ILLINOIS LIBRARIES PRESENT
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
October 2024
Being Imperfect with Erika Sánchez
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, October 9 | 7:00 PM Zoom |
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Illinois Libraries Present and Erika Sánchez, award-winning author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. She will be joined in conversation by Cythia Pelayo.
Erika L. Sánchez is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Her debut poetry collection, Lessons on Expulsion, was a finalist for the PEN America Open Book Award. Her debut young adult novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, was a New York Times bestseller, National Book Award finalist, and Tomás Rivera Award winner. Recognized by Time as one of the best YA novels of all time, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter has also been adapted for the stage at Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago and is being made into a film directed by America Ferrera. Sánchez’ critically acclaimed memoir-in-essays, Crying in the Bathroom, won the Chicago Review of Books Nonfiction award. Sánchez was a Fulbright Scholar, a Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent fellow from the Poetry Foundation, a Princeton Arts Fellow, a recipient of the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation, and a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. She lives in Chicago with her family. Cynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet. Pelayo writes fairy tales that blend genre and explore concepts of grief, mourning, and violence. She is the author of Loteria, Santa Muerte, The Missing, Poems of My Night, Into the Forest and All the Way Through, Children of Chicago, Crime Scene, and The Shoemaker’s Magician. Register at https://bit.ly/ILP_ErikaSanchez. ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email [email protected]. |
Raise Your Voice with Jason Reynolds
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, October 22 | 7:00 PM Program Room + Zoom |
Welcome Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author, advocate, mentor, and 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, a Carnegie Medal, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds' beloved and award-winning titles include Stamped (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), Miles Morales, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, Look Both Ways, Ain't Burned All the Bright, and Long Way Down. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, and more.
The short documentary “Dear, Dreamer” is a lyrical portrait of Reynolds’ life and work as a rising literary star, as well as a testament to shared experiences and the power of seeing yourself in books. In his podcast, My Mother Made Me, he and his mother, Isabell, explore their shared history and what they’re teaching each other. Reynolds lives in Washington, DC, where he is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com. Register at https://bit.ly/ILP_JasonReynolds. ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email [email protected]. |
2024 - 2025 Season
2024
2025
- Wednesday, November 20 @ 7:00 PM | Holiday Tips and Tricks with Chef Art Smith
- Tuesday, December 10 @ 7:00 PM | The Magic of Raina Telgemeier (Youth Program)
- Friday, December 20 - Sunday, December 22 | Experience Little Women: The Musical (Theatre Screening)
2025
- Thursday, January 9 @ 7:00 PM | Chicago Pizza - Past, Present & Future with Steve Dolinsky
- Thursday, January 23 @ 7:00 PM | Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau
- Tuesday, February 4 @ 7:00 PM | James McBride
- Tuesday, March 4 @ 7:00 PM | Exploring Space with Coralie Adam
- Friday, March 21 - Sunday, March 23 | 9 to 5: The Story of a Movement (Documentary Screening)
- Thursday, April 10 @ 7:00 PM | The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson
- Saturday, May 3 @ 2:00 PM | Art and Adventures with Author/Illustrator Dan Santat (Youth Program)
- Tuesday, May 13 @ 7:00 PM | Poverty: A Discussion with Matthew Desmond
PAST PROGRAMS
2023 - 2024 SEASON
September 2023
The Power of Story with Colson Whitehead
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, September 6 | 7:00 PM |
Kicking off the 2023 - 2024 season, we are thrilled to welcome two-time Pulitzer Prize winning author Colson Whitehead to our Illinois libraries. The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Underground Railroad, The Nickel Boys, Harlem Shuffle, The Noble Hustle, Zone One, Sag Harbor, The Intuitionist, John Henry Days, Apex Hides the Hurt, and a collection of essays, Whitehead is only the fourth writer to win two Pulitzers in the Fiction category (for The Underground Railroad in 2017 and The Nickel Boys in 2020). His highly anticipated latest novel, Crook Manifesto, is a darkly funny tale of a city under siege, but also a sneakily searching portrait of the meaning of family.
His reviews, essays, and fiction have appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Harper’s and Granta. Whitehead has received a MacArthur Fellowship and Guggenheim Fellowship and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, among others. In 2023, President Biden awarded Whitehead a National Endowment for the Humanities Medal. He has taught extensively, including at Columbia University, Princeton University, and Brooklyn College, and has been a Writer-in-Residence at Vassar College, the University of Richmond, and University of Wyoming. He lives in New York City. |
October 2023
Chills & Thrills with Stephen Graham Jones
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, October 4 | 7:00 PM |
Stephen Graham Jones joins us to talk scary stories, horror and more with horror expert Becky Spratford. Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and Don’t Fear the Reaper, and a prolific author of more than 25 books spanning genres. He received an NEA Fellowship and won several awards including: the Ray Bradbury Award from the Los Angeles Times, the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, and the Alex Award from American Library Association. He is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Illinois librarian and Readers' Advisor Becky Spratford will join Stephen in conversation. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library and runs the critically acclaimed blog RA for All. A devout horror fan, she writes a horror review column for Library Journal, is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. |
Food, Family, and Folktales: A Conversation with Grace Lin
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, October 17 | 7:00 PM |
Join Newbery and Caldecott honoree and New York Times bestselling Grace Lin for an engaging conversation about her journey to become an award-winning author and illustrator. Learn about her latest middle grade book, Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods, a beautifully written full-color book that explores the whimsical myths and stories behind your favorite American Chinese food, and learn how you can draw your own stories. Evanston Public Library Children’s Librarian Brian E. Wilson joins Grace in conversation.
