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Ida Public Library in Belvidere, Illinois

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Calling all Tweens! Do you love different fandoms?

Calling all Tweens! Do you love different fandoms? Well, we have just the club for you! Each month on Fandom Fridays we will hangout and celebrate a different fandom with activities, games and crafts!

#TBT September is Little League Baseball month. Li

#TBT September is Little League Baseball month. Little League baseball was formed as an organization in 1939. It has been a part of Belvidere athletics ever since then but really started to gain steam here and in the rest of the country in the mid-50s. In fact, it became so popular that President Eisenhower officially declared a Little League week in 1954.

The sport grew so rapidly here in Belvidere, that, after adding a second little league in 1953, they had to create a young teen’s division, called the Pony League,in 1954. Teams were named for local sponsors such as the Rotary team, the Moose Lodge team,and the IOU team. In 1958, the Belvidere Youth Baseball organization was formed and has remained Belvidere’s main organizer for Little League ever since. Pictured today is the BYB All-Star Team from 1965. They competed at the state tournament in Chicago for a chance to enter the national tournament. They didn’t quite make it, but it was a good show for Belvidere baseball

Donations needed! If you have any gently used boar

Donations needed! If you have any gently used board games or card games that you are thinking of getting rid of, the library will love to have them for an upcoming program! Even if there are missing pieces, we will take them! Please bring any donations to the downstairs circulation desk. Thank you!

Rise up and Register to Vote! It's easy to regist

Rise up and Register to Vote! It's easy to register. You can stop by the library on Tuesday, Sept 17 from 10 am to 8 pm. We will have a dedicated computer just for voter registration and fancy stickers for you! You can also scan the QR code featured here or register here: https://vote.gov/register/illinois

Love mystery books? We have a book club for you! T

Love mystery books? We have a book club for you! This months book "A Minute To Midnight" by David Baldacci! Books will be at the lower level circulation desk to check out. Then come join us, Monday, September 23rd @ 10:30AM in the Ida Public Meeting Room to discuss the book!

This month, we are celebrating 80 years of Smokey

This month, we are celebrating 80 years of Smokey the Bear! What better way than to talk about one of Smokey’s favorite topics.. Fire Safety! Register for this family friendly fire safety workshop with the experts at BFD! Registration is required. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

Read a book recently that you loved and want to ta

Read a book recently that you loved and want to talk about it? Well, we have a book club for you! At BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) you can read whatever you like and then discuss the book to fellow book lovers like yourself! Stop on by September 16th @ 3PM in the Ida Public Meeting Room to chat about your current favorite book.

Lucky Guys Farm is back! Join us, Saturday, Septem

Lucky Guys Farm is back! Join us, Saturday, September 7th at 10:30AM for a special outdoor storytime out on the library lawn! Farmer T or Farmer Jase will be sharing a story with us as well as bringing a special animal friend along! No registration is needed, just drop by!
*Feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chairs*

#TBT The month of September is Square Dance Month.

#TBT The month of September is Square Dance Month. The Square Dance happens to be Illinois’ state dance, although many of us probably remember it as a strange P.E. lesson. “Four Step” dancing was popular in Europe as far back as the 1600s. If you’ve ever seen a fancy group dance at a French ball in a movie, it was probably a “Square Dance.” Square dancing traditions were conserved even as families immigrated here to America.

Modern square dancing came with the revival of folk music from 1930-1960. It continued to be a popular dance for decades even after becoming standardized. It was part of every wedding reception, people made livings doing nothing but teaching square dancing, and it is even included in most school curriculums here. Its most lasting legacy though is its symbolism for American, country culture and music. One local example of this can be seen from a performance at the 1974 Boone County Fair by Judy Lynn. She, and many other country performers, incorporated square dancing routines into their shows. In her performance, she invited one lucky attendee to come join her on stage. According to a Daily Republican reporter, he may have been better than she was. The reporter never named the man, but maybe one of you will recognize him.
#idapubliclibrary #localhistory #librariestransform #idaconnects #thisweekatida
#belvidereillinois #enjoyillinois #boonecountythenandnow

Learn how to start with the basics of landscape de

Learn how to start with the basics of landscape design to create a beautiful and functional outdoor space. Participants will gain a foundational knowledge of landscape design principles, explore design styles, and acquire the confidence to begin personalizing a landscape. This virtual program will be presented by Emily Swihart, Illinois Extension horticulture educator. A Boone County Master Gardener will be present to help facilitate this program. Registration is required for webinar link. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

Learn all about the Boone County Conservation Dist

Learn all about the Boone County Conservation District TONIGHT at 6 pm at the Ida Public Library meeting room! BCCD Executive Director Josh Sage will present a hisory of the conservation district and answer your questions. Free! No registration required!

