Veterans History Project

The Veterans History Project is a project created by the Library of Congress to document interviews of American veterans. The VHP seeks to record interviews of veterans telling their personal firsthand accounts and experiences in the United States military. The VHP will collect, preserve and make accessible these personal accounts of American wartime veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war and military service.  To qualify for the project you must be a former military veteran who had served in any capacity in the United States military, or a civilian who served in support of a United States war effort in a professional capacity. The Illinois Veterans History Project was created by the Illinois State Library to do the same thing, but on a state level.

The Sparta Public Library will schedule a recorded interview with you that will last at least 30 minutes. Interviews will be conducted at the Sparta Public Library, in our meeting or genealogy rooms. The interviews will be recorded live, and an interviewer will ask you questions to help guide the conversation during the interview. The questions will cover a wide range of topics, including service memories, before and after service stories, basic training, and much more. The questions for the interview can be tailored for you, and if there is something you are uncomfortable with sharing or being asked we can exclude that from the interview.

Prior to the interview there will be a few forms you will have to fill out, these include interview release forms, and biographical information about yourself. The biographical data form includes information about your service, be sure to fill this form out entirely! We ask that as much as possible these forms be completed before arriving for the interview, but if you need help filling them out or have any questions about them feel free to ask, we would be happy to assist you. After the interview has been recorded, we will stick it on a flash drive or CD and send it to the Library of Congress and the Illinois State Library. Additionally, we will keep a copy of your interview for here at the library. This will be kept as part of our special collection.

For more information call, email or visit us at the Sparta Public Library:

211 W Broadway, Sparta IL  62286.
(618) 443-5014
spartaillinoislibrary@gmail.com

You might also like to check out the following sites:

https://www.loc.gov/vets/

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/public/veteransproject.html

Sparta Public Library Awarded PNG Grant

The Sparta library was one of 17 in the state that was awarded a Project Next Generation Grant. The Sparta library will use the $12,500 in grant funds for equipment and supplies to participate in the Illinois Veteran’s History Project. Local students with supervision by their Project Next Generation mentors, will interview and video record the stories of Illinois war veterans and civilians , such as flight instructors and medical personnel, who served the state and country during the war. The library plans to begin recording sessions in February and we encourage all veterans to call the library at 443-5014 for more information. The PNG grant is provided by the Illinois State Library, a division of the office of Secretary of State, using federal LSTA funding, to empower students to succeed academically and eventually as independent, contributing members of society. In service of this mission, the PNG program offers grant funding to libraries for establishing after-school training programs that not only provide access to computers, software and various technology devices, but also hire mentors who are crucial to helping students develop self-confidence and pride in their newly acquired skills.

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Be sure to like the Sparta Public Library on Facebook for news, pictures and more! Click on the picture to the right to visit the Library’s Facebook page. Our Facebook page features exclusive pictures, information and much more. Make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Did You Know? Interlibrary Loan

Did you know that the Sparta Public Library offers an interlibrary loan service to all of it’s registered card holders? Any non-probationary patron may request items using this service, new patrons must wait until they exit the probationary period to request items through interlibrary loan. The interlibrary loan service is available to both Resident and Non-Resident library users, however; Reciprocal users must return to their home libraries to receive interlibrary loan service.

What is interlibrary loan? It is the ability to request books through your local library, from another library. The interlibrary loan service is available through either the local Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), or the nationwide OCLC system. There are thousands of books, audio-books, CDs, DVDs and much more available through the libraries’ interlibrary loan service. This service is offered to all of our patrons free of charge. Just ask a librarian, we will be happy to help get you started. Items can be requested either through our online Card Catalog, or by coming in to request an item in person. Requests through the OCLC system must be done in person.

The library staff will make every attempt to obtain materials thru the Illinois Heartland Library System’s SHARE automation system, if the item cannot be found there then the staff may attempt to place a request using the nationwide OCLC system, however; there is no guarantee that we will be able to find the item that you are looking for.

