Library provides 21st century treasure hunt into local history

Librarians are always looking for ways to use new technology for library service. Take David Ruff, director of the Rolling Meadows Library. When his kids returned from visiting New Mexico, they were excited about a new game called geocaching.

What's geocaching? It's an adventure game involving the use of a global positioning system (GPS) unit often seen in higher-end cars.

Hand-held units suitable for geocaching are available for about $100-$150. Individuals and organizations have set up caches world-wide. The location coordinates of caches are shared on the Internet and geocachers use the coordinates to find them. The excitement is in the hunt and the chase, although caches provide a variety of rewards. Finders are asked to leave replacement rewards if they take something.

Ruff fed off his children's excitement and hatched the idea of assembling kits for geocaching local history in Rolling Meadows.

"Our approach doesn't involve digging up anything, however," he explained. "The reward is all about discovering local history. We teamed up with the Rolling Meadows Historical Society and have created three Adventure Packs, each with a GPS unit, a notebook describing each history hike and a pair of binoculars."

A Rolling Meadows Library cardholder can participate by producing a driver's license (or other ID to show they are adult).

Here's how it works: At the Rolling Meadows Library (3110 Martin Lane), ask to borrow one of the Adventure Packs at the main circulation desk. Consult the notebook in the pack for the coordinates that will begin your history hike. Using the GPS, you can see if you are approaching the locations described or getting further away. Once you're in the right spot, pictures in the notebook will confirm your success and relate an informative and entertaining history lesson.

If you don't have a Rolling Meadows library card, you can visit the Rolling Meadows Library Web site (www.rolling-meadows.lib.il.us) scroll down to "Adventure Packs," download the notebook and use your own GPS unit.

History hikes vary in length from about half a mile to two miles. Topics include Rolling Meadows' birthplace, the first library, a park district reclamation project that impacted Olympic figure skating history, and Rolling Meadows' own top secret Area 51. Hikes are appropriate for all ages, and all are stroller and wheelchair friendly.

Established in 1955, Rolling Meadows is relatively young. People who remember the early days are delighted to share their recollections.

"We based our Adventure Kits on the suggestions of the Rolling Meadows Historical Society members, particularly local historian Esther Percia's 1979 book, "They Took the Challenge: The Story of Rolling Meadows." One goal of the project was to recapture the "lost history" of Rolling Meadows by encouraging locals to share memories of the City. Ruff explained, "Since starting the project, we have received stories that are entertaining, surprising, and, in at least one case, too racy to print. All will be verified before they make it into the Adventure Pack."

So far the history hikes have proven very popular. "In the first month, we had 150 hikers," Ruff noted. He also said that he believes Rolling Meadows was the nation's first library to use GPS technology for local history touring. "Kids love the technology, parents love the family time together, and everyone learns a bit of local history in the bargain."

For more on this topic, view my interview with Ruff this month on our award-winning cable TV show, "What's New in Libraries?" Visit www.whatsnewinlibraries.org for channels and times in your area.