News

Students Hurry to Finish GED® Test Before It Changes in 2014

Rena_M — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:54:27 +0000

The following article was published by News For You Online on April 3, 2013.

Are you working toward passing the GED test? You might want to finish soon. The test will change next year.

The GED test now has five parts. People will have to start over if they do not pass all five parts this year. The new test will be used starting on January 2, 2014.

The GED test measures adults’ skills and knowledge. Passing the test is like getting a high school diploma.

Most states have just approved new standards for schools. They are called the Common Core State Standards. They help students get ready for college and careers. The new GED test fits in with the standards.

The new test will have four parts. Writing is not a separate test anymore. It will now be part of all four tests.

Students will have to take the new test on a computer. This year, they can use pencil and paper.

The changes are the first since 2002.

Close to Passing

Joyce Monroe is 24. She has been studying in a GED class in Buffalo, New York. She wants to take the test before it changes. She has taken some practice tests. She thinks she is ready for writing and science. But she needs more work in math.

She needs to pass all five parts by the end of the year. Otherwise, she will have to start over with the new test.

“I’m so close,” she said. “I don’t want to start all over. That would make me drop GED like I did high school.” She wants to show her 5-year-old daughter she can do it.

About 700,000 adults take the test each year. About 72 percent pass it. More than 1 million may take it this year before the changes.

History and Changes

The GED test was first offered in 1942. It was for soldiers who did not get to finish high school.

Armando Diaz works for the GED Testing Service.

“We see that higher ed has new standards,” he said. “The workforce (and) the economy (are) changing.

“We decided it’s time to give the (test) a face-lift,” he said.

There is one more reason to pass the test now. The new test may cost twice as much. Some states will pay part of the $120 cost of the new test.

For more information about the Waukegan Public Library’s resources for GED students, call the Literacy Department at 847-623-2041, ext. 225 or janderson [at] waukeganpl [dot] info (email).

Enjoy Summer Courtyard Concerts Every Friday in June, July, and August

Rena_M — Thu, 23 May 2013 18:23:47 +0000

Starting in June, many Waukegan residents and employees will continue their longstanding tradition of lunching outdoors every Friday during the summer months while listening to free concerts held in the Waukegan Public Library courtyard.

Every Friday from June 7 to August 30, musicians will perform a wide range of musical styles including jazz, rock, folk, and bluegrass from noon to 1 p.m. in front of the library on Clayton and County Streets. If it rains, concerts will move indoors to the Bradbury Room in the library’s lower level. Listeners can bring their own lunch or pick up lunch available for sale onsite from Jerry’s Tacos. Drinks and baked goods are also available for purchase by the Friends of the Waukegan Public Library.

On June 7, the concert series will kick off with a statue dedication of the library’s new courtyard statues. Concertgoers are invited to the dedication, which will take place at 11:50 a.m. in the courtyard, right before Jim Green takes the stage.

The Courtyard Concerts are generously sponsored each year by the Friends of the Waukegan Public Library. This year the concert series is sponsored in memory of Elinor Leech, a longtime friend of the library.

June 7: Jim Green

June 14: The Hollands

June 21: Kraig Kenning

June 28: Jim Jacobs Trio

July 5: The Bruce Williams Band

July 12: Sipos & Young

July 19: Loko Amor

July 26: Banna Irish Duo

Aug. 2: Patchouli

Aug. 9: Montana Skies

Aug. 16: Mike Basa

Aug. 23: The Thomas Brothers Band

Aug. 30: Tony Bernard & The Boppers

To listen to a clip of featured bands, go here. For questions about the Courtyard Concert series, call Rena Morrow, Marketing, Programming, and Exhibits Manager, at (847) 623-2041, ext. 231.

Waukegan Public Library Participates in the Museum Pass program

Rena_M — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:37:16 +0000

17 museums in the Chicagoland area offer free or discounted admission
to Library cardholders all year

Start a museum adventure with your Waukegan Public Library card! Cardholders can receive free admission to one of 17 exciting museums and cultural institutions throughout the Chicago area. Each participating museum or cultural institution is contributing four weekly passes for free admission, or a special discount depending on the location.

