Franklin Park Library resolved to help you this year

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Updated: February 6, 2012 8:22AM

The board and staff of the Franklin Park Public Library District would like to wish everyone in our community a happy new year. The library would love to help you work on your new year’s resolutions in 2012.

Did you resolve to:

Conquer the digital divide

Computer Tutorials: Sign up for a free tutorial on computer basics, internet, e-mail, or Microsoft Office software. Call (847) 455-6016 ext. 2 or come in to sign up. También en español.

Take up a hobby

Quilters Circle: Starting with the Jan. 4 meeting, the class will include demonstrations of quilt blocks or other sewing/quilting projects followed by time for working on your own projects and socializing. Any interested quilters and would-be quilters are invited to stop in and visit the group. The Quilters Circle meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Knitting & Crochet Group: Beginning Jan. 14, the library will host a once monthly craft group. All skill levels are invited. Novices will learn the basics and those with more experience can share their projects and skills. Sessions will begin at 1 p.m. and last for about two hours. Call Karen for more information at (847) 455-6016.

Digital media lab coming soon: Get your creativity flowing, because come February, you will be able to express yourself through technology. Make your own videos, create images, record music, publish your content, and much more.

Become a more interesting person

Resolve to Read Jan. 9-March 17: This year’s winter reading program lets you choose your areas of interest. Our goal is to help you persevere in your New Year’s resolution to learn new things. As usual you submit a reading log for each item read (or listened to) and each log enters you into our drawings. This year’s grand prize is a football donated by the Chicago Bears. But beware, this year adults and young adults will compete against each other.

Read the book then see the movie: In January, the library has three displays that can help here: novels turned into books; movies that began as books, and 2011 Books of the Year.

Get to know your neighbors

Conversation Circle: Our Conversation Circle will begin again on Jan. 17 and will meet every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. This circle will run for 12 weeks, with the last session on April 3. The Conversation Circle is a place to practice English conversation skills in a friendly, informal setting. While any topic (except religion and politics) can be discussed, the focus of this new circle will be “slang expressions”. So, start making a list of strange or not quite clear expressions that you hear over the holidays. We will explore them and many others during the circle. Join us please.

Get the FAFSA filed

Monday, Jan. 23, 3 p.m.: FAFSA Completion. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission will be at the library to help you fill out your FAFSA application. The sooner you file, the sooner you can apply for all the available scholarships and financial aid.

Help your child with school

Have you taken a look at the Parent-Teacher collection recently? We have many resources for your use. Some subjects you might be grateful to see include: phonics skills and language activities at home, math games, dealing with bullies, helping youngsters with the grief process, potty training and a lot more.

Lose weight and get in shape

The library has a wide array of DVDs and books designed to help you get active: everything from ab-workouts to zumba routines.

Stick to a budget

Check out a guide to getting out of debt, investing, or download budget spreadsheets to help you mark your progress.

COUPONS 101: Plan, clip and save. Join Rachel Singer Gordon for an encore edition of her workshop for bargain-hunters at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.

Get organized

The library has materials to help you deal with clutter, to save time, reduce stress and be much more productive.

Enjoy more quality time with family and friends

Check out a free Macy’s Museum pass and take an outing to one of several suburban destinations.

Find a better job

Use librarians to help you polish your resume, find job openings, research companies and prepare for the interview.

Learn something new

Life-long learning is more than just education and training beyond formal schooling. It builds self-confidence, flexes your memory and provides a sense of self-satisfaction. Whether you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, to play a musical instrument, to become a better cook or create a painting, the library has books and DVDs to help you get started.

Volunteer and help others

The library is always in need of dedicated volunteers. Contact Janet Forde at jforde@franklinparklibrary.org for more details.