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Winnetka Public Library

Northfield Branch

Board Names New Library Director

Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 9:56 AM

The Board of Trustees of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District voted last night to appoint Rebecca Wolf Library Director, effective April 15, 2013. 

Wolf currently serves as Assistant Library Director for the Deerfield Public Library in Deerfield, IL, where she oversees four departments and leads the library’s long-range technology planning. Prior to joining the Deerfield Public Library in 2007, Wolf was Circulation Manager at the Lincolnwood Public Library in Lincolnwood, IL. 

Wolf earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and a Master of Library and Information Science degree from Dominican University.

“Rebecca brings impressive experience, leadership skills, and enthusiasm to the library district,” said Bob Sanfilippo, President of the Board of Trustees. “Public libraries today operate in an environment of tremendous change. With her strong track record in library technology and service, we are confident that under Rebecca’s guidance our libraries will continue to meet the evolving needs of our residents.”

In accepting the position, Wolf said, “I am truly thrilled to be coming to the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District. I look forward to working with the creative, community-focused, and forward-thinking library staff and Board of Trustees to find new and innovative ways to deliver library services that build on a tradition of excellence.”

“We’re excited that Rebecca has decided to join us as Library Director,” said John Canfield, Vice President of the Board of Trustees. “Her energy, experience, and leadership will be a great addition to the outstanding team of library professionals serving the residents of Winnetka and Northfield.”  

Residents will have the opportunity to meet Rebecca Wolf at a reception on April 14 from noon to 2:00 p.m.  at the Winnetka Library.

Juli Janovicz, Head of Adult Services and Assistant Library Director, was appointed Interim Library Director last August. The Board of Trustees thanks Juli for her dedication and hard work over the past seven months and looks forward to her continued contributions to the library.

Requesting Community Input – Urban Land Institute (ULI) Chicago to Conduct Series of Technical Ass

Posted Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 3:48 PM

The Village of Winnetka has commissioned ULI Chicago to conduct a series of two Technical Assistance Panels (TAPs) to create a balanced, economically sustainable commercial strategy for the three business districts (Indian Hill, Elm Street, and Hubbard Woods) and to plan for the successful future of the retail market.

Community input is critical to inform the Panel on current conditions in the commercial districts and also provide input on future retail needs.  A short survey is being conducted on the Village’s behalf to collect important data.  Please take a few moments to complete the Winnetka Shopper Survey.  Responses will be collected until 8:00am Thursday, February 21, 2013.   Data will be compiled for use during the TAP process.  Feedback is anonymous.

Complete Winnetka Shopper Survey Now

Temporary Parking at Winnetka Library

Posted Friday, January 18, 2013 at 9:39 AM

Winnetka Library Parking Lot Closed Beginning February 4

The Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District will be undertaking a construction project in the parking lot of the Winnetka Library (768 Oak Street). Portions of the Library parking lot will be closed while crews install measures to manage storm water and reduce future flood risk.

The construction work will begin on Monday, February 4. To assist Library patrons, temporary parking has been established by the Village of Winnetka on Linden Street at the following locations:

• The east side of Linden Street, immediately north of the Library entrance;
• The west side of Linden Street, immediately south of Oak Street; and
• The east side of Linden Street, south of the Library entrance.

During the construction period, signs will indicate these spaces are for "Library Patrons Only."

If these parking spaces are full, it is recommended that Library patrons use the 90-minute free parking on Oak Street or in the center aisle of the Village Hall lot (just south of Village Hall facing Oak). Please see the location map for complete details.

Please visit www.winnetkalibrary.org or call the Winnetka Library at (847) 446-7220 for construction updates.

Check Out With Your Smart Device

Posted Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 5:07 PM

We are proud to be one of the first libraries in the country to offer self check out on mobile devices. Instead of standing in line to check out, you can now check out library materials using your smart device!

Using our WinnLib mobile app, the BookCheck feature allows you to scan a barcode on a book or other item with your mobile phone and check it out from anywhere in the library.