Library cardholders can request Museum Passes at the Library’s Reference Desk. Libraries have a limited number of passes for each participating organization and the passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Passes cannot be reserved or checked out online or on the phone. One Museum Adventure Pass may be requested per family, per loan period and will be valid for seven days from checkout. Participating museums and cultural institutions include:

Air Classic Inc. Museum of Aviation
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
Bronzeville Children’s Museum
Brookfield Zoo (Chicago Zoological Society)
Cantigny Park
Chicago Botanic Garden
Elgin History Museum
Elgin Public Museum
Illinois Railway Museum
Lake County Discovery Museum
Legoland Discovery Center
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Naper Settlement
Oriental Institute Museum
Pleasant Home Foundation
St. Charles Heritage Museum
The Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn

About the Museum Pass Program
In September of 2009, the Museum Adventure Pass Program was introduced to the libraries within the DuPage, Metropolitan, and North Suburban Library Systems offering their patrons a fun and exciting new service. Since inception, the Museum Adventure Pass Program has issued over 135,000 passes to the public so they may visit the Museum of their choice. For more information about Museum Pass, visit www.museumadventure.org/.

Waukegan Public Library participates in a worldwide Big Library Read eBook Event

Rena_M — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:22:54 +0000

Pilot program runs from May 15^th to June 1^st,encourages participants to join global reading of eBook

Waukegan Public Library invites the public to take part in the Big Library Read, a pilot program in which libraries worldwide offer a single eBook to their cardholders. The program is designed to unite library patrons from all around the world.

From May 15^th to June 1, 2013, anyone with a valid Waukegan Public Library card can borrow the eBook The Four Corners of the Skyby New York Times bestselling author Michael Malone for free from the Library’s website www.waukeganpl.org/eBooks and read on all major devices, including Kindle^® (in the US) and iPad^®.

Over 7,500 libraries in 10 countries from five continents are participating. Readers are invited to join the book discussion on Twitter using #BigLibraryRead.

For more information about the Big Library Read, please visit http://www.overdrive.com/big-library-read/.

Library as...Agent of Change

Rena_M — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:40:12 +0000

Please have a look at this informative blog post by Cyndee Landrum about the changing face of libraries. The Waukegan Public Library was mentioned as a leading example of libraries in a new age.

Waukegan Public Library to Receive National Medal for Museum and Library Service Today in White House Ceremony

Rena_M — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:49:06 +0000

Celebration Featuring First Lady Michelle Obama Highlights Impact of Illinois Library

This afternoon, in a White House ceremony in the East Room, First Lady Michelle Obama will join Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Director Susan Hildreth to present the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service to Waukegan Public Library. The nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community, the National Medal celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. Richard Lee, the library’s executive director, and community member Diana Alvey will accept the National Medal.

Diana was born in Mexico and came to the United States with her family when she was three years old. Neither of her parents, nor her brothers and sisters, spoke any English, but shortly after arriving in America, Diana’s mother began English as a Second Language classes as a way to help the family adjust to their new home. As an adult, Diana volunteers her time at the Waukegan Public Library as an ESL tutor to help others on their language journey. Diana also volunteers in the library’s signature immigrant program as a Promotora, working with the Latino community to identify obstacles that limit success. She has supported students and helped them gain confidence to pursue job promotions, attend parent teacher conferences at school and advocate for their children, and describe a symptom to their doctor. Diana shares, ““A young mother was at home when she heard her children yelling ‘FIRE.’ Because of her participation in the library’s ESL program, she knew what that English word meant – and how to call 911 for help. Our programs are making a world of difference.”

This year’s 10 honorees exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include a science center, children’s museum, music museum, art museum, cultural museum, public libraries, and county library systems, hailing from seven states. The 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service Ceremony will be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

“I am thrilled to join Illinois’ Tenth Congressional District community and the entire country in congratulating Waukegan Public Library on receiving such a distinguished honor. The Institute of Museum and Library Services awards the National Medal to just 10 institutions each year, and Waukegan Public Library’s long history of dedicated and innovative service, from its English Language Learning classes to its Homework Help program, earned it this most deserved distinction,” said U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (Ill.).

“The Waukegan Public Library should be honored to receive the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service in recognition of the outstanding services the library provides to the residents of this growing community. This award is the nation’s highest honor bestowed on museums and libraries for their service to the community. I’d like to congratulate the library and its tremendous staff for the work they do to make our community a great place,” said Illinois State Senator Terry Link.

