Spring Cleaning Incentives!

Yes - PlainTalk is repeating itself this week! Here is an earlier post from a few weeks ago, but the two items mentioned bear repeating. Please read on and make note of these two opportunities. Thank you!

Two reasons to start your Spring cleaning this weekend: 

1) The Friends of the Library need fresh donations to make their upcoming book sale a success. Please look around and see if you have any good quality books, DVDs and CDs to spare. All proceeds benefit your friendly neighborhood library. Donations are accepted on the first floor during our normal business hours. If you have a large number of items to donate, we can assist you with carrying the items - please call the library at 847-827-5551 to make arrangements. The Friends' book sale is on the weekend of April 16-18, 2010 - see their Web site for more information.

2) Des Plaines residents are invited to an Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the Public Works facility. From 9 AM  - 12 PM, residents may drop off computer components, TVs, phone equipment, hand-held electronics, radios and DVD/VCR players. Household appliances WILL NOT be accepted. Public Works is located at 1111 Joseph Schwab Road, north of Algonquin Road, east of River Road. To volunteer or for more information, call 847-391-5464. Download the event flyer.

Thanks to this blog: http://www.yorkblog.com/onlyyork/2009/04/spring-cleaning.html for the Maxine cartoon.

It's Dewey Time Again!

Mark your calendars and save the date - here comes "Do The Dewey," the after-hours fundraiser that benefits both the Des Plaines Public Library and the Rotary Club of Des Plaines.

This year, "Dewey" will take place on Saturday, April 24, 2010, from 7-10 PM, right here at the Library. (That's 1501 Ellinwood Street in Des Plaines, IL - we are right in the heart of downtown, next to the Metra station) Tickets are available online now or buy them at the Library registration desk.

What does it mean to "Do The Dewey?" 

You pay an entry fee of $35 ($40 at the door). That one, low ticket price brings you unlimited food, soft drinks, wine and beer and 3 hours packed with entertainment and enrichment.
This year's line-up includes:

• The elegant jazz stylings of Jazz Couture, featuring saxophonist Nick Bisesi and "jazz soprano" Gayle Bisesi;
  
• The inside scoop on casino gaming with Casino Survival Kit! Blackjack, Craps & Roulette. Learn what's what, how it works and how to play from John Grochowski, Sun Times columnist and founder of www.casinoanswerman.com;
  
• The World of Tea - taste teas from India, China and Japan;
  
• Ice cream tastings from Capannari Ice Cream - yum!
  
• Aura readings from the Clairvoyant Center of Chicago and handwriting analysis by a professional graphologist;
  
• Take home a personalized bookmark from a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy;
  
• Displays and demonstrations on bonsai & ikebana (flower arranging);
  
• Demonstration/instruction in tai chi and Bollywood-style dancing;
• and more!

If games of chance intrigue you, you can sweeten the deal by buying raffle tickets all night for great prizes. Back this year is our always popular "Wine Surprise" raffle - you buy a mystery bottle of wine and then discover a surprise gift certificate tucked away in the gift bag - everyone's a winner!

In tough economic times, it can certainly raise your spirits to go out for a night on the town and "Dewey" is surprisingly affordable and it benefits a great cause. Do the math - if you were to go out for a full meal, including wine or beer, 3 hours of live music plus some other form of entertainment, some ice cream or tea on the way home - well, you'd easily surpass $35. We'll keep you posted right here as we receive more information on entertainment and raffle prizes. If you've never attended "Do the Dewey" before, why not consider it this year? Public libraries need your help and support more than ever and doing good has never been this much fun!

Still not convinced? See photos from last year's "Dewey" and let the smiles tell the story!

Census 2010

"...an accurate count of the U.S. population forms the basis for many important but often overlooked political, economic, and social decisions that are made that end up affecting our daily lives."

-- C.N. Le, Professor at University of Massachusetts, Amherst

That's a quote found on the official Census 2010 Web site: 2010.census.gov 

There's a lot of information - and misinformed - floating around about the current Census.

If you have questions or concerns about filling out Census forms or need copies of the forms, we can help.

Extra forms are available in our first floor lobby atrium. A Census worker will be available from Sunday, March 21 - Monday, April 19, 2010, four days a week during the following hours:

Sundays	1 p.m.—5 p.m.
Mondays	5 p.m.—9 p.m.
Tuesdays	5 p.m.—9 p.m.
Wednesdays	5 p.m.—8 p.m.

Assistance is available in both English and Spanish.If these times are inconvenient or you would like more in-depth information, consider attending "Be Counted!" our free Census workshop. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM - more details here.