Group Vows to Keep Fighting M-Rated Games at Elmhurst Library

The library's decision not to make any major adjustments to their policy is effective for the next three years.

The group of Elmhurst residents who tried and failed to get the Elmhurst Public Library to adjust their policy for carrying M-rated video games say they are not done and will continue to pursue changes, perhaps by petition, Suburban Life reports. "Similar to President Obama, who was very disappointed with the Senate's decision to not pass improved gun control, we're also equally disappointed with the library's decision to not put improved selection criteria and procedures in place around violent video games," resident Jim Schuetz told the paper. According to the paper, the library said that its selection process is based on reviews, requests and budget, but not content; library officials said they could not find any justification for …

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Elmhurst Library Board Won't Change Policy on M-Rated Video Games

The board rejected the appeal of a group of Elmhurst citizens who were requesting that the library remove some or all of its more violent games.

Members of Elmhurst Public Library Board Tuesday refused to create further restrictions or review for their carrying of M-rated video games, overriding the concerns of a local advocacy group, the Chicago Tribune reports. According to the paper, board members said they could find no scientific link between the games and violent behavior, and that any further restrictions to the policy would infringe on First Amendment freedom of expression. (The library's current policy requires people checking out M-rated games to provide ID proving they are at least 17 years old.) The board did adopt a "revised materials selection policy," the paper said, but it included the language: "material shall not be removed from the Library collection solely …

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Jim Court

8:08 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I have to agree with Dave As much as I visit and utilize the Library, I do not believe that the Library should be constantly purchasing all of the pulp fiction poolside books that they do. The expenditure must be huge, I believe public libraries are a place of education and information, not the place for these type of short term type of books. The number of these books that get sold off for a …   more ›

Violent Video Games at Elmhurst Public Library: The Debate

In response to requests from residents, the library says it is reviewing its policy and has released an extensive PDF with various opinions on the impact of M-rated games.

A group of Elmhurst residents is pushing for the Elmhurst Public Library to reevaluate its policy for carrying video games rated “M” (mature); in response, the library has released an extensive PDF document of information and varying opinions on the topic.  According to the documents, the group, which had originally sought for the library to stop carrying M-rated games, has revised its request to now suggest that the library review its criteria for purchasing games, currently based solely on popularity.  The Chicago Tribune reports Elmhurst resident and psychotherapist Elaine Fleming is spearheading the effort of a small group of residents. She has addressed Elmhurst City Council members and the Library Board asking that the library review…

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No Matter How You Slice It, 'Fifty Shades' Topped the Charts in 2012

Whether readers got it from the book store, online or at Elmhurst Public Library, nothing says "Can't put it down" like the erotic trilogy.

If you're looking to take the pulse of America, one way is to look at what America reads. Here in Elmhurst, library patrons' reading choices don't exactly follow the national trends seen on the New York Times Best Seller list and that of Amazon.com. Some titles do stand out on all three lists, however, namely the books in the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Cheryl Moore, public information coordinator for Elmhurst Public Library, put together these lists of fiction and nonfiction books checked out most often during 2012. In the fiction category: In the non-fiction category: Gone Girl shared the No. 1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller list, and Fifty Shades of Grey was prominent there, as well. But that's where the similarities end. In …

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Elmhurst Public Library Among Top 100 Places to Work

Also on the Chicago Tribune list: Anderson Pest Solutions in Elmhurst receives noteworthy employee feedback.

The Chicago Tribune this week named Elmhurst Public Library one the Chicago area's Top 100 Workplaces for 2012. This distinction is awarded each November and is determined based solely on employee feedback. According to the Tribune article, library employees noted the camaraderie, openness to differing opinions and the ability to explore one’s own talents as highlights of their work environment: The library was ranked at No. 15 in the "small business" category. It was founded in 1916 and employs 152 people. In 2013, the library will celebrate 10 years at its 125 S. Prospect location. Modern amenities, such as a drive-up window, self check-in and checkout, a coffee bar, wireless Internet access, teen lounging areas and private study rooms …

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Ercie Berwick

1:14 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2013

My husband and I were among those who voted "NO" on a new library. We didn't need one; the old library was adequate. I am sure there are those who will disagree with me, but that is my opinion nevertheless. So we built a new library for something around 24 million smackeroos, and I, as a patron, don't feel I can relax and concentrate in this edifice because the librarians are unable to maintain …   more ›

Three Things to Love about Elmhurst Public Library's Freegal Music

Access to 400,000 free, legal songs is available at EPL online.

Historical Museum, Library Spending Examined as Part of City's Budgeting Process

Library overtime costs will be subject of more review.

Elmhurst Historical Museum staff will rework their schedules to cover weekend hours now that a part-time Saturday and Sunday staff position has been eliminated from the budget, aldermen heard on Monday. Weekend work at the Elmhurst Public Library also emerged as an issue during the council's ongoing review of the proposed 2012-2013 spending plan. Historical Museum Budget Noting that much of the museum's $700,000 budget went to salaries and benefits for three full-time and five part-time staff, aldermen asked director Brian Bergheger how he was planning to hold the line on those costs. Along with the elimination of the weekend staff position, which came about after a resignation, Bergheger reported on efforts to use volunteers as much as …

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Elmhurst Library Director Leading the Charge to Revamp the Circulation Department

She supervised the same project when she was library director in Lake Zurich.

Elmhurst Public Library patrons may notice some temporary workers rummaging around in the stacks in the coming weeks. The library's 400,000 books, CDs and DVDs are being tagged one by one with new radio-frequency identification devices. It's all part of a soon-to-be-revamped circulation system that also will include four new self-checkout stations and a state-of-the-art materials sorter that patrons can watch as it funnels books and other items to their next destination. Contracting with an Elmhurst-based temp agency to do the tagging work is less costly and faster than having library staff do it, Library Director Mary Beth Campe said. Tagging is expected to be done in as little as two months. The total cost for the new circulation system…

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Kids' Winter Reading Program Creating a Sugar Buzz

Looking good enough to eat; but kids should probably devour a book, instead.

In need of a sugar fix? Check out the sweet treats on display in the lobby of  Elmhurst Public Library. The library’s secret faux ice cream recipe and deliciously dreamy titles are stopping kids and adults, alike. Within a week, more than 500 kids signed up for EPL’s winter reading program, Reading is Sweet. Public Information Coordinator Cheryl Moore created the kids’ winter reading display, which features dozens of tasty-titled ice cream concoctions. “I’ve heard lots of guesses about what the ‘ice cream’ is made of. I used 100 percent edible ingredients,” she said. “But after being on display for a month, I wouldn’t recommend eating it!” “Coralime” is so shockingly green you can taste the tart tenacity of Neil Gaiman’s heroine, and “…

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Whiz Kid

Double the Ingenuity for These Twin Library Volunteers

Sona and Ajay Jain serve as secretary and president of the Elmhurst Public Library Middle School Advisory Board to keep kids their age involved in programming designed especially for them.

Name: Sona and Ajay Jain Age: 13 School: Homeschooled by their Mom, Charlene Jain Achievement: Ajay designed a curriculum and taught a class using Scratch, a video game software; Sona serves as the secretary of the Advisory Board. Both are general assistants and volunteer weekly at Elmhurst Public Library. Key to Awesomeness: While taking a robotics class, eighth-grader Ajay Jain discovered a software developed by MIT called Scratch. “I was super interested,” Ajay says. “So I downloaded it and taught it to myself.” The program allows the user to create interactive stories, animations, games, music and art. So Ajay wrote up a curriculum for a three-week course and presented the idea to Kimberly Scott, middle school services librarian at the…

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