Many booking it to the nearest library to beat the heat; ‘We had many more visitors than usual'

Chicago Tribune

a day ago

Temperatures are climbing once more in the Waukegan area and one place people are going to stay cool and find things to do to keep them busy is the local libraries. More people than usual are going to read a newspaper or magazine, or watch a movie on a library computer.
Robin Smith, the director of the Zion-Benton Public Library, said there is a corner of the building with comfortable chairs where people often sit to read. Newspapers and magazines are easily accessible there.
'Most of the seats were filled there Saturday, Sunday and Monday,' Smith said. 'We had many more visitors than usual last weekend.'
Tiffany Verzani, the executive director of the Waukegan Public Library, said the doors are always open during regular hours, so people who need a cool place when the summer heat reaches dangerous levels can go inside.
Amy Grossman, the Waukegan library's assistant director, said earlier this month there were approximately 50 people more than usual in the building.
Jen Finnerty, the assistant director at the North Chicago Public Library, also said the was an increase in visitors over a recent weekend, and she anticipates the same when temperatures rise again.
The Waukegan, Zion-Benton and North Chicago libraries are ready for additional visitors over the summer as the crowds increase when the weather becomes hotter, with a variety of summer programming and more.
With school not in session, both Waukegan and Zion offer free lunch weekdays for people 18 and under until school starts in August. When the weather is hotter, Smith said they stay longer.
'They come in, cool off and get a chance to see other kids,' Smith said, 'It's healthy food. They talk and chill with each other.'
The timing of the completion of renovations on the lower level of the Waukegan library — it is heavily devoted to youth services — worked well with summer heat and school vacations bringing more youngsters to the library.
'It's nearly complete,' Verzani said. 'It includes youth services, a sensory room, an early learning center, the Bradbury Room and our maker space.'
Grossman said initially the maker space was by appointment only, but now there are open hours where people can make things with a 3D printer, a laser cutter, sublimation machines to put a design on materials, a sewing machine, embroidery equipment and more.
'We have open hours now,' Grossman said. 'You can come in and make something, with our staff to assist you.'
With the summer reading program in full swing, Verzani said people can do their reading at the library if they like. Staff will help individuals who want to use a library computer to watch a movie, whether it is on YouTube or another platform.
A summer reading program is also happening at the Zion library. Snith said it continues through July 21. There are also a variety of games for families to play. They can use them at the library or check them out to take home. Movies on computers are also available.
In North Chicago, Finnerty said Kohl's Children's Museum comes once a month with activities for youngsters. Along with books, movies are also available, as well as music, DVDs, Blue Ray. Xbox and PlayStation.
Finerty said there is currently a monarch butterfly exhibit at the library. It started with caterpillars, which wove cocoons and then emerged as monarch butterflies. They are in a box and will be released during a celebration on July 12.
The Waukegan library is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
In North Chicago, the library is open from 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on Sundays.
Zion's library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, and is closed Fridays.