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.
On April 8, the Library will have eclipse totality coverage streaming in the meeting rooms at the Crown Point location, as well as eclipse related activities for ALL AGES from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
While Crown Point is not in totality, we will have approximately 95% coverage at about 2:07 p.m. We welcome patrons of all ages to join us for the “Great American Eclipse of 2024!”
**A limited number of eclipse glasses MAY be available the day of the event on a first come first served basis. (Maximum two pairs per household.)
Families are invited to join us for crafts, games, and science activities to prepare you for this upcoming phenomenon.
The same program is offered at both library locations: Friday, March 29 at Winfield from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. or Saturday, March 30 at Crown Pointfrom11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Registration is encouraged but not required. An adult must accompany children.
Solar Eclipse Glasses
The Library has a limited number of eclipse glasses to share with you!
Registration is required and opens online on TUESDAY, MARCH 19 at 9 a.m. Eclipse glasses will be available to be picked up at either library location on Monday, March 25, 2024, through Saturday, March 30, 2024. Supplies are limited. To receive glasses, you must register through our website. Please register only once for the day you intend to pick up your glasses (registration links are listed below). **Maximum 2 pairs of eclipse glasses per household.** Glasses may be picked up ONLY at the selected location during the selected library’s open hours on that day.
To enable us to serve more patrons, glasses not picked up within 72 hours of the registered timeslot will be forfeited.
On April 8, the Library will have eclipse totality coverage streaming in the meeting rooms at the Crown Point location and eclipse-related activities for ALL AGES from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. While Crown Point is not in totality, we will have approximately 95% coverage at about 2:07 p.m. We welcome patrons of all ages to join us for the “Great American Eclipse of 2024!”
**A limited number of eclipse glasses MAY be available the day of the event on a first come first served basis. (Maximum two pairs per household.)
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.
On April 8, the Library will have eclipse totality coverage streaming in the meeting rooms at the Crown Point location, as well as eclipse related activities for ALL AGES from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Families are invited to join us for 
The library is proud to partner with t
