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Automatic Renewals at FDL!

Fondulac District Library offers automatic renewals as a time-saving convenience to its patrons!

Effective November 1, 2024, items checked out at Fondulac District Library eligible for renewal will be renewed automatically on their due date.

Please carefully read the courtesy notices sent by the library. Email notices will show you which items renewed and which did not. Providing your current email address allows you to receive courtesy notices from the library.

As a reminder, no overdue fines will be charged on any item checked out at FDL, regardless of who owns the item, which library issued your card, or where the item is returned. Learn more about the library’s fine-free procedures here.

FAQs

What is Automatic Renewal?

You no longer need to manually renew your library items! The library’s automatic renewal service will take care of the renewals for you! All items checked out at Fondulac District Library that are eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed on their due date.

How does it work?

Any items on your account that are eligible for renewal will now renew automatically on their due date.

How will I know an item renewed?

If you have an email address associated with your account, you will receive notification via email that lists which items were successfully renewed and which items were not, if applicable. (To sign up for email notifications, login in to your library card account or call or visit the library.)

Patrons without an email address registered with their account can check their account online or via the RSACat app. Patrons may also contact the library.

Which items are eligible for renewal?

Most items are eligible for one renewal, as long as another patron has not placed a hold on the item and your account is in good standing.

Items will not renew automatically if:

There is a hold on the item.
The item has already been renewed.
Your account is blocked due to fines or fees.
Your account must be renewed or will expire before the end of the renewal lending period.
The item is part of a non-renewable collection.
The item is on interlibrary loan from outside of the RSAcat collection.
The item is a digital item (eBooks, eAudiobooks, etc.).

Can I still renew my items manually?

Yes. If you wish to renew an item prior to its due date, simply renew it through your account online or speak to a staff member at the library. Manual renewals will extend the borrowing period from the date of the manual renewal.

Patrons may manually renew eligible borrowed items in-person, over the phone at (309) 699-3917, by text, or online. To renew items over the phone, please have your library card number ready. To renew items in-person, please have the items, and your library card or a current photo ID in hand.

To renew items online:

Select Renew Materials under My Account on this site.
Input your library card number and PIN. If you are unsure of your PIN, please call the library at (309) 699-3917.
Select the Checkouts tab.
Check the items you wish to renew.
Click Renew.

Can I opt-out of automatic renewals?

Patrons cannot opt-out of automatic renewals at this time.

genna2024-10-30T12:55:47-05:00October 30th, 2024|

East Peoria Community Survey

The City of East Peoria wants to know how we can best communicate the benefits of our community in the future. As someone who may live and/or work in East Peoria, this is your opportunity to let your voice be heard!

The survey is open to all members of the community. The information is collected anonymously and presented in an aggregate form. Your input in this process is vital to help the community understand what makes East Peoria exceptional!

For more information about this initiative, visit ChooseEastPeoria.com.

Click here to complete the survey, or scan the QR code below. https://bit.ly/ReviewEastPeoria

Julie Nutt2024-03-01T15:02:27-06:00March 1st, 2024|

RSACat App is Back!

The app is back! The RSACat app is again functional for searching the catalog, placing holds, and managing accounts. If you still have the app, it should work a-ok when logged in. If you need to reinstall, it’s currently listed on Android’s Google Play Store, and folks are working hard to get it back on Apple’s App Store ASAP. We’re also working to update FDL-specific links, such as online resources, to provide the best library app experience we can. Thanks for your patience!

2/27/24: The library has been informed that the app is now available in the Apple App Store for iOS devices.

genna2024-02-27T11:12:08-06:00February 26th, 2024|

FDL Reads: Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton

Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton

Reviewed By: Jeremy Zentner, Reference Assistant

Genre: Science Fiction

Suggested Age: Adults/ Teens

What is This Book About? Mickey Barnes is an Expendable. Or at least, he used to be a couple years back. Expendables were sent on perilous missions on new colony worlds, specifically with the intent to die. They would then be reborn in cloned bodies with their last uploaded memories. In this way, nonexpendable colonists could order high risk missions without losing their people. But Mickey’s retired from all of that, now. He’s just trying to live the best life he can on the colony Nilfheim. There’s a problem though. Winter is coming, and their dome’s antimatter powerhouse is running out of fuel. The colony barely survived with fuel last winter and not having power this winter will turn their dome into a giant tomb. So, Mickey has been pulled out of retirement and reenlisted to perform another perilous mission. Get a fresh batch of antimatter fuel before winter sets in. To do this, however, Mickey will have to march into the middle of an alien war.

My Review: This is the follow-up sequel to Mickey7 and it did not disappoint! This book does a great job of illustrating what a rough “pioneer” life might look like on a colony planet. Some of the most dangerous situations were as simple as someone falling at the worst possible time. Preconditions and a lack of medical facilities also show up as a simple, yet very real threat. And, of course, there are the elements, such as the impending winter, low water supply, limited power, and carnivorous predators. We also get an interesting glimpse of what diplomacy with an alien species might look like as Mickey tries to retrieve an antimatter bomb. Negotiating with the aliens is a lot more complex than simply learning a foreign language. Mickey must convince the indigenous species that every human being is an individual lifeform and not just an ancillary limb that can be disposed of at any time. Mickey also has to navigate through interspecies conflicts and politics as two of the native species are actively at war with each other. It’s a quick read with a lot of action and snark.

