The library received 473 entries for our first Design A Bookmark Contest open to students in grades K-12!
One winning design from the four categories was chosen:
K-2: Lexi Stanisz, 2nd grade at MacArthur Elementary School
3-5: Elliott Steiger, 3rd grade at Dwight Eisenhower Elementary School
6-8: Rori Reid, 8th grade at Taft Middle School
9-12: Lauren Clemons, 12th grade at Crown Point High School
Courtesy of our Friends of the Library, the winning bookmark designs will be professionally printed. The winning student’s school library will receive 200 bookmarks of their design, and both library branches will have bookmarks of all four winners available to the public.
The library would like to thank all of the participants who entered the contest.
The Crown Point Community Library has a great group of Friends!
Established in 1983, the Friends of the Crown Point Library is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds to benefit the library. They are dedicated to advocating for library services, promoting early literacy, and funding projects and programs to enhance and promote the use and enjoyment of the library.
October 15-21, 2023 is the 18th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, and the Friends are celebrating the week by recognizing their 40 years of service, hosting their Fall Book Sale, selling tickets to their upcoming Bunco fundraiser, promoting their annual Chicago Bus Trip, and kicking off their membership drive with a special offer on a Lifetime Membership.
For a limited time, 40 vouchers for a single Lifetime Membership at the reduced cost of $75 (regularly $150) will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The vouchers can be picked up at the front desk at the Crown Point Library or the book sale and must be used by December 31, 2024.
Support your library and the Friends at these events:
Fall Book Sale, October 18-20 at the Crown Point Library
Bunco Fundraiser for Early Literacy, Friday, November 10 from 6-8:30 p.m.
Bus Trip to Downtown Chicago, Wednesday, November 1. Tickets are $35 for Members, $40 for Non-Member, and go on sale November 1.
Travel presentation on 2024 Islands of New England tour through Collette Travel. Attend a brief presentation on Thursday, October 19 at 6 p.m. at the Crown Point Library.
The Friends of the Library will recognize their 40 years as an organization at their upcoming annual meeting on Tuesday, October 10, at 10 a.m.
The meeting will begin with a brief presentation of honoring new and old members. Light refreshments will be served after the business meeting.
National Friends of Libraries Week (NFLW), October 15-21, 2023, the Friends begin their annual membership drive. This is a great time to renew your membership and invite friends to join! In celebration of the last 40 years they have 40 vouchers for a Single Lifetime Membership at the rate of $75 (regularly $150). The vouchers are available on a first come, first served basis, through October 21, 2023, and must be used by December 31, 2023. Request one at the meeting or the front desk at the Crown Point Library.
Membership forms are available at the Library or download and fill out the form and return it to the library.
The library is proud to partner with the City of Crown Point Point on the Walk the Dog public art project!
This community project will include a new self-guided historic walking tour with signage and a coloring book. The signage for the project will be installed soon. It will contain a historic picture and a present day picture of each location and also a QR code that will lead back to more in-depth content on the City’s website.
Chicago-based artist and Crown Point native, lewis lain repainted a 4-foot-tall fiberglass bulldog illustrating ten historic sites you can visit along the tour. Research was provided by Jeanene Letcher, our Indiana Room Specialist, from the research she did for the library’s historic walking and trolley tours. The coloring book is available in the Children’s Library and the Indiana Room, both located on the second floor at the Crown Point location. A display highlighting the project will be located in the Indiana Room beginning in October.
You can also listen to Julie and Jeanene talk about the project on the City’s podcast Lay of the Land. Season 2, Episode 5 of Lay of the Land available on:
The Crown Point Community Library is celebrating the completion of its recent renovation project of the Winfield Branch located at 10771 Randolph Street in the Doubletree Shopping Plaza. The public is invited to join us on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at 10 a.m. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Crown Point Library and the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit www.crownpointlibrary.org.
The renovations to the branch location made the following possible:
~ Expanded the interactive children’s play area
~ Remodeled the public bathrooms
~ Addition of a private study room for public use
~ Removal of a wall to create more space
~ Increased shelving for library materials
~ Replaced and upgraded flooring
~ Relocated front door to provide a full-service entry
Julie Wendorf, Director of the Crown Point Community Library, stated, “The branch renovations were made possible with the bond refinancing of the Library’s existing bond for the Crown Point location’s building. As a result of a drop in interest rates, an additional $1.1 million dollars were gained, at no added taxpayer expense, to do much-needed capital improvements at both locations.” The project planning started at the end of 2022 and was led by Professional Building Services, Inc. of Crown Point. The project required the branch to close for eight weeks, February 1 – April 3, and briefly again for four additional days in August for the additional shelving installation and relocation of the entire library’s physical collection.
The project has received rave reviews from community members, according to Cindy Baumeister, the new Winfield Branch Supervisor. “I enjoy seeing people’s reactions and hearing how impressed they are with the finished product. Although the footprint size of the library didn’t change, many people say it feels much bigger.”
