UPDATE on Closing

The Library will be closing at 3:00pm not 5:00pm as earlier sent out.

The ice is accumulating quickly.

Library Closing at 5pm

Due to the threat of ice and snow, the Collinsville Memorial Library Center will be closing at 5:00pm today, November 30th for the safety of its members and its staff.

During these winter months whenever inclement weather threatens or strikes, please check the website or call our phone at 344-1112 to see if our building is closed.

Stay warm and dry! =)

Riverwinds Storytellers

If you didn't come to the Tellabration on November 18th, you missed a wonderful time. This was written by Marilyn Kinsella, a Riverwinds Storyteller, about the event.

This year the Riverwind Storyteller held Tellabration 2006 at a new venue - the Blum House. It is an old Victorian next to and belonging to the Collinsville Library. I truly felt like I had stepped back in time. The huge white house had a wrap-around front porch. Inside the foyer was a crystal chandelier with lighted sconces on every wall. It gave the rooms an elegant, old-fashioned feel. The large windows reflected the muted lighting giving the rooms even more atmosphere. At times, I felt like Mark Twain himself was going to make an appearance and ask to tell a story.
Forty chairs were set up in the front parlor. In another room - probably, at one time, the dining room, the Collinsville Library provided the luscious food - cheesecake, vege platter, cookies and coffee. A table in another side room held the attendance prizes.
At first we were concerned that no one was coming. Then one by one, couple by couple they filtered in. We had a donation basket ($86.00 for the local food pantry) at the door and slips for attendance prizes (and our mailing list). It was wonderful to see the variety of people the event attracted - St. Louis, Collinsville, past attendees, young (in their 20's) and (ahem) my age. Close to 40 in attendance!
Ron Adams, our president, read the proclamation, and we were off. I emceed the event segueing from one teller to the next with short storytelling quotes from Storytell's Patti Christensen that I found on Sean's site. (don't you just love Storytell and Sean!). Here are the storytellers and the stories they shared:
Warren Wyman warmed up the crowd with short, anecdotal stories with either a punch line that made us laugh or a poignancy that made us think.
Marion Nichols - (The Snowflake Lady for the City Museum) told a true story about hearing and following the sound of the loons early one foggy fall morning. She witnessed "the loon dance". It wasn't until 30 years later that a National Geographic special verified that indeed she did see this miracle of nature.
Mary Lu Bretsch told Jane Yolen's "The Hundredth Dove." This hauntingly beautiful, image-rich story reminded us that "servos"..."I serve" can have its consequences.
Marilyn Kinsella launched her new story "SS Admiral, I Salute You." The audience was mostly of just the right age for this story. One young man came up to tell me that his grandmother, who recently passed away worked on the ship for about 20 years and she had a boat-load of memories about the "Mistress of the Mississippi."
Ron Adams told "My Father's Hands" – a wonderful reminder of the gifts our fathers pass on. In this story his father cannot read, and it held him back in so many ways, and yet it never kept him from becoming an expert in his own endeavors.
We took a short break and hungrily attacked the refreshments. We received so many compliments I can’t even begin. Only one guest left – and she excused herself due to a prior commitment. There was even a "young" man who expressed interest in storytelling and possibly coming to our meetings!! Ya-hoo!!
The second half:
Mary Lu told a Native American myth about a great challenge between bear and frog to decide the length of day and night.
Warren told an old favorite, traditional story about two bowls of water – one that held sorrow and the other happiness. The young man that could tell the difference was married to the king’s daughter.
Marilyn told another Jane Yolen favorite – Once a Good Man. (besides, Larry was in the audience and that’s his favorite)
Ron finished with a myth from Babylonia – Why the Mulberry Tree Bears Red Berries. Yet another reminder to build bridges not walls!
I blew out the candle and thanked everyone. Tellabration sparkled, not only with the lights but with the stories.
"Once a beautiful old home lay vacant on the streets of the village. The last person to live in that house had no family. She put in her will that whoever could fill the house would inherit the Victorian Lady. For years the house remained empty for no one knew how to fill it. Then one day, the library decided to try to fill the house. So, they added chandeliers and sconces to fill the house with light. They brought in food and the house was filled with the delicious aroma of coffee and cookies. They brought in storytellers who filled the house to the rafters with stories and songs full laughter and tears." (Adaptation from an old story about "filling the house" .)
That house – The Blum House - exists today on Main Street in Collinsville, Illinois. It stands next door to the new landowners – The Collinsville Memorial Library. The Victorian Lady once again brought back to life.

