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33-925: Library services in West Chicago date back to 1856, when the Congregational Church included a library. In 1894, a reading room was established in the Bolles Opera House which was open two nights a week. The library began to organize and, by 1895, was open seven days a week. A volunteer library opened in 1929 on the second floor of the old City Hall, and in 1934 the Library became a municipal library. The library moved several times to different locations on Main Street before they moved to 332 E. Washington St. in February 1954, with State Senator Lottie Holman O’Neill as guest speaker at

66-536: A 14-year time period.The book plate collection received by the West Chicago Public Library District Her book plate collection consists of approximately 10,000 book plates, is international in scope, and was at one time considered by many librarians to be second only to that of the Library of Congress ." Cornelia Anthony was a formidable elocutionist providing dramatic readings to groups throughout

99-802: A billboard-sized replica of a You Are Beautiful sticker erected in 2015 on South Lake Shore Drive in the Oakland neighborhood, installations on fences in Andersonville and Englewood , and on the exterior of the Elmhurst Art Museum in Elmhurst, Illinois . In 2014, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum commissioned a series of billboards placed throughout Erie County featuring a version of the You Are Beautiful sticker design. In 2017, Hoffman launched

132-411: A library card that may be shared between business staff, renewable each year. Residents of towns with SWAN member libraries are allowed West Chicago borrowing privileges upon presenting their home library card, though some restrictions do apply, according to WCPLD policy . Finally, all illinois residents have the right to obtain access to limited WCPLD materials as reciprocal borrowers, in accordance with

165-528: A mural on its Chicago headquarters. The mural features the word "love" in a cursive script based on Hoffman's handwriting. The design was turned into magnets and other promotional items for the company, and was incorporated into a new mural by artist Lefty Out There in 2021. In 2016, Hoffman installed a sculpture titled May This Never End along the fence of the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston. The piece

198-462: A scavenger hunt. Yearly special events include participation in West Chicago's city trick-or-treating and winter Frosty Fest as well as a Dia de los Muertos celebration and often an "Unvalentines Day" put on by the YA Council. Frequently, the library accompanies the city's Halloween events with their own indoor parade and costume contest. The library also works to present new relevant events, such as

231-510: A sculpture for its 2019 Momentum arts festival. The sculpture features the phrases "You Are Beautiful" on one side and "You Are Doing Great" on the other. After the festival concluded, the sculpture was moved to a permanent location in International Park in downtown Toledo . Hoffman was commissioned during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine in 2020 to create a series of sculptures featuring

264-426: A simple, positive, affirming message – just to say 'you are beautiful, you're perfect as you are.' Like, everything's OK," Hoffman said in an interview for OWN's Super Soul Sunday television series. "I wanted to create the perfect positive message that you could share with everyone," he said in an interview. Initially he remained anonymous, referring to the project as "international collective." Since inception, it

297-759: A successful crowdfunding campaign to place a You Are Beautiful public sculpture in all 50 states. In 2022, Hoffman was commissioned by shopping mall owner Brookfield Properties to conceive and produce the You Are Beautiful Experience, an interactive exhibit that toured the company's shopping centers in St. Louis, Missouri; Murray, Utah; Las Vegas, Nevada, Frisco, Texas, Atlanta, Georgia; Durham, North Carolina; and Norwalk, Connecticut. In 2023, You Are Beautiful produced an edition of stickers in braille . "Every single person deserves to be treated with kindness and compassion, and be reminded of their value and worth. At

330-470: A whole. 53% of West Chicago residents are non-native speakers of English. In recognition of this, the library offers extensive educational programs and materials in Spanish language. The library's special collections include a digital catalog of book plates , which was gifted by West Chicago community member Cornelia Eames Anthony in 1935, and "was the result of Ms. Anthony's effort of collecting book plates over

363-520: Is a multi-type library consortium that serves Illinois libraries. It was established in 1974. It has a membership of 97 libraries in the Chicago area , and provides service to 1 million registered library users. SWAN provides a shared online public access catalog with more than 8 million items available to patrons, with centralized cataloging and software services. SWAN is incorporated as an Illinois Intergovernmental Entity. Libraries that are members of

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396-404: Is estimated that over 8.5 million stickers have been distributed in hundreds of languages. The stickers have been posted in locations around the world, on all seven continents. In addition to stickers, Hoffman and collaborators have created both commissioned and noncommissioned murals and installations in a variety of mediums, including paint, plywood and mixed media. In a notable early example,

429-474: The American Library Association (ALA) for the promotion and celebration of Latino history. As a part of this grant, they held viewings and discussions of PBS's "Latino Americans", displayed an exhibit entitled, "Building Community: Creating a Dialogue about Mexican Contributions to West Chicago through Oral Histories", and held a lecture on the history of Latinos in West Chicago in partnership with

462-609: The West Chicago Library District Foundation raises funds to support the West Chicago Public Library. The foundation has provided the library with many updates such as renovating the program room and purchasing new chairs, a book scanner, gaming computers, a computer lab. With funding from the Foundation, the library installed public WiFi in tandem with the completion of the library's renovation and

495-530: The "Sunsational Solar Eclipse", which they organized as the country prepared itself for the rare celestial event, which occurred from 11am to 2pm on August 21, 2017. In partnership with the STAR Library Education Network (STAR_Net), the library provided free glasses to help protect viewer's eyes as they took in the solar eclipse, though they, along with the other libraries in the area, quickly ran out of glasses due to high demand. In preparation for

528-406: The 2020 census, the West Chicago library became a Census partner, holding census recruitment fairs and providing information on the U.S. Census. Though they planned to hold an event at the library on April 1 to help community members complete the census, they moved the event online in the wake of COVID-19. As a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of West Chicago resident volunteers,

