Many exciting events are happening at the Benton Public Library this month!
SHARE and Polaris are coming
The library is joining the SHARE database of over 10 million books from 427 libraries in Southern Illinois. The library will transition to the new database system, called Polaris, from April 1 to 8.
Some of the library’s usual services will be unavailable during this time, including interlibrary loan requests, also known as holds requests. Hold requests will resume April 9. The library staff asks for patience during the transition. The new database and the number of items available should make small inconveniences worth it.
Trivia Night is April 20
The 10th Annual Benton Public Library Trivia Night will be held at the library on Saturday, April 20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Play begins at 7 p.m. Teams of 6 to 8 players are welcome.
There will be a fee of $10 per person. Members of the library’s Teen Advisory Board will be available to join a team for $20 more.
Proceeds will benefit the library’s Teen Summer Reading Program. Many generous local businesses have donated door prizes. Joelle Keener and Austin Endicott, members of the library’s Teen Advisory Board, have been visiting businesses to distribute flyers and solicit door prize donations.
“The businesses have been very supportive and also very interested in the Trivia Night,” said Endicott. “I like trivia and I hope I get a chance to play on a team.”
Questions are developed by Steinsultz and staff member Joe DeVillez and cover a wide variety of subjects.
“Everyone should leave feeling like they’ve been able to answer something and contributed to their team,” said Steinsultz. “Between Joe’s useless information and mine, we cover a lot of ground.”
“TAB members are always very important to getting things set up, taking flyers around town, and getting door prizes, but they never know the questions ahead of time,” said library director Erin Steinsultz.
TAB members offer an extra boost of knowledge and may know different subject areas than those on a team.
“TAB members are in school now, sometimes members of Scholar Bowl, and generally very avid readers,” said Steinsultz. “They make a great addition for just $20 more. They may give a team that extra competitive edge.”
Advanced registration is encouraged, but teams can also sign up at the door. For more information, call 438-7511.
Something for Everyone
Regular library activities continue in April, including walking class Thursday evenings at 6 p.m. and Children’s Story time Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m.
Teen Game Day will be April 15 at 3 p.m. All teens and tweens are welcome for fun board games in the meeting room. Snacks are provided.
A Talking Books presentation will be held April 16 at 2 p.m. All are welcome to come learn about the services of the Talking Books and Braille Services and the Illinois Machine Lending Agency, which provides unabridged audio books to Illinois residents with visual and other physical disabilities.
The library’s monthly Book Club meets at noon on April 17 to discuss Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
An eReader Workshop will be April 22 at 6 p.m. Learn more about what the library has to offer by way of downloadable books for your eReader using your Benton Public Library card.
Family Craft Day will be held April 25 at 4 p.m. Join us to make a Mother’s Day craft.
More information can be found online at www.benton.lib.il.us or by phone at (618) 438-7511.
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