Want to be the next Hemingway or Fitzgerald jotting down your next literary masterpiece over breakfast at a Parisian café? Join fellow aspiring authors in a series of library sponsored programs designed to offer inspiration, encouragement, and information about the writing process. These free seminars by the Dupage Branch of Inside Writing and Publishing cover a variety of topics and authors of all skill levels are invited:

The 10 Secrets to Getting your Book Successfully Published:
Saturday, February 9 at 2pm
Literary agent Joseph Durepos and national bestselling author Bret Nicholaus have a true passion for helping aspiring authors understand what works and what doesn’t in the book industry. With 30 years experience, Durepos has sold more than 150 titles as a literary agent with many ending on a bestseller list. Nicholaus has written 26 books, including two national bestsellers. At the Glen Ellyn Public Library, Nicholaus and Durepos will share their insightful publishing knowledge while providing a rare opportunity to learn from a successful literary agent and bestselling author.
Contact: Glen Ellyn Public Library at (630) 469-0879

Nuts and Bolts of Writing and Selling a Screenplay:
Tuesday, February 12 at 7pm
Do you have a great idea for a movie but no idea how to get started or what to do with your screenplay once it has been written? Screenwriter and former university professor Marie Murray visits the Bloomingdale Public Library to guide you through some of the basic of writing and selling a movie screenplay. Topics will include idea creation, story development, dealing with agents and more.
Contact: Bloomingdale Public Library at (630) 924-2735

A Writer’s Guide to Tech Tools:
Saturday, February 23 at 2pm
Success is just around the corner for writers who seek publication, but succeeding today requires sharp tech skills to understand and participate in the online world of publishing and book sales. Helen Gallagher brings together the tools and skills you need to gain visibility in the industry at the Hinsdale Public Library. Explore blogs, social media sites, eBooks and other digital options.
Contact: Hinsdale Public Library at (630) 986-1976

Collaboration and Spectacle: How to Promote your Book (Even When your Publisher Doesn’t):
Saturday, March 2 at 2pm
Nowadays, even big publishers expect authors to do much of their own marketing and promotion. James Kennedy, author of the young adult fantasy book “The Order of the Odd-Fish” will visit the Barlett Public Library to share the unusual ways he promoted his book including a gallery show of fan art, costumed dancing parties and tackling Neil Gaiman. Learn how to find the promotional style that’s right for you and your book.
Contact: Bartlett Public Library at (630) 837-3560

For more information about Inside Writing and Publishing, click here.

On January 30, the Glen Ellyn Public Library will host LinkedIn: Your Professional Image from 7-8:30pm in the Meeting Room on the library’s first floor.

LinkedIn: Your Professional Image is the third installment to the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s Job Seeker Series, which offers programing and services designed to enhance the community’s employment marketability and increase job opportunities.

During tonight’s program attendees will learn how to take charge of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, to create useful contacts that lead to a job opportunities.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops or tablets.

This program is sponsored by Weiskopf Consulting.

To register for tonight’s LinkedIn program, click here.

Members of the Glen Ellyn Police Department stopped by the library earlier today to design a hole for tomorrow’s Swinging Thru the Stacks Golf Event.

Officers will assemble and decorate the 10^th hole between 3pm and 4pm tomorrow afternoon, when the entire library will be closed to prepare for the major miniature golf event.

All members and friends of the Glen Ellyn Community are invited to enjoy 18 holes of miniature golf inside the library from 4pm to 8pm. Participation requires a $5.00 donation to help fund Bookfest 2013.

On Monday, January 28, the Glen Ellyn Public Library will host a program aimed to enhance the community’s mental heath awareness.

During “Reduce Anxiety and Stress in Your Life,” professional counselor Joy Davy will provide insights, tips, and techniques anyone can employ to lead a calmer lifestyle.

If you have been searching for peace and balance amid life’s increasing rush and demands or if someone you know has difficulty falling asleep, is preoccupied with troubling thoughts, or chronically feels tense, please join Joy Davy as she give provide tips to find the balance that we all crave.

The program runs from 7pm-8pm in the Meeting Room on the library’s first floor. For more information please click here. 

On Saturday, January 25, the Glen Ellyn Public Library will host an exciting performance by the Illinois Juggling Institute, Inc.

Celebrating over 30 years of quality performances and workshop programs in more than 2000 schools and other places of learning, The Illinois Juggling Institute, Inc. promises to dazzle the audience with a fast-paced, highly-entertaining 30-mintue juggling, unicycling, and comedy performance suitable for all ages.

Following the performance parents, grandparents, and children can take part in a juggling workshop, where an instructor will provide step-by-step instructions to introduce everyone to the juggling basics.

The Illinois Juggling Institute, Inc. program runs from 2 pm to 3 pm in the Meeting Room on the library’s first floor. For more information, please click here. 

On Friday, January 25, the Glen Ellyn Public Library will host “Swinging Through the Stacks,” 18 holes of miniature golf stationed throughout the library. Patrons, families, and friends of the Glen Ellyn community are encouraged to assemble teams of four and test their golfing skills through challenging holes themed after Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, The Cat in the Hat, and more!

All participants will be eligible to compete for one of two awards: the adult (age 13 and up) who achieves the best score will be awarded the first annual Glen Ellyn Cup. This custom-made award measures over 14-inches high and is constructed out of solid metal. The child (age 3-12) who achieves the best score will be awarded the Glen Ellyn Youth Cup (which shares identical measurements and construction as the Glen Ellyn Cup).

Patrons can golf anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Golfing requires a $5.00 donation to Bookfest 2013.

If anyone between grades 4 and 8 aspires to be the next media mogul, then register for the last remaining spot in GEPL’s Make Your Own YouTube Video program, which runs from 1-4pm on Saturday, January 9^th.

Filmmakers will learn the basic tools they will need to create and edit a video that can go viral!

All the equipment you need will be provided.

To register for the last remaining spot, click here!

On Thursday, January 17 the Glen Ellyn Public Library will be hosting “Selling on eBay and Amazon: The Basics.”

Attendees will learn how to make some cash by selling the stuff they have lying around the house to millions of buyers on eBay and Amazon.

“Selling on eBay and Amazon” will be hosted by Jack Waddick. As a successful internet entrepreneur with thousands of eBay and Amazon transaction, Waddick will share his step-by-step plan for getting started.

This fun and informative session will include real-time demonstrations as well as a question and answer session.

The program runs from 7-8:30pm in the Meeting Room in the library’s first floor. For more information, please click here.

On Saturday, January 19, The Friends of The Glen Ellyn Public Library will host a Used Book Sale in the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s basement.

All regularly priced books will be buy one, get one free.

The Used Book Sales runs from 9am to 4pm.

Admission is free. No scanning devices are permitted.

For information about the Friends of the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s Used Book Sale, click here.

The Glen Ellyn Public Library will host “Homelessness: A Community Concern,” on Saturday, January 12, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room on the library’s first floor.

A panel of representatives from DuPage PADS Inc, NAMI, Bridge Communities, and the Glen Ellyn Public Library will present information regarding the homeless population in and around the Glen Ellyn community.

The panel will address questions and concerns for program attendees.

For more information, please click here to read a related article from The Chicago Tribune.