Three Words that Describe this Book: sci-fi, space, aliens

Give This A Try if You Like… The Martian, Old Man’s War, The Expanse series, All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries

Rating: 4/5

Find it at the library!

Susie Rivera2023-10-13T11:33:59-05:00October 13th, 2023|

Find Your Voice Adult Writing Contest Winners!

Summer Reading 2023 Writing Winners_edit

We’re excited to announce the winners for the Find Your Voice Adult Writing Contest!

1^st Place – Inaudible by Megan McCoy

2^nd Place – Cracks by Rachael Stanford

Teen Winner – Finding Your Voice by Ella Headly

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 winter!

Inaudible by Megan McCoy

Cracks by Rachael Stanford

Finding Your Voice by Ella Headly

Julie Nutt2023-09-20T11:13:33-05:00September 19th, 2023|

FDL Reads: The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Reviewed by Julie Nutt, Reference Assistant

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Suggested age: Tween, Teen, Adult

What is this book about? Nobody Owens, despite his name, is no regular boy. After the brutal murder of his family, the clever infant escapes harm by finding his way to a graveyard. Like the boy, this is no regular graveyard. Growing up, raised and protected by ghosts, Nobody (or “Bod”) is still not safe from the danger that lurks outside the stone walls. Not only is his family’s killer still out there, Bod may not be prepared for life in the real world.

My review: This is one of my favorite books of all time! Many readers may be familiar with author Neil Gaiman because of the Amazon series Good Omens (which, by the way, started season 2 on July 28!), or the much darker Sandman graphic novels. A far cry from Sandman, The Graveyard Book is the winner of the Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo and Audie Awards for children’s literature. The bold, sharp illustration of the graphic novel version by award-winner P. Craig Russell is in stark contrast to Dave McKean’s (another award-winner) flowing pen and ink. I feel that McKean’s illustrations are more fitting to the ghostly, misty England setting. Bod’s friendships, both human and paranormal, represent selflessness, respect, the importance of community, the power to change, and the challenges of growing up.

Three words that describe this book: magical, frightening, dream-like

Give this a try if you like: Coraline by Neil Gaiman (book or movie); paranormal fiction; authors Terry Pratchett, Philip Pullman, Ursula LeGuin

Rating: 5/5

Find it at the library!

FDL Reads

Susie Rivera2023-08-21T10:35:17-05:00July 26th, 2023|

Holly Jolly Writing Contest Winners!

We’re excited to announce the winners for the Holly Jolly Writing Contest!

1^st Place – The Silver Staff by Brandon Oliger

2^nd Place – A Christmas Past by Judy Dahlman

3^rd 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

A Christmas Past by Judy Dahlman

Home for the Holidays by Megan McCoy

Beth Weimer2023-02-20T16:25:23-06:00February 20th, 2023|

Adult Winter Reading Program – Choose Your Gnome Adventure!

Every time you open a book, you embark on a new adventure, and we think reading is the best way to brighten up the long winter season! So choose your own adventures this winter by curling up with some new books and signing up for FDL’s Winter Reading Program! Patrons age 18 and older are invited to read/listen to 4 books (or 3 books & 5 magazines) checked out from Fondulac District Library (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. Enjoy your reading journey, even if the destination is ungnome!

Printable Reading Log: Adult Winter Reading Program 2022

Beth Weimer2022-01-03T12:03:43-06:00January 3rd, 2022|

#FDL: Banned Books Week

This week is Banned Books Week. The American Library Association discusses the purpose and history of Banned Books Week here:

“Banned Books Week (September 26-October 2) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship.”

The ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 156 challenges to library, school, and university materials and services in 2020. Of the 273 books that were targeted, here are the most challenged, along with the reasons cited for censoring the books.

Despite the efforts of challenges, these materials have, for the most part, remained available to read. So, stop by the library or place one of these books on hold to celebrate your freedom to read.

George by Alex Gino
Reasons: Challenged, banned, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, conflicting with a religious viewpoint, and not reflecting “the values of our community”
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds
Reasons: Banned and challenged because of author’s public statements, and because of claims that the book contains “selective storytelling incidents” and does not encompass racism against all people
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, drug use, and alcoholism, and because it was thought to promote anti-police views, contain divisive topics, and be “too much of a sensitive matter right now”
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted because it was thought to contain a political viewpoint and it was claimed to be biased against male students, and for the novel’s inclusion of rape and profanity
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references, and allegations of sexual misconduct by the author
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin
Reasons: Challenged for “divisive language” and because it was thought to promote anti-police views
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and their negative effect on students, featuring a “white savior” character, and its perception of the Black experience
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Reasons: Banned and challenged for racial slurs and racist stereotypes, and their negative effect on students
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and depicts child sexual abuse
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Reasons: Challenged for profanity, and it was thought to promote an anti-police message

#FDL is a weekly update on all things Fondulac District Library and books.

Susie Rivera2021-10-15T16:00:54-05:00October 1st, 2021|

We’re Hiring!

The library currently is hiring for three part-time positions: Circulation Assistant, Youth Services Assistant, and Reference Assistant. Please visit fondulaclibrary.org/about-us/jobs for more information, including job descriptions and qualifications.

Beth Weimer2021-05-10T10:33:47-05:00May 10th, 2021|