Month: May 2020

Curbside Pickup Service

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In an effort to provide safe, easy, and convenient access of materials to our community, the Bensenville Community Public Library now offers curbside pickup service!

Please note that our curbside service is a pickup service only. All materials must be put on hold prior to pickup.

  • Check out books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, board games, a selection of YS book bundles, and WiFi hotspots!
  • Printing, scanning, copying, and faxing services are also available for curbside pickup. Please call the Adult Services Desk at (630) 766-4642 for more information.

Curbside pickup hours:

Monday — Thursday
9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Friday
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

How can I request materials for curbside pickup?

Place your items on hold:

  • Through the online catalog at: benlib.org/catalog

  • Through the SWAN Libraries Mobile App

  • By calling us at (630) 766-4642. We’re available Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Sundays 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Once your hold is received and processed, we will notify you by phone or email when your items are ready for pickup. Please do not attempt to pick up your items until you have been notified. Once notified, you will have 7 days to pick up your hold during curbside hours.

My items are ready for pickup. Now what?

  • First things first, bring your cellphone and your library card with you to the library.
  • Once you arrive, please park in a designated curbside pickup spot in front of the building and call the phone number posted on the sign. (Curbside pro-tip: Add the BCPL Curbside phone number to your contacts in your phone for even easier pickup service next time!)
  • Tell us your name and which curbside spot you are in. Open your trunk. Staff will bring your items out to you and place directly in your trunk. Please do not exit the vehicle. If your trunk is not accessible, staff will place your items on top of your vehicle.
  • You can now enjoy your materials at home!
  • Please note: Currently, staff cannot take returned items. Please kindly put all returned materials in the outside book drop.

The outdoor book drop is open for returns!

Frequently Asked Questions about Curbside Pickup:

When you arrive at the library, call the curbside number posted on the sign in the parking lot and let us know you are here and not in a car. Please stay close to the outside book drop and a staff member will come out and place your items on the bench under the awning. You may retrieve your items when the staff member has returned to the building.

If you do not have a cell phone to use, please call the Library at (630) 766-4642 prior to picking up your items and alternate arrangements can be made.

No, the card number you received online is only valid for online use. Please call the Library at (630) 766-4642 to arrange to receive a physical card that can be used to for both online and in-house materials.

For the safety of our staff, we ask that you wait until one of the two spots is clear and park in a curbside spot when one becomes available. 

Books, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, board games, binge boxes, youth kits & book bundles, Chromebooks, WiFi hotspots, and more!

Printing, scanning, and faxing services are also available during curbside pickup. Please call the Adult Services Desk at (630) 766-4642 for more information.

If your items are on the shelf, you should receive notification that your items are ready for pickup within 24-48 hours. Please do not come to the library until you are notified that your items are ready. Some holds may take longer than usual due to items being quarantined upon return.

All items have been quarantined for 7 days prior to being checked out to you. Please do not use liquid disinfectant on library materials. Time is the best disinfectant!

Loan periods for all materials will be three weeks with two renewals, if there are no pending holds. Checkout limits remain the same.

For your safety and the safety of our staff, all returns must be made through the outside book drop. Staff will not accept any materials from patrons.

Please note: Items you have returned will remain on your account for approximately 7 days. At this time, no overdue fines are being charged on any library materials.

We can’t wait to see everyone again! We will reopen the building to patrons as soon as we can do so in a safe and responsible manner and in accordance with State guidelines. Please know that we will publicize any reopening information on our website and our Facebook page.

At this time, we are not accepting material donations. Please hold materials until an announcement is made that we are accepting donations. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

During inclement weather, the Library may suspend curbside pickup for the safety of the staff. Please call ahead to ensure curbside pickup is available.

Yes! We’re full of good suggestions! Staff members from the Adult Services and Youth Services Departments are available to help you find your next great read (or watch)! Call us at (630) 766-4642 and someone will be happy to assist you.

A Letter from the Director…

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May 22, 2020

To our residents and patrons,

Foremost, I hope that this letter finds you and those important to you happy and healthy. We are all in uncharted waters, struggling to come to grips with the public health crisis and fallout of COVID-19. While so much is beyond our control, one thing that I find much comfort in is the fact that we live and work in a community as vibrant and resilient as Bensenville. A community that wholeheartedly believes in solidarity and looking out for our friends and neighbors. You can see the results of this every day, from birthday parades and porch portraits organized by the Village of Bensenville, to the thousands of lunches distributed by our friends at Bensenville School District 2, Fenton School District 100, and the Bensenville/Wood Dale Food Pantry. I know that we will all get through this and want you to know that when we do, the Library will be here, as we always have, to serve you.

