Vernon Area Public Library notes

For information or to register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit www.vapld.info.

All programs are offered free, unless otherwise indicated. Library hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information contact Shannon Galton at (847) 634-3650, ext. 137 or e-mail sgalton@vapld.info

Storytime Orientation: Preschool Storytime Orientation will be held from 10 to 10:30 a.m. or 2 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday for children attending storytime for the first time and their caregivers. It is a sampling of the stories, songs and other activities that take place in storytime.

Healthy Eating for Teens: The Food Detectives will present a program on nutrition from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Learn how food affects the body, mind and spirit. Concepts such as unconscious eating habits, peer pressure and how it relates to food choices, emotional eating, eating on the run, body type and self image will be addressed. Nutritious snacks will be served.

Babysitting Clinic: Sharon Doney from the Lake County Health Department will give students instruction in first aid and child care from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday and Feb. 9. Participants need to attend both sessions to be certified. For ages 11 and up.

Preschool Saturdays: Short and entertaining films of stories old and new from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Hear stories for the preschool child on from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Feb. 9 and 23. Registration is not required.

Images of Africa: Kopano Performing Arts Company will celebrate the cultures of Africa from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday with dancing, drumming and proverbs. Authentic attire and native instruments will highlight this performance.

Tax Help for Seniors: A trained AARP volunteer offers free help to senior citizens in completing their income tax forms from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning Monday. Bring a copy of last year's tax return. To make an appointment, call the Adult Services Desk at (847) 634-3650.

Monday Morning Tots: This program for children under 3 and caregivers from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Monday and Feb. 11 and 25 is an opportunity for participants to interact with others their own age. The library provides the space, books, toys and refreshments. Siblings are welcome to attend. Registration is not required. Beginning in February, caregivers will need to show a library card when they sign in.

Guide Dogs for the Blind: Bill Jurek, Graduate Field Representative for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, will discuss the training and breeding of guide dogs from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 5. Learn about guide dog etiquette and find out how these dogs help visually impaired people in their daily lives. Jurek's dog, Abner, will demonstrate various commands.

Preschool Storytime: This half-hour weekly program features stories, songs and finger plays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. or 2 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays, this Tuesday to March 11 or Thursdays, Feb. 7 to March 13. For ages 3 through 5 (pre-kindergarten).

Romantic Dinner: Learn the secret to a romantic dinner for Valentine's Day or any other special celebration from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 7. Chef Michael Maddox of French restaurant Le Titi De Paris will cook a three-course meal of Asian field greens salad, potato and tarragon crusted salmon and passion fruit Napoleon. Tasting and recipes are included.

Chocolate! Chocolate!: Celebrate Valentine's Day with this chocolate program from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 11. The Food Mercenary Michael Niksic will introduce different types of chocolate and show how to cook with this crowd favorite. Taste Belgium chocolates, sip hot chocolate, learn a basic chocolate mousse recipe and finish with a dessert flavored with chocolate sauce. Tasting is included.

Honest Abe: In this tribute to Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Jeff Mishur will give a look at the images of the 16th president from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 12. Examine paintings, photographs, sculptures and other material culture celebrating Honest Abe.

A Night at the Oscars: Get ready for the Oscars from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 13. Film historian Raymond Benson will lead a discussion on this year's award nominees. Hear more about the nominated movies, directors and actors; debate and vote on possible winners; learn the history of the Academy and answer Oscar trivia.

Writer's Support Group: The Writer's Support Group, led by Sandy Kamen Wisniewski, offers an opportunity for writers -- published or not -- to critique each other's work and share ideas and techniques from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 13. New members are always welcome. Registration is not required.

Be Good to Your Heart: Participants will learn how to be good to their hearts in this crucial program on eating and living the healthy way from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 14. Dr. Kroger of Sedgebrook Retirement Community will give you simple, heart-healthy tips to incorporate into daily life.

Jamma Tales: Ages 2 to 5 and caregivers can relax and snuggle for stories and songs from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 14. Pajamas are welcome for this half-hour evening storytime. Registration is not required.

Beach Party Blast: All members of the Winter Reading Club are welcome to celebrate the end of the Winter Reading Club with Dave Rudolf's Beach Party Blast from 11 a.m. to Noon Feb. 16.

Go Anywhere with a Book: All ages can take part in the "Go Anywhere with a Book" Winter Reading Club, running through Feb. 16. Register at the library.

Infants through eighth-grades can earn prizes for reading or being read to, enter weekly raffles, receive bowling coupons compliments of Hawthorn Lanes and attend a special celebration just for being in the club.

Adults and teens are eligible to win prizes after reading four books, and will receive a colorful luggage tag when they begin.

Games for Grownups: Play chess or sharpen skills with the help of chess instructor Robert Krause from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 17, or play another of the library's many board games. Open to adults and high school students of all skill levels. Registration is not required.

Dance for Teens: Teens can learn the latest dances from Fred Astaire Dance Studio teachers from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 18. No gym shoes.

Book Discussion: Students in second and third grade can take part in a craft and discussion of Elizabeth Coatsworth's Newbery-winning book "The Cat Who Went to Heaven" from 7 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 20. A complimentary book will be reserved upon registration.

Open House Craft Night: Enjoy an all-ages Open House Craft Night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 25. Begin with a brief introduction to three local craft stores, followed by an open tour of the stores' booth displays. I'd Rather Be Knitting Yarn Studio will offer tips to knitters of all skill levels. Bead Soup will introduce participants to beading and make earrings for adults and bracelets for children. Sunshine Craft will help children paint fridge magnets, ready to take home that night. There will be raffles, giveaways and demonstrations throughout the evening.

Afterschool Adventures: This series features stories, crafts and movies from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. on Wednesdays through March 12 and Thursdays through March 13. For kindergarten through second grade.

Computer reservations: In order to address the long wait times for the library's 38 computers, the Vernon Area Public Library District's is installing three Express Computers in the lobby, which are limited to 15-minute sessions. The Express Computers, library catalog stations, subscription databases within the library and wireless access will remain available for all patrons to use.

To further reduce the long wait times, the library is also implementing a new computer reservation system for all other public access computers. Beginning Feb. 11, public access computers will be available to library cardholders only. A valid Vernon Area Public Library card will be required to use a computer and make a computer reservation.

For more information, contact Laurel Vlcek, director pro tem, at (847) 634-3650, ext. 150 or lvlcek@vapld.info.

Tax Time: The library offers the most popular federal and Illinois income tax forms starting in mid-January. Reproducible forms are available for copying. Multiple part forms, such as Form 1099, are not available and must be obtained through the IRS. Federal tax forms can be found online at www.irs.gov and Illinois forms can be found at www.revenue.state.il.us/taxforms. Senior citizens may make an appointment with an AARP volunteer for assistance in completing forms. Call the Adult Services Desk in January for more information and to make an appointment.

Business library cards: Businesses in the Vernon Area Library District are invited to apply for a business library card. Resources include online databases (Reference USA and Business Company Resource Center), meeting room space, copiers and fax, business-related and computer instruction classes, computers with Wi-Fi Internet access and MS Office Suite and business-related books for start-up and growing businesses, management, accounting and human resources.

E-mail hold notification: The Vernon Area Public Library is now offering e-mail hold notification.

When items a patrons have requested become available, they can receive an e-mail to let them know that the items are at the Patron Services Desk. Patrons will have four days to pick up held items. Register for e-mail hold notification by visiting www.vapld.info or by visiting the Patron Services Desk and filling out a privacy permission form. Anyone already receiving due date e-mail reminders will automatically receive e-mail hold notification.