Art of the Land

Art of the Land photo contest is on display in the library.

Through the month of March the Library is hosting the Art of the Land photo contest from the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. Stop by to see the best of the beautiful landscapes that our county has to offer!

---

Congratulations to the first place winner: 

---

Get Your Library Card

How can you get a library card?

If you live in our service area, you may get a library card free of charge, as part of your tax-supported library service.

Your library card allows you to:

• Borrow books and other circulating library material from Marengo-Union Library District and most other public libraries in Illinois.
• Gain access to digital content, such as: ebooks, audiobooks, music, movies, on-demand streaming and more.
• Access our research and learning databases.
• Check out items in our Library of Things collection, including Mobile Hotspots, Roku Box, Blu-Ray Player and more.
• Use our public computers.

Adults (age 19 and over) must register in person for a Library card and provide proof of residence within the Library District. Bring two forms of current identification. At least one of which must be a photo ID.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Driver’s License
• Non-driving state ID card
• Corporate issued ID card
• Passport
• Naturalization certificate
• Armed forces ID
• Government issued ID with photo (example: prison issued)
• Mortgage statement
• Rental lease
• Property deed
• Voter registration card
• Home insurance policy
• Vehicle insurance policy or card
• Credit/debit card with photo
• Mail postmarked within 30 days
• Current telephone, gas, electric, or cable bill, or other service provider billing statement

Youth between the ages of 4 and 18 qualify for a library card. A parent or legal guardian must be present when a library card is issued to sign as the responsible party.

The parent or guardian assumes responsibility for all charges incurred through use of their child’s card, as well as the content of material the child checks out.

Not a Resident?

For those outside of our service area, there is a $120 yearly fee which covers all members in your household.

Non-resident children may be eligible for a Library card free of charge thanks to the sponsorship by Cards for Kids Act.

Teen Read Week

Teen read week is October 10th through the 16th.

This week was created by the YALSA to encourage teens to continue reading and visit the library. This is the perfect time to stop in and pick up a great YA book.

Some of our current favorites are: 

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Lore by Alexandra Bracken

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

and many more!

If physical books are not for you, we also have many audiobooks and movies available via Hoopla and Overdrive.

Ebooks:

What If It’s Us? By Becky Albertalli Hoopla | OverDrive

They Both Die at the End By Adam Silvera Hoopla | OverDrive

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Hoopla | OverDrive

Audiobooks:

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Hoopla

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Hoopla | OverDrive

When Dimple Me Rishi by Sneha Mathan Hoopla

In addition to our wide variety of YA novels, audiobooks, and movies we will also have Tiny Art Work on display created by some of our teen patrons. Come check it out!

Curbside Services Continue

We will continue to offer curbside services until further notice.

If you would like to use Curbside Services call the Library for assistance at 815-568-8236. Once the items are processed, we will notify you with instructions on how to pick-up your materials.

We have expanded out curbside hours:

• Monday-Thursday: 9:00a.m-8:00 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 9:00a.m.-5:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m.

Please note: For quicker service call 815-568-8236 to request items needed immediately. Holds placed through PrairieCat will be pulled twice a day and kept at the circulation desk for pick-up. Once you have been notified that your hold is ready, you may request curbside pickup by calling 815-568-8236.

Marengo-Union Library District

Using PrairieCat’s Encore Catalog

Access more than 5 million items from home or the library

This change to a larger library system will allow you to get more out of your Library and greater access with your Library card. Currently when you search our online Library catalog you only see Marengo-Union items; when we join the PrairieCat consortium it will allow you to see items from every library in the PrairieCat library system and request them.

Getting Started

ACCESS Encore Catalog in the Menu

LOGIN with library card number and PIN

QUICK TIP: If you are at a public computer in a library, don’t forget to logout before you leave the computer.

Search

SEARCH Marengo-Union Library District’s catalog or all libraries in the PrairieCat catalog consortium. You can now borrow materials from over 130 other libraries in Northern Illinois!

QUICK SEARCH

• Type in your search word(s) without any punctuation or capitalization. Then click on the arrow or press the enter key.
• If you have misspelled a word you will be presented with a “Did you mean” question with the correct spelling in a blue link.

ADVANCED SEARCH

• Use the ADVANCED SEARCH to combine a keyword, title, author or subject.
• Further narrow your search by choosing a specific format, library, language, and/or publication year.

Results

• A SEARCH that results in a single hit will display the full bibliographic information for the title as well as the holdings.
• A SEARCH that results in multiple hits will display brief bibliographic information. Click on SEE ALL to display the libraries that own the title and the shelf status. Click on the TITLE to display the full bibliographic information.
• An icon appears to the left of the title indicating FORMAT.

Facets

Refine your results using the FACETS to the left of the brief results. Further refine your results by:

• AVAILABILITY: Records that have copies available
• FORMAT: Select the format you are interested in such as book, audio book on CD, large print, DVD, etc.
• LIBRARIES: Choose your library or a group of libraries in a geographic area
• FOUND IN: Choose the field that should contain your search criteria such as title, keyword, author, etc.
• PUBLISH DATE: Choose the year the item was published
• LANGUAGE: Choose the language of the material
• TAG: Refine your results based on patron initiated tags
• SETTING: Choose the geographic area the title covers

My Account

MY ACCOUNT allows you a real time look at the items you have checked out, on hold, can renew, etc. In order to access MY ACCOUNT you must first Login using your library card number and PIN.

