THE FOLLOWING IS A NEWS-GAZETTE STORY BY JENNIFER BAILEY
ABOVE: Seniors Having Fun at the Urbana Free Library
HOOPESTON — When Marie Schieler retired six years ago after a 30-year career as a teacher’s aide, one of her goals with her newfound free time was learning how to crochet.
“I had bought a book” on the subject, the 71-year-old said, and a few months later, she learned about a class being offered at the Hoopeston Public Library, where her daughter Tricia Freeland is the director.
Schieler said she missed the first couple classes when filling in as a substitute teacher, but she’s been going ever since, except of course during the pandemic. She honed her skills with the group, which continues to meet at 10:30 a.m. every Wednesday at the library at 110 N. Fourth St. There are about eight retirees who regularly meet up, and anyone is welcome to attend.
Freeland and other area library directors say they try to gear their services to all ages with a variety of activities and programs.
Schieler said the crocheting/sewing group has expanded to any kind of hand crafts.
“It’s become an all-encompassing thing,” she said. “I’ve always got four or five projects.”
She’s currently working on wooden and cross-stitch ornaments. Others work on beautiful embroidery, bead work on jewelry and sun catchers, and one husband, who is laid off, works on chain mail for Renaissance fairs.
“It’s been one of the joys of my life,” Schieler says of the group. “We have a good time. We laugh a lot. You just hate to miss it.”
The group usually extends its time together with lunch outings.
“It’s been a wonderful group,” Schieler said.
The Hoopeston library also offers biweekly home delivery of books to both adult living facilities in Hoopeston.
“We try to offer a program per month for adults/seniors where we often coordinate with the University of Illinois or Master Gardeners for life-topic programs like brain health, being a grandparent in current times, gardening, etc.,” Freeland said. “We also provide a free craft project each month.”
The library has a sign-up sheet for monthly crafts. Its Facebook (@HoopestonPublicLibrary) and Instagram (@hoopestonlibrary) accounts have the most up-to-date information.
Danville Public Library officials also realize the importance of opportunities for seniors to socialize.
The library previously had a coffee time Friday mornings. Seniors 60 and older were invited for games, crafts, conversations and coffee or tea.
That has now been replaced by Senior Social Hour. It’s scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month in the second-floor conference room at the library at 319 N. Vermilion St. Seniors can enjoy coffee and play games together. The Danville Library Foundation provided a grant for the program.
Brooke Truscelli, the Danville library’s director of community relations, said they are revamping the senior activity that’s part of its adult programming.
Seniors can “have this time to sort of get to know other seniors in the community. It may be expanded in the future,” she said.
Truscelli said the library also has reading aids, large-print books and other services for seniors. Those with a library card also can access different apps to gain access to free e-books, magazines, audiobooks, music, etc.
Catlin Public Library District Director Kathleen Bennett said her agency offers a weekly Coffee Talk program and a monthly memory-care program called Tales and Travel Memories for seniors at the library at 101 Mapleleaf Drive.
Coffee Talk meets from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesdays.
“In the summer, we have guest speakers come to talk about a variety of topics. Sometimes we have the extension service from the U of I and other times mostly local speakers,” she said. “In the winter, we do different activities each week,” including Show and Share (like show and tell for adults), trivia team contests, and games (board games, Uno, bingo and word games).
Tales and Travel Memories is a memory cafe developed by the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.
“We use library materials and loans from local museums to ‘visit’ a location, event or person,” Bennett said. “Everyone is welcome at our Tales and Travel program.”
The program is particularly welcoming to those living with memory issues. Care partners are welcome to attend as well, or they can use the time to pursue other activities in the building. A display of materials related to care-giving is near the front desk to invite conversations.
Crafterday and Stitch and Chat are two other programs the library offers during the day. Crafterday meets in the fall and winter months, whereas Stitch and Chat is offered year-round.
“We do require signups for Crafterday as we only have so much space for participants,” Bennett said. “We do not charge a fee for materials for all of the projects, but when the material costs are high, we do charge a small fee.”
Stitch and Chat meets from 1 to 2 p.m. Mondays. Participants bring whatever project they are working on to have an opportunity to visit with fellow crochet or knitting enthusiasts. Some people have brought their quilting work.
Additional programs
Additional senior programs are provided at other Vermilion County libraries and at the Champaign and Urbana libraries.
The Champaign Public Library, with its main location at 200 W. Green St., has a variety of programs and services that could appeal to senior citizens, depending on their interest.
Technology workshops, held at 2 p.m. Tuesdays and sometimes Monday evenings, are for all ages and focus on a variety of topics for new and advanced learners. One workshop for the upcoming Active Aging Week is “Common Scams and Identity Theft,” featuring staff from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
The library also offers home-delivery services for customers that live in Champaign, on a temporary or long-term basis. Its Book a Librarian service allows someone to reserve a free, uninterrupted, 30-minute consultation with a knowledgeable staff member who can help them download e-books, update their resume or get a handle on their personal devices.
The library also hosts a workshop focusing on help with Medicare and also offers the opportunity for individual appointments in partnership with Champaign County Health Care Consumers.
Community members can sign up for the library’s newsletter for the latest news and updates and visit the events calendar at champaign.org/events.
Lauren Chambers, programming and outreach manager with the Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St., said it will have two monthly series geared toward seniors starting in October.
“We’re planning to start hosting Family Services of Champaign County’s Creative Senior Connects program, an arts- and-crafts program that ‘explore(s) creative expression through writing, visual art, rhythm, movement, drama, guided meditation, and more with the goal of connecting more deeply with others, with yourself, with your inner creativity,’” she said. “No art experience or skills are required.”
Creative Senior Connections will be the first Friday of every month.
The second senior program series, Senior Movies and Sharing, will be on the second Monday of the month.
“Each month, we’ll show a different movie and provide viewing snacks, and there will be time after the movie for seniors to mingle and talk,” Chambers said. “This program is created by Aging Services of Champaign County and sponsored by Sideline MD, the Urbana Park District and the Urbana Free Library.”
She said the library also has a range of programs for all ages every month that are perfect for seniors, including crafts, music events and talks.
“Programs provide a space to explore passions, develop new interests, reduce isolation and foster a sense of community by bringing people together. It’s as important to provide these opportunities for seniors and adults as it is for preschoolers and teens!” she said. “We never stop learning and needing a sense of community in our lives, and the library is committed to helping provide this support.”
