Check out what's happening at the library this week:
f you need assistance or are uncomfortable navigating the construction to return or pick up books, please call the library at 217-877-8174 and a staff member will be happy to come out to your vehicle. Thank you for your continued cooperation during the construction process.
Evening Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Tuesday, November 18 - *NEW TIME* 5:45 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Happy 97th Birthday to Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
Tuesday, November 18 - *NEW TIME* 5:45 p.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Happy 97th Birthday to Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
Read, Watch, Repeat Teen Book Club - 13 to 17
Tuesday, November 25
4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Ever hear the phrase, “the book is better”? With the Read, Watch, Repeat Teens Club you can put that statement to the test.
The premise: we read a book every six weeks. We then meet to review the book, watch a bit of the television or movie adaptation, and discuss the differences, similarities, favorites and not-so-favorites. Our book for this session is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart.
For questions, call Vanessa, Youth Services Librarian, at 217-877-8174
For those who served and continue to serve, we Thank You
FPL - Always ready to support our patrons and community.
Crayon Leaf Rubbing Drop-in
Saturday, November 15
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Leaf rubbing is art using crayons rubbed over a leaf to transfer the shape, texture, and veins of the leaf onto paper. It's a bright and fun fall craft, especially for young children.
Saturday, November 15
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Leaf rubbing is art using crayons rubbed over a leaf to transfer the shape, texture, and veins of the leaf onto paper. It's a bright and fun fall craft, especially for young children.
The game of Pictionary - draw a picture to describe a word or phrase for your team to guess. Easy, right? Not necessarily. Pulling it off can be a challenge that winds up in a lot of fun and laughter. Choose your best team (2 to 6 per team) and register them with Pam, Adult Services Librarian, by calling 217-877-8174. You’re welcome to bring a snack to share; drinks will be provided.
Story Time with Miss Vanessa
Friday, November 14 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
It'll be a dilly of a day on November 14 - it's National Pickle Day!
Friday, November 14 - 10:00 a.m.
Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
It'll be a dilly of a day on November 14 - it's National Pickle Day!
Veteran's Day - Thank you for your service!
Thanks to the generosity of an amazing community member, the Feed the Need food pantry shelf if now available at Forsyth Public Library to all that need a helping hand! Our goal is to provide extra support to those in our community facing food insecurity as well as help connect them with other local resources.
Feed the Need is designed to be a "Take What You Need, Leave What You Can" resource. Please spread the word to any of our local families who could benefit. The Feed the Need shelf is located in the interior hallway of Forsyth Public Library and is available during normal library hours: Mon, Tues and Thurs 9 AM - 7 PM, Wed and Fri 9 AM - 5 PM and Sat 9 AM - 1 PM.
If you have the means to contribute, we'd be happy to accept your food contributions or cash donations. Please inquire at the circulation desk and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
Feed the Need is designed to be a "Take What You Need, Leave What You Can" resource. Please spread the word to any of our local families who could benefit. The Feed the Need shelf is located in the interior hallway of Forsyth Public Library and is available during normal library hours: Mon, Tues and Thurs 9 AM - 7 PM, Wed and Fri 9 AM - 5 PM and Sat 9 AM - 1 PM.
If you have the means to contribute, we'd be happy to accept your food contributions or cash donations. Please inquire at the circulation desk and we'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
Story Time with
Miss Vanessa
Friday, November 7 - 10:00 a.m. - Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Come Listen to a Story & Make Your Own Book!
Miss Vanessa
Friday, November 7 - 10:00 a.m. - Ages 2 to 5, siblings welcome
Come Listen to a Story & Make Your Own Book!
***JOIN US TONIGHT!*** From Pages to Popcorn Tween Book Club
Tuesday, November 4 - 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Do you enjoy reading books that have been adapted to television shows or movies? If so, join our tweens book club, From Pages to Popcorn!
Every six weeks we’ll read a different book. We then meet to discuss the book, watch a bit of the television or movie adaptation, and talk about the differences, similarities, favorites and not-so-favorites. Our book for this session is The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
For questions about the club, please call Vanessa, Youth Services Librarian, at 217-877-8174
Tuesday, November 4 - 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.
Do you enjoy reading books that have been adapted to television shows or movies? If so, join our tweens book club, From Pages to Popcorn!
Every six weeks we’ll read a different book. We then meet to discuss the book, watch a bit of the television or movie adaptation, and talk about the differences, similarities, favorites and not-so-favorites. Our book for this session is The Wild Robot by Peter Brown.
