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Lake Villa District Library to celebrate 60-year anniversary all year long

By Diana Kuyper Special to The News-Sun December 30, 2011 2:54PM

Updated: February 1, 2012 8:03AM

The new year, 2012, marks Lake Villa District Library’s 60th anniversary. The year-long celebration kicks off Jan. 2 with a challenge for library patrons to visit the library 60 times before June 30.

Debbie Rosen, who has been head of circulation for 26 years, is also chairing the anniversary committee. “We thought scheduling special events and activities throughout the entire year would be a fun way to celebrate.”

“Our first of two challenges begins Monday (Jan. 2) when patrons can pick up a ‘Time Tracker’ to record their visits,” Rosen said, suggesting patrons use the visits to explore the library and its services to their full extent and get their Time Tracker stamped following every visit.

“The information you gather might be useful for the second challenge,” she hinted. Patrons who reach the 60-visit goal will receive a prize, but she’s not revealing the prize or the second challenge until later in the year.

“We are really excited about doing some creative events, which we are in the process of planning, for every month of 2012.”

The first special event of the year is a production of “Charlotte’s Web,” by American Eagle Productions, Chicago, geared toward families and young children. “We chose this presentation because the book ‘Charlotte’s Web’ was published 60 years ago,” said Rosen. The program is Feb. 20 at 1 p.m. at the library, with registration for tickets starting Monday.

The library, started in 1952, was first housed in the village hall on Cedar Avenue in Lake Villa. Five years later, it was moved to a storefront at 117 Cedar Ave. By 1973, the library was serving a booming township population and a much larger free-standing facility was built in 1980 at Deep Lake Road and Grand Avenue, with an addition built in 1997. The library at 1001 E. Grand Ave. is open seven days a week and serves all of Lake Villa Township.

Other highlights of the celebration include a new library logo declaring “60 years — Our story continues!” Any new patron receiving a library card in 2012 will be issued a special diamond anniversary card.

A new blog called 60 Beats will chronicle the year-long celebration beginning in January on the library Web site, www.lvdl.org. The blog will be authored by Kerry Reed, head of the youth services department, and Jenna Melberg, young adult associate, said Rosen.

”Staff from all departments of the library is working on the anniversary celebration and our main goal is to make it a fun year for everyone.”