MATTOON – Two book discussions, light refreshments and tours are among the activities for the Mattoon Public Library’s second Discovery Day promotion on Thursday.
Discovery Days are an invitation for new and regular patrons to uncover more of the library, located at 1600 Charleston Ave.
Library staff will be available to show patrons how to use the library’s e-book system. E-books from the library allow patrons to check out books with their library card on their personal e-reading devices.
Staff will help those who need a new library card. Also available is a list of money-saving benefits and value added items that make a $75 library card a great gift for patrons who live outside the Mattoon city limit. There is no charge for a library card for those who live in the city or own property in the city as those resident s prepay for library access through their real estate taxes.
Discovery Day begins at 9 a.m. and runs through the morning with a facilitated discussion led by Marilyn Thompson of The Handmaid’s Tale set for 10 a.m. Tours are designed to help patrons appreciate parts of the facility they otherwise may not see, including the local history room on the basement level.
One event is scheduled for the afternoon, a facilitated discussion led by Chris Suerdieck on the book Midnight In the Pacific at 1:30 p.m.
“The purpose is to welcome people to the library, engage them and find ways to meet people’s varied interests,” said library Director Carl Walworth.
The library subscribes to several daily newspapers, including the JG-TC, the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, Decatur Herald & Review, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, the weekly Barron’s and the Sunday New York Times in addition to other periodicals.
Tours will include the historic Grant flagpole, new additions in the children’s areas and the library’s meeting rooms.