This Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM - 12 PM, is our first ever Plant Swap! We're so excited to share with the community and can't wait to see what you bring us for our new Forsyth Community Garden. We have 3 kinds of tomatoes, 2 kinds of peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, basil and more - all started from seed right here in the library!
Coming to the Plant Swap tomorrow? Check out the graphic to learn more about what to expect.
160th Forsyth Birthday Celebration at the Library
Tuesday, May 13 during library hours
All Are Welcome!
Mark your calendar and be sure to join us at the library for our 160th Forsyth Birthday Celebration on Tuesday, May 13 with a little bit of everything happening all day.
Cake All Day!!!
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Meet the Forsyth Historical Archivist
3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Kids Squirrelly Craft Project
5:00 - 7:00 Meet & Greet of past & present Village leaders
Village-wide Scavenger Hunt Winner Drawn
Be on the lookout for more detailed information soon!
In honor of our 160th Birthday Celebration, the Village of Forsyth is hosting a Village-wide Scavenger Hunt! You and your team will follow the trail of clues to help you solve a riddle. This is a family-friendly scavenger hunt that is perfect for adults and kids of all ages. We encourage you to bring the whole family! Once complete, you'll turn in your answer at the Forsyth Public Library for your chance to win a $160 Texas Roadhouse Gift Certificate drawn from teams who submit the correct answer. The Scavenger Hunt starts now and entries are due by 3 PM on May 13. Good luck!!
You can find more information here: https://www.forsyth-il.gov/article/2183178
The Forsyth Historical Archives at Forsyth Public Library was excited to welcome Catheryne Popovitch, Director at the Illinois State Archives and other State Archives staff members to our little room earlier this week to show the work being done to protect Forsyth history!
If you haven't been in yet to explore the Archives, we invite you to visit on Tuesday, May 13, during our 160th Birthday Celebration for the Village of Forsyth. Our archivist Tina Horve will be available from 10 AM - 1 PM to show you the Archives, chat about Forsyth history or answer any questions you may have about our Ancestry for Libraries subscription while you enjoy a slice of birthday cake in honor of the Village's 160th.
The New Micro-Transit Informational Meeting
Tuesday, May 6 - 3;00 p.m.
No Registration Required
Please join us on Tuesday, May 6, at 3:oo p.m. for our Micro-Transit Takes You Places! informational meeting to learn more about this unique new transportation service soon to be available to Forsyth residents. Micro-Transit bridges the gap between traditional fixed-route buses and ride-hailing services like Uber. Using smaller, branded vehicles, it provides curb-to-curb shared rides within designated zones. Riders are picked up and dropped off at assigned stops, sharing trips with others traveling in similar time frame - a "group Uber" experience.
Key Features:
Integration with Fixed Routes: Micro-Transit connects riders to fixed-route buses at transit hubs when they’re the best option.
Extended Coverage: Operates during fixed-route downtimes and connects to neighboring communities participating in restructured transit services.
ADA Support: Curb-to-curb service for eligible riders, with traditional para-transit remaining available for those needing door-to-door assistance.
Benefits:
First-and-Last Mile Solutions: Connects people to high-frequency buses not within walking distance of their homes or workplaces.
Transit Deserts: Provides reliable, convenient transportation in areas lacking the density for fixed-route services.
Equity and Accessibility: Enhances mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities through real-time bookings, shared rides, and reduced costs.
To learn more about this new service soon to be available in Forsyth, please join us on May 6.
The May Community Watch Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
The library will be CLOSED for half a day on Wednesday, May 7.
Kids Bookmark Design Contest
Begins Saturday, May 3 through Friday, May 9
Kids, it's time for our 2025 Summer Reading Bookmark Design Contest! Take a form, get creative, then submit your completed design to the library.
We have 3 age groups for the Bookmark Design Contest: Ages 4 to 6, 7 to 9 and 10+
Be sure to complete the section at the bottom of the form with the entrants name, age and a phone number where they can be easily reached.
Yours could be chosen to be printed & used by our patrons all summer, plus you’ll win a prize. We're looking forward to seeing your designs.
Deadline for submission is Friday, May 9.
Here's what's happening at the library this week:
Thank you to all the children who decided to give our new Kids Clubs a try these past months. They're going on hiatus until September due to our many upcoming Summer Reading events and programs. We hope to see everyone again in the fall as well as some new faces!
Story Time with Miss Kelsey
Friday, April 25 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Do you sometimes wonder if you're a Smart Cookie, Good Egg or Couch Potato? Maybe even a Cool Bean, Bad Seed or Sour Grape? Take a Great Eggscape to the library, join Story Time with Miss Kelsey and learn about these characters through the wonderful books by author, Jory John. John's books include a bit of humor - light and dark - with fun, adorable characters. Many discuss difficult topics in a way that helps parents talk with their children. As usual, there will also be activities and an awesome craft!
Tomorrow - Tuesday, April 22 - is Earth Day 2025! As a little shout out to all things earth friendly, the first 5 patrons who mention this post at the circulation desk will receive their choice of a FREE pepper plant - jalapeno or sweet - from our starters we'll have available at our Plant Swap on Saturday, May 3.
Community Garden Update: Our plants are HUGE! We're prepping our garden beds this week and will be ready to plant soon. While some of the plants we've grown are heading to our Community Garden, we're sending some of them to yours. Stop by on Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM - 12 PM for our first ever Plant Swap. The basic idea: You bring an interesting plant (vegetable, herb, houseplant or flowers!) and then swap with us or another community member to take home something new. Don't have a plant to share? You can also make a donation to the Community Garden project and leave with one of ours.
Pinwheel Drop-in
Saturday, April 26 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
All Ages Welcome
Pinwheels have been an inexpensive children’s toy for decades. They’re easy to make and can be used indoors or out. Drop into the library and have fun decorating a pre-made pinwheel any way you like.
Available while supplies last
Here's what's going on at the library this week:
Happy Easter to our loyal patrons!
It was a crazy fun night at our Stuffy Sleepover! Some of our favorite library kiddos left their stuffed friends at the library with Miss Kelsey for stories, games and more. Scroll through to check out all of their adventures!
St. Louis Cardinals Ticket Raffle
Tickets for June 9 game vs. Blue Jays
Visit FPL between now and Wednesday, May 14 to check out any library material and be entered into the Cards Ticket Raffle. Winners will be contacted on May 16. Ages 16 and up are eligible to win!
If you'd like to help us knock a few items off of our Summer Reading Wishlist, we would certainly appreciate your support. Your donations allow us to take the funds that we would otherwise spend on these supplies and then put them right back into planning even more activities and fun for kids of all ages this summer!
Amazon Wishlist: https://a.co/4NWTKz9
Oops! Did you catch our mistake? This is the correct version of our weekly events - no Community Watch this Tuesday, but we do have Stuffy Sleepover for kids and True Crime Club for adults that night. Hope to see you at the library this week!
