Friends of the Library Big Book Sale
Come to find great books at great bargains! Help support the Friends of the Library and the Fondulac District Library with this annual Big Book Sale. Reasonably prices hard backs and paperback books for all ages.
Find Your Voice Writing Contest for Kids– Winners!
We’re excited to announce the winners of our Find Your Voice Writing Contest for kids!
A big congratulations to our winners! We had so many fantastic entries for this summer’s writing contest. It was hard to choose. Thank you to all of the talented authors who participated!
Ages 5-7
1st place: Kinley Smith
2nd place: Avery Clarkson
3rd place: Elena Lynn
Ages 8-10
1st place: Cali Rumpel
2nd place: Valerie Lynn
3rd place: Piper Cole
Ages 11-14
1st place: Harlow Sharum
2nd place: Clay Jordan
3rd place: Isabel Bone
Follow the links below to read our winning stories. There’s still time for teens and adults to participate in their writing contest!
The Summer Picnic by Kinley Smith
Daisy’s Lesson by Avery Clarkson
Even Circuses Are Hard Work by Valerie Lynn
Where Has Summer Gone by Piper Cole
School Supply Drive July 1-31
Help East Peoria’s kids start the school year off right, and supply them for success! The library’s annual school supply drive is back! The library is collecting new, unused school supplies from July 1 to 31 to distribute to District 85 and 86 schools. Requested items include:
#2 pencils
pens (red, blue, and black)
pink erasers
Expo markers
Sharpies
highlighters
Elmer’s glue and glue sticks
Crayola crayons (24 count)
Crayola washable markers
Crayola watercolors
colored pencils
spiral notebooks
composition notebooks
wide-lined paper
folders
3 ring binders
scissors
rulers
index cards
book bags
paper towels
Kleenex
Ziploc sandwich bags and gallon bags
Clorox wipes
A box for donated supplies is located inside the Youth Services department. Your donations are greatly appreciated!
Tree Planting: 2023 Community Project
We need your help for this summer’s community project! The Fon du Lac Park District will match the library’s $500 pledge to go towards planting beautiful tulip poplar trees at Neumann Park for everyone to enjoy – but only if all of our summer readers help us hit our goal of 500,000 minutes!
That’s a lot of reading, but we’re positive that our voracious readers will be up to the task. Tulip poplars are the official tree of East Peoria and are actually closely related to the magnolia tree, but are called tulip trees because of their greenish yellow and orange flowers. So register for summer reading and track your reading June 1 – July 31 to help us plant new trees in the community! Plus, everyone who completes the summer reading program will be able to add a leaf to the tree bulletin board in the Youth Services department!
Nature Photography Contest
Fondulac District Library is hosting a Nature Photography Contest for teens and adults aligned with our Summer Reading Theme, “Find Your Voice.” Showcase your artistic voice by submitting photographs from June 2-30. Entries will be displayed in the Adult Services Department for library patrons to vote for their favorite piece throughout the month of July. Winners will be announced during the first week of August. There will be prizes for first, second, and third place winners.
- All interested photographers should read the library’s policy regarding Art in the Library
- Entries must be framed or matted, with the appropriate hardware to be hung on a Walker display system
- The final piece, including frame or matte, should be no larger than 12”x18” (landscape or portrait layout).
- Please include name, phone number, and email address attached to the back of the piece.
- Limit of one entry per person.
- Original works only.
- Only photos with a nature theme (animals, plants, landscapes, etc.) will be accepted.
- Turn in the entry to a staff person at the 2nd floor Information Desk.
Please email Julie at julien@fondulaclibrary.org with any questions.
Summer Writing Contests at the Library
The library is hosting writing contests this summer to go along with our summer reading theme “Find Your Voice.” Read over the guidelines and submit starting June 1st.
Children
Age Groups:
5-7 (250 Words)
8-10 (500 Words)
11-14 (1000 Words)
Keep your creative juices flowing this summer by participating in our writing contest! The writing theme is “summer” and contest entries can embody this theme in any way the author chooses. Entries must be submitted via email to alice@fondulaclibrary.org. Winners will be chosen in each age group. Please make sure submissions meet the requirements for that age range. The deadline is 7-21-23.
Prizes will be awarded in each age group.
Submission Guidelines:
- In the email, please use “Find Your Voice Writing Contest” in the subject line.
- Attach submission as a document
- Include name, age, and phone number of participant
- Include a note indicating permission (or not) to share your writing.
- Only original writings will be accepted.
- Make sure to include the theme of “summer” in some way in your writing.
- Write “The End” at the completion of your entry.
- One entry per person.
Teens and Adults
Enter the library’s Flash Fiction Writing Contest for adults and teens! Our wonderful panel of judges will select two winning adult authors and two winning teen authors. All manuscripts must be 1000 words (or less) and a work of original fiction that uses the theme of “Find Your Voice,” which can be interpreted in any way the author chooses. All entries must be submitted to Jeremy at jeremy@fondulaclibrary.org by August 24, 2023. See below for specific guidelines.
Prizes (for each age category):
First Place: $50 Gift Card & Swag Bag
Second Place: Swag Bag
The four winning entrants will have their stories published on the library’s website and/or social media.
Submission Guidelines:
- In the email, please write in the subject area: “FIND YOUR VOICE WRITING CONTEST.”
