Census 2020 is still underway, and participation by all residents is crucial to secure funding for community resources like hospitals, schools, disaster relief, roads, and more. If you haven’t already responded online, by phone, or by mail, you may receive a visit to your home by a census taker. Census takers will be wearing a government photo ID badge and personal protective gear due to COVID-19. They’ll ask a few questions about your household to make sure you’re counted in the census, but they will never ask your social security number, bank information, or citizenship status. All of your information is confidential, and it cannot be shared with law enforcement and immigration or effect your government benefits.
Due to the pandemic, participation in the census has been low, and the deadline to complete it has been moved to September 30, 2020. You matter, and your response matters because it will ensure our area receives its fair share of funding for important services. If you’ve already responded to the census, make sure your family, friends, and neighbors have responded too!
Learn more about the census and respond online at 2020census.gov/, or call 844-330-2020 to get counted!
If you haven’t used the new RSAcat Mobile app yet, you’re missing out!
This app brings the library to your fingertips — manage your account, search the catalog, renew checkouts, and place holds at your convenience. Scan the ISBN barcode of any book you encounter to see if it’s available from the library. Use the app to connect directly to our digital collections (think eBooks, eAudiobooks, movies, and more), our online resources (newspapers, HeritageQuest, GCF LearnFree, etc.), website, social media, and calendar of events. You can even pay fines or bills from the app, link household accounts, search other local libraries, and receive notifications for holds or due dates.
Did we mention how easy it is to use? So easy! (Way better than the old BookMyne app.) It also features improved accessibility for VoiceOver and larger text sizes. So head to the Apple or Google Play Stores, install the free app, log in with your FDL library card, and enjoy a whole new way to explore your library!
It’s a good idea to clean up your smartphone regularly — both inside and out! Here’s how:
Back It Up
Run a backup to the cloud on your phone, or connect it to your computer and follow the backup prompts.
Do this first to avoid losing anything precious.
Update if needed.
Delete Apps
Get rid of any applications you haven’t been using. You can reinstall them later if a need arises.
Apps take up storage space and deleting them will make your phone run faster.
Transfer Photos
Use an online storage service — such as Google Photo or Amazon Photo (fees may apply) — to save your images automatically.
Then delete them from your phone.
Amazon Photos: Amazon Photos offers unlimited full-resolution online photo storage and 5 GB free video storage to Prime members.
Print photos from the Walgreens or CVS apps, then delete the digital copies.
Go through and periodically delete photos you no longer need.
Kill Old Texts
Change the settings to auto-delete any messages older than a year.
Make History, History
In the browser settings, clear your history and web cookies.
Clearing web data will free up temporary space in your phone and make apps and other processes run faster.
Give It A Wipe Down
A study in the journal Germs found that some phones had 17,000 bacterial bugs lurking on the outside of smartphones.
Viruses and bacteria can survive on surfaces for hours, days, or even weeks depending on the strain, and can transfer from a phone onto your hands and then onto new surfaces in your home and office.
Do not use bleach or spray anything directly on your phone, and remember to remove and disinfect the case.
CDC Guidelines
The CDC recommends the following:
For electronics such as cell phones, remove visible contamination if present. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products.
Consider use of wipe-able covers for electronics.
If no manufacturer guidance is available, consider the use of alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol to disinfect touch screens. Dry surfaces thoroughly to avoid pooling of liquids.
Completing these steps regularly will keep your phone running smoothly and reduce the number of microbes and possible pathogens you come into contact with.
What is This Book About?: World War I has recently ended, and Verity Kent’s work in England’s Secret Service bureau has officially ended as well. When Verity is asked by a friend to attend a séance in an attempt to contact a deceased relative, Verity reluctantly agrees. Astonishingly, at the séance the medium brings a message for Verity – purportedly from beyond the grave – from Emilie, Verity’s contact from the French resistance. Emilie has a request for Verity: “I need you to unearth my secrets.” Verity believes Emilie to be alive, not dead, but fearing that Emilie is in grave danger, Verity and her husband Sydney head for the war-torn Continent to find the meaning behind this mysterious message. (Part 2 of the Verity Kent series.)
