Library to offer ‘a day in the life’ to state lawmakers

On Wednesday, April 13, the Batavia Public Library is joining libraries across the state in participating in “Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries” to show how important academic, public, school, and special libraries and library systems are to the state of Illinois.

On April 13, the library will compile statistics, customer comments, photographs and other data chronicling a typical library day. The results collected will be added to those of other libraries across Illinois to show how libraries provide invaluable services to Illinois citizens.

Library Director George H. Scheetz said, “I hope our loyal patrons will stop by and be a part of this historic day. Libraries are more important than ever to our communities, and library usage is at record levels.

“We want all the citizens of Illinois, and particularly our Illinois lawmakers, to see what a typical day is like for an Illinois library. Lawmakers have reduced state funding that is vital to help libraries like ours maintain current programs and services, much less provide new programs and services, purchase new materials and support the delivery of materials from other libraries.

“We hope this ‘snapshot’ drives home the point to lawmakers that their constituents, our patrons, rely on us for critical services and we cannot afford any more cuts in funding to libraries.”

“Snapshot: One Day in the Life of Illinois Libraries” is a project of the Illinois Library Association.

“Snapshot 2011” falls during National Library Week this year. On April 13, the library will host a New Lyceum Lecture Series program, “The Sixties and Advertising … Brought to You by Mad Men,” at 7 p.m.; ABC Storytimes at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Book Worms, a book discussion and craft program for students in kindergarten and first grade at 4:30 p.m.

To register for these programs, call (630) 879-1393.