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 is 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
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
This program is for children birth to before kindergarten. Parents (grandparents, caregivers, siblings, etc.) keep track of books read to a child via a specially designed Reading Challenge (R.C.) book that will be given at sign-up. (Project Parenting families will be given their book by Project Parenting.) As your child reaches each 100th milestone, bring the child and the R.C. book into the library for a small prize and to have your child's picture taken. When your child has had 1,000 books read to him/her, bring your child and the R.C. book into the library for a special certificate and a hardcover picture book to keep. Sign up for 1,000 BBK begins June 1, 2022. This program runs year-round. A child may only participate in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten once.
National Thrift Shop Day
National Thrift Shop Day, celebrated on August 17, is all about supporting local thrift shops and raising awareness for charitable organizations. Thrift shops aim to help those most vulnerable in communities and give back to the needy. Known by a myriad of other names, thrift shops are also referred to as consignment stores, second-hand stores, resale shops, and hospice shops. Volunteers willing to help out usually work at the shops, often sorting through donated items people drop off. These used pieces are then sold to the public, providing those in need a convenient service at an affordable price! Check out material on Wednesday, August 17th and enter your name into a drawing to win a $10 gift certificate to HSHS Thrift Shop.
Congratulations to our winner, Sue Groves.
International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day takes place on September 8 every year to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems that exist within our own local communities as well as globally. International Literacy Day was founded by proclamation of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, in 1966 “to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.” International Literacy Day brings ownership of the challenges of illiteracy back home to local communities where literacy begins, one person at a time. Check out material on Thursday, September 8th and enter into a drawing for a bundle of books for children and a bookbag.
Congrats to our winner, Sue Ranson!
Toddler Story Time
During the school year, join Ms. Jo for Toddler/Preschool Story Time. We meet Wednesdays at 10:30 am at the library in the round room downstairs. Children will sing songs, listen to music and stories, and take a craft to make at home. Click here to see the schedule.
Adult Coloring Contest
Calling all adults! Enter our next coloring contest. Color sheets, printed on cardstock, will be available for pickup at the library starting Friday, September 9th. The color sheets need to be returned to the library no later than Saturday, September 24th. Patrons who visit the library Monday, September 26th through Saturday, October 1st will vote for their favorite entry. The People's Choice winner will receive a harvest basket. Click here to see the flyer.
National Chocolate Milkshake Day
National Chocolate Milkshake Day on September 12 is without a doubt a treat day. Simple, sweet, and delectable, chocolate milkshakes aren’t just one of the best treats of all time, they’re also a reminder of our innocence and a symbol of America’s past-time. A time when getting a milkshake and fries was the perfect date and drive-in movies were all the rage. So put a quarter in the jukebox, join us and say cheers to the best fusion since peanut butter and jelly. Check out material on Monday, September 12th for a chance at winning a chocolate milkshake from Kahuna's. Thank you, Kahuna's, for once again sponsoring the holiday.
National Play-Doh Day
Play-Doh Day is an opportunity for everyone, whether a child or simply young at heart, to celebrate this iconic modelling clay. Play-Doh was originally developed in the 1930’s, not as a toy but as a product for cleaning wallpaper! It was not until the 1950’s that it was marketed as a toy, in the trademark vibrant colors of red, blue, yellow and white. Celebrate National Play-Doh Day: release your inner child, choose your favorite colors and get creative! Check out material on Friday, September 16 and choose a container of Play-Doh.
National Johnny Appleseed Day
On National Johnny Appleseed Day, we honor the man who made apple (and pear) trees grow heavy with the bounty of their fruit across most of this country. On September 26th, we commemorate the day of his birth and celebrate his legendary wit, wisdom, and enduring story. Check out material on Monday, September 26th and leave with a locally grown apple from Doll's Orchard. Thanks to Doll's Orchard for donating the apples.
Fourth Annual Library Crawl
The Library Crawl is a “free range” experience where people are encouraged to visit participating public libraries October 1st to October 31st and learn more about their services. Pick up a Library Crawl Passport at the circulation desk beginning Monday, September 26th. Visit your choice of any of the participating libraries. Once you’ve visited 5 other libraries and had each of them stamp your passport, you can return your passport to the Greenville Public Library (your home library) by November 10th and choose a book from our stash.
Be sure to take the time to walk around each library and see what they have to offer. You may be amazed at all the services and resources that our public libraries provide for our communities. We hope you’ll join the 2022 Library Crawl and expand your library world! Click here to see the map of participating libraries.
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.
The Library purchased several adult Playaways in 2022. With advancements in technology, CD players are not as common. New cars and new laptops are examples of items that may no longer have CD players. Playaways can be used with earbuds and/or plugged into sound sources (using an auxiliary cable).
Escape the Library
Are you looking for something fun to do in Greenville? The Library is offering two "Escape Room" activities--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)
