Who has the right to control the images of past violence — the descendants of the victims, or the institutions that profited from it?
Free Renty: Lanier v. Harvard follows Tamara Lanier, an African American woman fighting to reclaim the daguerreotypes of her great-great-great-grandfather, Renty — an enslaved man photographed in 1850 at the direction of a Harvard professor attempting to “prove” white racial superiority.
The film traces Lanier’s groundbreaking legal battle against Harvard University and examines how these photographs continue to symbolize America’s unresolved reckoning with slavery, the racist science that fueled it, and the ongoing legacy of white supremacy. Featuring civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, and scholars Ariella Azoulay and Tina Campt, this documentary offers a powerful reflection on ownership, history, memory, and justice. The film runs 1 hour and 34 minutes, is not rated, and is made available through Kanopy. This program is free and open to the public.
We’re excited to announce that for the third year in a row, we’re partnering with Neighborhood Forest for their annual Tree Giveaway!
As part of our “America250: Our Shared History,” programming, this giveaway aligns with #EarthDay to highlight environmental awareness and stewardship – how we care for the land we share, today and for the future.
Registration is open now through March 15th.
👉 Sign up here:
https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/registration-services/…
👉 Important: Please double-check your email address and phone number when completing the registration form. Library staff will use this information to notify you when trees are ready for pickup.
🌱 Tree species will be announced in early April. Tentative tree pickup will take place during #NationalLibraryWeek (April 19–25).
Plant a tree, celebrate Earth Day, and be part of caring for our community – one tree at a time. 🌱🌳💚
LeAndra Harris from IHCC Presentation on Heart Health
Friday, February 13th 1 P.M.
Exploring History Through Ancestry: Commemorating America250 through Genealogy and Heritage
Tuesday, January 27th, 6:00 p.m.
Becky Hill Piliponis of the Illini Chapter and Jean Galetti of the Chief Senachwine Chapter will present an informative program about the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The presentation will explore the organization’s distinguished history, guide attendees through the process of tracing their genealogy to potential Revolutionary War ancestors and explain the steps to becoming a member. Participants are invited to learn how their own family stories may connect to America’s earliest chapters.
Movie Matinee: A Promise to My Father
Tuesday, January 27th, 1:00 p.m.
Holocaust survivor Israel “Izzy” Arbeiter undertakes one final, profoundly personal journey to Poland and Germany, retracing the painful path of his wartime experience. In his hometown of Płock, he searches for cherished family possessions hidden beneath the basement floor in 1939, just as the German army approached. His journey continues to Treblinka, where his parents and younger brother were murdered, and to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he endured years of brutality, holding fast to his father’s last words urging him to survive.
Along the way, Izzy reunites with individuals who risked their lives to help him—powerful reminders of humanity and courage amid unimaginable cruelty. A tense and unexpected meeting with a former German soldier forces him to confront the enduring weight of trauma, memory, and forgiveness.
Narrated by Tom Kane, this deeply moving documentary follows Izzy as he revisits the places of his greatest suffering and survival—a poignant farewell that transforms history into living memory. The film runs approximately 55 minutes, is not rated, free and open to the public, and is made possible through the World War II Foundation.
Adults 19+ • Tues, Jan 20 • 5:00 PM • Granville Branch
Book: Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News
Join us in person or online • Virtual link: https://shorturl.at/kVVT4
Copies of the book will available at the Granville Branch in December.
Before the discussion, participants will enjoy a 26-minute screening reel
from the upcoming 2025 PBS documentary American Revolution by Ken
Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. This exciting preview offers a
dynamic look at the era and features an introduction by Ken Burns along
with additional short videos related to the topics discussed in the books.
Teens 13–19 • Wed, Jan 28 • 5:00 PM • McNabb Branch
Book: Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Join us in person or online • https://shorturl.at/Yojq6
Copies of the book will be available at the McNabb Branch in December.
Youth Ages 8–14 • Thurs, Jan 29 • 5:00 PM • Condit Branch
Books: Revolutionary Mary by Karen Blumenthal & Her Name Was Mary
Katherine by Ella Schwartz
Join us in person or online • Zoom: https://shorturl.at/gUvJV
Copies of the books will be available at the Condit Branch in December.
Movie Matinee: The First Silent Night
Tuesday, December 23rd, 1:00 p.m.
The First Silent Night is a heartwarming film that celebrates the enduring legacy of one of the world’s most cherished Christmas carols. For nearly two centuries, “Silent Night” has been sung across the globe—translated into more than 300 languages, performed by renowned artists and orchestras, and treasured on countless holiday recordings. Its gentle melody and message of peace have offered comfort in times of both joy and hardship, uniting people of all ages and backgrounds in the true spirit of Christmas.
Join acclaimed actor Simon Callow as he journeys to the Austrian village of Oberndorf and the historic city of Salzburg, tracing the carol’s humble beginnings and timeless meaning. Through music, history, and heartfelt narration, The First Silent Night reveals how this simple song of hope has illuminated hearts and homes around the world for generations. The film runs approximately 54 minutes, is rated G, and is free and open to the public, made possible through Kanopy.
School age- Fun Friday-Bingo, Puzzles, Games
Every Friday December through February
10 -11 A.M.
IHCC provides health checks- Blood pressure, Blood sugar, Oxygen meter
First Wednesday of the month December through February
3 P.M.
Toddler-PreK Story time and craft
Every Wednesday December through February
10:30 -11 A.M.
