The value of today’s libraries goes beyond books. Librarians are leaders in their communities – helping people of any age to find what they need to help improve their quality of life. This September, we're joining with the American Library Association and libraries nationwide for Library Card Sign-up Month, an initiative to make sure that every student has the most important school supply of all – a free library card. 

Libraries build a foundation for children’s future success starting from the earliest stages of development. Librarians play a key role in helping children develop the basic tools for school readiness by teaching families the components of early literacy. As of 2010, children’s programs accounted for nearly two thirds of library programming in the United States, with more than 2.3 million children’s programs nationwide. Older students can also find tools for success at their local libraries, where they can access high-speed Internet and digital tools, as well as working with trained professionals on how best to use these resources. 

As new technologies evolve, libraries continue to lead the way in providing equity of access to digital tools and media, which has become increasingly important in high-poverty areas where students are less likely to have a computer or internet service at home. Close to 90 percent of libraries offer digital literacy training to help students of all ages navigate today’s changing world. 

Resources at the Woodridge Public Library are available to anyone with a library card. Students can turn to the library for materials, programs and knowledgeable library staff that support academic achievement.  
 
To celebrate Library Card Sign Up Month and our Golden Anniversary, we have special gold library cards for new and current library members. Encourage a friend or neighbor to get their library card, or come upgrade yours. 

And the winner is...stretchy, glittery and oh so slimy!
 
After a complete and thorough judging of the Teen & Tween Slime contest by the Library GOATs (Group of Advising Teens), a Most Awesome Slime award goes to slime expert Victoria T. The "Golden Glitter" slime concoction won over the judges with its soft touch, easy stretch, good smell and strength during the pulling and tossing. Our thanks to all of the slime participants for their successfully slimy creations. All slime contestants should visit the Circulation Desk for a prize or thank you gift, and to retrieve their slime.
 

Winning Slime Recipe

1. Add 2 1/2 bottles of Elmer's clear glue to a bowl
2. Grab a separate bowl and mix 1 tablespoon of Borax and 1 tablespoon of warm water
3. Slowly add borax solution to the glue, mixing after each tablespoon is added
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until slime doesn't stick to your work surface

Congratulations to the winners of the Mini Pumpkin and Squash Decorating contest. We had a tie for 1st place between the Young household-who created a fantastic Frankenstein squash (get it, Young Frankenstein?) and the Gomez household - who created an elegant tuxedo vampire pumpkin. Each 1st place winner received a $25 Target gift card. 
There were over 60 entries and the quality and creativity was so high we judged them in multiple categories so we could have more winners! All of the winners of these categories should stop by the Circulation Desk for a prize.

 
Categories and the winning households include:
Cutest: Salvi
Funniest: Rauba
Spookiest: Palus
Most Artistic: Angeles
Glitter Award: Mendoza
Storybook: McLaughlin
Most Dramatic: Sterijevski
Library’s Golden Anniversary: Gross
 
We also created a category just for kids, and we are giving them the Kid-tastic award. Tied as winners in the Kid-tastic category are the Chernesky and Vasilyev households.
 
We love the creative and frightful pumpkins that were entered in the contest. If you entered a pumpkin or squash, please see the Circulation Desk for a small thank you for participating.
 
Great job everyone!

BOOKFACE \ ˈbu̇k -fās \ noun

A photograph of a person holding up a book so the face or body on the cover matches their own. Can be done with multiple people.

November 1 – November 26 teens can submit a #bookface to askus@woodridgelibrary.org to be entered to win a $25 gift card. Email entries must include the photo, and the entrant’s name, age, and phone number or email address. Photos can be of the entrant or a friend.

Entries will be posted to the library’s Instagram. People can vote on entries by liking them. Voting ends on December 10. Gift cards will be awarded to the photo with the most votes on Instagram and the one with most votes from library staff.

Mark your calendar with important  Children's registration dates for preschool and STEM programs, which begin at the end of December or early January.

Minute To Win It! Grades 4 - 6, Wednesday, January 3, 1 - 2 p.m.: Online registration opens December 27

Chicago Wolves Reading Program, January 2 - 31: Registration at the Children's Reference Desk opens January 2

Winter Preschool Storytimes, Sessions begin January 15: Online registration opens January 6 at 9 a.m.