1. EDIT ACCOUNT: Add an Alternate ID, change your email or phone number, and opt in to text alerts for notifications (message & data charges may apply.)
2. EDIT PIN: Change your PIN number
3. MESSAGES: Displays messages from the Library, such as, you need to update your contact information.
4. CHECKOUTS: View items currently checked out and due dates.
5. FINES/FEES: View money owed and make online payments.
6. HOLDS: View items you have on hold and if they are available for pickup.
7. READING HISTORY: Encore will retain information on the titles you have checked out and returned. Opt in to use.
8. MY LISTS: View and manage lists you store in your account.

Renew Items

Items may be RENEWED if your account is in good standing, there are no holds on the material, and you haven’t exceeded the renewal limit. See more renewal details at muld.org/services.

1. Go to MY ACCOUNT
2. Click on CHECKOUTS
3. Click the box next to each item you want to renew
4. Click RENEW MARKED
5. Click YES when asked if you want to proceed
6. Notice the NEW DUE DATE next to the title

QUICK TIP: Use the Phone Renewal System and call 1-888-542-7259. To use this service you will need your library barcode number and the library barcode of the book you would like to renew.

Holds

If your library doesn’t own a title you can place a HOLD on the title to receive it from another library.

1. LOGIN to your account
2. Click REQUEST IT
3. If you wish to pick up the item from another library, choose a different pickup location.
4. SUBMIT your request. You will be contacted when your item is ready for pickup.

You may CANCEL your hold by clicking on the box next to the title and choose UPDATE LIST or cancel all holds by using the CANCEL ALL button.

Museum Adventure Pass

Check out a Museum Adventure Pass

Use your Marengo-Union Library Card to get free admission to over 20 Chicago area cultural destinations.

Participating destinations include:

Passes are available on a first come, first served basis. Each household may have one museum pass within a seven day period. Passes are valid for seven days from the date of issuance. When using your Museum Adventure Pass at a participating museum, please be prepared to present the pass, photo identification, and your library card.

Please check for pass availability, have your library card ready and call (815) 568-8236 to check out a Museum Adventure Pass.

*You will need to check out a Museum Adventure Pass AND reserve an online spot HERE to visit LEGOLAND. Adventure Pass is redeemed at the door.

Letter from the Director

Moving forward in the time of COVID.

I want to begin by thanking our patrons for their cooperation and understanding, as we all adapt to this new set of circumstances. As it has always been, the safety of our patrons and staff remains our top priority.  

Staff have been working hard, taking every precaution in order to provide the services that you’ve come to expect and enjoy.  

Regarding physical materials, we continue to quarantine all items for seven days before checked in, as we follow the guidelines set by the Reopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums (REALM) Project. No fines will accrue at this time.

Services.

Curbside pickup is currently available for all patrons during open hours. For those who prefer browsing, or want to use one of our traditional services such as faxing, printing, and copying, the Library is open to the public Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-6:00p.m., and Friday & Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. WiFi is available 24/7 and can be accessed from the parking lot while the building is closed. 

Programming is an important aspect of library services and we continue to offer them. Pick up a science project or supplies for a craft with staff created take home kits for all ages!  Video demonstrations and storytimes can be viewed on our Facebook page or our website.  Go online or call the Library to register for any of these fun events.

For more passive programming, check out the East side of the building for outdoor, interactive offerings like StoryWalks, obstacle courses and more!

Online Resources.

The Library offers a variety of online resources for downloadable materials. Check out Overdrive and Hoopla for ebooks and other digital material, and Creativebug for crafting ideas. We’ve also recently added BrainFuse and Peterson’s Test Prep to help students. These resources and more are free with your Library card. Just check out the resources link under the “services” tab on our website (Muld.org).

Regardless of how you prefer to use your library, we will continue to evolve in order to meet the changing needs, and to provide a positive library experience for you and your family. 

Stay well,

Sondra Terry

Library Director

Get Your Library Card

How can you get a library card?

If you live in our service area, you may get a library card free of charge, as part of your tax-supported library service.

Your library card allows you to:

• Borrow books and other circulating library material from Marengo-Union Library District and most other public libraries in Illinois.
• Gain access to digital content, such as: ebooks, audiobooks, music, movies, on-demand streaming and more.
• Access our research and learning databases.
• Check out items in our Library of Things collection, including Mobile Hotspots, Roku Box, Blu-Ray Player and more.
• Use our public computers.

Adults (age 19 and over) must register in person for a Library card and provide proof of residence within the Library District. Bring two forms of current identification. At least one of which must be a photo ID.

Acceptable forms of identification include:

• Driver’s License
• Non-driving state ID card
• Corporate issued ID card
• Passport
• Naturalization certificate
• Armed forces ID
• Government issued ID with photo (example: prison issued)
• Mortgage statement
• Rental lease
• Property deed
• Voter registration card
• Home insurance policy
• Vehicle insurance policy or card
• Credit/debit card with photo
• Mail postmarked within 30 days
• Current telephone, gas, electric, or cable bill, or other service provider billing statement

Youth between the ages of 4 and 18 qualify for a library card. A parent or legal guardian must be present when a library card is issued to sign as the responsible party.

The parent or guardian assumes responsibility for all charges incurred through use of their child’s card, as well as the content of material the child checks out.

Not a Resident?

For those outside of our service area, there is a $120 yearly fee which covers all members in your household.

Non-resident children may be eligible for a Library card free of charge thanks to the sponsorship by Cards for Kids Act.