Library News

The next time you visit Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall, be sure to look to your right as you enter the facility to view the artwork of Dr. Pat Dailey. Dr. Dailey, an Alton resident, is a man of many talents.

Originally from Warren, Ohio, Pat attended Youngstown State University in Ohio and graduated with a BA in Education. He continued his education at Bowling Green State University, earning a Master’s degree in Biology and a PHd in Entomology, the branch of zoology dealing with insects. As a graduate assistant at Bowling Green University, he worked part time as a biological illustrator. In 1981 he accepted a job at the SIUE Dental School in Alton. There he was employed as an electron microscopist. Electron microscopy is a function of cellular biology requiring the study of cells through an electron microscope. While employed by SIUE, he also illustrated a chapter in the medical text Ten Cate’s Oral Histology. He illustrated the chapter on Bone Development written by Dr. Bill Witson of the SIUE School of Dental Medicine.

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The large print collection at the Hayner Downtown Library has been moved from its previous location upstairs; it is now located on the main level in the former Illinois Room. Aside from allowing more space for large print materials, the new space is nice and bright and best of all, no stairs!

The space opened up by this reconfiguration will be used to shelve our teen and young adult collections, separating them out from the youth materials. This will also allow us more space for the youth materials currently occupying the old Reading Room space.

Fresh paint and other cosmetic touches provide a great lift to the display of materials, and all three collections are more accessible. Visit us soon and let us know what you think!

Give a Family History Gift This Year!

Have fun creating gifts and legacies for future generations at the same time!  Some families make calendars filled with pictures of their children and activities.  Last year, my brother and sister-in-law framed an aerial photograph of Grandpa’s old home and farm and gave it to us for Christmas. Looking at the picture stirred memories of going to their house when we were children.  Another idea is to make a Christmas ornament. Resize a photo of an ancestor to fit into a small Victorian-style picture frame. Top it with a red bow and an ornament hook.

If you already have information about ancestors, put together interesting stories about them with their pictures in a CD, a book, or a scrapbook. Give them to your parents, siblings, children, and grandchildren. If you need inspiration about how to write family stories, browse the different family histories in the Genealogy & Local History Library.

Get together with your siblings and pull out the old family photos.  Before long you will be reminiscing about growing up. Get everyone’s permission to record your discussion. Write down everyone’s memories and couple them with photos. Be sure to put in the funny photos! Give everyone a CD or printed copy.  You will be surprised at which child or grandchild becomes interested in the family history!

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