Dinosaur Hunter Science Classes, January 20: Online registration opens January 6

LEGO WEDO Stem Program: Grades 2 - 4, Monday, January 15, 2 p.m.: Online registration opens January 8

Did you know that patrons who are unable to visit the Woodridge Library because of a disability, illness or special circumstance can receive books delivered to their door by staff members or volunteers? 

Request specific items or let us know your interests and we will make selections for you.

Call the Outreach Coordinator at 630-487-2553 or email pwhitt@woodridgelibrary.org

The Library now offers wireless and mobile printing through PrinterOn. Print jobs can be sent remotely from anywhere--including laptops being used at the Library. Go to our wireless printing portal to send a print job.

Print jobs can also be sent through mobile devices using the PrinterOn app. The app is available for Apple and Android devices. Simply select one of the Woodridge Public Library's printers to have your job sent to our printing queue. 

Jobs will be held in the queue for 24 hours. To retrieve a job, go to the printing station in the Computer Commons at the Library, enter your information, and pay for the job.

Lunch will be served to children on Mondays and Thursdays, from noon to 1 p.m., in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Woodridge Public Library. The program begins on Thursday, June 8 and ends on Monday, August 14. This is a free program sponsored by the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Attendees may drop in to any lunch service: there is no registration. 

In addition to the noon lunch, library activities (reading a story or working on puzzles) will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and a Learning Time with volunteer teachers will take place from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Items that are eligible for automatic renewal and that do not have holds on them will be automatically renewed two days before they are due. You will receive an email about the items that were renewed with the new due date as well as about items that were not renewed if you have an email address in your account. If you do not have an email address on your account, you can check due dates by logging into “My Account” on the library catalog or contacting the library. Please contact us if you’d like to add your email address to your account.  

Thank you to all of our wonderful Children’s Department Summer Reading Program donors! Their donations provided lots of extra incentives to keep our community’s children and families reading over the summer. This generous support of our donors help to make our Summer Reading Program a huge success!

Aurelio’s Pizza
Bridgeview Bank
Brookfield Zoo
Chicago Fire 
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre 
Chicago White Sox
Chili’s Grill & Bar
Colonial Café & Ice Cream 
Cypress Cove
Dr. Robert Girgis
DuPage Children’s Museum
DuPage County Fair
Enchanted Castle 
Frugal Muse
Joliet Slammers
Kane County Cougars 
Legoland Discovery Center
Lombard Roller Skating Rink
Meijers
Menchie’s
Papa’s Pizza Place
Pump it Up!
Shedd Aquarium
Tivoli Classic Cinemas
Windy City Thunderbolts
Zigfield Troy Lost Mountain

We are hosting a special 50th Anniversary Ice Cream Party on Saturday, July 29 at noon. 

Patrons of all ages are invited to have a free scoop of ice cream at our Summer Reading celebration. The Darien Culver's will be sending their mascot, Scoopy, out to the library to take photos and join in the fun. 

No sign-up, just ice cream and smiles for everyone - while the scoops last!

You still have time to join a Summer Reading program. We have a reading club, book suggestions and prize chances for every age, through July 29.

Chicago Fire rep and former player Chris Solomons led Woodridge kids through drills and mini games at the Woodridge Library on July 20, with more clinics scheduled on July 22. The kid patrons of the Woodridge Library enjoyed the tips and training given by the pro. Solomons is currently in the running for MLS Community MVP Contest for his work in community outreach.

The free soccer clinics at the library were open to kids age 7 to 14. Check out our album of pictures from the event. Children who participate in the library's summer reading program may earn a free ticket to a Chicago Fire game! 

We are not giving out solar eclipse glasses. On Monday we will have pairs to use at the Library to view the eclipse and we'll be live streaming the eclipse from Carbondale, IL. 

Most places are out of solar eclipse glasses now. There are some events around Chicagoland that will be giving out limited amounts of glasses. Some of those events have admission costs.

If you want to view the eclipse, you can create a pinhole projector or find a place that will have glasses to use the day of. Please stay safe while viewing the eclipse. Again, we will have solar eclipse glasses to use at the Library during the event.