HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 I
THE DOINGS NEWSPAPERS Thursday, December 15,2005 NEWS 5 OB
Village• librar changes to satisfY
its p �I
- 1,t e. ' ,=�r dating patrons means chang-
BY JIM COLLINS a' .* mss•a m
STAFF WRITER w T ..•-•
44•"'" mg with the times.Although
Ike_ ,"..••',. , books still dominate the
Whether it is better light- r_ «_f - ' .; , library's collections, technol-
ing or a simple coat hook, ,-' •' 1 ogy supplies other ways to
Oak Brook Public Library '' ' " Forr„,:-5--',„k," , . -,, I obtain information.
officials do their best to meet ' "7 z A" .� �� " ' " " One of the most popular j
community needs. ' - i. spots in the library is the
et ..r-- "` ' ? i lobby's Internet cafe. People
A recent submission to the �""" t , . ,,s.: , y p
library's suggestion box noti can stop in for a cup of gour jl
feed staff that it would be nice ill w, " •" a , . . " . - - - - met coffee,check their e-mail
to have a shelf and coat hook and even tune into the latest
in the women's restroom. news via the lobby's newest �?
.,e 11 §.
Shortly after reading the = addition — satellite televi-
comment,
library director : r 1 , j , ^ ,, sion. I.
Meg Klinkow placed a small Klinkow hopes to be add
table in the restroom for
wireless Internet capabilities
women to set their belong- ,,, to the building next year.
ings on. She also has the vil Library officials also strive
lage's public works depart- T R-,„),k,,� �f - to be representative of Oak
ment looking into installing a w. �£ `'4 Brook's diverse community
hook for winter coats. — ' ', a - ' For the holiday season, the
"We know these are little library is featuring exhibits
things,but they help make a �� for a handful of different cel-
" '"'� ebrations including
difference, Klinkow said.
She also keeps hearing Ben Koyl of Hinsdale gets some studying reasons including checking e-mail, doing Christmas, Hanukkah,
that patrons want improved done Thursday at the Oak Brook Public research, reading, borrowing books, movies Kwanzaa and Epiphany.
lighting throughout the Library. Library director Meg Klinkow said and CDs or attending a program. (Photo for Earlier this year, they had
library, so last week she met people stop into the library for a variety of The Doings by Herb Shenkin) displays recognizing
with the Oak Brook Library Ramadan and Diwali.
Foundation to discuss solicit- ble." great collection of books, year,she said. The library plans to con-
ing donations from local The Oak Brook library audio/visual materials and Vemette Richmond, head tin.ue to add more culturally
businesses and residents to spends about $143 per resi- technological resources, of circulation, said about 100 diverse programming and
raise money for it. dent, which is higher than Klinkow said. new people register with the materials in 2006, Klinkow
Because the building is the state average of$41 resi- Without the village's sig- library every month, a num- said.
still relatively new, Klinkow dent and all the other nificant sales tax revenues, ber that includes card hold- "The way we are
said library officials go to the libraries in The Doings cover- Klinkow said the library ers and participants in the approaching it is to embrace
community instead of the vil- age area. This money,which probably would not get as state's reciprocal borrowing , all the religions and cultures
lage board for help with new is generated strictly through much funding and would not program. of Oak Brook and the U.S.in '�',
lighting, sales tax, allows the Oak be able to provide the level of "Each year, each month, general," she said. "It would
"We provide a central Brook facility to respond to service it currently does. presents a little bit of be a shame not to celebrate
place for people to congre- its patrons and offer many Since the library moved change," said Richmond, them all."
gate and feel comfortable," services that other libraries into its new building in 2002, who has been with the library
Klinkow said. "We try to of its size cannot.The library library use and visitors have for 10 years. See related stories on
make it as homey as possi- is fully staffed and has a continued to increase each Another part of accommo- Pages 24-25.
J � Mf^,:
E THE DOINGS NEWSPAPERSThursday,December 15,2005
NEWS 9 OB
COMMUNITY CLOSEUP
k Library
Road
Rsmall world after. all
.k Road It's a
Hing and '
'.m,cityOak Brook resident finds big escape in miniatures
Id
s Road, V I
unique and busy miniature -
BY Jim COLLINS rl
STAFF WRITER rooms that draw a"wow"from
every friend who sees one. Sr `
Board, Like many people,Erika Cynthia Watt,a close friend ) .. N,....-.:.-s•3r Y y
Library, Spyropoulos sees the holiday for about 30 years,first met r r ,,..,�vi i
season as an opportunity to go Spyropoulos when they both :i s --x 3 o a .y, : t •,Z.
