With the help of the Rockford Amateur Astronomers, the Cherry Valley Public Library is pleased to offer binoculars for checkout to library patrons.

We have three Vortex Crossfire 8×42 Binoculars which are available for library cardholders ages 14 and up to check-out. Binoculars check out for one week and can be renewed once if there are no holds. They can be placed on hold by calling the library. Patrons checking out the binoculars are required to sign a borrowing agreement.

Binocular Instruction Manual

For Bird Watchers – All About Birds

Thanks to grant funding from the Illinois State Library, the Cherry Valley Public Library offers charging cables for most popular mobile devices. These cables are available for in-library use only and can be checked out at the Adult Services circulation desk for four hours… just enough time to charge your phone or tablet. Outlets are conveniently located at tables throughout the Adult Services side of the library.

Cherry Valley Public Library adult cardholders can access discount offers from museums, cultural centers, and other attractions through this service.

Current attractions in the Rockford area include Anderson Japanese Gardens, the Discovery Center Museum, the Rockford Art Museum, the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, and Volcano Falls Adventure Park.

Go to the “Explore More Illinois” link below. Choose the attraction and date of your planned visit and submit your request. You will receive an email confirmation with details specific to the attraction.

View the current attractions. Partnerships with other attractions are pending so check back often.

Visit Explore More Illinois

The library has 17 fishing poles and 12 tackle boxes available for checkout. The poles are:

The tackle boxes contain:

1 Line Clipper (on lanyard)
1 Stringer
1 Needle-nosed Pliers
Various Jig Heads
Various Bobbers
Various Hook Sizes
Various Weight Sizes
Various Soft Bait Worms

Borrowing Guidelines:

• Borrowers must be 14 years or older and have a current library card in good standing.
• Equipment may be checked out for one week with the possible option of one renewal.
• Overdue fines are $1 per day per item.
• Fishing equipment must be returned to the library’s circulation desk during regular business hours. Equipment cannot be returned in a book drop or left outside the library.
• Lost or damaged equipment may be charged as follows:
  • Rod/reel $18
  • Tackle box $16
  • Tackle box items $1-5 each

Fishing License Info:

• Anglers ages 16 years and older must have a valid fishing license in order to fish in Illinois.
• Anglers under 16 years do not need a fishing license.
• Purchase a fishing license online at Buy Illinois Fishing License Online or in person at places such as Walmart, Meijer, or Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors:

Thanks to partial funding from the Illinois State Library, the Cherry Valley Public Library now owns ten mobile hotspots that are available for check out. A mobile hotspot provides Internet access for a variety of devices such as a smart phone, laptop, tablet, and portable gaming device. Hotspots create their own wi-fi network and can support up to ten simultaneous devices.

The library’s hotspots rely on T-Mobile’s mobile broadband service which has good coverage in our area. For use on vacations or other trips, check the map of T-Mobile coverage. Use of a mobile hotspot will save your phone’s data in areas without free wi-fi such as in a car, at a baseball game, or at home.

Mobile hotspots are available for checkout to Cherry Valley Public Library cardholders ages 14 and up. The checkout period is one week, with the possibility of one renewal if there are no holds. Overdue fines are $1 per day. Please contact the library if you would like to place a hold for a hotspot. Patrons checking out a hotspot are required to sign a borrowing agreement.

Perfect to use on the pickleball court at Baumann Park, the library now offers pickleball equipment for check out to adults. We have three singles sets that include two rackets, three balls, and instructions on how to play the game. We also have one doubles set that includes four rackets, three balls, and instructions on how to play the game. These items may be checked out for one week.

Thank you to Cherry Valley Laundromat and the Cherry Valley Men’s Club for donating the items! Contact the library for more details.

Something new for students this year are circulating STEM kits! Kits cover a range of topics, including coding, electricity, building, and gears.

We currently have the following kits:

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Materials: 3 cans of conductive dough, 1 can of insulating dough, Sculpting tools and rolling pin, LED lights (8 total), Deluxe Battery Holder (4 AA batteries – NOT included), On/Off Switch, Motor + Fan, Mechanical Buzzer, Piezoelectric Buzzer, Small screw, Carrying Pouch, Activity Cards (5), and Quick Start Guide.

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Checkout Policies:

• MUST have a Cherry Valley library card to check-out.
• MUST be 18 or older to check out a STEM kit.
• Check-out period is one (1) week.
• Late fee is $1.00 per day. $50.00 maximum.
• May renew item one (1) time.
• May place item on hold. Will be available on the hold shelf for three (3) days.
• Kits MUST be returned to the front desk.

Replacement costs vary by kit, based on contents. Please see individual kits for more information.

With the help of the Rockford Amateur Astronomers, and a generous donation from the Rockford East/Cherry Valley Rotary Club, the Cherry Valley Public Library is pleased to offer telescopes for checkout to library patrons.

We have three Orion StarBlast 4.5″ Telescopes which are available for library cardholders ages 14 and up to check-out. Telescopes check out for one week and can be renewed once if there are no holds. They can be placed on hold by calling the library. Patrons checking out the telescope are required to sign a borrowing agreement.

Telescope Instruction Manual

What can be seen in the night sky?

Astronomy Apps – Get astronomy information on your mobile device

Sky Viewing

Sky Map Apps for Android
Go Sky Watch for Apple

International Space Station Viewing

ISS Detector Satellite Tracker for Android
ISS Spotter for Apple

Moon Viewing

My Moon Phase – Lunar Calendar & Full Moon Phases for Android
Moon Phases for Apple

Instructional Video

Thanks to the Ela Area Public Library (please note that the Cherry Valley Public Library telescopes do not come with a compass or a headlamp)

Thanks to a generous gift from the Cherry Valley Men’s Club, the library has four youth golf sets available for checkout. These sets are:

Tour Edge Junior Bazooka for ages 9 – 12 (Child Height: 52” to 61”), left handed. What’s included: Driver, Hybrid, 7/8 Iron, 9/ Pitching Wedge, Putter, Stand bag, 2 head covers.

Wilson Large Profile JGI  for ages 11 – 13 (Child Height: 56” to 63”), right handed. What’s included: Driver, Hybrid, Long Iron, Short Iron, Wedge, Putter, Stand bag, 2 head covers.

The golf sets are available for library cardholders ages 14 and up to check-out. They check out for one week and can be renewed once if there are no holds.