Medal winners are selected from nationwide nominations of institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach. Later this year, StoryCorps – a national nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans – will visit Waukegan Public Library to document stories from the community.

To learn more about the 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners, please visit www.imls.gov/medals.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Waukegan Public Library card holders gain access to 900,000 items through shared catalog

Rena_M — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:20:25 +0000

Starting May 7, Waukegan library card holders will gain access to 900,000 materials owned by libraries around the region due to a new resource sharing partnership called LINKin. This new service provides fast access to collections of books, music, and movies owned by seven libraries in the state.

The library’s participation in LINKin is partially grant funded in its first year and establishes a partnership between Gail Borden Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Skokie Public Library, Cook Memorial Library, Deerfield Public Library, and Naperville Public Library. All of the library collections are free and accessible to current Waukegan card holders in good standing.

Patrons are able to search the shared catalog and place requests themselves or with staff assistance. Items will be sent to Waukegan Public Library in days and patrons will be notified by phone or email when the item is ready for pickup. Materials obtained through LINKin will be due four weeks from checkout, except for DVDs which will be due in one week. Overdue charges remain the same as Waukegan items.

“Joining LINKin is an amazing opportunity for our community,” said Heidi Smith, Assistant Director of Public Services. “Our own collection is restricted by a limited budget; LINKin will provide our patrons with access to almost one million different resources in many different languages. It’s as though our collections have quintupled.”

For more information about LINKin or the Waukegan Public Library collection, call 847-623-2041 or visit www.waukeganpl.org.

Waukegan Public Library to Receive 2013 National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Rena_M — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:42:13 +0000

The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced Waukegan Public Library of Waukegan, Ill., as one of 10 recipients of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community, the National Medal celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. The National Medal will be presented at a celebration in Washington, D.C. on May 8.

Waukegan Public Library recognized a critical need for fresh, effective approaches to promoting literacy across the community. Waukegan has a Hispanic population that is three times higher than the state average, with 55 percent of residents speaking a language other than English. The Library has evolved as a core component of Waukegan’s broader community learning and service infrastructure with a wide array of programs to put individuals on the Path to Learning and Literacy and helping residents build essential communication skills. A key initiative is the Promotoras Ambassador Program – empowering an outreach worker to be responsible for raising awareness about library resources in the Hispanic community and understanding the needs of Spanish speakers. One of the library’s first initiatives was to create a culturally sensitive Conversational ESL Program that incorporates relevant curriculum that places the learner at the center to ensure his or her success in daily life. After only one year, 255 students have participated in the Conversational ESL program, with most moving on to a GED program.

“Museums and libraries serve as centers for lifelong learning and as cornerstones for our communities. Waukegan Public Library is modifying and adapting programs to ensure educational opportunities and literacy for all residents and community members, and we are proud to name Waukegan Public Library as one of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners,” said Susan Hildreth, director, Institute of Museum and Library Services. “This year’s National Medal recipients demonstrate the many ways museums and libraries alike build strong communities. These institutions are educating, inspiring, and leading lifelong learning while serving as community anchors.”

“To me, a library is effective when it provides every citizen with the tools they need to be successful,” said Richard Lee, executive director of the Waukegan Public Library. “At the Waukegan Public Library, we no longer measure our success by the number of books we check out, but by the relevant services and resources we offer to the community that put them on a path to success. We are honored that our hard work has been recognized by a national organization that promotes libraries and museums as strong community anchors.”

Diana Alvey, who volunteers as a Promotora Ambassador and an ESL tutor at the library, will travel to Washington and share the impact the Waukegan Public Library has on the community during the May 8 celebration.

This year’s honorees exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include a science center, children’s museum, music museum, art museum, cultural museum, public libraries, and county library systems, hailing from seven states. Earlier this year, 33 institutions were announced as finalists for the National Medal, and community members were encouraged to share their stories about their experiences on the IMLS Facebook page.

Medal winners were selected from nationwide nominations of institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach. After the ceremony, StoryCorps – a national nonprofit dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans – will visit Waukegan Public Library to document stories from the community.