Register to join our Choose Your Own Adventure Boo

Register to join our Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club! This is a read-aloud style book club where a new book is read each session, and the adventurers decide which path the group should take! After we read the book, we will do a short activity. Collect all of your adventure stamps along the way to earn a prize! This CYOA Book Club is designed for readers (3rd-6th Grade). Registration is required. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

Celebrate Smokey the Bear’s Birthday with us! Br

Celebrate Smokey the Bear’s Birthday with us! Bring your favorite doll or stuffed animal to our indoor campout complete with blanket fort building, campfire stories, and more. Registration Required. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4th at 4pm fo

Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, September 4th at 4pm for our next Teen Hangout! Fall time is here! Join us for a cozy fall show, coloring, and PAINT-A-TOTE ! Going apple picking, shopping, coffee run, or just running errands? Decorate a tote bag to go with all your fall outfits. Registration is required. This program is recommended for ages 13 & up. Visit our website to register. Link in the bio!

Join us Monday, September 9th at 6pm when Thomas M

Join us Monday, September 9th at 6pm when Thomas MacEntee presents his webinar AI and Genealogy: Trouble Ahead. Thomas MacEntee is a professional genealogist specializing in the use of technology and social media to improve genealogical research and as a means of interacting with others in the family history community. Since 2010, he has hosted over 1,000 lectures related to genealogy research. In this webinar, he will discuss the pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence in a field traditionally dominated by paper and magnifying glasses. Registration is required for this event. The Zoom meeting link will be sent to the email address provided in your registration. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

The Boone County Conservation District is celebrat

The Boone County Conservation District is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone as the first conservation district established in Illinois. Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, September 4th at 6pm, as Executive Director Joshua Sage will reflect on the historical importance of this achievement, as well as the district's rich history and enduring mission.

The Boone County Conservation District is celebrat

The Boone County Conservation District is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, marking a significant milestone as the first conservation district established in Illinois. Join us, Wednesday, September 4th at 6pm, as Executive Director Joshua Sage will reflect on the historical importance of this achievement, as well as the district's rich history and enduring mission!

The library will be closed for the holiday on, Mon

The library will be closed for the holiday on, Monday, September 2nd and we will reopen on, Tuesday, September 3rd at 10am.

#TBT August is Golf Month. Bel-Mar Country Club wa

#TBT August is Golf Month. Bel-Mar Country Club was Boone County’s (and Marengo’s) premier golf course. The club was founded in 1919 as a joint project between the people of Belvidere and Marengo, hence Bel-Mar. Originally, it was an old fashioned club, members only. Men played golf, women played bridge but could participate in the “non-sport” events at the club such as the one we will talk about today.

Golf is an old game. People have been trying to spice it up for years. They’ve tried just about everything, from mini-golf, to Top Golf, to Bel-Mar’s bizarre hobo themed course. On September 15, 1954, over 100 people gathered at the club in their “hobo gear” for this special event. The people weren’t the only things decorated either. The course itself was filled with obstacles like chicken wire or bales of hay to play around or even play through. Of course, there was plenty of signage to make sure that no one was hurt. Everyone bothered to dress up, so costumes were judged as well. The winner of the costume contest, Bertha Woods, can be seen in the top right of today’s picture.

#idapubliclibrary #localhistory #librariestransform #idaconnects #thisweekatida
#belvidereillinois #enjoyillinois #boonecountythenandnow

Celebrate Smokey the Bear’s Birthday with us! Br

Celebrate Smokey the Bear’s Birthday with us! Bring your favorite doll or stuffed animal to our indoor campout complete with blanket fort building, campfire stories, and more. Registration Required. Please visit our website to register. Link in bio!

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