|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Subscriber: June is bustin' out all over, but it's not too late for planting, as you will learn in our gardening article. Next time you are in the library, enjoy the new artwork in our Administration Office reception area. If you or someone you know is confined to home, take advantage of our homebound delivery service. And, if you need help with email, you can make an appointment with a staff member for one-on-one tutoring. Read on!
 For
a lifelong reader, nothing is worse than being cut off from
the library. Do you know someone who loves to read, but
can’t come to the library because of poor health? Maybe you
are recovering from surgery and won’t be able to drive for a
couple of months. Whether your needs are temporary or
long-term, you’ll be glad to know that the library reaches
out to homebound patrons. You can apply for the service
online
through our Web site, or call Roberta Johnson at
847-376-2816 for more information.
Books, music, movies, magazines, audiobooks and more are available to homebound patrons. Our friendly volunteers deliver on a two- or four-week rotation, and we can usually get you started within a week. You must be a Des Plaines resident, but if you don’t already have a card, we’ll send you the application. If there is someone who can pick up materials for you, we can select titles based on your taste and have them waiting at the Registration Desk. We can also place reserves on hot titles, and call you when they come in. Just tell us what you enjoy, and we'll make sure that you always have plenty to read, listen to and watch. It's like having the library in your living room. by Roberta Johnson, Readers' Services Librarian
 Do
you need help with email, or does someone you know want to
learn how to use it? The library is now offering free
one-on-one email tutoring for adults. Sessions are offered
twice each week and may last up to 45 minutes. Advance
registration is required, and June sessions are already
filled, so sign up early.
Email instruction will be tailored to meet individual needs and may include signing up for a free email account on Yahoo! or Hotmail, opening messages and attachments, replying to email messages, writing and sending messages and sending attachments. Interested individuals should phone the Reference Services Desk at 847-376-2841 for information or to schedule an appointment.
The library has recently installed a beautiful sculpture
by artist Joe Walters in the reception area of the
Administrative Offices. At first glance it’s a swirl of
shiny silver and bright shadows against a pleasant blue
background. As you come nearer, you see the individual
components are weeds, branches, mammals, insects and
reptiles, all species native to the Des Plaines River
and surrounding prairie. The materials used in the
sculpture include steel rod, aluminum mesh and polymer
clay finished with aluminum paint.
Walters says that the underlying premise of the work is the interdependency of species in an ecosystem. Viewers may notice that there is a size discrepancy in the plants and animals represented. For example, the rabbit is larger than the buffalo. The artist says this is intentional. “I feel that all creatures are equally important, regardless of their size or status in the environment. If something happens to an insect, it affects a mammal in that ecosystem.” The artist notes that his work is not species specific. He represents various aspects of a species, whether it is a plant or an animal. “For instance, there might be a coyote, but it could also be part wolf or other canine. I’ll do an interpretation based on its general characteristics. There is an element of abstraction. This allows me more flexibility to be expressive.” Walters likes his work to be suggestive, but not explicit. “It leaves open some avenues for personal interpretation and meanings that are read into the work. It also has to do with the act of making art.”
 Many
people think you have to start gardening in April or May to
get good results, but June is one of the best times to
plant. First, we’re unlikely to experience a frost this late
in the season. Second, June generally has enough rain and
warm weather to give plants a good start. Third, any
perennials, weeds, shrubs and surprises from last year will
already be in evidence, so you will be able to clearly see
where you have room for new plants. (In the past, I’ve
planted new items in late April only to discover late
blooming perennials peeking out around the new plantings in
May.)
For best results purchase plants that have already been started for you. (Starting from seed adds weeks to the growing process.) Perennials, annuals and herbs are readily available and can add instant color and texture to your landscape. Container arrangements can be used to add interest to porches and patios, or to cover bare spots in the lawn. Try placing a small shrub at the back of a large container with long-blooming colorful annuals, such as petunias, in front of the shrub. Then, add some trailing plants, such as lamium, sweet potato vine or pineapple mint, at the edges of the pot. Don’t be afraid to stuff the container full, using a good potting mix to anchor everything together. Ornamental grasses and perennials, such as Lady’s Mantle or Heucheras, and small herbs, such as creeping varieties of thyme, make excellent container plants. If you want to save the shrubs and perennials for another season, they can always be removed from the containers in October and planted in the ground before the first hard frost. No matter the time of year, there is always something you can do in the garden. Look for books about gardening on the fourth floor of the library to give you some fresh ideas. by Linda Knorr, Readers' Services Assistant
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
email: dpplnews@dppl.org phone: 847.827.5551 web: http://www.dppl.org |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