overboard with decorations. had their home gardens fea- i ,.+i ,� " : s 4 .( a 7,--
Excepthers don't hang in Lured in a Beverlywalk. � Yt , a
the front window or light up Looking at one of her friend's _,..!...;.-.:',7,_ Yfi i ?
the lawn.Instead,Spyropoulos miniature creations amazed F ti •,',.. s�S
k fits more Christmas cheer into Watt,who now owns three of =1, . �`, z v' `r, _-
ft_ a would
12 inch box than most the boxes and weuld se e more. „��� • + ",d. ,
would ever dream of putting in "Nobody has ever seen any �..• f! :ti{ i f
f a full-sized room at their home. thing like them,"Watt said. :. .
to Using small toys,figurines, 'They remind of the Marshall $; *{�.a�' i .• •
tiny41,
items, Field's window displays when I r e *7,- 3 lti,' ,.:• ;
The jewelry and other f• 1. �ji
the Oak Brook resident fills was child.Every year,when I _ g1f s Y'l ,,-�
miniature rooms with put my boxes out,I see some �t �s;,, � g
Christmas trees,fireplaces, thing different every time I .a -r, 3/
gifts and,of course,a family to look at them." ' -' . 'a i' ,' j
enjoy the holiday atmosphere From her garden to her art- a �. ; ri R?>
she creates. work,Watt calls her friend"a Is it $t ri.--
• o ulos is woman of extraordinary tal- A i T ' e . .,. .
This year,eight
o Spyropoulos ..r.
displaying eight of her shadow ent". „M "'ria a
-; boxes at the Oak Brook Public "Forget Martha Stewart," Ii � �
Library for all to enjoy. she said."Enka has magical •-
of "I thought they would be fingers.She can sew.She can ro oulos will demonstrate how she makes
something that the kids and cook.She paints just absolute-
;I
bsolute Erika Spyropoulos of Oak Brook has made Spy p ro ram at 10 a.m.
the grown-up kids would really ly beautifully." miniature holiday rooms for about 30 years. the boxes at an upcoming p g
like,' she said. Last year,she and her Eight of her detailed creations are now on dis- Saturday,Jan.21,at the library,600 Oak Brook
Decorated from front to daughters met numerous play at the Oak Brook Public Library. Road.(Photo for The Doings by Herb Shenkin)
''
_ back and top to bottom,the times to try to mimic the holi-
• boxes are jam-packed with day decorations. She always has her eyes She met her Greek husband in much,she has continued to
�rrything from stockings and "I want to tell you—I will open for small decorations to Sweden.While they still visit make about two each year.She
eve
elves to candy canes and pup- never do another one.They are fill the miniature rooms.Some family
3pyropoulosrseas ormtirne to has given some glad to and sold others.a�y�1
pies.The trees are always a tremendous amount of items come from her own To keep every holiday densely decorated with orna- work,"Watt said.`"There are so childhood in Germany,others call America home. ow box fresh,she uses differ-
.
"We have been very happy
shad-
ments nd with real Christmas
are many little detailed tout one to you she collects along then ulos here,"she said.`"This is the ent themes to create each
even lit with real Christmas have to have to put one togeth- 1hr one box,used an old belt buckle as a country of unlimited opportu- room.Recent themes include
- lights. er„ Germany,music and one with
For the last 30 years, To build the rooms,which fireplace cover.And for the pities"
Spyropoulos has made the usually takes several weeks, dwarf-sized framed pictures
She and her husband,who the strict color scheme of sil-
boxes as one of her many artis- Spyropoulos begins with a that often hang on the walls of are in the oil business,have ver,white and blue.
tic outlets. frame and then builds a wood- the rooms,she cuts out beauti- lived in Oak Brook she'sr note past favorite,""Eshe finish
in sh is my
"I have wadliked the en box tog f inside. b She starts curds s es from Chritirrasbusiness
So when e hang the last
miniature world,"she said."I decorating from the back wall cards she has received in the or rbe�gout with Spyropoulos ess So how does Spyropoulos
• guess I need d escape frome and builds to the frontve past. enjoys traveling,gardening, stocking in a room filled to the
the busy. world and from every- ",au have to ea good Born ina smalleGerman bikingsand playing tennis. brim?The answer is simple.
day life." saw, good hammer and lots town south of Berlin, "When I have decorated it
She also enjoys painting, of glue,from Elmer's to Crazy Spyropoulos decided to move Her miniature hobby startdath-
photographing,decorating and Glue to the glue gun,"she to America in 1964 with her ed with one Ch
i m t soemed to e sheanard ere is no space
designing clothes.But it's her said. husband and their daughter box, she enjoyed
r _ w - Q��`. #lila!!-• _K •rya �If :,