Before she was a bestselling author and illustrator of picture books, early readers and middle grade novels, Grace was the only Asian girl going to her elementary school in Upstate NY. That experience, good and bad, has influenced her books—including her Newbery Honor Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, her Geisel Honor Ling & Ting, her National Book Finalist When the Sea Turned to Silver and her Caldecott Honor A Big Mooncake for Little Star. Grace advocates for diversity through her TEDx talk - “The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child’s Bookshelf” - and a PBSNewHour video essay, “What to do when you realize classic books from your childhood are racist?” She continued this mission with her podcasts kidlitwomen. In 2016, Grace’s art was displayed at the White House and Grace, herself, was recognized by President Obama as a Champion of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling. |
november 2023
A Taste of Love with Maya-Camille Broussard
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, November 8 | 7:00 PM |
Join Maya Camille Broussard, star of Netflix’s Bake Squad, and owner of Chicago based Justice of the Pies, for a demo from her kitchen just in time for Thanksgiving. Maya will share her love of pie, the stories of those that inspired her, and some tips and tricks to help you make the perfect Thanksgiving pie.
Broussard uses her love of food to have a positive impact on the local community. She offers an “I Knead love” workshop several times each year for kids from low-income households to learn basic cooking skills, healthy eating habits, and nutrition. Justice of the Pies has partnered with many Chicago area charities to provide meals for communities on the South and West sides. During the COVID pandemic, her bakery partnered with Frontline Food to provide food from restaurants for front-line workers. Being hearing impaired, Broussard works hard to set an example for young bakers by telling the story of her struggles and success. |
december 2023
Surviving the Holidays with Lori Gottlieb
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, December 6 | 7:00 PM |
Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, and co-host of the “Dear Therapists” podcast joins us for a thought-provoking conversation about mental health in anticipation of the winter holiday season.
Gottlieb will share tools to help in everyday life and especially as you prepare for the holidays. Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, which has sold over a million copies and is currently being adapted into a television series. In addition to her clinical practice, she is co-host of the popular “Dear Therapists” podcast and writes The Atlantic’s “Dear Therapist” advice column. She has been on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and NPR’s “Fresh Air” as a therapy expert and her 2019 Ted Talk was one of the most watched of the year. |
Experience The Nutcracker at Home!
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Saturday, December 16 & Sunday, December 17 |
Get in the spirit of the season with a recorded virtual performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker performed by the United Kingdom’s internationally renowned Royal Ballet. The ballet, a holiday staple for all ages, can be viewed Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17. Registrants will receive an email with a special link to the performance.
With sumptuous period designs, spellbinding stage effects, and Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, the 2016 performance of The Nutcracker will enchant audiences of all ages. Performed by Britain's flagship ballet company, registrants can expect to see some of the most elite ballerinas in this performance. |
january 2024
Speculating about Our AI Future with Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, and Martha Wells
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Thursday, January 11 | 7:00 PM |
Join us for a panel discussion featuring three best selling science fiction writers, Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, and Martha Wells. They will discuss the promise, perils, and possible impacts that AI will have on our future, as well as AI in contemporary and future science fiction writing.
Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction author, activist and journalist. He is the author of many books, most recently The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation, a Big Tech disassembly manual; Red Team Blues, a science fiction crime thriller; Chokepoint Capitalism, nonfiction about monopoly and creative labor markets; the Little Brother series for young adults; In Real Life, a graphic novel; and the picture book Poesy the Monster Slayer. In 2020, he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Ken Liu (http://kenliu.name) is an American author of speculative fiction. A winner of the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards, he wrote the Dandelion Dynasty, a silkpunk epic fantasy series (starting with The Grace of Kings), as well as short story collections The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories and The Hidden Girl and Other Stories. He also penned the Star Wars novel The Legends of Luke Skywalker. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Liu worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. Liu frequently speaks at conferences and universities on a variety of topics, including futurism, machine-augmented creativity, history of technology, bookmaking, and the mathematics of origami. Martha Wells (marthawells.com) has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, and Locus Awards, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the BSFA Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages. |
february 2024
A Conversation with Jerry Craft: From Mama’s Boyz to New Kid and Beyond
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, February 6 | 7:00 PM |
Prepare to be transported into the world of New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, Jerry Craft. New Kid is the only book in history to win the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature (2020), the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2019), and the Coretta Scott King Author Award for the most outstanding work by an African American writer (2020). Craft has a unique ability to weave captivating narratives and bring them to life through his stunning artwork, and has earned a well-deserved place among the literary and artistic elite.