For questions about the club, please call Vanessa, Youth Services Librarian, at 217-877-8174
***JUST A FEW MORE DAYS TO REGISTER***
Mobile DMV
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Mobile DMV
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
We Honor and Remember
Here's what's happening at FPL this week:
Do you know the chilling legend of the Forsyth ghost? Forsyth Public Library's very own historical archivist Tina Horve has shared the spooky story below:
Forsyth's ghost story begins on January 25, 1871, when an unidentified woman—“scarce more than twenty,” as later retellings put it—was killed at a culvert just north of town by a passing Illinois Central train. In the versions printed years later, she uttered a vow with her dying breath, that after twenty years, she would return to haunt the trainmen of that road.
On the night of January 25, 1891 (exactly 20 years to the day), the Diamond Special train approached the culvert at speed. The engineer later swore he saw a woman, clothed only in a corset and underskirt, hair flying in the wind, eyes “like balls of fire,” swinging a crimson lantern in an urgent arc. He threw the air brakes and stopped so abruptly that passengers were tossed from their seats. When trainmen and curious riders rushed forward, the figure vanished. Groans were said to rise from beneath the culvert; a search found nothing.
Word spread. Detectives kept vigil; the apparition returned—always at a distance, always dissolving before anyone could lay a hand on her. Crowds gathered nightly along the right-of-way. So many fences were broken that the railroad took legal aim at the local press for inflaming the spectacle.
In time, the spell broke. In 1922, a man confessed the “Forsyth ghost” had just been an adolescent prank.
A confessed prankster may have claimed the Forsyth Ghost was nothing but teenage trickery—but then again, it’s easy to talk brave in daylight.
If you’re out late this Halloween and the wind from the north catches your ear just right, don’t be too quick to laugh.
It might not be the breeze at all.
Forsyth's ghost story begins on January 25, 1871, when an unidentified woman—“scarce more than twenty,” as later retellings put it—was killed at a culvert just north of town by a passing Illinois Central train. In the versions printed years later, she uttered a vow with her dying breath, that after twenty years, she would return to haunt the trainmen of that road.
On the night of January 25, 1891 (exactly 20 years to the day), the Diamond Special train approached the culvert at speed. The engineer later swore he saw a woman, clothed only in a corset and underskirt, hair flying in the wind, eyes “like balls of fire,” swinging a crimson lantern in an urgent arc. He threw the air brakes and stopped so abruptly that passengers were tossed from their seats. When trainmen and curious riders rushed forward, the figure vanished. Groans were said to rise from beneath the culvert; a search found nothing.
Word spread. Detectives kept vigil; the apparition returned—always at a distance, always dissolving before anyone could lay a hand on her. Crowds gathered nightly along the right-of-way. So many fences were broken that the railroad took legal aim at the local press for inflaming the spectacle.
In time, the spell broke. In 1922, a man confessed the “Forsyth ghost” had just been an adolescent prank.
A confessed prankster may have claimed the Forsyth Ghost was nothing but teenage trickery—but then again, it’s easy to talk brave in daylight.
If you’re out late this Halloween and the wind from the north catches your ear just right, don’t be too quick to laugh.
It might not be the breeze at all.
Happy Halloween! These are just some of the adorable kiddos that visited the library last Saturday for our annual Nightmare of Elwood Street Halloween event. Congratulations to our costume contest winners - Toothless, Capybara and Bingo!
Mobile DMV
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Saturday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
in the Program Room at FPL
Attendees Must Schedule an Appointment
Call the library at 217-877-8174 to register for a spot with the Mobile DMV. Representatives of the Secretary of State's office will be on hand to assist with renewing or correcting driver's licenses, converting existing standard driver’s licenses into REAL ID driver’s licenses, obtaining renewed or first time Standard or REAL state IDs, issuing free state IDs for seniors aged 65 or older, and purchasing license plate stickers. A list of acceptable documents required can be found at the library or online at www.ilsos.gov.
Attendees can also register to be an organ donor/tissue donor and register to vote while applying for a driver’s license or identification card.
Teen Make Your Own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf Drop-in
Friday, November 7 - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Ages 13 and up
Shake away your anxiety with your own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf. The idea is that when feeling anxious, you can organize a collection of miniature books on a tiny shelf, engaging in the focused task to escape worries. If feeling stressed or frustrated, you can also shake the shelf to release tension, creating a repetitive, soothing experience.
Friday, November 7 - 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Ages 13 and up
Shake away your anxiety with your own Mini Anxiety Bookshelf. The idea is that when feeling anxious, you can organize a collection of miniature books on a tiny shelf, engaging in the focused task to escape worries. If feeling stressed or frustrated, you can also shake the shelf to release tension, creating a repetitive, soothing experience.
