2023 Review
Greetings from the Charleston Carnegie Public Library! We want to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped the Library through donations of money, gifts, personal time, and more over the last year. Our Library continues to be humbled and grateful for the generosity, support, and encouragement shown by our community. Please enjoy these highlights from the past year!
This year’s Summer Read ran from May 31st to July 30th, and our community read over 10,000 hours! During the summer months, Library staff offered 70 programs for our community, which saw over 1,400 attendees. Being able to create and offer fun and engaging programs like Story Time at the Park, Mini Golf at the Library, and the Nintendo-themed Scavenger Hunt, is one of the best parts of being your local public Library. We love being able to connect, create, play, and learn with our community!
The Coles County Social Service Navigators continue to help community members find, understand, and obtain assistance. Since its inception, the Navigator Program has responded to over 450 inquiries, calls, emails, and questions from community members seeking help or guidance. Our Library has also been able to provide exciting science and nature-focused programs for adults, including making your own rain barrel, bird walks at Lake Charleston, and learning about bat houses!
The Library has continued to make progress on maintaining and improving our facility. Over the course of this year, the Library has been awarded a competitive state-wide grant from the Illinois State Library for over $28,000 and a competitive grant from the Charleston Area Charitable Foundation for over $22,000. These grant funds will be used to upgrade the Library’s fire alarm and security camera systems. Meanwhile, we continue to invest Library funds in repairing our HVAC system. As our Library moves forward providing programs, services, and resources our community deserves, Library leadership will continue to ensure we are maintaining and improving this wonderful community facility.
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We are also excited to say that our annual fundraiser, Literature & Libations, will return this spring! Make sure to join us on Saturday, April 13, 2024, for a fun night of good food, good music, good drinks, and even better company! We hope to see you there!
As the leadership of the Charleston Carnegie Public Library, we could not be more proud of the work the Library staff has done, and we hope you will consider joining us in our effort to serve our community by making a donation to the Charleston Carnegie Public Library.
-Chris Houchens, Library Director & The Library Board