Apr 21 Tuesday
ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence products have seemingly arisen from nowhere and are taking the world by storm. Michael Gershbein of VSP Chicago will share the most-discussed AI technology and speculate on the future implications of AI on the workplace and society. Free to attend, but advance registration is required.
Representatives from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) will present an informational program highlighting free, accessible audiobook services available to eligible individuals. The program is designed for those who experience temporary or permanent visual or physical challenges that make reading standard print difficult, as well as for caregivers, family members, and service providers. Participants will learn how eligible patrons can receive free access to audiobooks, a simple, easy-to-use audiobook player, and audiobook materials provided at no cost through NLS.
This program is free and open to the public and is in celebration of National Library Week.
Apr 22 Wednesday
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.
Banned Together is a powerful documentary that follows three teenagers fighting to reinstate 97 books removed from their school libraries. What begins as a local challenge quickly grows into a national movement, as the students confront book bans, curriculum censorship, and the forces shaping public education today. Featuring banned authors, First Amendment advocates, legal scholars, and elected officials, the film offers an urgent look at who decides what young people are allowed to read, and why it matters. The film is 1 hour and 32 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public and is in celebration of National Library Week.
Sarah Michehl of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County will discuss native garden site preparation, favorite plant choices, the pollinator connection, and vital maintenance tips to make any garden a success. Free to attend. Advance registration is required.
Apr 23 Thursday
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.
Celebrate National Library Week with an author panel you won't want to miss. Join us for a lively and laughter-filled evening with a dynamic panel discussion featuring fiction authors Christina Clancy, Sonali Dev, Nancy Johnson, Sara Maurer, and Rachel Swearingen.
From inspiration and the writing process to what’s next on their creative journeys, this roundtable promises sharp insights, candid moments, and plenty of humor.
Read Between the Lynes will have books available for purchase and signing.
Event will be held in the Luecht Auditorium at McHenry County College. Free tickets are available from your local McHenry County library.
Apr 24 Friday
Apr 25 Saturday