Apr 15 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.
Apr 16 Thursday
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.
Apr 17 Friday
Apr 18 Saturday
Join us for Conversational Café every 3rd Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the Christ Community Outreach Center, located at 316 N 6th St in DeKalb. This is a great opportunity to practice your English in a welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome, and walk-ins are accepted! For more information, visit ccclife.org/dekalboutreachcenter.
Apr 19 Sunday
Apr 20 Monday
Apr 21 Tuesday
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.