eRead Illinois transitioning to new app

eRead Illinois eBooks and eAudiobooks will be moving from the Boundless app to the Palace Project app. During this transition, functionality related to the eRead Illinois content will be limited. Patrons with Boundless holds should make a note of them by Nov. 16.  Contact staff for key transition dates. 

Upcoming Events

Featured Events

Silhouette of a man on horseback and soldiers over the Declaration of Independence. "The American Revolution: A film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt"

Special Showing: The American Revolution, by Ken Burns

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Family, Everyone
Program Type: Movie
Event Details:

Discover THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a landmark series from Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt.

Frieze Lecture Series This is the End, 2025 lecture series

Frieze Lecture Series

Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Downtown Community Room at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Presentation
Event Details:

The Frieze Lectures, a free public lecture series created to celebrate the oldest library in Illinois founded under its Local Library Act of 1872, continues for its 28th year, from October 23 to November 13.

green and yellow dinosaur with orange spikes down its back

Dinovember Day!

Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 10:00am - 1:30pm
Downtown Children's Story Area at Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Children's Story Area
Age Group: Everyone
Program Type: Special Event
Event Details:

Stomp into the Downtown Library Children's Room for a roaring good time.

Nothing tricera-tops the fun you will have, for rex-ample there will be activities, crafts and more!   

Filters
Age Group
Program Type

Midtown Readers Book Club

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Join us as we discuss The War Librarian by Addison Armstrong!

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

Southwest Book Club

3:00pm–4:00pm
Adult
Southwest Branch
Library Branch: Southwest Branch
Room: Southwest Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Looking to join a book club? We would love to have you join our Southwest Book Club! This month, we will be discussing The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. 

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Please note this group will start meeting on the third Wednesday of each month (rather than the third Thursday) beginning in September! 

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's  Alpha Book Club selection is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen! Austen celebrates her 250th this month, so this discussion is timely! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult, Everyone
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Please note this group will start meeting on the third Wednesday of each month (rather than the third Thursday) beginning in September! 

Midtown Readers Book Club

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Join us as we discuss Glassmaker by Tracey Chevalier! Reserve a copy through our library system HERE.

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- Go Ask Alice

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's book club title is, "Go Ask Alice," by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks.

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's Alpha Book Club selection is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck! This 1939 classic will be sure to spark a great conversation! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

Midtown Readers Book Club

6:30pm–7:30pm
Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown: Norm & Janet Moline Conference Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Join us as we discuss Horse by Geraldine Brooks! Reserve a copy through our library system HERE.

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

The library makes every effort to ensure our programs can be enjoyed by all. If you have any concerns about accessibility or need to request specific accommodations, please contact the library.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- A Fever in the Heartland

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's book selection is a non-fiction book about the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s-era nearby state of Indiana, A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan..

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's  Alpha Book Club selection is Circe by Madeline Miller! This lyrical mythical retelling will be sure to spark a great conversation! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

March's book selection is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Given the Iowa High School Book Award in 2010, it is now banned from that state's public schools.

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's Alpha Book Club selection is The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer! This thought-provoking work on nonfiction will be sure to spark a great conversation! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- The Perks of Being a Wallflower

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Alpha Book Club

1:00pm–2:00pm
Adult
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

This month's Alpha Book Club selection is The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon! This suspenseful mystery will be sure to spark a great conversation! All are welcome to join and registration is not required.

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Community Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson blurb

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!

Freedom to Read 'em Book Club -- Crank by Ellen Hopkins

2:00pm–3:00pm
Adult, Everyone
Downtown Library
Library Branch: Downtown Library
Room: Downtown Historical Room
Age Group: Adult, Everyone
Program Type: Book Club
Event Details:

Crank #1 by Ellen Hopkins

Silent Book Club®

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teen, Adult
Watts-Midtown Branch
Library Branch: Watts-Midtown Branch
Room: Watts-Midtown Community Room
Age Group: Teen, Adult
Program Type: Book Club, Mental Health
Event Details:

Looking for a book club with no assigned reading or focused discussions? Then joining our Silent Book Club® may be for you!