Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Director's Blog

Celebrate The Paris Wife

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've 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 Thursday, July 19 at the Winnetka Community House. Buy tickets

Access the Library on the go!

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.

Meet our new director!

You're invited to meet Tena Wilson, the new Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Director. Join us for cake, coffee, and conversation with Tena at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 16 at the Winnetka Library.

Notice of Change in Meeting

The Study Session of the Board of Trustees of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District that was scheduled for April 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm has been changed to a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District. The Special Meeting will take place on April 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the Winnetka Library located at 768 Oak Street, Winnetka, IL 60093.

Board Names New Director

The Board of Directors of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District is pleased to announce that Tena Wilson will be the district’s new Library Director. Her appointment is effective April 23, 2012.

Ms. Wilson currently serves as Public Services West Team Manager for the Cleveland Public Library, where she oversees the daily operations of 14 libraries staffed by more than 130 staff members. Before joining the Cleveland Public Library in 2006, Ms. Wilson worked for the Stark County District Library in Canton, Ohio where she planned and implemented programming for middle and high school students. Ms. Wilson is an active member of the American Library Association, with experience serving on committees and presenting at conferences. Prior to entering the library field, Ms. Wilson spent 15 years in corporate marketing and sales with much of her work focusing on equipping libraries.

Ms. Wilson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Secondary Education from Tennessee Temple University and a Master of Library and Information Sciences degree from Kent State University.

In making the announcement, Bob Sanfilippo, President of the Board said, “On behalf of the Board, we are delighted that Tena will be joining the library district as Library Director. Through her experience at the Cleveland Public Library and Stark County District Library, Tena has developed a set of library management skills that we believe will be invaluable in leading our library district. We are most impressed with Tena’s focus on customer service, a factor that is very important to our residents. We look forward to working with Tena to fulfill the library district’s mission of providing exceptional service, reliable information, enriching programs, and welcoming spaces for our residents.”

In accepting the position, Ms. Wilson said, “What a privilege it will be for me to serve the residents of Winnetka, Northfield and Kenilworth – patrons who very obviously support and appreciate their libraries. I look forward to working with the talented library staff to continue to introduce new and innovative services to the community.”

Residents will have the opportunity to meet Ms. Wilson at a reception on April 16 at 8 p.m. at the Winnetka Library. The reception will follow the Board’s regular monthly meeting, which begins at 7 p.m.

The Board would also like to recognize the dedication and hard work of Juli Janovicz, Head of Adult Services and Assistant Library Director, who was appointed last October as Interim Library Director. Ms. Janovicz will continue to serve in that capacity until Ms. Wilson begins her service on April 23. Board President Sanfilippo said, “Juli’s willingness to step in and lead during this transition period is a testament to her professionalism. We appreciate her commitment to the library district and that of the entire, outstanding district staff.”

Storm Water Drainage Project

The Board of Library Trustees of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District is requesting Statements of Qualifications for professional services for a storm water drainage project.

If you are interested in submitting your qualifications for this project please make use of the following documents:

Complete Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Request for Qualifications Advertisement (PDF, 15 KB)

Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District Request for Qualifications (RFQ) (PDF, 98 KB)

Library Blueprints (PDF, 28 MB)

Director Search Starts

The Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District seeks an influential leader as its next Library Director.

Candidates are invited to apply (nominations are also welcome) by submitting a cover letter and resume. For the full job description and submission details, please click here.

Congratulations to Studio 60093 Participants

We had a great set of video entries for this year's Studio 60093 Children's Video Fest. Our winners this year were:

Winnetka-Northfield Public Library Commercial (1st place in the K-8 Commercial category and winner of the popular vote)
Don't Stop Reading (1st place in the High School Commercial category)
Transitions (1st place in the Keep it Short category)
Food for Thought (1st place in the Live Animation category)
The Magic Book (1st place in the How Do You Do That? category)
Go Green and Recycle (1st place in the Go Green category)

Congratulations to all of this year's winners and a big thank you to everyone who participated.

You can watch all of this year's entries on the Studio 60093 Children's Video Fest page.

Thank you, Strategic Planning Committee

At the October 17 meeting, the Board of Trustees recognized the contributions of four district residents who served on the Strategic Planning Committee: Kate Azar, Suzanne Canfield, and Dina Crnkovich of Winnetka, and Jonathan Don of Northfield.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the residents of the Library District, I want to thank these four individuals for agreeing to serve on this important committee and for their conscientious work over a seventeen-month period,” said Bob Sanfilippo, President of the Board of Trustees.

Library Board Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Library Board is scheduled for Monday, October 17, 2011 at 7:00pm in the Winnetka Library.

Click here to view the complete board packet.