Happy New Year

Melvin Public Library will be closed Wednesday, December 31, 2014 and Thursday, January 1, 2015 to celebrate the New Year.  Wishing the very best to all our friends and patrons in 2015!





Holiday Closings

 The library will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, Christmas Eve and Thursday, December 25, Christmas Day to celebrate the holidays.  Wishing all our library friends a very Merry Christmas!

Polaris Update

The Illinois Heartland Library System shared database will be undergoing an update on Friday, December 26 to Polaris 5.0 so requesting interlibrary material from home on that day will not be possible.  You may request holds at area libraries and they will be placed for you once the update is completed.

Pageturner Holiday Party

The Pageturners holiday party will be held this evening, Monday, December 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Community Hall on Main Street.  Note the start time is half an hour earlier than normal!  If everyone would please bring a snack to share, JoAnn will provide a beverage for the group. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing a very happy holiday to all our library friends!

More Free eBooks

A new source for free eBooks has been added to the Links of Interest sidebar on this page.  Check out free eBooks from the Internet's Open Library (openlibrary.org) an online source claiming to have over 250,000 free eBooks available to the general public.

Christmas Book

Just in is Taste of Home Christmas 2014 a beautiful volume filled with recipes, decorating and craft projects to enjoy this holiday season.

You'll find plenty of recipes for holiday get-togethers, as well as cookie recipes and other gifts to give from from your kitchen.

Pageturner Books

Just a reminder that copies of the book Philomena by Martin Sixsmith, the selection for the Monday, November 10 Pageturner meeting, are still available at the library!

New Books

New books recently added to the library's collection include Burn by James Patterson, The Lost Key by Catherine Coulter and UnPHILtered by Phil Robertson of Duck Commander fame.  Also new are Close to Home  by Lisa Jackson and Taste of Home Christmas 2014.

Pageturner Books

The selection for the November 10 Pageturner Book Club meeting is "Philomena" by Martin Sixsmith and copies are now available at the library.

Genealogy

A great book for local research is now available online, all 842 pages!  See the link in the right hand column under genealogy for Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and the Presidents of the United States.  Seriously, that's the title!  It was published in Chicago in 1892.

Memorial Donations

The library has received memorial donations from Dave and Pat Donovan in memory of Gerry Gravlin and from the Melvin-Sibley Class of 1964 in memory of Elenor Conger and Lois Simpson.

More New Books

If you were a fan of the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer try The Host by the same author; also new is Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner, and Murder Simply Brewed: An Amish Village Mystery by Vannetta Chapman.

Pageturner Books

October Pageturner books--Still Life by Louise Penny--are in!

New Books

Just in is the second book in a series by Darcie Chan titled The Mill River Redemption; also new Distant Echoes and Black Sands by Colleen Coble, Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman, Mean Streak by Sandra Brown and Deserves to Die by Lisa Jackson.

Pageturners

This evening at 7:00 p.m. the library's book discussion group The Pageturners will hold their meeting in conjunction with the Melvin Woman's Club at Community Hall on Main Street.  The book for discussion will be Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Summer Reading

Now that school is back in session, the Summer Reading program is drawing to a close so everyone who participated should hurry in to the library, complete their reading logs and claim their prizes by the end of next week!

Pageturner Books

Copies of the next selection for the book club have arrived at the library.  The book for discussion at the September 8 meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the Melvin Woman's Club, is Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple.

Pageturners Meet Tonight

The library book club meets this evening, August 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the library and the book for discussion is "Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune," a non-fiction title by Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Dedman.

New Releases

Danielle Steel's latest title is A Perfect Life and a copy is now available at the library. Author Veronica Roth has also released the next book in the popular Divergent series and it is simply titled Four.


New Coin Books

Thanks to a donation from the Illinois Numismatic Association the library has added 9 new books on collecting coins and paper money.

New Books

New books recently added to the library's collection include Power Play by Catherine Coulter,  Top Secret 21 by Janet Evanovich, Keep Quiet by Lisa Scottoline and For All Time by Jude Deveraux.

Summer Reading Bonus

McDonald's Restaurant is teaming up with Melvin Library to reward participants in our Summer Reading Challenge.  Each youth who reads 12 books or more can receive a Happy Meal and a collectible bookmark, stop by the library for more details!

Pageturners

The library's book club will meet next Monday, July 14, at 7:00 p.m. at the library and the book for discussion is Dark Places by Gillian Flynn.  Copies are available at the library.

Keep Reading!

We've just added lots of new prizes for the Summer Reading Challenge so keep reading kids!  You can earn prizes for reading all summer long and what better way to spend a few hours on a hot summer afternoon?!

New Books

Just arrived in the library are James Patterson's newest book Invisible as well as A Sensible Arrangement and A Moment in Time by Tracie Peterson, Family Affair by Fern Michaels and Finding Me by Michelle Knight.


Pageturners Meet Tonight

The library's book club The Pageturners will meet this evening at 7:00 p.m. at the library and the book for discussion is What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty.  See you all soon!

Summer Reading Starts Today!

Congratulations to Tucker Pabian, the first youth to sign up for and win a prize in the Summer Reading Challenge 2014.  Kids of all ages can participate and win prizes all sumer long by reading books and recording the titles in their reading log.  Stop by the library to sign up today!