While we cannot be together in the building currently, we are still working hard to provide you and your family with valuable resources. Please visit our webpage or social media pages to browse the current services we have available. We have premiered a new Storytime (from home) series on Facebook and Vimeo. We currently have 30+ new storytime videos that are available to view from the comfort of your home. We also have a variety of crafting and family videos that we have recently created. Last month our videos were viewed thousands of times for more than 125 hours collectively, so we know many of you are already enjoying these new resources. We have increased user checkouts for eBooks through OverDrive and Axis360. We installed a new public WiFi access point near our 30-minute parking spots to allow residents free and open access to our WiFi. Our online seed library is in full swing and has been met with much enthusiasm. Visit our webpage and place your order for up to 5 seed packets (while supplies last), which will be mailed directly to you at no charge with your library card. Don’t have a library card? Visit our website to sign-up for a new digital library card, which will allow you access to all of our online services. Virtual book clubs have launched with a variety of titles and times. This is just the tip of the iceberg; there are many more things to be found on our webpage and throughout our social media accounts. Check frequently because there is much more coming soon this summer.

We are working diligently to take steps to ensure that when the Library reopens, we are doing so in a safe and responsible manner. The Library administrative team and Board of Trustees has developed and passed a phased reopening plan. This is our roadmap to get back to being able to provide the level of service you expect and deserve as a community. Things will undoubtedly look different at the library for the near future, but we are committed to adapting our procedures, services, and programs to these unprecedented times.

When we reopen, we will be taking the following steps:

• Introducing new curbside pickup option for materials on hold (launching early June 2020)

• Promoting new digital programs and services guide for July and August (available mid June 2020)

• Opening initially with limited hours to allow extra time for daily building maintenance and cleaning

• Quarantining all materials for 72 hours prior to placing them back on the shelves

• Installing new protective sneeze guards at all public service desks

• Placing social distancing stickers on the floor

• Limiting building occupancy according to public health guidelines

• Vigilantly cleaning commonly touched surfaces throughout the day

• Properly spacing computers and instituting new time limits on computer use

• Purchasing additional copies of new, popular materials to minimize hold times while materials are quarantined

• Introducing new digital programs and services

 

We understand the difficulty of not being able to access the Library and our physical materials during this time. I can assure you that we are working hard behind the scenes to open just as quickly as we can. At this time, the best service that we can provide is to be good stewards of public health. Thank you for your patience and support during this time and we cannot wait to see you all back in the building soon!  

David Sieffert

Library Director

To read more COVID-19 updates from the Library, please click here.

Keep up with the Library by following us on social media!

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Backyard Birdwatching

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With many of us sheltering at home, the beauties of the outdoors are fast being rediscovered, explored, and appreciated anew. The Spring Bird Migration is underway and you need to look no further than your own backyard for entertainment… Enjoy this collection of birdwatching resources provided by our very own Adult Services Librarian, Mary!

Mary's Picks — Birdwatching Resources

Jeff Reiter's "Words on Birds"

For local birdwatching reports, identification and feeding suggestions, I heartily recommend Daily Herald columnist, Jeff Reiter’s Words on Birds

Click to Read Jeff Reiter's "Words on Birds"

Cornell Labs — All About Birds

Caught a glimpse of a bird you’ve never seen? Check out the Cornell Labs site All About Birds for wonderful colorful photos and an excellent bird ID and bird behavior guide. Your go-to guide for birds and bird watching it also features a wide assortment of bird feeders and nest cams.

Check out Cornell Labs "All About Birds"

Decorah Eagle Cams

For treetop views of nesting bald eagles check out the Decorah Eagle Cams! Features a nest-eye view of a pair of bald eagles and their offspring near a Trout Hatchery at Decorah, IA. Including many fascinating eagle facts!

Click to Watch Live Views of Bald Eagles

Virtual Book Clubs

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Turning to literature to pass the time and stay busy? Join our new virtual book clubs and let’s talk books! While the Library is temporarily closed, our virtual book clubs will be meeting on Zoom once a month, and we’ll provide the books for free! Space in each book club is limited and participation will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Happy reading!

Thursday Night Book Club

We read popular titles, best sellers, award winners, and more! Meets the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

HOW TO REGISTER:

  • Please send an email with your name, book title, and the date of the book club to Bill at bstephens@benlib.org
  • Once we receive your registration, we will notify you when your book is available for curbside pickup.
  • We will email you an invitation to the Zoom meeting two days prior to the event.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, May 25 to ensure you receive your book on time.