- Attach your manuscript to the email in a .doc or .docx file.
- Manuscript should be typed, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and in 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
- Include your name and phone number in the message section, indicate teen or adult, and if you give permission to post your short story with your name (or if you want to be anonymous) if you win.
- Only original materials may be entered.
- Entries must be in good taste and refrain from profanity.
- On the last page of your story, below the ending write: “THE END”
- Limited to one entry per person.
- Winners must be able to pick up prizes at Fondulac District Library.
- Submission deadline is August 24, 2023.
Find Your Voice! Summer Reading 2023
Our voices have power! This summer, we encourage readers of all ages to share stories, express yourselves, spark change, and get creative with FDL for the library’s 2023 Summer Reading Program: Find Your Voice! Join us June 1 through July 31 for a fantastic summer reading program offering fun and prizes for readers of all ages! Readers can register and track their progress online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org or on-the-go with the Beanstack app, or pick up a reading log from the library.
Engaging programs are planned throughout the summer focusing on a variety of creative activities, such as writing contests, a photography contest, comic book workshops, art projects, a musical instrument petting zoo, and more! We’ll also have family favorites like story times, movie nights, and crafts, as well as a lineup of exciting presenters to share magic, music, wildlife, science, and more! Find programs and register to attend through our online calendar.
Start Reading!
• Borrow books, audiobooks, and magazines from Fondulac District Library or download or stream eBooks and audiobooks from our digital collections.
• Whether it’s reading a graphic novel, listening to an audiobook, or reading an article, it counts! All reading must occur within the program dates.
Earn Badges
• Record your minutes in Beanstack.
• Earn 1 badge for every 50 minutes (PreK-2nd graders), 100 minutes (3rd-8th graders), or 150 minutes (high schoolers and adults).
• Earn one badge for completing an activity or attending any three Fondulac District Library programs.
• Earn 10 badges to complete the program. Kids can pick up badges at the Youth Services desk, and teens can pick up badges from the 2nd floor Information desk).
Win Prizes
• Participants receive prizes for reaching the halfway point by earning 5 badges AND for completing the program by earning 10 badges.
• Participants who complete the program will also be entered into a prize drawing!
• Halfway prizes can be picked up starting June 12, and completion prizes can be picked up starting June 26. Prizes are available while supplies last.
• The last day to pick up prizes is August 13.
Our 2023 Summer Reading programs and prizes are made possible thanks to our amazing community sponsors!
Central Illinois Reads
FDL is proud to partner with Bradley University, Chillicothe Public Library, Dunlap Public Library District, Methodist College, Morton Public Library, Neighborhood House, Pekin Public Library, and Peoria Public Library to celebrate every individual’s Freedom to Read!
With the marked increase in book challenges nationwide, Peoria Public Library invited Central Illinois libraries to come together to encourage everyone to exercise their intellectual “Freedom to Read” what they choose.
April 11 through October 7 (Banned Books Week), local libraries will host events to empower you to stand against censorship, including programs with nationally known authors whose books have been banned, screenings of films based on banned books, discussions with librarians who are pushing back against intolerance, exclusion, and censorship, and more.
Please join us in celebrating each person’s Freedom to Read. Get a library card. Read outside your comfort zone. Unite against book bans.
Learn more at peoriapubliclibrary.org/central-illinois-reads/.
Upcoming Central Illinois Reads Events:
Tuesday, September 12 — Central Illinois Reads Presents: Talking About Trauma
6 p.m. — Methodist College, 7600 N. Academic Dr.
As part of our Central Illinois Reads’ exploration of intellectual freedom, we’ve discovered that many of the books challenged and censored deal with trauma of some sort. Our keynote speaker, Laurie Halse Anderson, author of Speak, found her book near the top of censorship lists because it dealt with teen sexual assault and suicidal ideation.
Almost everyone has experienced some type of trauma. Yet, talking about trauma is often still taboo.
In order to become a more trauma informed and, hopefully, trauma engaged community, we need to normalize the discussion of trauma.
This symposium will feature several speakers who will discuss different types of traumas, such as childhood trauma and systemic trauma, from different perspectives, such as professionals in healthcare and human services and as a parent.
Please join us for this important conversation.
Free and open to all. Refreshments provided.
Holly Jolly Writing Contest Winners!
We’re excited to announce the winners for the Holly Jolly Writing Contest!
1st Place – The Silver Staff by Brandon Oliger
2nd Place – A Christmas Past by Judy Dahlman
3rd Places – Home for the Holidays by Megan McCoy
Congratulations to each of them, and thanks to everyone who submitted an entry! Follow the links below to read the winning stories. Our judges panel had a hard time selecting from the submissions we received, so keep writing and stay tuned for another writing contest this summer!
The Silver Staff by Brandon Oliger
Cozy Vibes: 2023 Winter Reading Program
Reading is the best way to brighten up a cold and snowy winter, and getting comfy with blankets, warm drinks, and a few books creates the ultimate cozy vibe! Get cozy and kick off your reading goals with our winter reading program: Cozy Vibes! Patrons ages 13+ are invited to read/listen to 4 books (or 3 books & 5 magazines) checked out from FDL (or attend a library program) January 3 through February 28 to enter the prize drawing. Pick up a reading log from the library or register and track your progress with the Beanstack app or online at fondulaclibrary.beanstack.org!