As an author, Jerry Craft's words possess a magic that transcends the pages of his books. His stories resonate with readers, tackling complex themes with humor, heart, and a deep understanding of the human experience. Craft's tales have a timeless quality that leaves an indelible mark on those who embark on his literary journeys. But that's not all – Jerry Craft's artistic talents are equally remarkable. His illustrations breathe life into his narratives, transporting readers into richly detailed worlds filled with diverse characters and vibrant settings. Craft's visual storytelling is a testament to his ability to capture the essence of his stories, making them come alive with every stroke of his pen. Jerry Craft will be joined in conversation by Ronnell Whitaker, a founding member of the Lit-X Teacher Cohort. Whitaker is the English Curriculum Director for Community High School District 218 in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He has over 15 years of education experience and is a champion for comics in the classroom. He has presented across the country at conferences and conventions on the virtues of comics in the classroom. Whitaker also sits on the Board of Directors for Reading With Pictures. He believes in comics, and he likes to think that comics believe in him. Learn more about Ronnell Whitaker at https://thecomicbookteacher.com/author/rqwhitaker/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronell-whitaker-2648326/ |
Romance and Regency with Bridgerton's Julia Quinn
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, February 20 | 7:00 PM |
Julia Quinn, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning romance author, has written close to 40 novels including her popular series about the Bridgerton family which was adapted into an Emmy-nominated series on Netflix. Her newest novel, Queen Charlotte, is co-written with television pioneer Shonda Rhimes. It’s a powerful and romantic novel of Bridgerton’s Queen Charlotte and King George III’s great love story and how it sparked a societal shift.
Quinn has been inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame and was recently named the national ambassador for EveryLibrary, an organization that helps libraries fight censorship. Quinn’s novels have been translated into 41 languages and have appeared on The New York Times bestseller list 19 times. Julia Quinn will be joined in conversation with Sarah MacLean, bestselling historical romance author, romance columnist for The New York Times and The Washington Post, and co-host of the weekly romance novel podcast Fated Mates. |
March 2024
Ruth E. Carter: Interweaving Tradition and Imagination Through Costume Design
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Wednesday, March 20 | 7:00 PM |
Join us for a special event with Ruth E. Carter, two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer. Carter made history as the first Black person to win an Academy Award in Best Costume Design for the film, Black Panther. She received a second Academy Award in the same category for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Ruth E. Carter’s ability to develop an authentic story through costume and character made her one of the most sought after and renowned costume designers today. Best known for turning the Black Panther superhero into an African king, Carter is the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category and the first costume designer to win for the first film and its sequel. Carter is known for her research and diligence to the craft of costume design, specifically for her work on films such as Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Steven Spielberg’s Amistad and Ava DuVernay’s Selma. In addition to Academy Award nominations and wins, Carter won accolades and recognition from the Costume Designers Guild, Black Reel Awards, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, American Black Film Festival, San Diego Film Critics Society, among many others. She also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ruth E. Carter will be joined in conversation with Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe. |
May 2024
The Many Lives of Kal Penn
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, May 7 | 7:00 PM |
Kal Penn (kalpenn.com) is an actor, writer, producer, and former Associate Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. He is known for his starring roles in Designated Survivor, House, Mira Nair’s The Namesake, the Harold & Kumar franchise, and the Christmas comedy The Santa Clauses for Disney+. His first book You Can’t Be Serious was released on November 2, 2021 from Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books. He also narrates the audiobook.
He was a national co-chair for the Obama/Biden re-election campaign in 2012 and served on the President’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, focusing on arts education and cultural diplomacy, including the first-ever US Government arts delegation to Cuba. Penn taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Los Angeles. Originally from New Jersey, he received his undergraduate degree in sociology, theater, film, and television at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received a graduate certificate in international security from Stanford University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Earlier in the year, Penn wrapped production on the Bloomberg Green climate change docuseries, Getting Warmer, and the Viacom/Paramount + comedy, Surina & Mel. Following the departure of Trevor Noah from The Daily Show, Kal was named as an upcoming guest host. Kal Penn will be joined in conversation with Bridget Petrites, Evanston Public Library. |
June 2024
The Hidden Gifts of Visual Thinkers with Dr. Temple Grandin
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Tuesday, June 4 | 7:00 PM [rescheduled from April 3] |
Join us on Zoom for a special event with Dr. Grandin, one of the world’s most accomplished and well-known adults with autism. Dr. Grandin has been at the forefront of research and activism for autism and neurodiversity for decades.
Her memoir, Emergence: Labeled Autistic, was published in 1986 and she has continued to write about autism and neurodivergence over the decades. Her most recent book is Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. Dr. Grandin’s research and understanding of animal behavior spearheaded a reform in the quality of life for agricultural animals worldwide. |