Library Announcements

Greenville Public Library Holiday Closing Schedule

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans' Day

Thanksgiving Day and the day after

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

New Year's Eve

New Year's Day

Dr. Martin Luther King's Day

Presidents' Day

The Greenville Public Library may be closed due to inclement weather, such as snow, ice, or a tornado warning. In the event that our city's tornado sirens go off, staff and any patrons in the building will be taken to our designated shelter in the basement. We will be following instructions from weather sources on when the tornado warning is over. Please call the library at (618) 664-3115 with any questions involving closings.

Current Procedures at the Library

Masks are strongly encouraged at all times when in the building and at library events. We ask that you use hand sanitizer.

Maintain social distancing while in the library.

Materials that are returned in the building will be checked in immediately, wiped down and allowed to dry, then put away.

Return to 40 item limit per household.

Computer use is first-come, first-served. Reservations can be made by calling the library and scheduling a time. Library staff will wipe down computer stations after every use.

Masks may be required for 1-on-1 assistance and/or if patron if coughing/sneezing.

Curbside appointments are available for patrons who would like to continue the service.

Tables and chairs are available with social distancing the responsibility of the group.

The restroom is open to the public. Library staff will be responsible to wipe down touchpoints throughout the day.

Escape Room events are allowed to resume following the above guidelines.

Library Hours as of March 29th, 2021

Monday: 10 am to 11:50 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm

Tuesday: 10 am to 11:50 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm

Wednesday: 10 am to 11:50 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm, 5 pm to 6:50 pm

Thursday: 10 am to 11:50 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm, 5 pm to 6:50 pm

Friday: 10 am to 11:50 am, 1 pm to 4:30 pm

Saturday: 9 am to 11:50 am

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month. To celebrate, the library will be sponsoring a poetry contest with the theme being Spring. There will be three age groups: 3rd grade - 5th grade, 6th grade - 8th grade, and high school. The winning poem from each age group will win a BOCO Bucks certificate. Winning poems will be posted on our website, our Facebook page, and The Greenville Advocate. Please click on the flyer to see more information about guidelines. All poems need to be received no later that Saturday, April 23rd.

Congratulations to our winners, Brianna Hemker and Allison Hemker.

Click here for Brianna's poem (3rd grade - 5th grade)

Click here for Allison's poem (6th grade - 8th grade)

Get Caught Reading Month

The year-round campaign titled Get Caught Reading was launched by the Association of American Publishers in 1999. This is an organization that works with publishers of books, journals, and so forth, and feels strongly about the existence of books as well as urging the current generation to adopt a trend of reading. The campaign has designated May as Get Caught Reading Month to convince people that reading books is fun and one of the best ways to become knowledgeable individuals who have the potential to change the world.

Visit our Facebook page and post a picture of you and the book you’re reading to enter to win a free book from our stash and a digital movie download. Posts made to our page May 1st through Tuesday, May 31st will be entered. Get caught reading the books displayed in the glass cases when you walk in, which are suggestions from staff and voracious readers. (one entry per person)

Adult Coloring Contest

The Greenville Public Library invites adults to enter our first adult coloring contest. Color sheets can be picked up at the library. They will be printed on cardstock, so that different art mediums can be used. The color sheets will be available starting Saturday, May 7th. All entries need to be returned to the library no later than Saturday, May 21st. The following week, May 23rd through May 28th, patrons will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite picture. The winner will receive a book from our stash and a digital movie download.

National Scrapbook Day

Each year on the first Saturday in May, National Scrapbook Day invites the country to bring their talents together to celebrate the art of scrapbooking. Also known as National Scrapbooking Day, avid scrapbookers gather to share their craft. Scrapbooking has become a popular hobby and those who enjoy it may develop a strong social network, swapping tools, advice, and techniques. Creative Memories, a scrapbook company that utilizes a home-based sales force, created National Scrapbook Day in 1994. Check out material on Saturday, May 7th to enter your name into a drawing for a scrapbook kit full of supplies.

Congrats to our winner, Janice Betscher.

