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Consider asking a child in your life to describe themselves in only a few words. Would being a “bookworm” or “reader” take up one of those traits? Many people describe themselves in these terms alongside characteristics like funny, creative, or

There are a lot of books that tell you about things, letting you learn and observe the world at a distance. Field Guides are a little bit different. Most of them are designed to help you get into the world, to learn and observe through experience

From Circulation Assistant Ashley: Are books important? Does reading even matter? Friend, you are reading the blog of your local library, and I know you are the wrong audience for those questions because OF COURSE they are and OF COURSE it does! Get

In February of 1898, the US battleship Maine exploded seemingly out of nowhere. It was docked in Havana Harbor when the horrifying event happened. As I’ve been slowly transcribing the earliest editions of the O’Fallon Progress from 1898, I’ve noticed

How about we go on a winter walk?  I know, it’s cold. Spring and fall seem to get all the attention, with their changing leaves, chirping bugs, and plump pumpkins ready to be picked. Even summer has its allure, with strolls by the water and naps

When Linda Mitchell moved across the state, her main criteria for her new town was that it had to have a good library.   “I’ve been a fan of libraries since I was a kid growing up in Chicago. To me, having a public library card was like having a free

As a lifelong advocate for public libraries, it was a no-brainer for Liz Jennings to get involved at OFPL when she and her husband moved to O’Fallon in 2019.  “I joined the library’s book club, Books & Brew, shortly after moving to O’Fallon,” she

To me, the coziest place in the world is a good bookstore — particularly one of the ones that has a maze of shelves and books piled around for what seems like miles, and ESPECIALLY if the shop has an air of mystery about it (and I get the feeling

This post is from Sharon in Circulation, who does a wonderful job each month helping to create and maintain our history display on the second floor of the library. If you have had an opportunity to wander around the Downtown District in O’Fallon, you

The end of the year is upon us, and we’ve been looking back with fondness at the books, movies, and more that we’ve enjoyed from the library in 2023. Luckily, with more than 61,000 items in our collection – and more than 9 million across the IHLS