Marilyn Kinsella Taleypo the Storyteller

The Collinsville Library was so fortunate to have this Tellabration and we are hoping to host them again next year. So mark your calendars for the 3rd Saturday in November of 2007.

The Answer was Yes

Thank You!

The Proposition on the ballot for our Library District to annex the Unit 10 School District and Fairmont City excluding areas already in other library areas was successful . We appreciate your support and your confidence in us and look forward to serving our area with quality library service.

November and December Celebrations!

Storytelling Tellabrations coming to Collinsville

The Riverwind Storytellers will present
"Stories from Hearth and Home for the Adult Heart"
Saturday, November 18, 2006
at The Blum House
Doors will open at 7:00 and storytelling will begin at 7:30 PM
(next door to the Collinsville Memorial Library at 414 West Main St. in downtown Collinsville.)

Hear storytelling at its finest with some of the area’s best - Ron Adams, Marilyn Kinsella, Stephanie Rhein, Marion Nichols, Kathy Schottel, Mary Lu Bretsch, Joy McLaughlin, Lucy Grondahl.
There will be refreshments and attendance prizes.
A free-will donation for a local charity and/or a canned good collection for the local pantry will be accepted at the door.

So round up as many adult-hearted friends as you can muster
and bring them to Tellabration!

Other events at the Collinsville Library Center in November and December:

* ‘Food for Fines’ and ‘Toys for the Children’
The much anticipated event of the Season - time to get rid of your fines at the library. Bring in a non-perishable food item for the local pantry starting the day after Thanksgiving and up to the day before Christmas and the library will forgive $1 per item from your fines.
For those of you with no fines, you can help your community by donating non-perishable food items or toys for children on the Main Floor. It is a Christmas gift to your community when you help others.

* Wish Ornaments
This year there will be a Special Christmas "Wish" Tree. On this Special Tree will be ornaments of things needed at the Library with an amount attached. If you would like to give a gift to the Library this year, you can pick a ‘Wish Ornament’ with the amount that you will donate for its purchase. The item that you select will be purchased and your name will be attached as the donor. As a gift from the Collinsville Library Center to you, we will list you on our Christmas List of Friends by giving you a Friends of the Library membership for one year and a Library canvas bag.

* Christmas at the Library
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Friday, Dec 8th at 6:30pm
STORIES WITH SANTA Saturday, Dec 9th, 3 sessions (12pm, 1pm and 2pm)
Advance reservations recommended
SANTA AT THE BLUM HOUSE Tuesday, Dec 12 from 10:30am - 12:30pm, Thursday, Dec 14 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm and Friday, Dec 15 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
No reservations needed - first come, first serve

Library Clerk needed at the Collinsville Library Center.

Library Clerk (Part time Position)

Candidate will work an average of 21 hours per week

at a starting hourly rate of $8.00* after a training period.

Must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. The perfect candidate would have a good work ethic and great customer service skills. Hardware and software computer skills are preferable but not mandatory. Must be able to work a flexible schedule that may include day or night shifts and weekends. Each candidate must take a written Library Clerk Exam. Applications will be accepted until a candidate is found. Send or bring in your resume to Collinsville Library Center, Att: Clerk Application, 408 West Main St., Collinsville, IL 62234 .

*Rate may vary in consideration of computer experience.