The first Winfield Branch of the Crown Point Library was opened in January of 1989 and has continued to grow and expand to match the growth of the community. The library’s service district, Center, and Winfield townships have experienced double-digit growth since the 2020 census “The expansion of library services matches the tremendous growth in both the Winfield and Crown Point communities”, stated Wendorf.
September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the library joins the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide to remind everyone about the valuable resources available with a library card.
From borrowing books, ebooks, and audiobooks to getting homework help, learning new skills, or attending a book club or story time, a library card helps everyone do more of what they enjoy.
During September, we are celebrating Library Card Sign-up with these activities – join us!
Win A Kindle – Every time you check out library materials, during the month of September, you can enter to win a Kindle!
Every cardholder, at the time of checkout, will receive a ticket (one per visit, per cardholder) for a chance to win a Kid’s Edition or Regular Kindle Fire.
Self-checkout patrons can show their receipt at the Circulation Desk to receive their ticket.
The Indiana Library Passport has officially launched!
Showcasing over 60 libraries and branches to be explored across the state, Indiana Library Passport is a free, mobile passport program that allows users to check in at destination libraries and enter to win a prize. Users should visit https://passport.library.in.gov/ to sign up for the program, providing a name, email address, and mobile phone number.
Prizes are awarded on a quarterly basis and may include historical tour tickets, architecture books, and gift cards from local and national merchants.
The Indiana Library Passport is brought to you by the Indiana State Library and Bandwango, a technology company in the travel sphere, and sponsored by the Indiana State Library Foundation.
The Crown Point Community Library (both locations) is one of many libraries in the area participating in this statewide program.
For instructions on how to sign up click the passport seal below!
Celebrate National Library Week (April 23-29, 2023) with the theme “There’s More to the Story.”
Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there’s so much more to the story. Libraries of Things lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Library infrastructure advances communities, providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs.National Library Week 2023 will be a great time to tell your library’s multi-faceted story.
Celebration Days During National Library Week
Monday, April 24: Right to Read Day is a National Day of Action in support of the right to read. The State of America’s Libraries Report is released, including Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2022.
Tuesday, April 25:National Library Workers Day, a day for everyone to recognize the valuable contributions made by library workers.
Wednesday, April 26: National Library Outreach Day, a day the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.
Thursday, April 27:Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to urge members of Congress to protect the freedom to read.
Our largest fundraising event, Library Mini Golf, is returning on Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and we are excited to once again transform the library into an 18-hole miniature golf course for the day. Players, of all ages, will enjoy putting through the library stacks, down the staircase, and finishing at the 19th hole “Family Fun Zone,” located in the meeting rooms, to enjoy free refreshments, and fun activities. Tickets cost $5 per person or $20 for a group of five and include one round of golf (putters, balls, and scorecards will be provided) and admittance to the Family Fun Zone.
Library Mini Golf is one of the most exciting opportunities that embrace the dual purpose of fundraising and provides an engaging way for community members to enjoy and explore the library space. and brings awareness of how the Library plays an integral part in our community’s success and quality of life for its residents.
The event is strategically scheduled in April to coincide with two American Library Association’s sponsored celebrations – National Library Week (April 23-29) and School Library Month. During the event, Crown Point schools compete in a hole-decorating contest. Golfers vote for the best hole and three winning schools receive a cash prize for their library.
The proceeds from this event are utilized to fund two years of library programming, for all ages. Since our first event in 2013, financial support through this fundraising effort has allowed us to enhance outreach services and expand traditional library programming to include:
Renting Molly the Trolley to transport patrons on our Historical Homes Tour,
Purchasing the screening licenses for Motion Pictures and Foreign Films,
Purchasing program materials for STEAM and early literacy programs,
Incentives and performers for the summer and winter reading events,
Author visits and musical performances,
Purchasing materials for take & make kits during the pandemic, and more!
One of the best features of the event is the golf hole-decorating contest between schools! Golfers vote for their favorite hole and three winnings schools receive a cash prize to purchase books for their school library (sponsored by our Friends of the Library.) 1st place receives $300, 2nd place receives $200 and 3rd place receives $100. This year, the Friends added an additional bonus of $100 to each school participating: Solon Robinson, Robert A. Taft, Dwight Eisenhower, Timothy Ball, Colonel Wheeler, MacArthur Elementary, and St. Mary’s Catholic.
In addition, parking is available at Wheeler Middle School and Molly the Trolley will transport players to and from the event for free! Boarding happens every thirty minutes. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to ride around the square on your way to play mini-golf at the Library!
