte for a program scheduled for June or July, 2011. Through a special statewide tour grant opportunity, the IAC will provide a 50% match for performance fee and travel expenses related to these performances. This tour grant opportunity is a partnership between the IAC and the LaSalle Public Library.

For more information about available performance themes, please see Judith’s website at: www.storytelling.org/heineman or http://www.arts.illinois.gov/artstour-roster/judith-heineman

Questions about participating in the grant? Contact Laura Frizol, LaSalle Public Library lfrizol@lasalle.lib.il.us
Illinois State Library, Reading
Letters about Literature National Winner
May 2nd, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

Recently the Illinois State Library reported that three students were chosen as Illinois winners of the 2011 Letters About Literature reading and writing contest for students. The three students advanced to national competition. This week they learned that one of those students, Conrad Oberhaus, has been selected as a National Honor winner. The National Honor Winner distinction means Conrad is one of 12 students nationwide to win the award, out of more than 69,000 entries.

Conrad is a 5th grade student at Daniel J. Wright Jr. High School in Lincolnshire. As a National Honor award winner, Conrad will receive a $100 Target Giftcard and secured the right to nominate a community or school library in his area to receive a $1,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant from Target. While Conrad appreciates all of the libraries he has frequented since moving to Lincolnshire, he nominated Daniel J. Wright Jr. High School library as his library of choice. His letter stated,

“I selected the Daniel Wright Library because along with Mrs. Otto, who sponsored the LAL program, Mrs. Zorc our librarian encouraged us to participate in the program and to do our best. Without the help of Mrs. Otto and Mrs. Zorc I would have never known about LAL, therefore, Daniel Wright Library deserves the money the most.”

Conrad and the other two Illinois winners, Naasir Haleem of Naperville and Stacie Cler of Bloomington, will be honored at a ceremony hosted by Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White May 11 in Springfield.
Reading
Letters about Literature Winners
April 11th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White has announced that students from Lincolnshire, Naperville and Bloomington are the Illinois winners of the 2011 “Letters About Literature” contest, a national reading and writing promotion for students sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book in cooperation with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and in partnership with Target.

Students in grades 4-12 read a book and write a personal letter to an author, explaining how the book changed their views of the world or themselves. Students may select authors, living or deceased, from any genre–fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. The Illinois Center for the Book appointed judges who selected the top essayists on three competition levels.
This year’s winners are:
- Level I, Grades 4 – 6–Conrad Oberhaus of Lincolnshire, who wrote to author Daniel Defoe about his book, Robinson Crusoe. Conrad is in the 5th grade at Daniel Wright Jr. High School in Lincolnshire
- Level II – Grades 7-8–Naasir Haleem of Naperville wrote to author Mark Pfetzer about his book, Within Reach. Naasir is in the 7th grade at Jefferson Jr. High School in Naperville
- Level III, Grades 9-12– Stacie Cler of Bloomington wrote to author Helen Siiteri about her book, The Adventures of Nicholas. Stacie is a Senior at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington
Read the winning essays at the Illinois Center for the Book website.

“These three talented young readers were among 6,700 Illinois students who took part in this year’s contest,” said Secretary White. “For the fourth year in a row Illinois had more entries than any state in the nation. I am extremely proud of all of the students who took part, because they are developing a lifelong love of reading and learning.”

Letters About Literature awards prizes on both the state and national levels. Each State Winner receives a $50 Target gift card, a U.S. Savings Bond from the Illinois Center for the Book and a plaque presented to them by Secretary White at an awards ceremony May 11th in Springfield. State Winners’ letters are forwarded to the National Level Judging, where a panel of national judges will select six National Winners (two per Level of Competition) and twelve National Honorable Mentions (four per Level of Competition).

Each of the six National Winners will receive a $500 Target GiftCard and a $10,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant in their name for his or her community or school library. The National Honorable Mentions will receive a $100 Target GiftCard and a $1,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant in their name for his or her community or school library.

