Please view each of our locations’ programs below. Call us or email us with questions or concerns.
Illinois Valley Road Trip!
All April
Area –Wide Libraries in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties will be participating once more. Travel to see the libraries in the region. In honor of America 250 there will be a side quest. Prizes will be given out to patrons who participate in this event. Stay tuned for more information.
We will be closed Friday, March 20th for Staff Meeting at Noon.
We will reopen Saturday, March 21st.
Holidays
We will be closed Wednesday, December 24th through Friday, December 26th for the Holidays
We will be closed Wednesday, December 31st through Friday, January 2nd for the Holidays.
Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt
Friday, April 3rd
7:30 P.M. At the library
8:00 P.M. Easter Egg Hunt
Meet at the library first to take photos with the Easter Bunny. Head over after at the Walter Durley Boyle Park for the Egg Hunt. Age 0 – Grade 3. Rain date will be Saturday, April 4th
Sourdough Bread Day
Wednesday, April 1st
All Day
Stop by the library for National Sourdough Bread Day.
Cherry Coal Mine Museum Tour
Saturday, March 28th
10:00 A.M.
Call Hennepin Library ahead to get a head count. We will be meeting at the Museum 100 S. Main St. Cherry, IL
OSF King Care-A-Van
Friday, March 27th
9-12
Now featuring virtual visits! Meet with a trusted OSF OnCall provider using advanced Technology. Our services: Health Screenings,, health care navigation, technology assistance, and more. No Appointment needed. Some services are free of charge, including health screenings). Paid services are billed similar to a traditional office visits. Ask your care team for more information. osfoncall.org/kingcav
Guided VR Experiences
Starting March 26th – April 17th
Patrons can come in during library hours and explore Virtual Reality Experiences with our new devices: Meta and Merge VR.
Murder at Starved Rock : how the system framed an innocent man
Saturday, March 21st
1:00 P.M.
Local Author Jim Ridings will be presenting. “Three middle-age society women from suburban Chicago traveled to Starved Rock State Park for a brief vacation on March 14, 1960. Within two hours, they were dead. Their beaten bodies were found in a canyon two days later. The savagery of the crime horrified America. After eight months of investigations that went nowhere, Chester Weger, a 21-year-old dishwasher at the lodge, was accused. He was hounded and harassed, culminating in an all-night grilling with physical and mental abuse and threats of death which forced a false confession. Weger quickly recanted the confession, which was contradictory in parts and did not match the evidence. Prosecutors misrepresented and outright lied about what they had, none of which implicated Weger. They knew they were framing an innocent man just to close this sensational case. Weger was convicted on the basis of his confession and was sentenced to life in prison. He was released on parole in 2020 after nearly 60 years behind bars. In this book, the truth comes out for the first time. Roy Tyson tells the details of the confession of Smokey Wrona, who led the Mafia killers. This book examines the evidence and the shocking way Weger was railroaded to prison. New DNA tests and other evidence prove Chester Weger is innocent. This is the story of two outrages: the brutal murders of three women, and how a corrupt system sent a man to prison for 60 years for a crime he did not commit. As the women were being attacked, two of them pulled hair from their killer’s head’s. It was DNA from these hairs that positively proved Weger’s innocence in 2023. It is amazing to realize that these women, as they were fighting for their lives, also were helping to solve their own murders”
The Journey Back: Mobile Virtual Reality Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
Public Viewing Monday April 20th – Saturday, May 2nd
During Library Hours
Returning for a second year! Discover the power of virtual reality to enhance Holocaust education through 360-degree immersive technology. “Walk” with Holocaust Survivors through childhood hometowns and concentration camps as they share their stories of survival, creating an unforgettable experience. 5 films will be featured.
Cricut Makerspace
March 3rd – 6th
During Library Hours
Come in to learn how to use the Cricut Maker. Crafty Adults welcome! Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Whiteboard Calendar
Holiday Family Photos
All Week (Pets Welcome)
Monday, December 1st – 6th
Stop by to get photos taken with our holiday backdrop. Pets are welcome to attend.
