Community Calendar

Delve into letters written by first-class Titanic passengers to loved ones at home, describing lavish luncheon feasts and other delicacies served onboard. Explore the striking differences between first-, second-, and third-class menus—how dining varied by class, which foods remain familiar today, and which seem surprising by modern standards. The meals enjoyed by passengers and crew offer revealing glimpses into daily life during the Edwardian era and the social structures of the time. The presentation also highlights stories of Titanic passengers with Illinois ties, connecting global history to local lives.

This program will be presented in hybrid style, with in-person and virtual options. To attend virtually, please register via Zoom: https://shorturl.at/ybM9Q. The program is free and open the public.

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.

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.

This fascinating film tells the story of one of the greatest rescues in cultural history. In 1623, two former colleagues of William Shakespeare—John Heminges and Henry Condell—undertook the extraordinary task of preserving their friend’s work by collecting his plays into a single volume known as the First Folio.
The First Folio preserved 18 plays that had never been printed before, including Macbeth, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest. It was also the first book to organize Shakespeare’s plays by genre and includes an engraved portrait believed to be one of the most authentic likenesses of the playwright. Presented by Shakespearean scholar Emma Smith, the film explores Heminges’ and Condell’s fear that Shakespeare’s words might fade after his death. Featuring performances by Mark Rylance, Stephen Fry, Roger Allam, and others, the documentary brings to life the enduring legacy of Shakespeare’s work and the remarkable effort that saved it. The film is 58 minutes, rated PG, and is made possible through Hoopla.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Presented through Independent Lens as part of the Indie Lens Pop-Up series, The Librarians explores the growing national debate over intellectual freedom and the role of public libraries in American democracy. When Texas lawmakers begin reviewing lists of challenged books, librarians find themselves on the front lines of an intensifying cultural conflict. The film examines mounting pressure on libraries, particularly around materials addressing race and LGBTQIA+ themes, while placing today’s controversies in historical context. The 84-minute screening will be followed by a facilitated discussion with representatives from the Humankind Initiative in Ottawa. The discussion, expected to last approximately 30 minutes, will offer attendees an opportunity to reflect on the film’s themes and engage in thoughtful dialogue about education, public institutions, and the freedom to read.

This program will be offered both in person and virtually. Those planning to attend virtually are encouraged to register in advance at: https://shorturl.at/XDBc6. The program is free and open to the public and is in celebration of National Library Week.