WinnLib users can also check out materials, search the library’s catalog, place holds and renew items, download eBooks and eAudiobooks, and register for library programs on their mobile devices.

The WinnLib mobile app is available for Android, iPhone and iPad devices. To install the WinnLib app on your iPod, iPad, or iPhone, go to itunes.com/apps/winnetkanorthfieldlibrary. To install the app on your Android device, visit winnetka.boopsie.com.

If you would like to learn more, bring your device to one of our Appternoons programs or contact a librarian for personal assistance.

Enhancing Our Collection

Posted Monday, September 17, 2012 at 4:42 PM

Just in time for fall, Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District is undertaking a major weeding project to ensure its collection is vibrant, up-to-date, and useful to the community.

“Our patrons want more popular materials and want us to provide better access to non-print materials and current technologies, ” says Juli Janovicz, Interim Library Director. "In the next few months, we will implement tenets of the strategic plan by creating inviting spaces for our residents while continuing to provide exemplary service.”

Under the objectives developed in the District’s Strategic Plan, librarians are removing 8,000 items that are out-of-date, in poor condition, or have not circulated in four years. Librarians use their professional judgment in evaluating each volume; so major classics in a genre will be retained even if they have not circulated. 

Space formerly devoted to housing the books is being redeveloped. Initial plans call for an inviting leisure reading space on the mezzanine level. 

Over 200 boxes of books have already been picked up by Better World Books, an online book reseller that collects books libraries no longer need and makes them available for customers on their website.  

In addition to keeping books out of landfills, Better World Books will give a percentage of the profits to the Friends of the Library.  Funds from the book sales will be used for space redevelopment.

“Our goal is to improve patron satisfaction with our collections by shifting materials spending and addressing opportunities for greater service that improve digital access, increase popular materials, and enhance teen services,” says Janovicz. 

About Better World Books

Better World Books is a for-profit social enterprise and a global e-retailer providing products and information to socially conscious consumers. Better World Books collects and sells books online matching each purchase with a donation, book for book, and with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives in the U.S. and around the world. Since its founding in 2003, the Mishawaka, Ind.-based company has raised over $12.6 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 6 million books; re-used or recycled over 90 million books and achieved 31,000 tons of carbon offsets through carbon balanced shipping.

About the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Strategic Plan

Adopted on August, 2011, the Strategic Plan “is a direct response to the voices of our residents and library users, heard clearly, that told us how and why they use our library district facilities and resources and how they need and want to use them in the future.” The Strategic Planning Committee was composed of community members, board members, and library staff. The document sets forth objectives and strategies to guide the library district, stemming from on a comprehensive community survey, an in-depth look at library trends, and space studies. 

Library Board Names Interim Director

Posted Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 12:49 PM

The Board of Trustees voted on August 20 to appoint Juli Janovicz as the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Interim Director. Janovicz is the library’s Assistant Director and Head of Adult Services.

Janovicz joined the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District staff as the Head of Reference in 1989. She was the interim director during the previous director search.

In August, Library Director Tena Wilson accepted the position as Executive Director of Stark County District Library in Canton, Ohio.

The Board of Trustees has reopened the search for a library director with the previouslyengaged search firm of Corbus Library Consultants.

We Love Our Friends

Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at 11:55 AM

Since 1974, the Friends of the Library group has supported special programs beyond the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District’s regular operating budget.

This year, the Friends donated $20,000 to the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District. The funds cover the costs of special programs like the One Book Two Villages community reading project, the Studio 60093 Children’s Video Festival, the Pleasure of Your Company music program, and the popular summer reading program.

“The generosity of the Friends makes extraordinary programs and services available to our community,” said Interim Director Juli Janovicz. Over 3,000 people participated in programs sponsored by the Friends in the 2011-12 fiscal year.

This fall, the Friends will send an annual appeal letter to your home. The volunteer group will ask you to ensure the continuation of these programs and others that appeal to nearly every interest and age group. If you would like to volunteer with the Friends or make a donation, please contact the library at (847) 446-7220. 

