This time of year always fills me with a mixture of optimism and a touch of sadness. Our Library had a great year. We were a finalist in an international competition sponsored by SIRSIDYNIX, our website won a "Best In Show" award from the American Library Association, and our Youth Services Librarian, Camille Rose, won the Illinois Library Association's Golden Ticket Award. Our library was also cited as an example in several different professional publications this year. How could I feel a touch of sadness with a year like that?

The sadness comes when I think about our former Board Member and Friends of the Library President, Mary Jo Johnston, who passed away in August. Mary Jo was an amazing library advocate, and we miss her. It may seem ironic that my optimism also comes when I think of Mary Jo. Our Friends of the Library have decided to dedicate their Spring Author Program in memory of Mary Jo. In March, Christopher Paul Curtis, winner of both the Newbery Award and the Coretta Scott King Medal, and one of the most important voices in children's literature today will be speaking at our Library.

I think that Mary Jo would be very pleased to see that our staff and our Friends group are working together to make the Library a vital and exciting part of our community. We are working together to make the seemingly impossible possible for the children of Kankakee.

Happy New Years,
Cindy Fuerst
Library Director