National Chocolate Chip Day

On May 15th, we recognize a morsel of a thing on National Chocolate Chip Day! In 1937, Ruth Graves Wakefield of Whitman Massachusetts must have been curious about what a little bit of chocolate would add to her cookies. While working at the Toll House Inn, she added cut-up chunks of a semi-sweet Nestle chocolate bar to a cookie recipe. The cookies were a huge success and in 1939 Wakefield signed an agreement with Nestle to add her recipe to the chocolate bar’s packaging. In exchange for the recipe, Wakefield received a lifetime supply of chocolate. The Nestle brand Toll House cookies were named for the Inn. While cookies may be the first treat to come to mind, imagination is really the only thing limiting how chocolate chips can be used in baking and candy making. Since the library is closed on Sunday, May 15th, we will celebrate the holiday on Monday, May 16th. Check out material on Monday and receive a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

National Lucky Penny Day

National Lucky Penny Day is celebrated on May 23. It’s always nice to find a penny and on this day everyone is on the lookout in the hopes of finding one lying around. The discovery of pennies is often associated with good luck and celebrators believe that if you find a penny on National Lucky Penny Day, you might just be incredibly blessed! Come to the library on Monday, May 23rd to find one 12 hidden pennies. Lucky winners will receive a prize, courtesy of Bradford National Bank. (One per household, please.)

National Scavenger Hunt Day

May 24 is National Scavenger Hunt Day, marking the annual celebration of hunting for a list of items, or solving a series of clues to “win” the game. Though no one knows the true origin of the first scavenger hunts, which evolved from folk games, Elsa Maxwell has been credited with the creation and popularization of the scavenger hunt in the 1930’s. Elsa Maxwell, an American author, gossip columnist, actress, songwriter, screenwriter, and radio personality who was dubbed “hostess with the mostest”, had an affinity for throwing luxurious and entertaining parties for celebrities, political figures, and New York’s elite. She often organized scavenger hunts for the guests, that involved roaming around town, seeking objects from a list. Players were not allowed to buy the objects, but rather, beg, barter, or work for them. Sometimes, the scavenger hunts included riddles, or ‘clues’, on each item, increasing the game’s difficulty. The team with the most items, or the first to complete the list, won. Families interested in going on a scavenger hunt for items can come to the library on Tuesday, May 24th for a "list." We will have a few to choose from. Return the list to the front desk to receive a small prize such as a sticker or fruit snacks.

New Playaway Collection

The Greenville Public Library is pleased to announce a new in-house collection for young readers. Thanks to an Illinois State Library Grant, we were able to purchase Playaways. The Grant was awarded to the Greenville Public Library in the amount of $2750. We were able to buy a total of 55 Playaways for juveniles and teens to enjoy. Playaway is the pre-loaded audiobook that gives patrons the portability and freedom to listen to audiobooks anytime, anywhere. Playaway's universal audio jack is compatible with headphones and auxiliary cords. If earbuds are needed, a pair may be purchased at the library for 50 cents. Click here to see a list of the Playaways that are in our collection. If we don't have the title you are looking for, it may be available through interlibrary loan.

Escape the Library

Are you looking for something fun to do in Greenville? The Library is offering three "Escape Room" activities--a general theme, a Harry Potter theme, and a pirate theme. The programs are appropriate for groups of 6 to 10 participants (junior high age to adults). Your group will work together to find clues, solve puzzles, and open locks in order to "escape." All that is required is that you call the Director, Jo Keillor, at the Library to schedule a time for your group and let her know which theme your group prefers. There is a $25 charge per group. (We only accept cash or check payments.) We hope you schedule an appointment and enjoy your time at the library. (posted Dec. 2018)

Attention Patrons

Starting in November 2021, everyone will need to provide a driver's license and a second proof of identity/residency to renew existing accounts. We will require all the primary account holders to show all required information. We will be ascertaining whether the address provided is in the library's service area, even if the cardholder has been a Greenville cardholder for several years. We ask that Nonresident patrons who own property in town, bring tax information for the owned property. We hope to have current, up-to-date information for all of our accounts. If there are any account charges at the time of renewal, regardless of amount, they will need to be paid in full. Thank you for assisting us in this endeavor. (updated Nov. 2021)

New at the Library: Hotspots

We are pleased to announce that the Greenville Public Library now has five hotspots available for check out. Thanks to a generous donor, you can take WiFi with you. Greenville Library patrons may check one out or add their names to a waiting list if none are available. There are a few guidelines associated with our new hotspots:

• Available only for Greenville cardholders (age 18 and older).
• Households may check out one hotspot per month. (30 days)
• One week check out period.
• $5.00 per day overdue.
• After 3 days of being overdue, the hotspot will be deactivated and a $200 charge will be billed to the patron.
• DO NOT return in the drop box. If put in the drop box, there will be a $5.00 charge.
• $200 replacement cost for lost or damaged devices.
• If you are notified that one is available, the device must be picked up within two days. On the third day, the next person on the list will be notified. (posted Dec. 2019)