For a complete list of 2013 recipients and to learn more about the National Medal winners, please visit www.imls.gov/medals.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

El Dia de los Ninos/El Dia de los Libros

Rena_M — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:21:33 +0000

Have you ever wanted to go on an adventure like the characters in your favorite children’s books? On April 21 from 1 to 3 p.m., the Waukegan Public Library will host its annual El Dìa de los Niños/El Dìa de los Libros family festival featuring games and activities from classic children’s books including “Charlotte’s Web”, “The Giving Tree”, “The Cat in the Hat” and “Harry Potter”.

Library books will come alive as children of all ages make Wild Things monster masks for a bonfire dance, taste apples from the Giving Tree, balance a stack of household items with the Cat in the Hat, cast spells at Hogwarts, go on a pirate treasure hunt and meet well-known book characters. Every 15 minutes, families will be entertained with bilingual storiesin the library’s Early Learning Center and then have a chance to explore the Farm Fun exhibit, milk a life-size fiberglass cow, and hold real baby chicks.

The library will also highlight mariachi culture from the bilingual children’s book “Delicious Hullabaloo/Pachanga Deliciosa” with an interactive student performance by Milwaukee’s award winning Latino Arts Strings Program. In partnership with Lyric Unlimited, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s multifaceted community engagement program, the student mariachi group will educate families about music and Latino culture as a preview for the 7:30 p.m. performance of “Cruzar La Cara De La Luna” at the Genesee Theatre. “Cruzar La Cara De La Luna” is presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago and is the world’s first mariachi opera. Four tickets to the evening’s performance will be raffled off during the festival.

Each family will take home a free bag of books while supplies last, courtesy of Bernie’s Book Bank. Partner organizations also include the Green Youth Farm, the United Way and Words on Wheels. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

“In the past, our El Dia celebrations incorporated themes surrounding the environment, Earth Day, and Latino culture. This year, we placed the focus on books so children can relate to the classic stories they love through hands-on play,” said executive director Richard Lee. “Hopefully this will inspire families to interact with books in a fun and creative way at home.”

For more information about El Dia de los Niños, contact Rena Morrow, Marketing, Programming, and Exhibits Manager, at (847) 623-2041, ext. 231.

Celebrate Culture and History at Waukegan Public Library

Rena_M — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:36:06 +0000

Over the last two hundred years, Waukegan has been a melting pot to many immigrant groups, creating a rich and varied cultural foundation for the community. At the end of March, two programs at the Waukegan Public Library explore culture, immigration, diversity, and the history of Waukegan.

On Tuesday, March 26 at 6 p.m., Dr. Gilo Kwesi Logan will present a workshop for all ages sharing his personal liberation story stemming from 8 ½ years of travel involving 43 visits to 23 countries throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and West Africa. Dr. Logan is a professor at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and teaches courses in Justice Studies & African and African-American studies.His multi-media presentation entitled, The Inward Journey through Ebony Eyes: Transformative Learning Through Cultural Immersion, uses video, music, artifacts, poetry, and storytelling to share his experience traveling the world.

The Inward Journey through Ebony Eyesis presented by S.O.U.L. Creations, a not-for-profit, community-based educational agency located in Evanston, Illinois, whose mission is to educate, empower, and validate youth through self-discovery. Dr. Logan is the founder, former executive director, and current program facilitator for S.O.U.L. Creations. He holds a doctorate in education.

A program titled,Waukegan: A History of Immigration, will be presented on Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. Previously known as “Little Fort”, Waukegan has become home to various migrating groups over the past two centuries. Its location along Lake Michigan appealed to New Englanders moving west in the 1830s and the population continued to grow throughout the early part of the 19^th century due to the industrialization of the Midwest and the Great Migration of blacks moving north from the rural south. The area also saw an increase in immigrants from Europe at this time because of the political tensions and war abroad. Waukegan continues to see changes in its population, most recently with the migration of Latinos from the south. The program will explore all of the migration patterns which have added to the rich cultural diversity of the Waukegan community.

Waukegan: A History of Immigrationis sponsored by “Our Stories Connect Us”, a collaboration between Arden Shore Child and Family Services and Changing Worlds. It is presented by Ty Rohrer, supervisor of the Waukegan History Museum for the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society and Ed Link, local historian and author of the book, Waukegan, A History. The program is made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly.