Indian Prairie Offers Residents A Chance to Connect Brick By Brick

Marie Freidag searched the brick path for an engraved brick that had special significance to her and some book club friends—it was dedicated to their friend Karen who lost her battle with cancer only months ago.

Inscribed on the brick were the words, “Live, Laugh, Love & Read … In Memory of Karen Shahnasarian.”

“We actually met in the Darien Woman’s Club 26 years ago, and then we moved on to form a book club,” Freidag said. “We all came here to see Karen’s brick.”

Many stories unfolded Tuesday night during the first installation of the “Connecting Brick by Brick” program sponsored by the Indian Prairie Public Library Foundation. 

The foundation is a charitable organization founded in 1992 that provides support for programs and equipment at Indian Prairie that fall outside their budget.

Cris Cigler, marketing coordinator for IPPL, said that 90 bricks were purchased.

“We’ll have another installation in the fall,” Cigler said, “so more residents can dedicate bricks. ”

More than 100 people from toddlers to seniors attended the event, enjoying free ice cream and entertainment provided by folk, Celtic and bluegrass band Trillium.

Board of Trustees president Crystal Megaridis and former president and current treasurer Marion Krupicka enjoyed the opportunity to meet more library patrons, having recently taken office in April.

The IPPL board has begun its strategic planning for the next three to four years, in which residential surveys, focus groups, community partnerships and employee feedback generate ideas and programs that will better serve the community.

IPPL director Jamie Bukovac said she was pleased with the large turnout for the dedication and looked forward to the fall installation.

“We feel this [Brick by Brick] program is a way not only for residents to connect with our library, but with each other as well,” Bukovac said. “We want to be seen as a center for the community—a place that offers something for everyone.”

Bukovac explained that she had heard so many great stories behind the purchases of the bricks—a grandmother who’d bought one for each grandchild, pet owners who had pets memorialized, a library department that chipped in to honor a longtime volunteer and even a woman who brought her husband to surprise him with a brick for their 50th anniversary.  

Bukovac said that perhaps a future project might entail publishing those stories so that the community could learn the significance of each brick.

Bricks for the fall installation are available for purchase until Aug. 15 and cost $75 for a 4-inch by 8-inch brick or $150 for an 8 inch by 8-inch brick. An additional keepsake brick is available for half price.

To order a brick, you may visit the IPPL website or pick up a form at the library.