My Review:Treacherous Is the Night reflects the post-war world in its plot and themes, which include danger, chaos, and reconstruction. To decode the medium’s message, Verity and Sydney must make a dangerous trip through the devastated countryside and battlefields of Belgium and France. Europe is chaotic but trying to rebuild; Verity and Sydney must decide whether to rebuild their marriage. Their attempts to find Emilie and discover the truth are complicated by wartime trauma, and both Verity and Sydney must begin to come to terms with memories from the war. The characters are complex, believable, and – as a reader – you want them to solve the mystery, to heal, and to rebuild. This was a satisfying and enjoyable book!
Three Words That Describe This Book: spies, deceit, rebuilding
Give This a Try if You Like… female detectives, historical fiction, or the Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear
In an election year unlike any other, voters need to understand their voting options — and new state legislation which applies only to the primary election on November 3, 2020.
“COVID-19 has changed everything,” said Constance Romanus, President of the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. “There will never be another election like this one and voters want clarity.”
The LWVGP, in coordination with Fondulac District Library, will host a special Q&A forum to provide solid information and answer questions at 5:30 p.m. Monday, August 3. Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman and Peoria County Election Commission Director Tom Bride will participate in the forum.
This event will be held at the East Peoria Civic Complex, adjacent to FDL and East Peoria City Hall, 401 W. Washington Street. Members of the press are welcome to attend wearing masks and seated in a socially distanced manner. Because of the virus, the public is not invited to attend in person. Instead, voters are encouraged to watch a broadcast on East Side Community Media or Facebook Live on the LWVGP Facebook page at facebook.com/lwvpeoria/. Viewers are encouraged to submit questions via Facebook to the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria’s page prior to the event on August 3 or during the event. LWVGP will attempt to get as many questions answered as possible but reserve the right to edit or combine questions as needed.
This will be a great opportunity to investigate voting options and the impact of Illinois’ recently passed voting legislation. Vote-by-mail applications for the November 3 general election will be sent to registered voters in late July and early August, but voters may also submit a mailed request for a vote-by-mail application through October 29.
It’s so important to stay connected these days, and sending letters is a great way to show someone you care. Handmade stationery is an excellent way to add extra crafty pizzazz to your correspondence, and DIY envelopes are sure to impress your friends and family! They’re so easy to make, you may find yourself sending more letters just as an excuse to make more envelopes! Minimal supplies and no experience required!
Let’s get started!
Things You Will Need:
Paper
Scissors
An envelope to copy or a printed template
Glue or double sided tape
Pencil
ENVELOPE #1
The size of the envelope you want to have will determine the size of paper you need. I used large sheets of craft paper for this first type of envelope, and I used an actual envelope as a template. That way, you know exactly what size you’ll end up with, and you can compare the template to the paper you have to determine if it is the right size or not.
Start with a plain envelope and carefully take it apart.
Trace the outline of the envelope on the back of your patterned paper. This way, if you don’t cut on the line perfectly and miss some pencil marks, you won’t have to go back and erase anything.
Cut out the envelope and fold along the creased areas. Since you took apart the previous envelope, you’ll be able to see where the creases need to go and where the glue lines are. I used a very thin line of tacky glue to glue down the bottom flap and keep the envelope together. Be careful not to use too much glue, or to glue over more areas than you need to. You may end up gluing your envelope shut on accident!
ENVELOPE #1 FINISHED!
ENVELOPE #2
Old atlases and maps make great paper for envelopes because they are so big! This envelope is made from an atlas page and a template I found online. It’s a smaller envelope and is folded together differently from the first one.
Find Your Template
You can search the internet for envelope templates. Find a free one in the right size for your needs and print it out! I liked this one because it looked very simple, but you can find fancy ones if that’s your style instead.
Pay Attention
This step isn’t quite as important if you’re using a patterned paper that has no apparent direction, but if you’re using something directional, like a map, you need to make sure you position your template correctly. Make sure the writing is going in the right direction for the main part of the envelope (it will be upside down for the other parts, that’s unavoidable for this envelope). If you’re having trouble determining which part that’s going to effect, pre-fold your template to see what it will look like as a finished envelope and extrapolate from there.
After tracing your envelope shape onto the paper, cutting it out, and folding it like you did for the first type of envelope, it’s time to glue it.