The Sparta Public Library is committed to participating in interlibrary loan, both as a lender and borrower. Interlibrary loan does not relieve a local library of the responsibility to develop its own collections, but rather serves as a means of overcoming the information limits inherent in a given collection. Due dates may be set by the lending library. Materials are the responsibility of the patron until the item is return in proper condition to the Sparta Public Library. Patrons will be charged for lost or damaged items. These fees will be set by the lending library.

Highlights: Sewing Club Graduation

On Saturday, December 10, The Sparta Public Library Hosted It’s First Ever Sewing Club Graduation. The graduation opened with the girls in procession, while three of them played Pomp and Circumstance on their flutes.  The girls wore a purple personalized sash in their choice of thread color with a graduation cap and tassel to match. Each of the girls presented a demonstration on the sewing machine.   Each student was given a certificate of completing the Basic Beginner Session.  Hanna Stine and Clara Odom also received perfect attendance certificates while Ellie Grobb received most helpful and Hannah Stine received most improved. Hannah Stine, Ellie Grobb and Daira Sangurima each gave remarks during the ceremony. After receiving their certificates the students left the room.  During this 5 minute intermission, the girls put on a shirt they constructed in class and proceeded back into the meeting room one at a time modeling their shirt.   Instructor, Lynette Jalivay presented each of the students with a sewing kit containing fabric, tools and sewing notions. The girls presented Lynette with flowers, cards, gift certificates and a pillow they constructed outside of class.  It was a great surprise to Lynette. Graduation hosted approximately 45 in attendance.  Connie Ruppert has volunteered her time assisting Lynette on occasions and was a great help during the graduation setup and ceremony.   Pictured left to right, Hannah Stine, Daira Sangurima, Saleena White, Alice Odom and Ellie Grobb.   Clara Odom also graduated but is not pictured. The girls ages ranged from 8 – 13.  The graduates will continue in the club along with 7 new students.  The new students names are as follows:  Natalie Morocho, Caris Cowan, Adriouna Boyster, Catilyn Boyster, Gabby Dethrow, Isabella Brooks and Abigail Rodriguez.  All club members will be notified of the next club session.

For tons more pictures, visit the Sewing Club page.

For tons more pictures, visit the Sewing Club page.

Highlights: Anime Club

– On October 27, 2016, the Sparta Public Library’s Anime Club met. Anime Domination is the official name of the club. During the meeting the following club officers were chosen:  Jadyn Yang and Anthony Fajardo, Co-President; and Chris Oliver, Secretary.  The club meeting opened with roll call.  Those in attendance were Dylan Cheek, Anthony Fajardo, Kevin Fajardo, Johnny Nation, Drake Vuichard, Tyson Morris, Wesley Carson, Trance Monroe, Chris Oliver, Tyree Nesbitt, Damon Oakley, Laurie Penford, Susan Colbert and Lynette Jalivay. A PowerPoint presentation was prepared by Jadyn Yang and presented by Wesley Carson.  Laurie Penford discussed Anime Club Etiquette, Lynette Jalivay went over the Club rules and Susan Colbert discussed Japanese Etiquette as well as chopstick manners. After all the discussions the club members sat down at a table prepared with Japanese soda and snacks consisting of Wasabi peas, seaweed and shrimp chips along with other food items brought in by the members. Trance Monroe gave a demonstration on how to open the Japanese soda bottles and the members enjoyed tasting six different Japanese sodas. After being served everyone ate with chopsticks. At the end of the meeting Laurie Penford gave everyone Pocky Sticks as they were leaving.

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Highlights: LEGO at the Library

– On Thursday, Nov. 3 the Library held its’ monthly LEGO at the Library meeting, as always it was a blast! The Sparta Public Library has hundreds of pieces available for kids to build cool creations during this fun hour long program. If you would like to join us, the next LEGO at the Library meeting will be held on Dec. 1st from 5:30 to 6:30 PM, it’s open to everyone of any age. We hope that you will come and join us next time for this fun, free event here at the library.

Picture highlights:

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