Column: Check it Out

Question: What do Renoir, Michelangelo, Picasso and Monet all have in common?  

Answer: None of them have ever dabbled in the “Peeps” medium.

Take a lesson from the great artists of the world and don’t miss your opportunity to create a Peeps masterpiece. Children in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to compete in our Peeps diorama contest. Grab a shoebox and some Peeps (bunnies or chicks) and recreate a scene from one of your favorite books. Entries may be submitted between Monday, April 2, and Saturday, April 7, and will be displayed in the library until Saturday, April 21, so patrons can vote for their favorites. “Peeples Choice Awards” will be bestowed in three age categories. If you need inspiration, sample dioramas constructed by our creative staff can be viewed in the library or on our Facebook page.

Spring is the perfect time to tend to your family tree and explore your roots. Craig Pfannkuche joins us at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, to teach genealogy research. This program provides an introduction to beginning genealogy including demonstrations of the library’s Ancestry and HeritageQuest databases. Participants are encouraged to bring along any questions they may have regarding genealogy research in general or specific questions that have arisen during their own research.

The Chicago Cubs have their home opener next week. Is 2012 going to finally be their year? I don’t know about that, but there actually was a time when the Cubs were good.  Author and sports historian Chuck Billington will be visiting the library at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, to present “Wrigley Field’s Last World Series: The Wartime Chicago Cubs and the Pennant of 1945.” Come learn about the Cubs’ domination during the team’s first 70 years of existence and the profound effects World War II had on baseball. Rare film footage of the 1945 World Series as well as 1940s music dealing with war and baseball complement this program that is sure to appeal to sports fans and history buffs alike.

If you’re looking for a rewarding challenge and a great opportunity to make a difference in somebody’s life, be sure to attend our ESL Tutor Recruitment session at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 31. Marie Day, coordinator of adult education and literacy supportive services at McHenry County College, will be our featured speaker and will discuss what being an English as a Second Language tutor entails. If you are interested in tutoring but unable to attend the meeting, please contact Julie Fee at the library.

Program registration can be completed online at www.woodstockpubliclibrary.org, via email at library@woodstockil.gov or by calling the library at 815-338-0542.

Beth Ryan is a reference librarian at the Woodstock Public Library. She can be reached at bethr@woodstockil.info.