I used a glue stick for this one since atlas paper is a bit thinner than the craft paper.
Again, be careful not to overdo it with the glue, otherwise your envelope will stick shut in places you don’t want it to.
ENVELOPE #2 FINISHED!
A NOTE ON SENDING DIY ENVELOPES THROUGH THE MAIL
According to the USPS website, colored envelopes may be sent through the mail as long as the address lines are legible and un-obscured. If using a patterned envelope, and if in doubt of potential legibility, you can always affix plain white labels to the envelope and write or print the addresses clearly on those.
Happy Mailing!
(Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to make watercolor flower cards to send in your envelopes!)
What would you like to see in the green space beyond our Reading Garden? A music pavilion, farmer’s market, community garden, water fountain, playground… imagine the possibilities!
The East Peoria Community Foundation and The City of East Peoria are seeking public output for the community park to be built outside of the library and City Hall. Levee Park will be located in the large triangle green space between Richland Street and Washington Street, just south of FDL and across from Costco, and funded through the support of generous community donors. Please fill out the community survey at https://arcg.is/1KPimj0 and share what you would like to see developed! Learn more about the East Peoria Community Foundation and its plans at eastpeoriacommunityfoundation.org.
What is This Book About? Cecilia Klein (also known as “Cilka”) was sent to Auschwitz when she was sixteen years old. Chosen by a German officer for sexual servitude and forced to run the dormitory for captive female Jews who were marked for execution, Cilka endured that horrendous existence until the Russians liberated Auschwitz. Declared a German collaborator by the Russians, Cilka was sentenced to fifteen years hard labor in a Gulag (prison camp) in Siberia. What followed were years of hardship and heartache interspersed with glimpses of compassion and kindness.
My Review: After reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I was interested in reading this follow-up novel. I found Cilka’s Journey to be a fascinating if somewhat unsettling read with its depiction of the conditions in Russian forced-labor camps of the mid-20th century. I knew of the cliché of someone being “sent to Siberia” as punishment, but I didn’t really know what that meant until now. The author explains after the novel how she pulled many situations from the stories of survivors of both the concentration camps and the Gulag system to create this story, so it is not a completely biographical account. Because of this, there has been some controversy surrounding the novel. Although the Gulags are closed, prison and forced-labor camps are unfortunately still a reality in the world today. As a mosaic of representative experiences in the Russian Gulag system, I feel this novel is a revelatory story that allows the reader a window into what life can be like in a prison camp.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Troubling, Eye-opening, Controversial
Give This a Try if You Like…The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Wine-Maker’s Wife, The Secrets That We Kept
Think you can’t grow your own food in the city? Think again! Learn about different aspects of urban gardening and what it has to offer you. There are many benefits to gardening, and it doesn’t have to be reserved for people with huge tracts of land and loads of equipment. There are also many ways to go about it, and we will explore different small space gardening techniques for anyone, anywhere. If you have more questions, there are resources at the library available for checkout!
Why
Why bother growing your own food these days? Many people choose to for many different reasons.
Save $$
Have control over pesticides
Landscaping adds both beauty and value to your home.
As a hobby: Gardening is fun!
How
There are also many ways to go about growing your own food with minimal or no yard space!
Space Savers:
Square foot gardening
Container gardening
Straw bale gardening
Vertical gardening
Don’t have your own space to garden? Try community gardening!
Square Foot Gardening
This method was popularized in the ‘80s by Mel Bartholomew. It is still a very popular method, and its plant spacing techniques are utilized in other small space gardening methods.
Great for raised beds.
There are fewer weeds to deal with if you use the soil mix recommended in the book.
The basic premise: don’t waste space on unnecessary rows.
Incorporates vertical gardening for vining plants to save even more space.
Mel encourages a staggered harvest, meaning you plant only a small number of plants, harvest, and then start over. This way your harvest is diverse and doesn’t come all at once.
Square foot gardens tend to be 3×3 or 4×4, but they can be as big or small as you want as long as you can easily reach the center from the outside perimeter.
Build your box and fill it with Mel’s Mix*
1/3 peat moss
1/3 vermiculite
1/3 compost
* Some have said they had great success with just topsoil and compost. Do what’s best for you!
