The Crown Point Library is proud to host an exciting new art exhibit by the Diversified Art Visionaries (DAVe), a collective of talented local artists. This exhibit will showcase artwork from over twenty artists, featuring various mediums, styles, and creative expressions.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Wednesday, October 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. This event will provide an opportunity to meet the artists, explore the diverse artwork, and enjoy light refreshments.
The exhibit will remain on display at the library until the end of the year, offering visitors plenty of time to experience the unique talent and creativity of the Diversified Art Visionaries.
About DAVe
The Diversified Art Visionaries (DAVe) is a 501c3 non-profit group that was initially started at the request of Dyer town members. The group is comprised of volunteers who are both artists and art enthusiasts, and their mission is to enrich the community by developing an enthusiastic environment that supports the arts.
This past summer, residents of all ages embarked on exciting adventures with our Summer Reading program! Running from June 1 to July 31, the program was designed to make learning fun, engaging, and inclusive for everyone.
We offered a variety of activities to spark curiosity and creativity. Participants explored local history, tried their hands at crafting, and even discovered new recipes, ensuring that there was something for everyone to enjoy.
We’d like to extend a big thank you to all our summer readers, community partners, and sponsors for supporting this year’s Summer Reading program.
The Crown Point Community Library, in partnership with the Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, is excited to invite the public to celebrate the new StoryWalk® at Randolph Street Park, located at 11900 Randolph Street, Winfield, Indiana.
The event will take place on Thursday, September 12, 2024, and begins at 10:30 a.m. with afun and interactive story time led by library staff, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Representatives from the Crown Point Community Library, Crossroads Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Town of Winfield will officially unveil the StoryWalk® at Randolph Street Park.
“This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organizations within our community collaborate,” said Julie Wendorf, Library Director. “Thanks to the generous gift from the Lakes of Four Seasons Lions Club, we can promote literacy with outdoor activity, offering a unique and engaging experience for families in the Winfield community. Special thanks to the Town of Winfield for providing the perfect location and Winfield Public Works for installing the signs.
The StoryWalk® consists of 20 signs around the pond, each displaying a page from a children’s picture book. The book will change seasonally.
This event is free and open to the public. Families, educators, and community members of all ages can attend. We hope to see you there!
Celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month with the Crown Point Community Library. Sign up for a library card and discover our incredible resources and opportunities.
This year, we’re thrilled to have Optimus Prime from the TRANSFORMERS as our special ambassador, highlighting that there’s more than meets the eye at your library. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills, attend a diverse program, find valuable information, or connect with other readers, a library card unlocks a world of possibilities.
We have a special edition TRANSFORMER library card design for a limited time. Anyone can qualify (while supplies last).
How can I get a library card?
Visit the Crown Point or Winfield Branch
Apply online
Residents of Center or Winfield Townships are eligible for library cards at no charge.
Reciprocal cards are available to individuals outside our library district at no charge.
Did you apply for a library card online? When you visit the library convert your virtual card to a physical card.
Do you already have a library card? Bring your current library card to the library and exchange it for a new design.
While you’re at the library in September, make sure your card information is up-to-date. If you opt-in, the library can send you notifications via email or text message about your late items and holds.
Join us throughout September for our Library Card Sign-Up activities, including:
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.
Children who obtain a new library card in September will receive a sticker to claim a small prize.
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and share what you love about your Crown Point Community Library! #LibraryCardSignUpMonth #librarylife #booklover #libraryprograms #ilovelibraries #CPCLreads
The Crown Point Community Library, 122 North Main Street, is proud to announce that we have received a $5,000 grant to host creative aging programming for older adults. We are one of 36 libraries to receive training and funding through Lifelong Arts Indiana, a program that promotes arts and creativity services for adults ages 65 and older. This activity is made possible by the Indiana Arts Commission in partnership with the Family and Social Services Administration.
The library will host a program titled, “A Story Montage,” facilitated by Jennifer Weinert, a professional artist trained by Lifetime Arts, a national organization that embraces “positive aging” through personal growth, enhanced well-being, and civic engagement. Indiana’s Lifelong Arts initiative supports aging service professionals and providers in developing their ability to offer in-depth art experiences and build understanding around how arts impact the quality of life and general wellness.
“A Story Montage” invites participants to create a unique work of art from a personal experience. The six-week course shares the history, art, and evolution of collage to assemblage. Engagement with the elements, concepts, and applications opens an understanding of the creative process and informs each piece. As a multi-disciplined artist and storyteller, Jennifer Weinert resources over thirty years of experience, providing a genuine space for participants of all abilities to express themselves fully and confidently through a process-oriented, contemplative approach. As a facilitator of creative arts programming for older adults she has witnessed confidence, community, and understanding through participation and creative conversations.
