Please view each of our locations’ programs below. Call us or email us with questions or concerns.
Bake Your Way through the Holidays
Thursday, November 6th @ 6:30 P.M.
Father Dominic Garramone, will present “Bake Your Way Through the Holidays.” In this program, Father Dominic will present recipes for three holidays, including Hanukkah Jelly Donuts, Fruited Sweet Potato Bread for Kwanzaa, and a variety of show-stopping breads for Christmas buffet. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82823327041
Dino-vember Baskets
All Month
For adults look for the three dinosaurs in the library to receive a Door prize basket from the library.
Beyond the Screen: A “WickedConversation with Marissa Bode
Tuesday, October 21st @7:00 P.M.
Prepare for a magical evening as Illinois Libraries Presentwelcomes actress Marissa Bode. Bode made her feature film debut as Nessarose inAcademy Award-winning blockbuster, Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.
Join us to explore Bode’s early inspirations and performances,leading up to her portrayal of Nessarose in Wicked. As the highlyanticipated sequel Wicked: For Good approaches, we’ll reflect on whatmakes the story so meaningful to Bode and audiences around the world. Bode willalso share personal stories and insights from her time on stage, the challengesand rewards of being part of an iconic production, and what the future holdsfor her career.
bit.ly/ILPMarissaBode
Picture Postcards: The Happy Invention
Tuesday, October 21st at 6:00 p.m.
From elegant Victorian-era designs to playful cartoons and vivid snapshots of everyday life, postcards have captured the spirit of the times for over a century. In this program, you’ll explore the rich history and lasting cultural impact of this beloved form of communication—from its debut at the 1889 Paris Exposition to its American roots at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, with Illinois playing a central role.
Leading the presentation is Katherine Hamilton-Smith, founding curator of the Teich Archives, who will share stories about the documentary power of postcards, the legacy of Chicago’s Curt Teich Company, and Illinois’ influence on postcard history.
This program is made possible by Illinois Humanities, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom, the Illinois General Assembly via the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and generous contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
This program will be on Zoom; registration required: https://shorturl.at/fuJMJ.
Weird and Haunted Illinois: Ghosts, Hauntings & the Unexplained in the Prairie State
Tuesday, October 14th @ 6:00 P.M.
Get ready for a spine-tingling evening as you join author Troy Taylor for a journey into Illinois’ haunted history. This isn’t just about ghost stories and folklore – you’ll uncover the real tales behind the state’s most chilling legends and little-known haunts. Travel back in time and explore eerie stories from across the state, including: the legends and lore of Abraham Lincoln—America’s most haunted president, a devoted bartender who never left his favorite nightclub, one of the most famous spirit possessions in American history, the true story of Chicago’s legendary vanishing hitchhiker and more. Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, you’ll walk away with goosebumps—and maybe even leave the lights on tonight. This program is hosted on Zoom; registration required: https://shorturl.at/w8G06.
Library Closed Columbus Day
Monday, October 13th
We will be closed for the Holiday.
Cricut Makerspace
November 10th – 14th
During Library Hours
Come in to learn how to use the Cricut Maker. Crafty Adults welcome! Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Christmas Sweaters. Bring your own sweater for the class.
Cricut Makerspace
October 14th – 17th
During Library Hours
Come in to learn how to use the Cricut Maker. Crafty Adults welcome! Call ahead to schedule your appointment. Halloween Themed Oven Mittens.
Steam Saturdays
Saturdays @ 10:00 A.M.
Focusing on Steam topics with books, activities and crafts. Explore the intersection of literacy, art and Science.
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.
A River of Stories
Thursday, April 3rd
Brian “Fox” Ellis will be presenting. Funded by the Illinois River Tour Foundation. 2:00 P.M. – 2:45 P.M. School program: River Tales
3:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Conversation with the Historical Society Workshop 6:00 P.M. A River of Stories at the library
Putnam County Book Club
We meet 3rd Wednesday every month either at Hennepin or Granville Library at 6:30 P.M. Come join us and share your ideas. We choose books together and look forward to completing our list for the next year. Looking forward to sharing our enthusiasm for books. Follow us on Facebook.
Homework Helper
Anytime during Library Hours
Starting in Hennepin this Spring. Students are welcome to work on homework at the library during library hours.
In Their Own Words: A Soldier’s Story from Camp Douglas to Vicksburg
Tuesday, November 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for a special author event with local historian and genealogist Rachael Mellen, as she shares the compelling story behind her new book, “From Camp Douglas to Vicksburg: The Civil War Letters of William J. Kennedy, 1861–63.”
