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(l-r) Michael Lorenzen, dean of Libraries; Jeff Matlak, electronic resources and collection development librarian; Stephanie Olson, president of Eisenhower Tower resident council; Destiny Taylor, Eisenhower Tower resident council member; John Bannon, WIU Peace Corps Fellow; and Amber Clark, McDonough County Housing Authority Section 8 coordinator.
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Town-Gown and Social Responsibility: WIU Libraries Donates to Local Housing's Library

May 26, 2017

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MACOMB, IL -- Residents of Macomb's Eisenhower Towers now have more reading options, thanks to a Western Illinois University Libraries initiative.

Western's Libraries, working with the McDonough County Public Housing Authority, recently donated several hundred books from Western's collections to the housing facilities' lending library. A reception was held last month to celebrate the initiative.

"We're happy these books can get a second life and that we can contribute to the welfare of the community in this way," said Jeff Matlak, collection development librarian.

Matlak and John Bannon, a WIU Peace Corps Fellow who works for the McDonough County Public Housing Authority, selected and transferred the books. According to Stephanie Olson, president of the resident council at Eisenhower Tower, many of the books have already seen use by the residents, who use a clipboard system to check out and return books.

"We're truly delighted to help add to a local lending library," Matlak added.

For more information about donating to WIU Libraries, contact Matlak at JG-Matlak@wiu.edu or (309) 298-2720.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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