GPL Blog

From the Director’s Desk

From the Director’s Desk: A Day in the Life

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Ever wondered exactly what our director is doing every day? Here’s a peek into Noelle’s “typical” day:

8am: I arrive at work and before settling into my office, I do a quick walk around the building to look for any problems. I notice the blessing box is nearly empty so I grab some food items and water bottles from our breakroom to restock it (staff may wear blue jeans on Fridays and Saturdays if we donate something to the blessing box.) An indoor garbage can is filling up, so I empty it in the dumpster, and I stop to chat with a regular patron in the parking lot.

9am: Time for emails. I read and respond to emails about new procedures, meeting schedules, library law, new tech purchases, vendor pricing, and donor information. I add a…

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From the Director’s Desk — May 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Galesburg is full of extraordinary women, and many of them are contributing to Galesburg Public Library’s capital campaign.

As part of the campaign to raise $3.75 million for the construction of a new building, the library joined the 100 Extraordinary Women program, a national fundraising platform. The library’s goal was to recruit one hundred women to each pledge $1,000 and collectively raise $100,000 for the new building. By May 18, 208 had joined the cause, raising $208,000 and becoming the most successful 100 Extraordinary Women (100EW) campaign in the county. Approximately one third of participants made their pledges in honor or in memory of someone else.

To celebrate the success and thank the community of donors, the Galesburg Public Library Foundation hosted a recognition event at The Vault. The energy in the room was palpable…

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From the Director’s Desk — March 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Connect with your library this National Library Week

April 3-9 marks the 64th anniversary of National Library Week, and we hope you’ll celebrate with us. The annual celebration began in 1958 when the National Book Committee pledged to combat the decline of reading and celebrate the freedom to read in communities throughout the country. This year’s theme, “Connect with Your Library,” emphasizes the versatile offerings of libraries and the core theme of connection achieved through library services.

The Galesburg Public Library helps our community connect to distant friends and family, to neighbors, and to community leaders by providing public computers, meeting spaces, and educational events. We help our community connect to the internet by sponsoring…

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From the Director’s Desk — February 2022

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

“When women come together, extraordinary things happen.”

The Galesburg Public Library Foundation (GPLF) has joined the national 100 Extraordinary Women initiative, engaging women throughout the community to pledge their support to the new building project. The GPLF is asking one hundred women to come together to pledge $1,000 over five years (less than $20 per month) to the library.

The funds will be used to sponsor the Skills Lab in the new building, an interactive classroom for adults and teens to use tools, equipment, and training simulators to develop skills that may equip them for the workforce or empower them to live and thrive independently. The contents of the lab will rotate depending on community needs, and…

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From the Director’s Desk — November 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

Giving Tuesday is an international event celebrating generosity, community, and collaboration. This year, we’re asking our community to work together to support the construction of a new library and fill our bookshelves. The new library will have room for 30,000 more books, movies, music CDs, and magazines. On Tuesday, November 30, you can give to the Galesburg Public Library Foundation and fill the new building with books on opening day.

Increasing the number of bookshelves is vital for several reasons. First of all, that means

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From the Director’s Desk — October 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

The Register-Mail recently asked me about common library myths. My answer is included below along with other common misconceptions.

Myth: Libraries are silent, somber places.

Fact: Libraries are places of learning. Sometimes learning does require quiet environments so students can read, research, and study without disruption. Other times, learning is loud. We learn through play, through conversation, and through collaboration. The new building will have study rooms for students to read undisturbed and spaces for exploration…

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From the Director’s Desk — September 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

With six hundred visitors each day, the Galesburg Public Library is hardly the quiet, stoic place libraries are traditionally thought to be. Finding a quiet space can be a challenge. From the children’s room where play is encouraged, the teen scene where students socialize, and the frequent conversations and inquiries with staff, the library is filled with activity. The new library building will maintain all of these opportunities to connect but will add in spaces for those needing quiet spots to study, research, read, or relax.

The 68,000 square foot building will contain five study rooms of varying sizes. Two will be…

From the Director’s Desk — August 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

Between July 19 and August 13, you helped us raise $12,105 for a technology lab in the new building! Thank you! A technology lab will help us bridge the digital divide, provide equitable services, equip people for the workforce or higher education, introduce new technologies to our community, and serve groups in need of a meeting space with computer access.

According to a 2019 census.gov report, 21.4% of households in Galesburg do not have a computer and nearly a third of Galesburg households do not have broadband internet…

From the Director’s Desk — July 2021

Published on by Emily DuGranrut

Each month, Library Director Noelle Thompson will give an update on what’s happening at the library. Check here for updates on the new building, exciting news, and more!

The 200 block of West Main Street is being prepared for the construction of a new Galesburg Public Library, set to begin this fall. The buildings previously on the block have been demolished and the site excavated. Neidig Trucking and Excavating, the demolition contractors, have uncovered a plethora of items revealing the history of the block and its many uses over the past 180+ years.

Among the recovered items was a swimming pool belonging to a previous motel; tens of thousands of bricks; oil tanks; stone, brick, and concrete foundations; pipes…

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