Cricut Makerspace
September 8th – 12th
During Library Hours
Come in to learn how to use the Cricut Maker. Crafty Adults welcome! Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Etch Glass. Bring your own glass item.
Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together – Adults
Tuesday, March 31st, 5:00 p.m.
Adults, ages 19 and older, are invited to a hybrid community book club that brings readers together to explore the American Revolution through shared reading, conversation, and film. Each month, participants will watch a preview from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, along with additional short videos connected to the featured book, before taking part in an informal discussion.
The featured title for this session is “The Notorious Benedict Arnold,” by Steve Sheinkin. This fast-paced, engaging biography explores the complex story behind America’s most infamous traitor, who was also once one of its most effective Revolutionary War heroes. Drawing on firsthand accounts and vivid battle scenes, the book portrays Arnold as reckless, ambitious, and deeply flawed, tracing his rise as a daring military leader and the political rivalries that ultimately led to his betrayal of the Patriot cause. Widely praised for its clarity and narrative drive, the book offers adult readers a nuanced and compelling look at the moral tensions and personal decisions that shaped the Revolutionary era.
The program runs approximately 45–60 minutes and is free and open to the public. To register virtually, please visit: https://shorturl.at/FalKH. Copies of the book are available at the Granville Branch.
Citizen Science Month @ the Library
April 1st to April 30th
April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.
Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.
Every Friday Stem Activities-11-11:30
Seed Library Exchange -Wednesday/ Friday in March
Story time – Every Wednesday 10-11:30 Story time, and simple craft.
Gunmakers of Illinois: A History of Craftsmanship and Community
Tuesday, March 24th, 6:00 p.m.
Step into Illinois’s rich firearms-making past with local historian Curt Johnson in this educational presentation exploring the skilled gunmakers who produced long rifles throughout the Illinois Valley during the mid- to late-1800s. The program features original rifles crafted by local makers from communities including Magnolia, Hennepin, Henry, Peru, LaSalle, Princeton, and Ottawa, bringing regional craftsmanship and history vividly to life.
Featured makers include Henry Tope, who worked in Magnolia from 1844 to 1848 before relocating to Peru, where he died during the 1849 cholera epidemic, and Morris Wood of Hennepin, whose rifles date to the late 1860s. The presentation also highlights the work of many other craftsmen from Putnam, Marshall, Bureau, and LaSalle Counties, regions that collectively supported dozens of independent gunmakers, with LaSalle County alone home to nearly sixty.
This program includes the display of antique firearms as part of a historical and educational exploration of craftsmanship and local history. It is not a gun show. The program is free and open to the public.
Docs & Dialogue: Elvis and the USS Arizona
Tuesday, March 24th, 1:00 p.m.
The surprising story of how one of music’s biggest icons helped establish a memorial to the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. Elvis Presley’s benefit concert on March 25, 1961, drew national attention to the unfinished memorial and helped galvanize the public support needed to complete the USS Arizona Memorial as it stands today. The film runs 60 minutes, is rated PG, and is made possible through the WWII Foundation. The program is free and open to the public.
Tales with Tails – Read to Hobo
Saturday, March 21st, 10:00 a.m.
Participants are invited to bring a favorite book from home, or select one from the library’s collection, and read aloud to Hobo. This relaxed, supportive experience helps build reading skills and confidence while making reading fun. The program is free and open to the public.
Books & Brunch
First Saturday of the month during library hours. Food, Books, and Friends.
Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together is a community book club that explores the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film. The adult group, open to participants ages nineteen and older, will meet on Tuesday, February 24th, at 5:00 p.m. at the Granville Branch, with a virtual option available via Zoom.
This month’s selection is “Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America,” by Steven Waldman. In Founding Faith, Waldman debunks myths from both the left and the right about America’s religious origins, revealing how the Founders crafted a new model of liberty that protected faith by keeping government out of it. Through vivid accounts from the colonies to the early presidencies, he shows how this delicate balance between belief and freedom shaped the nation.
Before the discussion, participants will watch a 26-minute preview from the upcoming 2025 PBS documentary “American Revolution,” by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. The preview explores religion and religious diversity in the 18th century, offering insight into how faith helped shape the nation’s early history.
