Know Your Neighbor: Donna Plocher, Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library fixture

What is one activity parents can do with kiddos that is educational, inspirational, stimulates creativity, expands horizons, intensifies bonds and costs nothing?

Take them to the local library.

Highland’s Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library has much to offer and its children’s area is fortunate to have Director of Children’s Services Donna Plocher at its helm as she conjures up programs for kids which instills in little ones a love of reading.

Donna was born Oct. 27, 1961, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Virgil and Vivian Hornickel and was the youngest of four sisters. Among her most cherished memories is when her entire family “walked the soy beans.” This expression is well-known by farmers as a way of weeding the beans. Donna said she enjoyed this because it was something they did as a family.

Donna said her father was adamant all his girls were to receive a good education. Her parents taught their daughters to be tenacious, work hard and to never negatively judge anyone.

Her father passed away when Donna was 14, so she and her remaining family relocated to the Illinois village of Ashkum, where Donna graduated from Central High School in Clifton. She then attended Illinois State College from 1979 through 1983 and earned an degree in education.

She began teaching in Joliet, Illinois, and realized many of her students came from impoverished and or dysfunctional families and this was something Donna had never witnessed. She said she is grateful for the experience because it helped her realize some children have nothing but school as an avenue for positive maturation.

Donna later taught at a daycare facility where the principal of St. Paul Catholic School had a child enrolled. The principal offered Donna a teaching position and Donna eagerly accepted. During this time Donna went through a divorce and she was anxious to peruse her passion of teaching little ones. Eventually she began teaching first grade in Highland as a specialist in a reading recovery program.

Donna joins Jaycees, meets husband Dennis

She also became a member of the Highland Jaycees and made friends with other members, who decided to become match-makers. In 1993 she was asked to go on a blind date with another Jaycee member, Dennis Plocher. There was pretty much immediate chemistry and Donna saw that he was kind, wanted a family and was impressed with her vocation.

They tied the knot Feb. 11, 1994, and are the parents of two sons, Zack and Jacob. Although Donna officially retired this past May, she did not withdraw from her much-loved job at the library, where she has been for the past two years. Her co-worker, Josie Elliott, refers to Donna as “a miracle worker.”

When describing her job duties at the historic library were made possible by the family of the late Louis Latzer after his demise, Donna’s enthusiasm for opening up the world to children is accentuated by a ready smile and a sparkle in her eyes as she expresses reactions from children who are having a book read to them.

The New York Times recently published the results of a study of what happens when parents and children read together. The findings of Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, an associate professor of pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine, revealed “parents who read aloud and play with their young children have a sustained impact on the child’s behavior. We are fervent believers in the importance of reading aloud to young children and it is a truism in child development that the very young learn through relationships and back-and-forth interactions, including the interactions that occur when parents read to their children.

“This study provides evidence of just how sustained an impact reading and playing with young children can have, shaping their social and emotional development in ways that go far beyond helping them learn language and early literacy skills. The parent-child-book moment even has the potential to help curb problem behaviors like aggression, hyperactivity and difficulty with attention.”

Life at the library for Donna

During summer months, there were only two days when the local library had no activities planned for children. Donna spoke of the Science Technology Engineering Art Math program during which young library aficionados were able to create learning, hands-on projects covering each subject.

Donna is animated when describing how children literally light up when someone is reading a book to them.

“They learn how things work and it opens so many new horizons for them,” said Donna.

A sampling of a monthly menu of activities offered include preschool story time, crafts, reduce and reuse for families, how to be greener, storytelling times for various age categories, family reading night and special events for holidays falling into a particular month.

Literally thousands of books line the library shelves of rows and rows of readings which stimulate any child to explore the world.

As soon as the door opens and boys and girls dash in, they are cheerfully greeted by Donna, who immediately offers her assistance. She is affectionately answered with “hi Miss Donna.”