Entrepreneurial Mentorship

Learn the basics of a cottage industry, which is an industry where the products or services are created at home instead of a factory, at the Entreprenurial Mentorship program on Wednesday, April 30th at 7 pm. Teens participating in ENERGY will receive credit for attending. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, call (708) 301-7908, visit the circulation desk, or email Heather Colby at hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Funding for this program is brought to you as part of a grant that was awarded to the Homer Township Public Library by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Teen Summer Intern Program: Applications Available!

Applications for this summer's Teen Intern Program are now available! You can pick one up at the library, or you can download one here! There are several events you can volunteer for:

+ the library's 25th Anniversary Celebration -- duties will vary, but may include greeting patrons, offering snacks, helping with activities & crafts

+ Summer Reading Desk -- marking reading logs, handing out weekly prizes

+ Kids Gaming Events -- setting up and overseeing kids games at open gaming sessions

+ Kids Crafts -- preparing for and assisting with crafts for kids drop-in craft sessions

+ Book Buddies -- reading books & making crafts with a younger "buddy"

+ Used Book Sale -- preparing for and overseeing the library's first ever used book sale!

The Teen Intern Program is a fun way to gain volunteer hours, which will look great on college and job applications! The program is open to teens who have completed 6th grade & up (as of June 2008). Shifts are usually limited to 1-3 hours per week, and volunteer space for each event is based on first come, first served (dates and times of each event are available on the application). The deadline for applications is May 24, 2008.

Questions? Contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Dinner Table Etiquette

Learn proper etiquette rules that will impress everyone at the table! Free pizza and refreshments will be served at this event, taking place on Saturday, April 26th at 11 am. Teens participating in ENERGY will receive credit for attending. Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, call (708) 301-7908 or visit the circulation desk.

Funding for this program is brought to you as part of a grant that was awarded to the Homer Township Public Library by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Money, Banking, and Credit

Looking to learn how to manage your hard earned money? Stop by the library on Tuesday, April 22nd at 7 pm to discover how to build a solid financial base! This session will cover basic saving tools, developing a budget, credit management, and goal setting. Teens participating in ENERGY will receive credit for attending. Pizza will be served (thanks to Enzo's restaurant in Homer Glen!) before the program begins.

Funding for this program is brought to you as part of a grant that was awarded to the Homer Township Public Library by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

For more information, contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Dear Lisa: A Dating Violence Prevention Program

In 1994, Tom Santoro's daughter was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. On Monday, April 21st at 7 pm, he will present Dear Lisa: A Dating Violence Prevention Program at the Homer Township Public Library. Teens will learn how to recognize patterns of abuse, how to help someone in a violent dating relationship, and how Mr. Santoro is using Lisa's story to raise awareness of dating violence. This program is open to the public, and teens participating in ENERGY will receive credit for attending.

You can read more about the program at Tom Santoro's website, which is http://www.dearlisa.org/.

For more information, contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Reading lists and other book related stuff.

Looking for a good book? Perhaps you have a book report project or maybe free time to read. Check out the following reading lists for some recommendations.

Take a look at http://www.islma.org/pdf/2009AnnotatedMasterList.pdf for the 2009 Abe Lincoln List. The selection process for this list begins with nominations from teenagers. The nomination committee narrows down the list and the readers committee (comprised of teens and librarians) reads the selected books. The committee meets to discuss and debate which items should make the final list. After hours of discussion, the final list is created! Make a recommendation for the 2010 list at http://www.islma.org/lincoln.htm.

Another reading list is called Read for a Lifetime. This is a program sponsored by the Secretary of State and State Librarian and the Illinois State Library. Any High School student that reads four books from the reading list by the April 10, 2009 deadline will receive a certificate of achievement sign by Secretary of State Jesse White. Find the reading list at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/whats_new/pdfs/readinglist.pdf. Any High School student residing Homer Township and would like to participate in the program should contact Alexandra Tyle-Annen or Kitty Mitchell before October 24, 2008.

If you’ve read a great book and would like to make a recommendation go to http://www.homerlibrary.org/teenreviews.asp. Or check out the Online Book Discussion at http://librarybookdiscussion.blogspot.com/. New book discussions will be added this summer! All previous discussions are still open so feel free to read and discuss!

Energy: A Teen Leadership Academy -- Applications Still Being Accepted!

The library is still accepting applications for Energy 2008: A Teen Leadership Academy! Applications are available here or at the library.

What is Energy? Energy is a teen leadership academy. The academy aims to help create youth leaders who will assume leadership roles throughout the community. Learn more by clicking here!

There are two parts to Energy -- attending programs and volunteering. Teens applying now must attend the teambuilding session on May 17th and five other programs of your choosing. For a full schedule of programs, click here. Teens will also volunteer (a total of 10 hours) at the library during August 4-19, when you'll collect book donations and organize the first Homer Township Public Library Used Book Sale. Volunteer hours may also be gained on June 7, at the library's 25th anniversary "Festival of Cultures" celebration. (If prior commitments keep you from volunteering during these days, arrangements can be made with Heather to do your volunteer hours on other days).

Why should you attend? Not only will you gain skills that can be utilized throughout life but you will have fun doing so! Participation in this academy will look impressive on college applications and resumes.

Energy 2007 won two awards. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has recognized Energy in their Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults Recognition Project. The library will be awarded $250 and the program will be featured in the fifth edition of Excellence in Library Service to Young Adults. Youth Council of the Workforce Investment Board of Will County awarded Energy an Honorable Mention Certificate.

Energy is open to teens in grades 7-12. Applicants do not have to be residents of Homer Township. For more information, contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Teen Manga Group

Stop by the library on Thursday, April 17th at 7 pm to join the Teen Manga Group! Talk about your favorite manga with other teens, and learn how to submit manga reviews to be posted on the library's Teen Reviews website! For teens in 6th grade and up.


For more information, contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.

Teen Book Discussion: Kimberly Willis Holt's "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town"

Join us on Tuesday, May 6th at 7 pm to discuss Kimberly Willis Holt's "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" and talk about the other books you've been reading. Open to teens in 6th grade and up. The Teen Book Discussion group is looking to expand -- new members are encouraged to attend! Teens can pick up a copy of the book at the library's help desk.

For more information (or to suggest books that you think the group should read!), contact Heather Colby at (708) 301-7908 or hcolby@homerlibrary.org.