Library News & Programs

We are starting a theater club in September for anyone 13 and older. The group will meet monthly on Thursdays and discuss anything theater related. The group will determine which aspects of theater they would like to pursue - anything from reading Shakespeare to miniature set design to Broadway to table reads! 

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The first meeting will be Thursday, September 4 from 4:30 to 6:00pm. We will sing Broadway karaoke (or lip-sync) and discuss the future of the club. You do not need to sing/perform to participate in the meeting.

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Broadway Karaoke/Lip-Sync

& Theater Club Planning Meeting

Thursday, September 4

4:30-6:00pm

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Call the library and ask for Kenzie for additional information.

The Steeleville Area Public Library cordially invites you to:​ Afternoon Tea - A monthly sip and chat social hour at the library! 

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When: The 3rd Wednesday every month from 3-4pm beginning on September 17

Where: Steeleville Area Public Library

What: Sample a variety of tea flavors, enjoy an afternoon snack, and chat with fellow tea-lovers. Coffee drinkers are welcome too!

Who: Afternoon tea is for adults.

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Call the library and ask for Suzy for additional information.

Flour Power Hour is a monthly baking club beginning in September, for baking enthusiasts to exchange tips, recipes, ideas, and share tasty treats!

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Our first meeting is September 24, from 3-4pm. Call the library and ask for Suzy for additional information.

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Flour Power Hour is a program for adults and mature teenagers with an interest in baking. All skill levels (as well as beginners) are welcome.

Craft + Afternoon = Crafternoon

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Every Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. ​

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Bring your portable craft projects to the library on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3p.m. and socialize while you work!

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We will provide coffee, tea, and hot cocoa to participants.

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Share your expertise, tips, and tricks with other crafters!

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Download Flyer

1000 books before kindergarten encourages families to read with their children and develops a love of reading while children are young! Reading with our children helps improve imagination, creativity, vocabulary and promotes family time! ​Children birth-5 can participate.

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Sign up at the library, log each book read, and for each 100 milestone children get to pick out a prize and put their picture on the achievement wall & in the newspaper!

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1000 Books Before Kindergarten Page

​Story hours are aimed towards toddlers but all ages are welcome. We typically read 2-3 books, do an activity/song, and make a simple craft.

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Regular story hour will start up again in October.

Get creative at the library with Legos at the library!

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Lego Club is the 1st Wednesday each month from October through May from 3-4 PM.

We are changing the ages for our clubs this year. Lego Club will be for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.

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Registration for this school year will start in September, and Lego Club will resume in October. Please fill out a new registration form this year. ​​​

Get crafty at the library!

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Craft Club is the 2nd Wednesday each month from October through May from 3-4 PM.

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We are changing the ages for our clubs this year. We have had issues in previous years with some crafts being too difficult for younger children and others being too boring for older children, so Craft Club will be for students in 4th through 8th grade this year.

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Registration for this school year will start in September, and Craft Club will resume in October. Please fill out a new registration form this year. ​​​

The GED/HSE program is Monday-Thursday at the library.​ Call 965-9732 and ask for Kim Knop to sign up now or get more information!​

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We also have free ESL tutoring sessions led by Ruth Rowley. Call the library for more details.

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Classes and tutoring are provided by the Monroe Randolph Regional Office of Education (ROE45).

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Statement from the Illinois Heartland Library System:

"In March 2025, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at further downsizing federal agencies. One of those targeted is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the organization responsible for administering crucial grants to state and local libraries. Later that month, the entire IMLS staff was placed on administrative leave for up to 90 days, forcing a pause on all of the agency's grant activities—including the disbursal of already-granted FY2025 funds.​"

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Statement from the Illinois State Library & Illinois Library Association:

"Of the $180 million that the IMLS’s Grants to States Program provides to state libraries, the Illinois State Library received $5.7 million in the fiscal year 2025 – the sixth highest amount of any state. These funds help sustain the operations of all public, school, academic and special libraries and provide essential program funding in targeted areas, particularly underserved areas of the state."        

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Read the letter from Illinois State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias HERE.   

Read the full statement from the ILA HERE.

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Statement from the American Library Association:

"From technology classes for jobseekers to services for people with disabilities, from library delivery for older Americans to summer reading programs for families, IMLS funding makes a real, concrete difference in the lives of Americans every day. The president’s executive order puts all of those services at risk."     Read More HERE.

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Click here to learn more about how IMLS impacts your local library and how the budget cuts will affect libraries.

We asked our staff and library board members about the best books they read in the last few years, and compiled a list of recommendations for you.​ Have a recommendation for us or other patrons? Click HERE to view recommendations.

Using the SHARE Mobile Library, you can manage your accounts, keep track of checkouts and due dates, and renew items from your mobile device! Search for books, DVDs, video games, audiobooks, e-books, and more. Find it now in the Apple App store or Google Play Store. ​

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And don't forget about CloudLibrary, your spot to find ebooks and audiobooks right from your phone or tablet! Cloud Library can also be found in the Apple App store or Google Play Store.