Library's new youth services head focuses on fun

Labor Day is over and it's time for a new beginning in the children's department at North Aurora's Messenger Public Library.

Tuesday marked Jen Abler's first day as the library's new head of Youth Services. Abler again finds herself following in the footsteps of Pam Miller, who is leaving the Messenger after three years at the library at 113 Oak St. in North Aurora.

"Jen followed me at West Branch of the Aurora Public Library when I got the job here," Miller said. "I'm clearing stuff out so it's not so overwhelming here and I will work part-time through September," Miller said. "It's good to have some overlap."

Miller's husband was named a bishop in the Lutheran Church and is living in Chicago waiting for his wife to sell their Aurora home before she also moves to the city.

Abler lives in Batavia and has spent nine years working in libraries.

"I want to carry on what Pam has done here," Abler said. "I want to make sure that we have what kids need and make sure that they know that the library is a fun place."

Abler said it is hard to leave Aurora but she is anxious to begin with a new team at a smaller library in North Aurora.

"My sister Christy Kepler is head of youth services in Oswego," Abler mentioned. "We are very close and she pushed me to get my degree. It's fun to have her as a friend in the business."

North Aurora children from toddlers to teens have full slate of programs already listed for this fall in the Youth Services Department.

Story characters Biscuit and the Pancake Pig from the book "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" make appearances at the library in September and November.

Middle school kids in the Anime Club meet on the third Wednesday of each month to help the library develop its anime collection.

Adults are encouraged to participate in the third year of Fox Valley Reads. The selection for this October and November is "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway.

The library also has a yarning group that meets on Monday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. The Messenger Book Group meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month.

Call the circulation desk at (630) 896-0240 if you have any questions about registering to vote. The library has deputy registrars and is a designated early voting site.

Check out the library's newsletter and Web site www.messengerpl.org for more information about programs for all ages.