New Books

,New books recently added to the library's collection include Butterfly Palace by Colleen Coble, Night Diver by Elizabeth Lowell, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, Chestnut Street by Maeve Binchy and Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson.

Memorial Day

The library will be closed on Monday, May 26 to celebrate Memorial Day.

Summer Reading Challenge

Summer Reading is just around the corner and here is what you need to know--any age can participate and youngsters earn prizes by reading 3 or more books each week throughout the summer.  Last summer 26 children read 292 books and earned 81 prizes and we hope to beat those numbers this year!  The Summer Reading Challenge begins the day after school dismisses for the year, this year that date is June 6.

Pageturners Meet May 12

The Pageturners book club will next meet on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Melvin Public Library and the book for discussion is Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark.  Copies are available at the library.

New Books

Two new books just added to the collection are Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and it's sequel, Hollow City, by Ransom Riggs.  Both are unusual novels and both have extremely peculiar cover art.  Check them out!

Celebrate National Library Week!

It's National Library Week 2014!  Here at Melvin Library we are celebrating by highlighting the library's tech services.  Check out the public access computer and Internet service, free Wifi and our website, explore resource sharing options and download free digital content--ebooks and audiobooks--with your library card.

Please view our display in the bank window on Main Street and our memorial book shelves at the library.  It's also time for our free book give-away so stop by the library for your free books!  Each member of the public may choose 5 free items from our book sale area each day during National Library Week.

Tax Time

April 15 is just around the corner and with it comes the deadline to file individual tax returns.  If you still need tax forms to complete your filing, the library can help you out.  Stop by the library during open hours to pick up or print out the form you need!

New Books

Just in at the library, a new book by Harlan Coben, Missing You.  Also new NYPD Red 2 by James Patterson, Digestion Connection by Elizabeth Lipski and I've Got You Under My Skin by Mary Higgins Clark.

Pageturners

The Pageturners next book club meeting will be Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. Melvin Public Library and the book for discussion is Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.  There are plenty of copies available to check out and newcomers are always welcome to attend.

New Books

New books recently added to the library's collection include: Forget Me Not by Fern Michaels, First Love by James Patterson, Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner, Innocence by Dean Koontz, and Blackberry Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke, a culinary mystery with recipes!

Weather Closing

Due to the inclement weather the library will remain closed today.

Pageturners Meeting

The Pageturners book club meets this evening at 7:00 p.m. at Melvin Public Library and the group will discuss the book The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin.  Hope to see you all later!

Tax Forms

State of Illinois tax forms have arrived! The library now has all the state income tax forms along with all the basic federal forms and access to any specialized tax form you might need.

Pageturner Books Are In!

The selection for the March 10 book club meeting is The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin and copies are now available at the library.  This non-fiction work couldn't be more timely and puts this year's weather into perspective.

Delivery Update

We are sorry to report there will be no interlibrary loan delivery today due to the road conditions.  We spoke with the delivery manager at Illinois Heartland Library System and they have agreed to provide an extra delivery stop tomorrow, Wednesday, February 19, because they have missed our last two!

Weather Closing

The library will remain closed today due to inclement weather--stay home, stay safe, we'll see you tomorrow!

Evelyn Beck Memorials

Thank you to friends and family members for donations to the library in memory of Evelyn Beck:  Jay & Vicky Beck & Family, Larry & Cheri Beck Cole & Family, Kathy Eagleson, Sharon Forbes, Alora Ford, Dave & Pat Donovan, Cheryl Allen, Paula Cyphert, the Village of Melvin, Ron & Donna Courtright, Jim & Lynn Duke, Mary Howell and Russell & Diana Ehlers.

Tax Forms

Tax time is around the corner and tax forms are beginning to arrive at the library.  Within a week or two all basic state and federal tax forms should be available and there is no charge for this service.

Library Closing

Due to the blowing snow and poor weather conditions, the library will be closed today.

Pageturners

The next selection for the library book club is Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and there are plenty of copies available for pickup at the library.  The February meeting will be the program for the Melvin Woman's Club and will be held at Community Hall on Main Street at 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 10.  We hope to see you then!

Library Closing

The library will be closed again today due to the extreme cold temperatures.  There are no late fees charged at this time.  Think spring!

Board Meeting Rescheduled

Due to the extreme weather conditions, the Melvin Public Library Board of Trustee meeting originally scheduled for this eveing has been postponed until Tuesday, Febtruary 4th, at 7:00 p.m.

UPDATE:  DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER THE FEBRUARY 4 RESCHEDULED MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

Weather Closing

Due to the extreme temperatures and severe weather warnings, Melvin Public Library, like the GCMS school district, will remain closed today.  Stay warm!

Weather and Delivery

Due to inclement weather the library, as well as GCMS, is closed today.  The Illinois Heartland Library System is also closed and delivery will not be run today.

Pageturners

The Melvin Public Library Book Club meets this evening, Monday, January 13, at 7:00 p.m. at the library and the book for discussion is “The Snow Child” by Eowyn Ivey.  Newcomers are always welcome to attend!

Extended Closing

Due to the continued severe weather conditions the library will remain closed through Tuesday, January 7.  Stay warm!

Library Closings

The library will be closed on Monday, January 6 due to the severe winter weather.  Stay home, stay safe, no late fees are charged during this time.