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins. Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Thursday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, June 22 to ensure you receive your book on time.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, July 27 to ensure you receive your book on time.

In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarified bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, and, particularly, their acting classes. Two freshmen, David and Sarah, fall headlong into love, their passion does not go unnoticed—or untoyed with—by anyone, especially not by their charismatic acting teacher, Mr. Kingsley.  Captivating, tender, and surprising, Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise will incite heated conversations about fiction and truth, and about friendships and loyalties.

Carapia's Coven

We read horror short stories and novellas available for free digitally on Project Gutenberg! Meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

HOW TO REGISTER:

  • Please send an email with your name, book title, and the date of the book club to Sofia at scarapia@benlib.org
  • Once we receive your email, we will reply with an invitation to the Zoom meeting!

The Shunned House by H.P. Lovecraft

Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.

The Shunned House is a novelette by H. P. Lovecraft, originally written in October 1924. Its first wide publication was in the October 1937 issue of Weird Tales. The narrator and his uncle, Dr. Elihu Whipple, investigate an old house with a disturbing reputation for either driving its occupants insane or causing them a slow wasting death.

Read The Shunned House for free online!

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m.

Carmilla is an 1872 Gothic novella by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and one of the early works of vampire fiction, predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) by 26 years. First published as a serial in The Dark Blue (1871–72), the story is narrated by a young woman preyed upon by a female vampire named Carmilla.

Read Carmilla for free online!

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe

Tuesday, July 21 at 8:00 p.m. | Note Time Change!

The Tell-Tale Heart is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1843. It is related by an unnamed narrator who endeavors to convince the reader of the narrator’s sanity while simultaneously describing a murder the narrator committed.

Read The Tell-Tale Heart for free online!

The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen

Tuesday, August 18 at 8:00 p.m. | Note Time Change!

The Great God Pan is a horror and fantasy novella by Welsh writer Arthur Machen. Machen was inspired by his experiences at the ruins of a pagan temple in Wales. What would become the first chapter of the novella was published in the magazine The Whirlwind in 1890.

Read The Great God Pan for free online!

Lit Chicks

We read young adult fiction! Meets the third Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

HOW TO REGISTER:

  • Please send an email with your name, book title, and the date of the book club to Penny at pmandziara@benlib.org
  • Once we receive your registration, we will notify you when your book is available for curbside pickup.
  • We will email you an invitation to the Zoom meeting two days prior to the event.

Lovely War by Julie Berry

Monday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Friday, June 5 to ensure you receive your book on time.

They are Hazel, James, Aubrey, and Colette. A classical pianist from London, a British would-be architect-turned-soldier, a Harlem-born ragtime genius in the U.S. Army, and a Belgian orphan with a gorgeous voice and a devastating past. Their story, as told by goddess Aphrodite, who must spin the tale or face judgment on Mount Olympus, is filled with hope and heartbreak, prejudice and passion, and reveals that, though War is a formidable force, it’s no match for the transcendent power of Love.

Life in Reverse by Beth Michele

Monday, July 20 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Friday, July 10 to ensure you receive your book on time.

Ember never thought she’d fall for a bad boy like Vance, even if he did read Hemingway. Vance and Ember didn’t love each other at first sight. They didn’t even like each other. Ember, with her quirky ways, and Vance, and his angry, broody exterior. But there was more to both of them than met the eye. And when layers were peeled back, all their broken pieces exposed, they soon got a lot more than they ever bargained for… And found a love they never expected. 

One of Us is Next by Karen McManus

Monday, August 17 at 7:00 p.m.

In order to participate, please register by Friday, August 7 to ensure you receive your book on time.

The highly anticipated sequel to One of Us Is Lying! There’s a new mystery to solve at Bayview High, and there’s a whole new set of rules. A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one’s been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.  Until now. This time it’s not an app, though—it’s a game. 

Book Brunch

We read popular titles, best sellers, award winners, and more! Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m.

HOW TO REGISTER:

  • Please send an email with your name, book title, and the date of the book club to Bill at bstephens@benlib.org
  • Once we receive your registration, we will notify you when your book is available for curbside pickup.
  • We will email you an invitation to the Zoom meeting two days prior to the event.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 a.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, June 15 to ensure you receive your book on time.

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins. Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.

Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Thursday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, July 13 to ensure you receive your book on time.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go Go. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup.

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi

Thursday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m.

In order to participate, please register by Monday, August 17 to ensure you receive your book on time.

In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarified bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, and, particularly, their acting classes. Two freshmen, David and Sarah, fall headlong into love, their passion does not go unnoticed—or untoyed with—by anyone, especially not by their charismatic acting teacher, Mr. Kingsley.  Captivating, tender, and surprising, Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise will incite heated conversations about fiction and truth, and about friendships and loyalties.

