News and Updates

• Ways to Give Back to APL

  

  Looking for a way to give back to APL? We currently have several fundraisers going on:
  
  The Friends of Alpha Park Library are currently selling Rada Cutlery for their yearly fundraiser. You can purchase from catalogs located in the library, or by visiting the Rada Cutlery website here. Every dollar the Friends of Alpha Park Library raises goes right back into your community.
  
  Want to give money directly to the library? We have so many ways to do that! We are currently raising money in our Dollars for Desk fundraiser for a new circulation desk. Our new desk will be ADA Compliant, give us more room to process library materials, and include a self-checkout station! Through October 29, you can vote with your donations in our Staff Pumpkin Decorating contest. On November 1, we will have macramé keychains available for purchase for $5 at the circulation desk! Finally, if you’d like to donate directly, you can do so at the circulation desk, or via the gifting page on our website here.
  
  Whichever way you choose, you can be sure that your donations go to making your library an even more welcoming and accessible place for All!

• A Warm Welcome to Our New Director:

  

  We have officially welcomed our new director, Amy Harris! Director Harris recently relocated to the Peoria area, and brings with her exemplary experience working in libraries across the United States, including in Colorado and Virginia.
  
  In Colorado, Director Harris was the District Librarian with Douglas County School District, which served 98 schools across the county. In Virginia, she was the Library Media Specialist for Hampton City Schools. She has a MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh, and brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to Alpha Park Public Library.
  
  “I am honored to have been selected for this role,” said Director Harris, “and I look forward to navigating this time of change and renewal for our library.”
  
  As always, Alpha Park Public Library’s mission is to provide progressive and relevant materials and services for the ever-changing, lifelong informational, educational, social, and recreational needs of our various communities. The library is committed to providing excellent customer service in a welcoming environment, and is dedicated to developing partnerships and a sense of community.

• The Peoria State Hospital Podcast is Here:

  Alpha Park Library’s long-awaited podcast on the history of the Peoria State Hospital is here!
  
  It is listed on our website, Spotify, and soon will be listed on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music.
  
  We will be updating the webpage weekly as new episodes drop with pictures and more information.
  
  Episode 1 features interviews with Christina Morris, the Director of the Peoria State Hospital Museum and Linda Hernandez, the Historian of the Peoria Women's Club. Check back next week for interviews with staff members of the Peoria State Hospital.
  
  

  This podcast is sponsored and funded by the American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grants for Libraries, which is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

• There's a Book Club for Every Reader!

  At Alpha Park Library, there are so many ways to find new and interesting books to read. Have you ever read a book and just knew that you had to tell all your friends about it? We have a variety of book clubs for you to join so that you can discuss all the juicy details of our latest reads!
  
  Love the thrilling, action-packed stories the Young Adult genre has to offer? The Shelf Life, our YA book club, is the one for you!
  
  Looking for a large variety of books from different genres? All Booked Up is always accepting new members!
  
  Interested in military-themed books? Then Military Reads, our book club hosted by a veteran has just started this month!
  
  No matter what you like to read and discuss, Alpha Park Library is the place for you! Follow us on Bookclubz, visit the “Programs” section of our website, or check out our Facebook events for more information. Have questions for us? Reach out anytime by emailing or calling the reference department, and we’ll be happy to help.

• Book Matching Service

  Looking for your next read, but don’t know where to start? Try filling out our new Book Match Form!
  
  Like dating site for books: you tell us what you’re looking for and what you like to read, and we’ll match you with the perfect books! Paper forms are available at the circulation and reference desks, or you can print off a copy from our website. Once you submit your form, we’ll select 2-3 books and place them on hold for you. All you have to do is pick them up from the circulation desk, it’s that easy!
  

• 

  APL's 2023 Reading Challenge is here!

  Are you up to the challenge this year? Complete our reading challenge by reading 40 of the 50 book prompts and return the form to the Reference Desk by 12/29/2022 to win a prize! All participants will also be entered into a Grand Prize drawing. Struggling to decide what to read for each prompt? Stop into APL and check out our reading challenge display, which will be updated on a biweekly basis with books that fit two of the prompts on the 2023 Reading Challenge.