Plant your seeds/plants based on their need for space between each other, but ignore row spacing.
Container Gardening
This small space gardening method has already been used for years for floral décor.
You can grow vegetables and fruits too, even small trees!
It’s very useful for people without much or any yard space.
Things to keep in mind:
Proper drainage is crucial for container plants.
Fertilizer:
Potted plants need fertilizer because they will use up the provided nutrients in the pot.
Specifics on how much fertilizer to use and how often will vary from plant to plant.
Lean toward under-fertilizing rather than over-fertilizing.
Slow release fertilizer is a good option.
Use compost as part of your potting soil mix.
Purchase dwarf or bush varieties of seeds or plants, which are made specifically for containers.
Straw Bale Gardening
Practically speaking, this is another form of container gardening.
Advantages:
If you have poor soil or no access to soil, this method will allow you to grow plants without it.
Height of the bales act as a raised bed, which means less bending over to access your plants. Also a great height for people in wheelchairs.
No weeds!
How to get started:
Condition your bale of straw.
Add fertilizer and water to your bale for two weeks prior to planting. This conditions your bale and begins the process of decomposition.
For a specific conditioning schedule, see the book Straw Bale Gardens by Joel Karsten (starts on page 58).
Plant your bale. Some potting soil may be added.
If the interior of your bale is still hot from conditioning (above 105°), wait a few days to plant live plants. Seeds are ok.
Make sure your straw bale doesn’t dry out!
Vertical Gardening
This method saves ground space by growing up instead of out.
Great for people who have trouble bending over.
Some vertical gardening methods involve container gardening as well.
Some plants are easier to adapt to the vertical lifestyle, such as vining plants.
Herbs and small leafy greens do well, as do more flexible plants as opposed to more rigid and woody plants.
As with mixing any kinds of plants together, keep compatibility in mind (need for sun, soil type, agreeability between plants, etc.)
Community Gardens
For people who don’t have space or resources of their own, this is a great option.
Community gardens come in all shapes and sizes and serve different functions. One main aspect throughout: a group of like minded people spending time and effort gardening together.
Examples: School gardens as part of a curriculum, church gardens as a means of outreach, neighborhood gardens as a way for neighbors to spend time together and grow food for themselves or their families.
Local Community Gardens:
St. Ann’s Garden of Hope
Part of OSF’s outreach mission.
1414 W. Antoinette St
Renaissance Park Community Garden
622 W Main St, Peoria
Forrest Hill Organic Community Garden
Garden is adjacent to the Forrest Hill Methodist Church, and applications can be found at the church office.
706 E Forrest Hill Ave, Peoria, (309) 685-6243
Crittenton Center
Open to the community for people who need food.
442 West John Gwynn Jr. Ave, Peoria, (309) 674-0105
EP!C Harvest
Provides adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to be involved with their garden and market stand. They partner with many local restaurants and grocery stores. For more information, call Marc Britton @ (309) 689-3706.
More to Consider
Combinations of each! You don’t have to pick just one way! Lots of these techniques marry well. Do what works best for you!
Composting
Worm bins are great sources of natural fertilizer.
The library reopens Monday, July 6, with new hours, express services, and public safety guidelines. Patrons are welcome to quickly select and check out materials and to use computers and study rooms for shortened periods. The following guidelines are designed to reduce risks for our staff and patrons as much as possible. We regret that this includes discouraging our patrons from extended visits. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Genna Buhr, Director.
New Service Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-1pm & 2-6pm
Tuesday & Thursday 12-4pm & 5-8pm
Saturday 9am-1pm
Special Access for High-Risk Individuals
Thursday 10:30-11:30am by Appointment
Please call by 6pm Wednesday to make your appointment.
Preventive Measures
Face Masks — All patrons over the age of 2 are required to wear masks covering their nose and mouth at all times. Disposable masks will be provided at the welcome table to those who arrive without one. If you are not able to wear a mask in the library, please continue to use the drive-up window or Atrium pickup. All staff also are required to wear masks.
Protective Shields — Plexiglas barriers have been added to the service desks and computer stations.