Free Comic Book Day — Online!

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Even though we can’t celebrate Free Comic Book Day in person this year, Mr. Parish put together an awesome list of his must-read comics (available to check out or place on hold on Overdrive!), and some of his favorite free webcomics! Enjoy! To read more about the nationally-celebrated Free Comic Book Day and updates for 2020, click here.

Parish's Picks — Comics Found on Overdrive

New Kid

by Jerry Craft

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

Age: Middle School

Check out this title on Overdrive!

Black Panther: The Young Prince

by Ronald L. Smith

Life is comfortable for twelve-year-old T’Challa in his home of Wakanda, an isolated, technologically advanced African nation. When he’s not learning how to rule a kingdom from his father-the reigning Black Panther-or testing out the latest tech, he’s off breaking rules with his best friend, M’Baku. But as conflict brews near Wakanda, T’Challa’s father makes a startling announcement: he’s sending T’Challa and M’Baku to school in America.

Age: Middle School

Check out this title on Overdrive!

Chasma Knights

by Boya Sun

Beryl lives in a world full of toys. But these aren’t your ordinary toys―they’re mechanical marvels that almost seem alive! And at the slightest touch, these toys “catalyze,” that is, they merge with their owner and give them special abilities. But not Beryl. She’s a Neon Knight, and Neon Knights can’t catalyze.

All Ages

Check out this title on Overdrive!

The Okay Witch

by Emma Steinkellner

Thirteen-year-old Moth Hush loves all things witchy. But she’s about to discover that witches aren’t just the stuff of movies, books, and spooky stories. When some eighth-grade bullies try to ruin her Halloween, something really strange happens. It turns out that Founder’s Bluff, Massachusetts, has a centuries-old history of witch drama. And, surprise: Moth’s family is at the center of it all! 

Age: Middle School

Check out this title on Overdrive!

Dog Man

by Dav Pilkey

George and Harold have created a new breed of justice. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound digs into deception, claws after crooks, rolls over robbers, and scampers after squirrels. Will he be able to resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?

All Ages

Check out this title on Overdrive!

Cape (The League of Secret Heroes)

by Kate Hannigan

Josie O’Malley does a lot to help out Mam after her father goes off to fight the Nazis, but she wishes she could do more—like all those caped heroes who now seem to have disappeared. If Josie can’t fly and control weather like her idol, Zenobia, maybe she can put her math smarts to use cracking puzzles for the government.

Age: Middle School

Check out this title on Overdrive!

Click here to browse more comics for kids on Overdrive!

Parish's Picks — FREE Webcomics Available Online

Lost Nightmare

by Julia K.

Lost Nightmare is a comic about a young nightmare named Ink who is next in line to be the new Bogeyman. However, Ink doesn’t want to be scary so he seeks the help of the Sandman.

All Ages

Read this comic for free online!

JL8

by Yale Stewart

JL8 follows the adventures of popular DC comic characters as kids in elementary school. This is an enjoyable read for any fans of DC Comics characters as well as people who enjoy the traditional syndicated comic strip.

All Ages

Read this comic for free online!

Kill Six Billion Demons

by Tom Parkinson-Morgan

Sorority sister Allison Ruth must travel to Throne, the ancient city at the center of the multiverse, in an epic bid to save her boyfriend from the clutches of the seven evil kings that rule creation.

Ages: Teens & Adults

Read this comic for free online!

Ghost Junk Sickness

by Kristen Lee

Trigger Elliot is a bounty hunter who travels around the galaxy with his not-so-fully-licensed-and-technically-illegal-hunting-partner Vahn Gavotte. They’re lousy at what they do and often resort to petty tactics just to get a bounty; this is their life. After an unsuccessful hijacking of another hunter’s game, the two find themselves in a lot more debt than they bargained for.

Ages: Teens

Read this comic for free online!

Parish's Picks — Webcomic Online Collections

Tapas: Bite-sized stories on the go

Tapas is home to a creator community that has published 77,000 stories to date. Creating an account is FREE, and you can read webcomics for free! You can also watch ads that give you Ink, which is used to pay the creator for upcoming pages. Tapas has something for everyone!

Browse comics!

Shonen Jump (Viz Media)

Viz Media, or Shonen Jump, has the latest manga favorites from: My Hero Academia, One-Punch Man and Demon Slayer, just to name a few. Creating an account is FREE, however you can only read the latest pages. To read previous pages, you’ll have to subscribe for the membership, which costs $1.99 a month.

Browse comics!