The program meets at the Crown Point Library on Fridays from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for six consecutive weeks beginning August 23. Registration opens on August 5 and is for all six sessions. To register and for more information visit:
In an era where digital entertainment often overshadows traditional forms of storytelling, the Crown Point Community Library’s “Stories In the Park” outreach event has become a community favorite. It serves as a refreshing and vital initiative to the library’s eight-week Summer Reading program held annually from June 1 – July 31.
One of the primary reasons “Stories In the Park” is so significant is that it meets the community outside the library building. The easygoing and open environment of parks creates a unique and engaging setting for storytelling. Children are naturally drawn to outdoor play, and combining this with story time makes for a memorable and enjoyable experience. This fusion of outdoor activity and literacy can have a lasting positive impact on children’s development and their relationship with reading.
“Stories in the Park” is offered weekly throughout the Summer Reading program at two locations to accommodate residents served in the library’s district: Bulldog Park in Crown Point and Randolph Street Park in Winfield. This dual-location approach exemplifies how libraries can extend their reach beyond their physical buildings to foster stronger community connections, ensuring that storytelling’s joy and educational benefits are accessible to all.
Library outreach events like “Stories In the Park” also play a crucial role in building stronger community partnerships. The library invites the Police Department, Fire Department, Post Office, and city and school officials to participate which significantly enhances the reach and impact of our outreach efforts. These collaborations create a multifaceted approach to community engagements.
For example, having police officers and firefighters participate in story times adds, not only, excitement for the children, but also humanizes these public servants, fostering trust and positive relationships from a young age. Similarly, partnerships with the Post Office can incorporate educational elements about mail and communication, adding another layer of learning to the events.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The “Stories In the Park” initiative by the Crown Point Community Library is a shining example of how libraries can transcend their traditional roles to become dynamic and integral parts of their communities. By meeting the needs of their community outside the library and cultivating strong partnerships with local organizations, the library, not only, promotes literacy and education, but also builds stronger, more connected communities. This all-inclusive approach to community engagement ensures that the library remains a vital and beloved institution for generations.
Library cardholders can exchange their current card for our Summer Reading limited edition “Camp Snoopy” library card for free, while supplies last. If you applied for a library card online, visit the library to convert your virtual card to a physical card and request this special edition design.
Every time you visit the library during the summer reading event you will get a ticket to enter our free Snoopy Adventure raffle.
One ticket, per person, per visit.
The winner will be drawn on August 1.
The Snoopy Adventure raffle includes a Peanuts Kids 4×3 Tent, Family Bingo Game, Memory Card Game, and Lantern.
Step back, in time, to see how a Civil War camp functioned and “meet” some of its inhabitants at the HISTORY SPEAKS: Civil War Stories event on Saturday, June 15 at Buckley Homestead. The event is from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will feature speakers, and educational activities, for all ages, throughout the day. Food will be available for purchase.
This event is presented by the Northwest Indiana Civil War Roundtable and made possible by grant funding through Indiana Humanities and in partnership with Lake County Parks and Recreation, and Crown Point Community Library.
In conjunction with this event, “Faces of Civil War”, an exhibit on loan from the Indiana Historical Society will be on display in the library’s art gallery at the Crown Point location. The exhibit will then be set up at the event.
Adventure Begins at Your Library is the library’s summer reading event theme. Embark on a journey this summer! Dive into the pages of thrilling tales, explore far-off lands, and meet fascinating characters. Readers of all ages can register and read to win prizes and attend programs, including crafts, performers, book clubs, special events, and more.
In March each year, Youth Art Month celebrates the visual arts! The national program encourages support for art programming. The Elementary Art Show was a collaboration between the Crown Point Community School Corporation’s Elementary School art teachers and the Crown Point Library.The exhibit offered a positive experience for the student artists and the public. In March, over 250 works of art filled the lobby display cases and art gallery, all created by students in grades K-5.
Having an art gallery space inside a library may seem outside the norm, but dedicating space for this purpose fits into our mission to be a place for the community to gather and connect.
Over 400 people attended the art show reception. As they wandered from piece to piece, students posed in front of their artwork, beaming with pride. The evening was evidence that a library is truly a gathering place, and its value in a community goes beyond the books on the shelves. Special thanks to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring refreshments at the reception and to the art teachers:
June Wylie – Eisenhower,
Lyn Czapla – Solon Robinson,
Ashley Immig – Winfield,
Jennifer Popp – Jerry Ross,
Suzanne Teesdale-Timothy Ball,
Nathan DeYoung -MacArthur, and
Esther Key – Lake Street.
In April, visit the Library’s exhibit space to view the Tri-Kappa Art Show including the works of art by students enrolled in advanced art classes at Crown Point High School.
For a printed version of the art show article, please pick up a copy of the library’s monthly newsletter at either location or download it here.
