Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Who knew? Chicago boasts one of the largest and most vibrant groups of Filipino Americans in the United States. Many of these individuals live in the Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park neighborhoods.

My First Library Book

How does a certain library book that influenced a little girl still have an impact on her decades later?

Which book is it?

Joanna BroussardAugust 14, 2024Friends of the Edgewater Library | Edgewater LibraryCrockett Johnson, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Friends, Friends of the Edgewater Library, purple, Dawn Olderr Montalvo, Chicago Public Library, CPL, Austin Branch Library, Children's Books, Library card, Children's Classics, Babar, Pinocchio, Pippi Longstocking, lavender Comment

Speaking of Presidents

While the third Monday in February is a day to honor present and past presidents of the United States, we’re recognizing Abraham Lincoln. The official state slogan of Illinois is “Land of Lincoln.”

Photo courtesy of CPL website; Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded In A Divided America by Steve Inskeep

Joanna BroussardFebruary 13, 2024Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Douglas Debates, political debates, National Park Service, Land of Lincoln, Illinois, speeches, candidates, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Steve Inskeep, Civil War, American Civil War, Looking for Lincoln, Lee PriceComment

National Friends of the Library Week 2023

Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown sent an email to the Friends’ groups throughout Chicago for National Friends of the Library Week.

Joanna BroussardOctober 16, 2023Friends of the Edgewater Library | Edgewater Branch LibraryNational Friends of the Library Week, Chicago Public Library, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, Edgewater Branch Library, Edgewater LibraryComment

It's A Wrap: The Friends' Year in Review

Looking back over the past year, I decided that in many ways it was a great example of “everything old is new again.”

Storybook Tea Time for Two

What are the ingredients for a storybook tea party? Children and their caregivers were delighted to find out.

Joanna BroussardNovember 9, 2022Edgewater branch Library | Friends of the Edgewater LibraryStuart Griner, Children's Librarian, nursery rhyme, tea party, storybook, I'm a Little Teapot, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, National Friends of the Library Week, Edgewater Branch Library, Edgewater, parents, children, tea, story time, Chicago Public LibraryComment

“The Canterville Ghost” Materializes at Edgewater Branch Library

"The Canterville Ghost" was the first of Wilde's stories to be published, appearing in two parts on February 23 and March 2, 1887.

Joanna BroussardNovember 4, 2022Friends of the Edgewater Library | Edgewater Branch LibraryOscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost, Megan Wells, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, National Friends of the Library Week, Picture of Dorian Gray, Edgewater Library, Edgewater Branch LibraryComment

Celebrating National Friends of the Library Week

Friends of the Libraries groups have their own national week of celebration to highlight the work they do in support of their local libraries.

Joanne KitsosOctober 21, 2022Friends of the Edgewater Library | Edgewater Branch LibraryNational Friends of the Library Week, Friends, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Edgewater Library, Chicago Public Library, Edgewater Branch Library, libraries, Friend A Library, Friend Your LibraryComment

What’s the Library Worth to You?

Whether or not you’re a frequent visitor to the library, you may want to try this calculator to find out what the library is worth to you.

Joanna BroussardApril 22, 2022Friends of the Edgewater Library | Edgewater Branch Libraryvalue of library, Chicago Public Library, Edgewater Branch Library, books, Friends of the Edgewater Library, worth, Friends, libraries, Connect With Your LIbrary, National Library WeekComment

Midsummer Reads

It’s the middle of summer and, for me, that means lazy days with a glass of lemonade and a book

Joanna BroussardAugust 13, 2021Friends of the Edgewater LibraryMidsummer Reads, Friends, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Kristin Hannah, No Book Club, Chicago Public Library, Goodreads, Bookends and Beginnings, The New York Times, Literary Hub, Women and Children FirstComment

Writings From The Edge

When I heard of the Edgewater writing group, I joined it hoping to have a chance to share my thoughts and get feedback on stories that were swirling in my head.

National Library Week | Libraries Broaden Our World

During National Library Week (April 4-10), take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the resources Chicago Public Library (CPL) offers in addition to books.

Find The Library At Your Place

Each year National Library Week (April 19-25, 2020) is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and library workers and to promote library use and support.

Joanna BroussardMay 4, 2020National Library Week, Edgewater Library, Friends, Friends of the Edgewater Library, FOEL, CPL, Chicago Public Libraries, ebooks, e-audiobooks, virtual, tablets, smartphones, laptops, Kindle, e-readers, LIbby, ecardComment

Living History: Rachel Carson

Earth Day began in 1970, but the credit for its origination likely was Rachel Carson’s best-selling book, Silent Spring, written in 1962. See the living history performance by Leslie Goddard of Rachel Carson and Silent Spring in the full post.

Joanna BroussardApril 23, 2020Friends of the Edgewater LibraryRachel Carson, Silent Spring, Leslie Goddard, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, Zoom, Environmentalist, environment, live performance, living historyComment

Something For Art History Buffs

As we figure out how to spend our free time during this “new normal” we’re experiencing, Friends members are passing on information about online resources to help everyone while away their hours.

Stories of Freedom

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

Joanna BroussardFebruary 26, 2020Edgewater Branch Library | Betty A. Barclay Community Room | 2nd FloorHarriet Tubman, Stories of Freedom, Middle Passage, Cynthia Maddox, Friends, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Lifeline Theatre, Edgewater Library, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Betty A. Barclay Community Room Comment

101 Books That Shaped Chicago

If you’ve ever wondered how Chicago got to be called “the Second City” or want to know who influenced this or that about the city then Chicago By The Book: 101 Stories That Shaped The CIty is for you.

Herman Melville | 200 Years Young

Will Hansen, curator of the "Melville: Finding America at Sea." exhibition at the Newberry Library, discussed why Melville's writings remain fascinating and important for 21st-century readers.

Joanna BroussardMarch 22, 2019Edgewater Branch LibraryHerman Melville, Moby Dick, Newberry Library, Will Hansen, Friends of the Edgewater Library, Friends, Betty A. Barclay Community Room, Edgewater Library, 200 Comment

Women of the Irish Revolution

Attendees at “Women of the Irish Revolution” were treated to a walk through history to see how early 20th century Ireland-born women engaged in three main causes: workers' rights of women, suffrage, and Irish freedom.