It's Mitten Tree Time!

Nothing gives you that warm, fuzzy, holiday glow quite like giving to others and making a different right in your own community. You can do that by stopping by the Mitten Tree on the Library's second floor.

The Des Plaines Special Events Commission and the Health & Human Services Division of the City of Des Plaines coordinate the Mitten Tree Project during the holiday season. The purpose of the Mitten Tree Project is to collect new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for individuals within our community who are in need.

The collected items are distributed to local school children in need - adult-sized items will be distributed through the Self-Help Closet and Food Pantry.

Drop off the new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves during regular Library hours, now through December 18, 2009. The weather might be pleasant today, but we know the cold and damp is coming. Help brighten someone's winter with a nice new hat or pair of gloves. It won't cost you much and I know it will warm you up, too.

Our beautiful Mitten Tree display was designed by Manager of Creative Services, Ellen Glickman.

"O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife..."

The Des Plaines Public Library was very proud to host a special Veterans' Day celebration last week, on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. The event was the work of American Legion Post 36 and the Des Plaines History Center, who brought together local veterans along with activities especially for children, who were home from school that day. It was a wonderful opportunity for all residents to share their gratitude to our veterans and learn more about their unique place in American history. The event allowed many children to meet a real veteran, see artifacts from their years of service, write letters to veterans and active troops, and even try on historical military uniforms. Enjoy the video of moments from that day, including a moving tribute to POWs-MIA along with beautiful choral arrangements from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Like the music? Check out the CD at the Library - click here for availability and call number.

Don't read this blog!

Just for today, though. I'm stealing a little of PlainTalk's space to introduce you to something new, also in blog form, from the Library - a music blog called "this beat goes on."

DPPL has more than 20,000 CDs in its ever-evolving collections. If you like to sample what is new and unusual in music, borrowing our CDs is a fiscally responsible way to do that. Being able to buy songs online, one at a time, can prevent the buyer's remorse that comes when you love one song and buy the whole album. However, you can even save yourself the 99 cents by borrowing the CD, getting your fill of that one song and then returning it. If you're like me, occasionally an old, long-forgotten song suddenly worms its way back into your brain and won't let go (I'm not being imaginative - they call these "ear worms."). Why not find the song here or from one of our consortial libraries before running out and buying it? Sometimes those old favorites turn out to be less glorious with the test of time.

To help you discover the hidden treasures of our CD collections, David Whittingham from Readers' Services and myself will be introducing you to specific CDs as well as special sections. You can find the blog by visiting http://dpplbeat.blogspot.com, or by clicking on "Great Music" under the "Read/Watch/Listen" menu. I hope that "this beat goes on" inspires you to listen bravely and creatively.

update on "i have a voice"

You can read all the details on "i have a voice" below. Today we had a special visitor to DPPL, Des Plaines' very own Michael Senesac, who is one of the individuals featured in the "i have a voice" photo exhibit. You can see Michael here as he looks today, a handsome young man, posing by his portrait. “I’m proud that my friends, my school and my family will see this,” stated Michael.

Michael's mother Fran was instrumental in bringing "i have a voice" to the Des Plaines Public Library. "I think it's so important that people see that people with Down syndrome and other disabilities fit into our community and thrive." Amen to that, Fran!

Read more below and don't forget that there will be a special reception featuring a talk by Nancy Gianni, founder of GiGi's Playhouse, an awareness center for individuals with Down syndrome, on Saturday, November 14, at 1 PM in our Storytime Room. Please join us next Saturday!