The Center for the Book was established in 1977 as a public-private partnership to use the resources of the Library of Congress to stimulate public interest in books and reading. The Illinois Center for the Book was established in 1985 as an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The Illinois Center for the Book works to nurture and connect readers and writers, and honor Illinois’ rich literary heritage.

Target sponsors Letters About Literature as part of its national reading initiative, “Ready. Sit. Read!,” which is aimed at fostering a love of reading among children at an early age. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
Reading
Read for a Lifetime
April 11th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The 2011-2012 school year reading list for Read for a Lifetime, the State Library’s highly acclaimed reading program for high school students, is now posted at the State Library’s website.

Jeanne Urbanek, coordinator of the Read for a Lifetime Program, received a wonderful fax this week from Camille Lutz, a special education teacher at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates: “Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to encourage my struggling readers to participate in the Read for a Lifetime program this year. Seven special education students participated in a special version of Read for a Lifetime. I cannot begin to tell you the effect this program had on my students.

As I write this letter to you, I am sitting in one of my reading classes and there are four wonderful young ladies so involved in their newest individual novels that it brings tears to my eyes. They begged me to provide class time for them to read their books.”
News, Programming, Reading
Big Read Wrap Up
April 4th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

The Big Read in Central Illinois presented its final program this past Wednesday highlighting Carson Mc Culler’s classic novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. The Big Read in Central Illinois was launched by a number of libraries, educational and cultural institutions who worked diligently to present over 40 programs celebrating McCuller’s book and some of the themes of her debut novel, including isolation, music and The Great Depression. The Big Read in Central Illinois was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The State Library, our Talking Book and Braille Service and the Illinois Center for the Book thank the following organizations for partnering with us on The Big Read in Central Illinois: Charles E. Becker Library of Benedictine University; Chatham Area Public Library; Jacksonville Public Library; Lincoln Library, the Public Library of Springfield; Prairie Skies Public Library District of Pleasant Plains and Ashland; Quiddity International Library Journal and Public Radio Program; Rochester Public Library; Sherman Public Library District; Brookens Library of the University of Illinois Springfield; and Williamsville Public Library.

You may still find photos from various Big Read in Central Illinois events and other information at http://icftb.org/bigread/.
Illinois State Library, Reading
Big Read Contest Winners Announced
February 21st, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Libraries including the Illinois State Library who are participating in the 2011 Big Read in Central Illinois partnered to present a contest asking individuals to share a story, poem, video or piece of artwork or mixed media that expresses the influence of music in their lives. The winners of the “Under the Influence: Music that Inspires Expression” contest were announced at the official kickoff of the Big Read this week at the University of Illinois Springfield.

They are:
- Felicia Olin of Springfield – submitted artwork titled “The Violinist”
- Rebecca Young of Springfield – submitted a video titled “Jazz, My Musical Influence”
- Katie Molck of Springfield – submitted a written work titled “My Song”
Finalists included Bethany Burbridge, Lola Lucas, Mandy Magill, Christopher Martin, John McCarthy, William Morris, Ken Pease, Elizabeth Quick and Thomas Sidener.

The contest entries can be found at the official contest website. The contest was inspired by the story of young Mick Kelly in Carson McCullers’ The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, the book selection for the 2011 Big Read in Central Illinois. A full list of Big Read in Central Illinois events can be found at http://www.icftb.org/bigread/.

The Big Read is a nationwide reading initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest, and with different community partners across the country to provide engaging educational resources for discussing outstanding literature.

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Category

Reading

General, Literacy, Programming, Reading

The Poetry Foundation Gets a New Library

Literacy, Reading, School Libraries

Letters About Literature

Illinois State Library, Reading

Letters about Literature Winners

Illinois State Library, Reading, Youth Services

Find-A-Book/2011 iREAD Summer Reading Program

General, Programming, Reading, Youth Services

Illinois Arts Council Grant Will Provide 50% Support for Summer Reading Program Performances

Illinois State Library, Reading

Letters about Literature National Winner

Reading

Letters about Literature Winners

Reading

Read for a Lifetime

News, Programming, Reading

Big Read Wrap Up

Illinois State Library, Reading

Big Read Contest Winners Announced