Pontiac Public Library

Join the PPL Board of Trustees, the Library Director, Valerie Doyle, and the entire staff as we celebrate the Pontiac Public Library’s 150 years of service to the community. On Sunday, November 2nd, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the library will have an OPEN HOUSE & BOOK SALE. The gala event will feature tours of the library, music, games for children, displays, puzzles, contests, balloons, and refreshments. Library cards will be available for those who don’t already have one, and an “amnesty” will be in effect for all “lost” or overdue materials. Our guests will have the opportunity to vote for new types of library programs, and meet with the librarians to discuss their information needs. Kids will get a free "Reading Makes Me Smile" sticker, and adults can pick up a Pontiac Public Library magnet! And there are door prizes to be won!

In conjunction with the Open House, the library will have a fabulous BOOK SALE. There are large books, small books, paperback books, hard-cover books, fiction and non-fiction. Bring a bag or a box to carry off the treasures you will find! All books will be bargain priced at 10-cents each! Remember - Sunday, November 2nd from 2:00 - 5:00 PM.

Research just got a little easier! Now you can access six new databases either in the library or from the comfort of your own home!
Database titles:

Price It! Antiques & Collectibles
Find out what your treasures are worth with this up to date antique pricing guide.

Testing & Education Reference Center
Find study guides and practice tests for tests such as the ACT, GED, and PRAXIS.

Chilton Library
Here are repair manuals for all kinds of foreign and domestic cars.

Legal Forms
Find legal forms from all 50 states.

Popular Magazines
Read articles from your favorite magazines such as Time, People, or Newsweek.

Britannica Online
Password: your library card number
Here is your basic encyclopedia with entries suited for all different age and reading levels.

Click on any of the databases above and enter your library card number. You'll be on your way to research bliss.

Storytimes bring books to life! Stories come from places all over the world and feature all kinds of characters. Introduce your child to the MAGIC of books. Storytime is fun, educational, and promotes listening and learning. Come join us!

Tuesday - Preschool - 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM (ages 3-5 years)

Wednesday - Tiny Tales - 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM (ages 1-3 years)

Wednesday - After School - 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (ages 6-11 years)

Thursday - After School - 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM

Guided Autobiography Program for Older Adults

The Guided Autobiography Program is intended for adults age 55 and over. There will be six (6) meetings in this program and workshops are limited to six (6) participants. Each member of the selected group is required to attend all six meetings. The next series of workshops is set to begin soon. For further information, or to pick up an application, stop by the circulation desk.

At each meeting, a specific biographical subject will be assigned and discussed. Before the next meeting, each participant will be required to write a brief (typically 2-4 pages) essay which explores his or her personal life in relation to the assigned topic. At the next meeting, each member of the group will read his or her essay, and the group will briefly discuss their work.

The purpose of this program is to provide a forum and a starting point for recording, in written form, the life stories of the participants. The focus will be on telling your story in your own words, not on the style, grammar, or quality of your writing skills.

February 1, 2008:

Starting in February the library is upgrading it's circulation system! The Pontiac Public Library will be linked up to 198 other libraries in Illinois which means we can get more materials to you, faster.

What does this change mean for you, the user?

• New library cards with key tags for all
• You can log on at home to place holds and renew items
• We have a new library catalog that you can browse at home. Library Catalog

Thank you for you patience when coming into the library while we adjust to the new system. This is a new system for you and for us behind the counter.

Stop by soon to experience the recent upgrades!

Check out our fundraising progress! We are at $630,000 with only $370,000 to go! If you would like to contribute, contact us at vdoyle@pontiacpubliclibrary.org.

The Pontiac Public Library is expanding! We are bursting at our seams with materials and lack of space for programs to offer you. To address these issues we will be expanding into space upstairs in our building at 211 E. Madison St. This space was formerly leased from us by Livingston County. Some of the benefits to you include:

• New, dedicated space for Children's Services. The kids will move into the new upstairs space.
• Space for increasing the library's collections by over 1/3. That means more books, more music, more video for you to choose from!
• More comfortable seating for quiet reading. Space to kick back and enjoy a book or magazine.
• A specific space for young adults to enjoy the library.
• Much much more....

Of course, all of these exciting new developments do cost money...$1 million to be exact. We're already over halfway there, but we'll need your help to get to our goal. Look for more details on ways to help coming here soon!

The Pontiac Public Library is now bringing you free e-books for children. Just click on the banner below to read and enjoy our new collection of TumbleBooks.