561-508: The B.E.N.D. (Books Enlighten, Nourish and Delight), donated books and magazines from the library to the young women incarcerated at IYC-Warrenville. The same year, the library partnered with the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Summer Food Service Program to serve free lunch to the community's youth. Staff celebrated this as a time to serve the community both by feeding them and providing information about

594-536: The Illinois Library System Act. Online registration is available via SWAN Library Services for West Chicago residents 13 years of age and older. Using this form will allow patrons access to the library's online resources, such as ebooks and audiobooks, and patrons may begin borrowing physical materials after confirming registration in-person at the library. During its existence which began in June of 2013,

627-498: The MAGIC library consortium. As of 2018 the West Chicago Public Library held 83,711 books and serial volumes, or 2.8 for every person in its service area. Circulation in 2018 was 190,966, more than 6 per capita. As of 2018, the library had 29 computer terminals for library users. The library offers tutoring and small group classes in computer skills. The city of West Chicago has a Hispanic population more than three times that of Illinois as

660-617: The SWAN library consortium add their cardholders to a central database with access to nearly 8 million items. Cardholders can also download and stream digital books , audiobooks , movies , and music through a collection of database subscriptions. Additional services include the following: centralized cataloging, text or email notification for items available or when they become overdue, and printed notices mailed directly to patrons. SWAN provides online video instruction to patrons and promotional material of its notification options. Libraries in SWAN have

693-609: The United States, but her greatest interest was in book plates. Also among the special collections are digital scans of West Chicago Community High School yearbooks dating from 1921 to the present. Residents within the West Chicago Public Library District tax bracket may register online or in-person at the library. The library offers Non-Resident cards with payment of a yearly property-tax-based fee. Businesses that operate within West Chicago may apply in-person for

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726-602: The West Chicago Community High School's implementation of student Chromebooks. Located right across the street from the library, the West Chicago City Museum frequently partners with the library for special events, programs, and book clubs such as the Historiography book club, a free monthly book discussion. System Wide Automated Network (SWAN) SWAN (System Wide Automated Network)

759-457: The ability to integrate purchasing of material through SWAN's integrated library system . SWAN is participating in a Linked Data project through Zepheira . This initiative is part of a BIBFRAME conversion of MARC21 data into a linked data website hosted by Zepheira. Member libraries elect seven library directors for three-year terms. The SWAN Board is responsible for governing and overseeing SWAN operations, including determining policies for

792-512: The city museum. In honor of the 25th year in their current building, the library stayed open late on Friday, October 5, 2018, celebrating with live music, food, and special activities. Concurrent with this celebration, the West Chicago City Museum sold commemorating ornaments and the library offered Fine Forgiveness Tokens as a reward for those who attended programs during the month of September. In another endeavor toward celebration,

825-419: The groundbreaking. The West Chicago VFW stepped up to raise money for a new kardex and provide the new building with a flagpole. Adult books were held on the second floor, where moveable shelves made it possible to get caught in the middle of two shelves when more than one person was searching for books. A wing was added to the building in 1958. The West Chicago Public Library District was formed on May 1, 1986, as

858-406: The heart of the You Are Beautiful project is to constantly be innovating to find ways to interject positivity into daily life for everyone," Hoffman said. Hoffman's work typically depicts words or phrases rendered in two- or three-dimensional text, often in a cursive font based on the artist's handwriting. In 2015, real estate brokerage and technology firm @properties commissioned Hoffman to paint

891-408: The library announced a library card design contest where community members submitted designs based on their age category with their original artwork. Winners (one from each of the three age categories) received $ 50 Amazon gift cards and their designs were printed on the newest library cards. That same year, the library held a Harry Potter inspired Yule Ball on Friday, November 30, with crafts, food, and

924-519: The library's information services, such as access to books and online resources. The West Chicago Public Library is home to love even more , the statue by Chicago-based artist Matthew Hoffman . The statue was installed on the grounds of the West Chicago Public Library on August 8, 2018. In 2015, the library received $ 3000 in grant money from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and

957-574: The message is painted at the top of the Rice Mill Lofts in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2006, Hoffman collaborated with more than 100 local artists to create a temporary installation on the pedestrian pedway wall during construction at Block 37 . There are more than 100 permanent You Are Beautiful public art pieces on display globally, with the greatest concentration located in the Chicago area, such as

990-579: The organization, employing an executive director, securing adequate funds for operations. Member libraries in SWAN through an intergovernmental agreement under the Illinois Cooperative Act agree to participate as members of the SWAN organization. Matthew Hoffman (artist) Matthew Hoffman (born July 25, 1979) is an American public artist and designer based in Chicago . He is known for You Are Beautiful, an art project that ranges from stickers to large-scale public sculptures. Matthew Hoffman

1023-678: The result of a successful referendum converting the Library from a municipal to a district library. The Library District celebrated the opening of its current 27,052 square foot facility located on West Washington Street in August, 1993. The West Chicago Public Library District was a member of the Library Integrated Network Consortium (LINC) until May of 2018, when it officially joined the System Wide Automated Network (SWAN) along with LINC's seven other libraries and

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1056-530: Was born in Rockford, Ohio. In 2001, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in graphic design from Ball State University . Hoffman refers to himself as the "custodian" of the You Are Beautiful Project, which began in 2002 as a street art sticker campaign with 100 stickers he distributed to friends, who placed them in public spaces around the world. "The original idea behind the project was just to create

1089-556: Was recognized as one of the best public artworks of the year in the Americans for the Arts ' Public Art Network Year in Review. The full text of the piece reads: Nothing's for keeps. Except that we must keep going. You'll spend your entire life searching, ok? We all want to belong. So let's all get along. Make the most, and hope. May this never end. The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo commissioned

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