In this engaging presentation, you’ll journey with Mellen as she uncovers a personal family connection to William J. Kennedy, a Civil War soldier from LaSalle. Through a collection of Kennedy’s letters—preserved at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library—she reveals the deep human side of war: the duty, sacrifice, and impact on families left at home. You’ll gain a unique perspective on the Civil War through Kennedy’s firsthand accounts and discover how these letters brought history to life for both Mellen and her readers.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event. Rachael Mellen holds degrees from the University of London and California State University–Dominguez Hills. She is the author of three books on English genealogy, a frequent speaker and educator in the field, and currently serves as president of the LaSalle County Genealogy Guild.
Movie Matinee: Top Secret Rosies
Tuesday, November 4th at 1:00 p.m.
In 1942, you could have been recruited—not to build weapons like Rosie the Riveter, but to use your math skills as a human “computer” for the U.S. Army. Working six days a week, you would have helped calculate ballistics tables that made Allied bombs and bullets more accurately, playing a vital role in winning the war. When the Army developed the first electronic computer (ENIAC), six women like you became its first programmers.
Top Secret Rosies reveals the untold story of the women behind this secret effort, trailblazers in both war and technology. Follow four of them as they navigate opportunity, pressure, and the moral dilemmas of their groundbreaking work from 1942 to 1946. Join us for this inspiring film about the women who helped shape history—and the future of computing. The film is 56 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through public performance rights by Kanopy.
Pumpkins for your little pumpkin!
All Month
Check out a Children’s book and get a little pumpkin for your pumpkin.
Movie Matinee: A to Z – The First Alphabet and How Writing Changed the World
Tuesday, October 28th 1:00 p.m.
Discover how writing—and eventually printing—revolutionized the spread of information, and why it still matters to you today. In this two-part series, you’ll uncover how writing first emerged, and how it led to the alphabet you use every day. Travel back 4,000 years to a turquoise mine where the roots of our modern letters may have first taken shape. From trade to storytelling, you’ll see how writing shaped civilizations and connected cultures across time.
Then, explore how the printing press transformed the world. Learn why a few simple letters in the Latin alphabet gave Europe a head start during the Renaissance—and how moveable type laid the foundation for the scientific revolution and, eventually, the digital age. Get ready to see just how deeply writing and printing have influenced the way you live, learn, and share ideas today. The films are each about 54 minutes in length, rated G and made possible through public performance rights by Kanopy.
Movie Matinee: Poison Squad
Tuesday, October 21st at 1:00 p.m.
By the end of the Industrial Revolution, America’s food supply was in crisis—filled with fakes, frauds, and untested chemicals that posed serious health risks. The Poison Squad, based on the book by Deborah Blum, invites you to uncover the true story of one man who dared to fight back. You’ll follow Dr. Harvey Wiley, a determined government chemist who made it his mission to remove dangerous substances from the nation’s food. Taking on powerful food manufacturers and their political allies, Wiley led a bold and controversial campaign for change.
In a daring move, he launched a series of experiments on 12 human volunteers—dubbed the “Poison Squad”—to prove just how harmful these food additives could be. Through these eye-opening trials and his relentless push for reform, Wiley became a forgotten hero whose work paved the way for modern consumer protection laws and the founding of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Watch this powerful documentary brings his story to life in a fascinating and eye-opening journey through science, politics, and public health. The film is an hour and fifty minutes, not rated, and made possible through public performance rights by Kanopy.
Movie Matinee: Flyways
Tuesday, October 14th at 1:00 p.m.
You’ll journey into the extraordinary world of shorebirds—remarkable travelers that fly thousands of miles each year along ancient migratory routes known as Flyways. More than 200 species, including Far Eastern Curlews, Lesser Yellowlegs, Red Knots, and Hudsonian Godwits, migrate from feeding grounds in the Southern Hemisphere to Arctic breeding sites and back, sometimes flying for up to nine days non-stop without food or water.
But these incredible birds are now in crisis. Their populations are crashing due to climate change and rapid urban development. In this 54-minute documentary, rated TV-14, you’ll follow a passionate conservation movement of scientists and everyday bird lovers working together to understand and protect these endangered travelers. Made possible through public performance rights by Kanopy, this film invites you to witness a global effort to save some of nature’s most resilient yet vulnerable species.
Fall Fun Week
Tuesday, October 14th through Saturday, October 18th
Stop by anytime during the week to snap a photo in front of our festive, fall-themed backdrop—perfect for capturing cozy autumn memories with friends or family. While you’re here, don’t forget to pick up your own glowstick charm bracelet and a laser-engraved wooden pendant featuring leaf or pumpkin designs. These charming keepsakes are available while supplies last, so be sure to visit early.
