The little library at 54 E. 31st St. in Steger may have found a way to turn obsolesence into funding for a proposed children’s wing.
The Friends of the Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library have obtained the signatures of 150 authors, athletes and celebrities on 450 catalog cards.
Library director Barbara Byrne Osuch is auctioning off most of the autographed cards in a four-day silent auction. A live auction will feature about 75 cards and photos held back from the four-day event.
The cards, left with little more than sentimental value after the library computerized its filing system, contain the signatures of an eclectic mix of people who responded to the requests, including the late Charles Schulz, Norman Mailer, Fred Rogers, Maya Angelou and Larry Flynt.
Catalog cards aren’t the only items up for bid, said Osuch, who is approaching her second anniversary with the library. Golf superstar Tiger Woods sent autographed photos of himself rather than autograph catalog cards for an unauthorized biography, while “2001” author Arthur C. Clarke sent an autographed bookmark from Sri Lanka. Guitarist Eric Clapton sent an autographed photo from England. Some notables sent T-shirts, Osuch added.
“It’s a whole arrangement of different things,” explained Osuch, who moved to the Steger post in 1998 from her previous role as head of the reference and adult services at the Palos Heights Public Library.
The Steger-South Chicago Heights Library’s autographs are on display inside the building and on-line at www.sslic.net/auction.
Osuch said she thought of seeking autographs after learning about the success of such an auction by the Morrison-Reeves Library in Richmond, Ind.
She said more than 80 percent of the autographs are earmarked for the silent auction that runs through Friday. Participants can bid five ways: e-mail, fax, U.S. Postal Service, telephone and in person.
The library is accepting e-mailed bids at www.sslic.net/auction, and faxed bids at 708-755-2504 during the silent auction. Telephone bids to 708-755-5040 will be accepted only from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday Unless otherwise stated, the minimum bid is $10, she said.
The live auction, scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at the library, will feature former WGN-AM radio meteorologist Roger Triemstra. Admission is free to children 12 and younger, $5 per person for anyone older.
All of the money raised by the auction will be added to the library’s building expansion fund. The primary goal of the fund is to add a children’s wing to the library.