Celebrate Hemingway With The Paris Wife

Posted Monday, July 2, 2012 at 4:51 PM

Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. 

“I first came to know Hadley in the pages of A Moveable Feast, Hemingways remarkable memoir of his years in Paris.  His reminiscences of Hadley were so moving that I decided to seek out biographies of her life—and that is when I knew what I had found something special.  Her voice and the arc of her life were riveting,” says author Paula McLain. “She is the perfect person to show us a side of Hemingway we have never seen before—tender, vulnerable, and very human—but she is also an extraordinary person in her own right.”

Set during a remarkable time, the same period as A Moveable Feast and The Sun Also Rises, Paula McLains The Paris Wife brilliantly captures the voice and heart of Hadley as she struggles with her roles as a woman—wife, lover, muse, friend, and mother—and tries to find her place in the intoxicating and tumultuous world of Paris in the twenties.

The Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District is proud to honor The Paris Wife as the 2012 One Book Two Villages title. 

“I was captivated by the love story between Hadley and Ernest, and knew it would spark a discussion within the community,” says Juli Janovicz, One Book Two Villages coordinator. “I know I have found a good candidate for One Book Two Villages if I cannot get the selection out of my head and I want to share it with everyone I come in contact with around the village.”

In celebration of The Paris Wife, the Winnetka Library will host a Hemingway-inspired Moveable Feast on Sunday, July 15. The evening will feature Paris Noir jazz performed by singer Greta Pope and international cuisine. The menu will include bacon-wrapped dates and Spanish potato salad from Tapas Gitana, salmon tartare and leek tarts from Corner Cooks, and mini-apple pies and Americana deserts from B.C. Caters. 

On July 19, the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District will welcome author Paula McLain to town. Ms. McLain will be the guest of honor at an exclusive cocktail party at the Winnetka Community House, followed by a book lecture in Matz Hall. Ms. McLain will also be signing books at the library district booth at the Winnetka Sidewalk Sale on Friday, July 20. 

Information and tickets for all The Paris Wife events are available at www.OneBookTwoVillages.org. 

About the Author

Paula McLain received an MFA in poetry from the University of Michigan and has been a resident of Yaddo and the MacDowell Colony. She is the author of two collections of poetry, as well as a memoir, Like Family, and a first novel, A Ticket to Ride. She lives in Cleveland with her family. For more information, visit www.paulamclain.com. 

One Book Two Villages

One Book Two Villages is a program designed to inspire the Winnetka-Northfield community to read and discuss great books. The program includes author visits, reading discussions, and activities to enrich your reading experience. For more information, visit www.onebooktwovillages.org. 

Paula McLain Tickets

Posted Tuesday, May 1, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Most of us know or think we know who Ernest Hemingway was -- a brilliant writer full of macho swagger, driven to take on huge feats of bravery and a pitcher or two of martinis -- before lunch. But beneath this man or myth, or some combination of the two, is another Hemingway, one we have never seen before.  

Join us as we celebrate the many faces of Hemingway with The Paris Wife author Paula McLain at an exclusive cocktail party and book talk on July 19. Buy tickets at http://obtv.eventbrite.com/

Access us on the go!

Posted Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 2:37 PM

Use your mobile device to find what you want. 

Search and reserve books and movies on the fly. Download eBooks and eAudiobooks to your phone or tablet. Find and register for library programs. Scan the ISBN barcodes of books you find in bookstores, or even at a friend’s house, to see if they are available at your library.

The Winnetka-Northfield Library mobile app gives you the power to search and explore the library, wherever you are! Search for books, movies, music, and more. Place holds or renew items, find out about upcoming events, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us.

To install the Winnetka-Northfield Library mobile app on your iPod, iPad, or iPhone, go to itunes.com/apps/winnetkanorthfieldlibrary. To install the app on your Android device, visit winnetka.boopsie.com.