Increased Cleaning — Computers, equipment, touch screens, counters, and surfaces are disinfected after each closing. The library is deep-cleaned nightly. Patrons are encouraged to wash hands before entering and use hand sanitizing stations throughout the library.
Returned Items — All returned materials are quarantined for 3 days before they are checked in or put back into circulation. We will not charge overdue fees for items that are delayed due to quarantine.
Courtesy — Please do not come to the library if you have symptoms associated with COVID-19 or if you have recently been exposed to someone who may have COVID-19.
Social Distancing
Limited Capacity — Current local health guidelines limit the number of people who can be in the library at one time. Patrons may be asked to wait in the Atrium or return at another time if capacity limit is reached.
The Six Feet Rule — Visitors are asked to maintain at least a six-foot distance from others in the library (except from those in their own party). Waiting spots are marked on the floors to help you maintain your distance.
Furniture — We have removed most furniture to maintain social distancing and to discourage extended visits. Please do not rearrange any furniture.
Computers
Some public access computers have been disabled to maintain social distancing. Computers are available by reservation for 45-minute periods, and an express station is available for 15-minute periods. Patrons are limited to using computers once per day, no more than twice per week. Reservations can be made by calling 309-699-3917 or through chat on the library’s website. A disinfecting wipe will be provided to each patron to clean the keyboard and mouse before use.
WiFi
Patrons needing to sit and use WiFi to work or study are encouraged to reserve a study room. FDL WiFi is also accessible from the parking lot and Reading Garden.
Study Rooms
Study rooms are available by reservation for 45-minute periods, 2 times per week per patron. Reservations can be made by calling 309-699-3917 or through chat on the library’s website. Masks must be worn in study rooms, and rooms will be disinfected after each use.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available in the Atrium while the library restrooms are closed to the public. Restrooms are cleaned nightly.
Other Available Services
Programs — All summer programming will consist of online programs or take-and-make project kits. Patrons can track reading for the Summer Reading Program via the Beanstack app and pick up halfway and completion prizes at service desks or the drive-up window.
Drive-Up Window and Atrium Pickup — Patrons can still place holds through the online catalog, with the RSAcat Mobile app, or by phone and pick up materials from the drive-up window or the Atrium.
Office Equipment — Our scan station, copiers, microfilm, and typewriter will be available to use and will be cleaned after each closing.
Ask a Librarian — Library staff are available to answer your questions during service hours at service desks or via phone, email, or live chat.
Notary Public — We will offer Notary Public services by appointment for up to 3 documents.
Interlibrary Loan — Patrons will also be able to request and receive items from other RSACat libraries. Because of increased safety measures, delivery may be delayed.
Mobile Printing —Mobile printing is available to be picked up at the Information Desk, drive-up window, or in the Atrium.
Drop Boxes — The drive-up drop box is available 24/7, and the Atrium and indoor drop boxes are available during service hours.
Little Free Library — Items that can be taken and kept are available for all ages in the Atrium and the Reading Garden.
Temporarily Unavailable Services
Coffee Corner
Toys & Play Area
Video Games
Local History Room
Newspapers & Magazines (magazines can still be checked out)
Board Games (can still be checked out but not played in library)
Book Sale
Book Donations
In-Person Programs
Water Fountains
We greatly appreciate your patience and compliance with all the new rules and safety precautions. Please call 309-697-3917 to make reservations and appointments or to ask questions about this phase of library service.
Census 2020 is still underway, and participation by all residents is crucial to secure funding for community resources like hospitals, schools, disaster relief, roads, and more. If you haven’t already responded online, by phone, or by mail, you may receive a visit to your home by a census taker. Census takers will be wearing a government photo ID badge and personal protective gear due to COVID-19. They’ll ask a few questions about your household to make sure you’re counted in the census, but they will never ask your social security number, bank information, or citizenship status. All of your information is confidential, and it cannot be shared with law enforcement and immigration or effect your government benefits.
Due to the pandemic, participation in the census has been low, and the deadline to complete it has been moved to September 30, 2020. You matter, and your response matters because it will ensure our area receives its fair share of funding for important services. If you’ve already responded to the census, make sure your family, friends, and neighbors have responded too!
ENVELOPE #1
Container Gardening
Vertical Gardening
