Jun 29, 2010

Join Us on July 4th!

The library is involved in several fundraisers on the 4th of July and we hope you'll come and join us!

The annual pork chop dinner at the Ford County Fairgrounds in Melvin will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 4, 2010.

The library is also partnering in a food booth at the Sibley 4th of July celebration that will serve food all day long. Also join us for bingo at Sibley from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Jun 23, 2010

Friends of The Melvin Public Library
are sponsoring a fundraiser
PORK CHOP DINNER
Whole meals include pork chop, baked beans,
potato salad, applesauce and beverage
$7.00 per plate.
Pork Chop Sandwiches–$4.00 • Bake Sale Goods Available
Sunday, July 4, 2010
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
At the Ford County Fairgrounds
following the Community Church Service.
Supplemental Funds provided by
Ford County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Jun 16, 2010

Ford County Opens Legal Self-Help Centers

At a press conference today, Presiding Judge Stephen R. Pacey announced the establishment of a new internet-based legal self-help center for residents of Ford County. The new center is a collaborative project among the circuit court, Circuit Clerk, Kim Evans’, Office and the public libraries in Paxton, Gibson City, Melvin and Piper City. Technical assistance and support were provided by Illinois Legal Aid Online and the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice.

“Ford County is fortunate to have four very community-focused public libraries in Paxton, Gibson City, Melvin and Piper City. When Judge Pacey wrote to them explaining the project, they immediately agreed to be a part of it. The role of the public libraries in this collaborative project is critical. Public libraries are community focal points for information, both printed and electronic, particularly in rural areas where high speed internet access might not be readily available” said Joseph A. Dailing, Executive Director of the Illinois Coalition for Equal Justice.

“The library directors, Anne Newman at Paxton Carnegie Library, Sharon Craig at Moyer District Library, Jacqueline Allen at the Melvin Public Library, and Julie Kurtenbach at the Piper City Public Library District have all been fantastic to work with on this project. Their public access computers will allow patrons to use this rich source of legal information that Illinois Legal Aid Online has developed and which it maintains,” he said.

“This is one of those instances where technology can overcome the usual barriers caused by long distances. Technology makes it possible for everyone to have the same level of access to information whether they are located in Paxton or in Chicago,” he said. “For those who have internet-enabled computers at home, the resources of the center are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,” Dailing said.

The Ford County Legal Self-Help Center is the forty-fourth new legal self-help center opened since 2007 in Illinois. It can be found on the internet at Ford.IllinoisLegalAid.Org. The start up funding for the Ford County Legal Self-Help Center comes from a grant from the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Submitted by: Illinois Coalition For Equal Justice on 06/14/2010

Jun 7, 2010

Summer Reading Starts!

The Summer Reading Challenge begins today at Melvin Public Library! This program helps keep reading skills sharp over the summer months and allows young people to win prizes for reading books.

The program is for K-8th graders who are asked to read 3 or more library books, at or near their reading level, record the titles in a reading log and choose a prize. Youngsters may win one prize a week over the summer months. Stop by the library to sign up today!

Jun 2, 2010

Book Donations

We extend heartfelt thanks to several members of the public for material donations to the library and to the library trustees who made the donations possible. Thanks to Leslie Stephen, Steve & Jan Bangert, Cheryl Kurtenbach and Lorie Ford!

Children's books and current popular fiction are in great demand at the library and donations of these material are always put to good use.