Library corner 2-7

LADD — The Ladd Public Library continues to hold its preschool story times on the first and third Monday of each month at 10:30 a.m.

TISKILWA — The Tiskilwa Public Library’s next book club will meet at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 to discuss “A Hundred Flowers” by Gail Tsukiyama. This moving story follows a family in 1957 China during the Cultural Revolution of Chairman Mao. For more information, contact the library at (815) 646-4511 or tisklib@comcast.net.

WALNUT — Winter Adult Enrichment Classes have been scheduled at the Walnut Public Library. All classes are on Saturdays beginning at 9:30 a.m. The cost of the classes will be kept at $10. If the cost is more than $10, it will be noted. All classes will be held at the library, except for the CPR class.

Payment for the class must be made at the time you reserve your spot. You can send your reservation payment to Walnut Public Library, PO Box 728, Walnut, IL 61376-0728, or just stop in at 101 Heaton in Walnut.

Classes are:

• Saturday: Beginner Wood Carving by Gene Henrickson. 

• Feb. 23: Paper Bead Class ... The group will be making a variety of beads, sizes and shapes and techniques for stringing the beads to make jewelry. All materials will be provided.

• March 9: CPR Class ... The price for this class will be $30 for one person, $40 for couples. This class will be held at the Walnut Community Building, 129 S. Main St. If you need certification or to be re-certified this class is for you.

More classes are being planned, so check back to this spot often to see what’s new.

A reminder: the library now has three binders full of coupons to exchange. There is no limit on how many coupons you can take, and if you have coupons you do not use, please bring them to the library, even your expired ones. What can’t be used in the binders is sent to troops serving overseas.

SHEFFIELD — The Sheffield Public Library will host a weekly story hour for children ages 3-5 during the months of March and April. A specific day and time will be set after registration. Please call librarian Sue Lanxon at 815-454-2628 or 815-454-2592 to registering your child.

In addition, the library would like to start a monthly book club. Interested adults should call either phone number.

SPRING VALLEY — Story time is held every Tuesday from 5:30 until 6 p.m. in the children’s room at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library. There is a story and a craft-related project during this time for preschool children through second grade. A parent must accompany their child. This is free of charge.

The library is collecting aluminum cans with the proceeds going to the support of the library. The cans may be dropped off at the library during the hours of operation, which are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday — Wednesday; 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The cans should be tied in a plastic bag and placed in the large box inside the west front door. People living in Webster Park may drop off their bags of cans at 202 Elm St. in the driveway. Call 815-663-4741 with any questions.

The library board meets at 8 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month.

LASALLE — Join the LaSalle Public Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday for “Weapons of the Civil War.” Considered one of the first modern and industrial wars, the American Civil War saw a wealth of new technology and weapons come onto the battlefield. Advances during the conflict included a transition from muzzle-loading rifles to repeating breech-loaders. Find out more about these weapons when Jan Zajac, a long-time collector, discusses and showcases his collection of Civil War weapons.

A successful advertising executive and agency owner, Zajac began collecting in 1982 with the purchase of several Bedouin daggers in a market in Cairo, Egypt. This began a lifelong passion for collecting antique edged weapons. Realizing that knowledge is power, he also began to establish a personal research library of books pertaining to edged weapons that has grown to more than 1,000 volumes. For the last 10 years he has concentrated on his collection of United States officers’ swords from the period of the American Revolution through the Civil War years. Zajac is well known at the regional Civil War shows where he enjoys introducing everyone to the joys of collecting. Zajac has often told an interested onlooker that having a sword is “… like holding history in your hand.” Select items from his own collection have been featured in several publications. Zajac is always happy to help fellow collectors research swords or daggers for their own collections.

PERU — The Peru Public Library holds a story time for children ages 3 through 5 at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Children will hear stories, sing songs, dance and learn finger plays. Registration is not required. Visit www.perulibrary.org or call 815-223-0229, ext. 5, for more information.

In conjunction with “To Kill and to Heal: Weapons and Medicine of the Civil War,” the traveling exhibit at Lock 16 Center; the Peru Public Library is hosting the 17th Corps Field Hospital.  

Discover what medicine was like during the American Civil War. Visit with the 17th Corps Field Hospital on Feb. 23 to learn about 19th century medicine. The 17th Corp Field Hospital will transform the adult reading area into a field hospital for the day, with specific programs throughout the day. The 17th Corps Field Hospital debunks several Civil War surgery myths by demonstrating brain surgery and amputations. Between sessions, visit the Traveling Medical Museum or ask the field hospital staff questions about their experiences in the Civil War.

Specific sessions include:

• 10 a.m. — The group explains military recruitment during the Civil War. While this session is aimed at grade and middle school children, everyone is invited.

• Noon — The Field Hospital personnel demonstrate minor surgery - bullet extraction.

• 2 p.m. — The pharmacy personnel demonstrate pill making and medicine making.

• 4 p.m. — The Field Hospital performs major surgery - brain surgery or amputations.

This program is in partnership with the Canal Corridor Association, LaSalle Public Library and Peru Public Library’s Civil War in LaSalle County project. Visit the 17th Corps Field Hospital website, 17thcorpsfieldhospital.blogspot.com, to learn more about the re-enactor group. They are in Ottawa in April and Princeton in October.