Grab a Good Book, Along With Fishing Poles & Tackle at Cherry Valley Pubic Library

Some things in life were just meant to go together. Things like summer and BBQ, open windows and cool breezes, movies and popcorn, and of course, books and fishing. Wait...what?

No, I had that right. Books and fishing. Thanks to Boy Scout Troop 181 from the Blackhawk Area Council and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, the Cherry Valley Public Library now has a collection of fishing poles and stocked tackle boxes available for loaning. Library card holders ages 14 and up are able to borrow rods and accessories for up to one week.

Credit goes to Boy Scout Troop 181 for coming up with the unique concept, and to the Community Foundation for the grant money to purchase fishing equipment, use it to teach youth how to fish, and then donate the equipment to local agencies to create a fishing lending library. When the Cherry Valley Public Library was chosen as a recipient of the fishing equipment, Library Director, Jane Lenser reached out to the Cherry Valley Area Men’s Association to bring them in as a partner for the project. Their members got involved with financial support, help in selecting the equipment and even donating some of their own poles. The Men’s Association also secured a corporate sponsor, Cabela’s, who provided additional financial support.

“This project has truly been a group effort and we are excited to see the great community support. Whether the fishing equipment is used at Baumann Park in Cherry Valley, the Rock or Kishwaukee Rivers, or elsewhere, we are thrilled to be able to supply the needed items to help get more people involved in fishing,” said Lenser. “Libraries today are doing so much more than just loaning books so this is a good example of a new creative service to meet community interests.”

For more details on the library’s fishing pole lending process, stop in at the library at 755 E. State Street in Cherry Valley, call 815-332-5161 or visit cherryvalleylib.org.