Copies of the book will be available at the Granville Branch beginning in January. For more information, please contact the Library at 815-339-2038. To participate via Zoom, please register via Zoom: https://shorturl.at/L6uCA.
Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Decorative Bird House Workshop
Thursday, March 19th, 4:00 p.m.
Participants are invited to enjoy a creative, hands-on craft workshop decorating miniature wooden birdhouses. Designed for adults and youth ages eight and up, this program includes all supplies. Attendees will have the chance to personalize their birdhouses, perfect as charming tabletop décor or whimsical additions to a fairy garden. The program is free and open to the public.
Docs & Dialogues: Free for All: The Public Library
Thursday, April 23rd, 4:00 p.m.
Free for All: The Public Library tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians who service the public despite working in a contentious age of closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free, and the doors are open to all. The film is 1 hour and 25 minutes, not rated. The program is free and open to the public and is in celebration of National Library Week.
Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together – Youth
Thursday, March 26th, 5:00 p.m.
Youth, ages 8 through 14, are invited to a hybrid community book club that brings readers together to explore the American Revolution through shared reading, conversation, and film. Each month, participants will watch a preview from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, along with additional short videos connected to the featured book, before taking part in an informal discussion.
The featured titles for this session are “Ben’s Revolution: Benjamin Russell and the Battle of Bunker Hill,” by Nathaniel Philbrick and “Forge,” by Laurie Halse Anderson. Ben’s Revolution brings the opening days of the American Revolution to life through the eyes of a young boy caught up in the Battle of Bunker Hill, while Forge follows a teenage soldier enduring the brutal winter at Valley Forge and the personal cost of fighting for independence.
The program runs approximately 45–60 minutes and is free and open to the public. To register virtually, please visit: https://shorturl.at/u8coq. Copies of the book are available at the Condit Branch.
Citizen Science Month @ the Library
April 1st to April 30th
April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.
Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.
Students are welcome to work on homework at the library during library hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Make your own Christmas card(s)
Tuesday, December 9th
During Library Hours
March all month long- find a shamrock in a book you check out and win a prize!
Docs & Dialogue: Shade Grown Coffee
Wednesday, April 1st, 5:00 p.m.
Shade Grown Coffee is an inspiring documentary that explores how cultivating coffee beneath native tropical trees can strengthen local communities, slow deforestation, and protect critical wildlife habitat, all while giving your daily cup a better aftertaste. The film takes viewers inside the coffee-making journey, from harvesting ripe cherries to brewing the perfect cup, and features passionate farmers, roasters, and baristas from around the world who are working toward a more sustainable future. Made for coffee enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, this film invites viewers to better understand their role as consumers and to savor their next cup of coffee with deeper appreciation, and greater purpose. The film is 1 hour and 15 minutes, is rated G, and made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public.
Citizen Science Month @ the Library
April 1st to April 30th
April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.
Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.
Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together – Teens
Wednesday, March 25th, 5:00 p.m.
Teens ages 13 through 19 are invited to a hybrid community book club that brings readers together to explore the American Revolution through shared reading, conversation, and film. Each month, participants will watch a preview from the PBS documentary The American Revolution by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, along with additional short videos connected to the featured book, before taking part in an informal discussion.
The featured title for this session is “The World Turned Upside Down,” by Tim Grove, a compelling account of the Siege of Yorktown, the final major battle of the American Revolution, told through multiple perspectives. Grove follows the intersecting lives of American, French, and British figures, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, and British General Charles Cornwallis, as well as an enslaved man who became a spy. By blending military leadership with civilian experience, the book reveals how the events at Yorktown permanently altered the course of the war and the lives of those involved.
The program runs approximately 45–60 minutes and is free and open to the public. To register virtually, please visit: https://shorturl.at/uvd2o. Copies of the book are available at the McNabb Branch.
Docs & Dialogue: Triangle Fire
Wednesday, March 11th, 5:00 p.m.
