Thursday, March 14, 2013
After half a century of service, Chicago Heights Library Board President Robert Booth stepped down.
Chicago Heights Public Library lost a big piece of its history last November when 94-year-old Robert Booth stepped down from board president after over 50 years of service, Sun-Times Media reports. Booth has lived in Chicago Heights since he was four years old and was appointed to the library board back in 1960—when the library was located near the police department by the rail tracks. “The old collection would bounce up and down when the trains would go by,” Booth told the Sun-Times. In addition to his long tenure on the Heights library board, Booth is also an Air Force veteran and a former international lawyer. Even among a busy intercontinental flight routine, Booth seldom missed a board meeting. Booth is currently a Member of the …
Sunday, December 23, 2012
A major topic of discussion during the Chicago Heights City Council was the Heights library and how much tax money it should get.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Mayor David Gonzalez recently criticized the library for consistently requesting more tax money than it was using, but the institutions yearly report tells a different story.
Article updated at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012 to include documents provided by the mayor of Chicago Heights. Conflicting documents about the Chicago Heights Public Library's tax revenue give some insight into how the institution is spending, or not spending, tax dollars. The library's spending, or lack thereof, was a hot topic at the Monday city council meeting, after the 2012 tax levy had the institution losing more than $170,000 in funding. When asked about the decrease, Mayor David Gonzalez said the library had been levying for more than $1 million every year and spending significantly less. Read: Is the Heights Library Stockpiling Too Much Tax Money? While Gonzalez criticized the library for over-levying and underspending, …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The library's million-dollar stockpile was a major point of contention at Monday night's 2012 tax levy public hearing.
Mayor David Gonzalez entertained the idea of giving the Chicago Heights Public Library zero dollars in the 2012 tax levy after he revealed the institution has been underspending enough to build nearly $1.2 million in its bank account. By comparison, Treasurer Jim Dee’s presentation revealing a more than $170,000 funding cut to the library almost seems generous. At an even $1 million the library's levy was one of the few items on the list to decrease from 2011. Fourth Ward Ald. Joshua Deabel questioned the decrease. "We're actually proposing this year to be less than it has been over the past two years," Deabel said. "I find that disconcerting, considering that's the one thing the community direly needs ... I'd hate to see the public …
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Censorship is alive and well, as highlighted by Banned Books Week—and you might be surprised by who the most vocal challengers of books are.
The importance of the First Amendment and the concept of "intellectual freedom" might not always be readily apparent to most kids, but Banned Books Week is a great opportunity to make those lessons come alive for children—and adults. Celebrate banned book week at the Chicago Heights Public Library. Banned Books Week is held annually during the last week of Sept. (Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012). The week is an occasion for libraries and bookstores across the U.S. to help folks realize just how real and ongoing a problem censorship is. More than 11,000 books have been challenged (though not necessarily successfully censored) since 1982, the inaugural year of Banned Books Week. According to the American Library Association (ALA), the vast majority of…
Monday, September 24, 2012
After more than 50 years, Board President Robert Booth declined re-appointment to the position.
City Clerk Lori Wilcox is the first new board president at the Chicago Heights Public Library in more than 50 years. At the library board's Sept. 13 meeting, Wilcox appointed the position unanimously by a library board with several new members. Wilcox thanked the other members for the appointment. "I hope we can move the library board forward the way the past board did," Wilcox said. Robert Booth, who celebrated 50 years with the board in December 2010, was nominated by Vice President Vicki High, but said he no longer wanted to serve in the role. High retained her role as vice president after a unanimous vote from the board. Mary Beth Cifelli was appointed as secretary. Wilcox is a former librarian for the Chicago Public Library, working …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Kids at the Chicago Heights Public Library got a special treat Friday, with food, face painting and fun in the building's west parking lot.
To learn more about the Chicago Heights Public Library, visit the listing in our directory. Like the library on Facebook. Like Chicago Heights Patch on Facebook.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Check out three intriguing events taking place in Chicago Heights this week.
The Prairie State College (PSC) Foundation is presenting “Location Impulsion,” from June 4 through July 26, at the Christopher Art Gallery, located on the PSC main campus at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights. The work of artists Bonnie Peterson, Nina Weiss, and Michael X. Ryan will be highlighted during the exhibition, which features their works that are created directly in response to location. Visit the event listing to learn more about "Location Impulsion" at Prairie State College. See a free movie every Wednesday at the Chicago Heights Public Library. Every month will have it's own theme and you are free to bring in your own snack to enjoy during the show. The themes this summer include: To learn more about the Wednesday Movie …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What will the movie be? Visit the Chicago Heights Public Library a little after noon today and find out.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Bingo, dancers and food are just some of the highlights of the library's special celebration of a popular Mexican holiday.
JayZ
8:45 pm on Tuesday, December 25, 2012
"We" feel about her? Im pulling your card now... There are six ladies who work in her office. All with excellent attitudes and in no way sounds like LeeRoyBBrown. Your a liar trying to get the topic of how crappy our library has been run with Mike D as head guy so you shoot at the board's new president. Hilarious and sad all at the same time. And Skippy John Jones don't deny there is a cat. … more ›