First Wednesday of the month
Games and snacks will be available on the first Wed of the month 1-3PM
Curious Kids
Fridays @ 10:00-11:00 A.M.
Focusing on STEAM topics with books, activities and crafts. Explore the intersection of literacy, art and science. Homeschoolers are encouraged.
Preschool Pals
Wednesdays @ 10:30-11:00 A.M.
Focusing on early literacy we’ll explore seasonal books and a simple craft. Stay and Play is encouraged!
Books & Brunch
First Saturday of the month during library hours. Food, Books, and Friends.
Thursday, October 16th
4:00 P.M.
Sir David Attenborough explores London’s Natural History Museum and meets some of the most extraordinary creatures from the past. Advanced CGI puts Attenborough face to face with a saber-toothed tiger, a giant eagle, and a colossal snake.
Thursday, October 23rd
4:00 P.M.
Making headlines around the world, Brent Seales and his team of computer scientists set out on a mission to read the 2,000-year-old carbonized scrolls found in the remains of a villa in Herculaneum. Mt. Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 AD transformed the papyri, fusing together the layers of the scrolls and making them impossible to read. Can particle physics and AI finally reveal what the scrolls say?
Thursday, October 30th
4:00 P.M.
In the early 20th century, the average American medicine cabinet was a would-be poisoner’s treasure chest, with radioactive radium, thallium, and morphine in everyday products. The pace of industrial innovation increased, but the scientific knowledge to detect and prevent crimes committed with these materials lagged behind until 1918. New York City’s first scientifically trained medical examiner, Charles Norris, and his chief toxicologist, Alexander Gettler, turned forensic chemistry into a formidable science and set the standards for the rest of the country.
Thursday, November 6th
4:00 P.M.
American women were the secret weapon that won World War II, and in the process, changed the world. In this new documentary, hear directly from the women who built the planes and flew them, fought on the warfront and the home front, cracked codes and broke barriers.
Students are welcome to work on homework at the library during library hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Blues and Brats
Saturday, September 20th
We will have a photo booth at the Hennepin Blues and Brats event. Check with the Village of Hennepin for all the events going on that day.
Paint your own character pumpkin
Saturday, October 25th & Tuesday October 28th
National Candy Day
Tuesday, November 4th
Stop in and vote for your favorite candy
Cappuccino and Steam Craft
Saturday Nov 8th
Adults come in for cappuccino – kids come in for steam craft
Spooky Suncatchers
Wednesday, October 29th at 4:00 p.m.
Join us at the Library to create your very own spooky suncatcher. Using tissue paper, craft sticks, and fun Halloween silhouettes, you’ll make a colorful decoration to hang in your window just in time for the season.
Rockin’ Autumn Fox Craft
Wednesday, October 15th at 4:00 p.m.
Get ready to bring a little woodland magic to your afternoon when you’ll create your very own adorable paper fox that rocks back and forth like it’s playing in the crisp fall leaves.
Chicken Hatching with Incubator
Saturday, April 26th
Study and watch for 10 days process until they hatch.
Students are welcome to work on homework at the library during library hours on Wednesdays.
Suspense and Psychological Thrills: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock
Thursday, October 30th @ 12:30 P.M.
Alfred Hitchcock uncovered a world of the unknown–a world unknown to previous filmmakers and to audiences. He created a world where audiences were put on edge in suspense and where each film’s psychological twists and turns made hearts skip a beat. Often deemed, “The Master of Suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock knew how to capture your mind and run wild with it.
Historian Jim Gibbons will discuss the life of Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock and his great influence on the history of filmmaking. Gibbons will discuss Hitchcock’s role as a film producer, director and his cameo appearances in the films he produced. He will explain Hitchcock’s close working relationship with several Golden Age actors and actresses including James Stewart, Cary Grant, Anthony Perkins, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak and more. He will discuss his most popular movies, Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds and North by Northwest. Gibbons will also discuss Hitchcock’s life on and off set. Before his death, Hitchcock was not only knighted, but he also received the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award and directed over 50 feature films.
A River of Stories
Thursday, April 3rd
Brian “Fox” Ellis will be presenting. Funded by the Illinois River Tour Foundation. 2:00 P.M. – 2:45 P.M. School program: River Tales
3:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M. Conversation with the Historical Society Workshop 6:00 P.M. A River of Stories at the library