It was the deadliest workplace accident in New York City’s history. On March 25th, 1911, a dropped match on the eighth floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sparked a fire that killed more than one hundred workers who were trapped inside. The tragedy marked a turning point in American industrial history, leading to major reforms in labor laws and workplace safety. This 54-minute film is rated PG and is available through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public.
Fingerprint Shamrock Craft
Wednesday, March 11th, 4:00 p.m.
Participants will use green and gold paint to create a shamrock design with their fingerprints, resulting in a festive and colorful keepsake. All supplies will be provided. This free program is open to the public and geared toward youth ages five and older.
Docs & Dialogue: Upstream, Downriver
Wednesday, April 8th, 5:00 p.m.
Fresh water. Imagine a day without it. It sustains life – our food, communities, and economies – yet nearly half of U.S. rivers, lakes, and streams are so polluted they are unsafe for people or wildlife. While the 1972 Clean Water Act made major progress in reducing pollution, it has not kept pace with modern threats such as toxic chemicals, agricultural runoff, microplastics, and climate change. These impacts continue to fall disproportionately on disadvantaged communities and threaten drinking water and watershed health nationwide. Upstream, Downriver is a documentary that follows community activists fighting for water justice and equity, weaving their stories with the history, and unfinished work, of the Clean Water Act. From rural Alabama to the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho, the film highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure clean water for everyone. The film is 54 minutes, not rated and made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public.
Join us for a fun, hands-on art activity where participants will create unique Valentine’s Day–themed artwork using watercolors and the wax-resist technique. No experience is necessary — just bring your creativity and enjoy experimenting with color and texture to make a heartfelt masterpiece. This program is free and open to the public, and all supplies will be provided.
Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together is a community book club that explores the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film. The adult group, open to participants ages nineteen and older, will meet on Tuesday, February 24th, at 5:00 p.m. at the Granville Branch, with a virtual option available via Zoom.
This month’s selection is “Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America,” by Steven Waldman. In Founding Faith, Waldman debunks myths from both the left and the right about America’s religious origins, revealing how the Founders crafted a new model of liberty that protected faith by keeping government out of it. Through vivid accounts from the colonies to the early presidencies, he shows how this delicate balance between belief and freedom shaped the nation.
Before the discussion, participants will watch a 26-minute preview from the upcoming 2025 PBS documentary “American Revolution,” by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. The preview explores religion and religious diversity in the 18th century, offering insight into how faith helped shape the nation’s early history.
Copies of the book will be available at the Granville Branch beginning in January. For more information, please contact the Library at 815-339-2038. To participate via Zoom, please register via Zoom: https://shorturl.at/L6uCA.
Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Students are welcome to work on homework at the library during library hours on Wednesdays.
Luck, Laughter, and a Dash of Leprechaun Magic
Thursday, March 12th
12:30 P.M.
Bring unforgettable charm to your St. Patrick’s Day season with historical presenter, Michelle Gibbons’ whimsical portrayal of a lively female leprechaun, complete with laughter, lore, and a dash of mischief. Her engaging program blends the true history of St. Patrick’s Day with fascinating tales of leprechaun origins, plus hilarious stories from her life as a leprechaun and the chaos that ensues when everyone tries to catch her before she disappears with the pot of gold.
From Royalty to Reality: Princess Diana’s Journey to Empathy
Tuesday, November 18th @ 12:30 P.M.
Even decades after her passing, Lady Diana Spencer, the People’s Princess, remains an icon of grace, compassion, and timeless elegance. From her enchanting royal wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, witnessed by over 750 million people worldwide, to her philanthropic endeavors and unwavering dedication to her family, Diana captivated hearts across the globe.
Step into the captivating world of royalty with historical presenter, Michelle Gibbons, as she brings the indomitable spirit of Princess Diana to life. Through Michelle’s portrayal, audiences will delve in Diana’s remarkable journey-from her noble charity work and royal duties under the watchful eye of Queen Elizabeth II, to her profound love for her children and the enduring legacy she left behind.
Join us as we pay tribute to the extraordinary life and timeless legacy of the People’s Princess, Princess Diana of Wales.