We are grateful for all of our sponsors who make Library Mini-Golf possible:
Presenting Sponsors: Professional Building Services, Tech Credit Union, Certa Pro Painters of Northwest Indiana, CROWN Engineering, Repair & Manufacturing
Hole-In-One Sponsors: City of Crown Point, Bloom Boutique Salon, Saddle & Spurs Lake County 4-H Club, Crown Point Rotary Club, Centier Bank, O’Drobinak & Nowaczyk, P.C.; Proven IT
Eagle Sponsors: Code Ninjas of Crown Point, Xoxo Invites, Lake County Historical Society, Shelter Insurance – Mike Adams, Levin Tire & Service Center, Janet Katich, Glass America, LGS Plumbing, Julie Wendorf, Green is Good by Kate, Chippopotamus Golf, Golf Now! Chicago
Family Fun Zone Sponsors: Shirer Insurance, Car Star, Geisen Funeral Home, Higgins Overhead Door
Golf Hole Decorating Contest for Local Schools: Friends of the Crown Point Library
Birdie Sponsor: Olthof Homes
FAQ
Where is the golf course?
The eighteen holes are set up throughout the library on the 1st and 2nd floors. Golfers will purchase their tickets, pick up their equipment in the Internet Café and then head up to the second floor to begin! The course ends in the 19th Hole “Family Fun Zone” in the library’s meeting rooms, where golfers will return their equipment, vote for their favorite school-decorated hole, and enjoy free refreshments and other fun activities. This year we are excited to welcome Balloon Twister, Ian Tully, and Funtastic Photo Booth, as one of the free activities offered!
How much are the tickets?
$5.00 per player or $20 for a group of five.
What is included in the Library Mini Golf ticket?
One round of golf (putters, balls, and scorecards will be provided to players) and admittance to the Family Fun Zone.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, check, and credit cards. Checks should be made out to the Crown Point Library.
Is any portion of the mini golf ticket tax-deductible?
No, the fee helps to cover the event’s costs.
Can I buy tickets before the event on April 22?
Yes. Beat the line on the day of the event and purchase your tickets early. Tickets can be purchased at the Crown Point Library. Tickets are non-refundable.
Can I buy tickets on the day of the event?
Yes. Tickets will be sold in the Internet Café.
Will there be food or drinks available?
Light refreshments along with fun activities will be available, for free, in the Family Fun Zone.
Where do the proceeds go?
All the proceeds go towards expanding library programming, and services, FOR ALL AGES.
It’s true… the Friends of the Library are hosting another surplus sale of items the library no longer uses, such as chairs, flooring, shelving units, office furniture, and more.
The sale will take place in the meeting rooms at the Crown Point Library. Sales are cash or check only, and all items must be removed, by the buyer, on the day of purchase. There are no holds and no deliveries.
Sale hours*:
Tuesday, March 28 from 9 – 7 p.m.,
Wednesday, March 29 from 9 – 6 p.m.,
Thursday, March 30 from 9 – 1 p.m.
*Sale hours may change based on the number of items remaining for sale.
All items are sold as-is.
All sales are final.
Accepted forms of payment: Cash or check payable to the Friends of the Crown Point Library. Proceeds benefit the Library.
No holds for unpaid items.
Large items that are paid for may be picked up later, on the same day, or by 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Failure to pick up items will result in forfeiture of payment.
The purchaser is responsible for the pickup and delivery of items to their vehicle. A dolly and rolling cart will be made available, by the library, to assist in transporting your item to your vehicle. Library staff or Friends of the Library volunteers are unable to assist with the delivery or transportation of your items.
The Friends of the Crown Point Library’s mission is to enhance and promote the use and enjoyment of the library. They raise funds to support library programs, and services and to help fund items not generally covered in the library’s regular operating budget.
What we do:
As a Friend, you will play a critical role in your library’s and community’s success.
ADVOCATE – Friends are a voice for the Library on relevant, local, state, and national issues.
ENGAGE – Friends spread the word within the community, stimulating greater awareness of the Library and its resources.
SUPPORT – Friends volunteer at fundraising events, as well as, library events when needed.
FUNDRAISE – Friends fundraising activities, such as Bunco for Books, literary luncheons, bus tripsand book sales generate revenue to fund items not generally covered in the Library’s budget, and to sponsor programs such as the summer and winter reading events, author talks, concerts, library book discussion groups, Book Baby Bags, and a variety of literacy outreach services.
Become a member:
Membership is open to all individuals and families who want involvement in the library. Members are encouraged to attend monthly meetings and to actively participate in book sales, and other events and projects. The membership year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. All dues are paid annually.
The membership dues are as follows:
Life – $150;
Family – $15;
Individual – $10
Membership forms are available at both library locations or you can download the membership form and return it to:
Friends of the Crown Point Library
122 N. Main Street
Crown Point, IN 46307
Or click the online donate button when using a credit card:
Meetings:
Curious to see what the Friends of the Library are doing? Attend a meeting! Meetings are held quarterly on the second Tuesday of the month, alternating times at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the meeting rooms at the Crown Point location.
2025 Meeting Dates:
February 11 at 10 a.m., May 13 at 6 p.m., September 9 at 6 p.m., December 9 at 10 a.m.
The library is proud to partner with t
