Mahomet Public Library

Public Q&A for Upcoming School Referendum
2024-10-24 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
This program will take place in the Edgar Room at the Mahomet Library.
As part of our mission to provide Mahomet residents with the information they need, the Library has asked Mahomet-Seymour to send representatives to the Library to answer resident questions about the upcoming school referendum.
At this session, we welcome Village President Sean Widener, Superintendent Kenny Lee, a member of the Board of Education, and former superintendent Lindsey Hall to the Library. From 6:30 to 8:00 pm they will be available to answer questions. A library representative will facilitate the sessions.
The Library does not officially support or oppose this referendum, and no one at this meeting will be telling anyone how to vote. Our goal is for community members to have the chance to learn for themselves the details and facts about the school plans so that they can make the most informed decision possible.
There are also resources at the Library for those who want to learn more about the school plan and referendum but cannot attend this meeting.

Adult Take and Make Kits
2024-10-28 09:00 - 2024-10-29 20:00, 2024-11-25 09:00 - 2024-11-26 20:00
Take home a craft to make! Our take-and-make crafts come with all the supplies needed for a project.

Dates and Crafts:
Beginning September 30: Sun Prints (Cyanotype)
Beginning October 28: Spooky Tiny Glass Bottle Necklace
Beginning November 25: Origami Lucky Star Jar

Stop by the Library to pick up a free kit. Kits are available while supplies last. Limit one kit per person, please!
Adult take-and-make crafts are part of our Adult Craft Connection series.

Skills for Disagreeing Better with Braver Angels of East Central Illinois
2024-10-28 18:30 - 20:00
In this polarized time, we lack basic understanding of why people on the other political side hold their beliefs. We don’t see them as they see themselves–their core values and central concerns–but instead as we choose to see them. We are tempted to regard our own side as principled and the other side as self-interested.
When we try to communicate across this gap, we often lack the skills for listening carefully, looking for common ground, and sharing our perspectives in ways that connect rather than create more misunderstanding.
We can learn to disagree better in polarized times, which means accurately seeing where we differ and where we share common ground.
Goals:

More understanding of the values and concerns of people who differ from you politically
Better skills for listening in a way so that the other person feels heard
Better skills for sharing viewpoints in a way the other person might hear — even if they disagree

Note: Mahomet Public Library is partnering with Braver Angels of East Central Illinois to offer this workshop.
Braver Angels is a strictly non-partisan group working to helping Americans bridge the divide and reduce the polarization we see so much of in our current political climate. The Champaign area is home to one of three Braver Angels Alliances in Illinois, Braver Angels of East Central Illinois. Immediately following this workshop, the East Central IL alliance will hold its regular monthly meeting. If you are interested in learning more or possibly joining the group, you are welcome to stay and attend that meeting.
Mahomet Library Director John Howard says this about Braver Angels: “In late 2023, I tried to create some workshops for the Library which would demonstrate how we as citizens could talk together better to find solutions to our society’s biggest issues. I feel that the public library should be a safe place in our community where we can productively have these hard conversations. While I was struggling to create these workshops from scratch, I found that there was an organization who was already doing the very same thing! After some research, I was proud to join Braver Angels, and I plan to bring their positive brand of non-partisan communications to our community. If, like me, you are frustrated with the nastiness that is so common in our political conversations these days, I encourage you to attend upcoming Braver Angels programs at the Library, or even become a member yourself.”

Adults. Please register.

Adult Halloween Bingo & Costume Contest
2024-10-29 18:00 - 19:30
Get ready for a spooky evening of Halloween fun at the Library! Dress up in your favorite costume (optional, but encouraged), and compete for festive prizes in both the costume contest and BINGO games.
Adults. Registration required.

Stitching Circle
2024-11-02 13:00 - 14:30
Connect with fellow crafters, share your skills, and learn from others! Whether you are an expert or novice, there is something for everyone in our circle. We’ll provide some materials, or you can bring your own project (maybe one you’ve been procrastinating on!).
All skill levels are welcome and there is not need to register. Spread the word and invite your friends. We can’t wait to see you there!

Dates and Times:
Saturday, September 7: 10:00-11:30 am
Saturday, October 5: 10:00-11:30 am
Saturday, November 2: 1:00-2:30 pm

Stitching Circle is a part of our Adult Craft Connection Program series. No registration required.

Senior Treats and Topics
2024-11-07 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-12-12 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for a thrilling blend of knowledge…and indulgence! Each month promises an exciting speaker with insights on various topics, accompanied by delightful treats! It is not necessary to be a senior to attend.
Dates and Topics:

September 12: Adult Healthcare Options with Sandy Hockman from Evergreen Place

This session will explore the senior living options in the area and covers the spectrum from independent living and assisted living to skilled nursing and hospice care.

October 3: Estate Planning with Theodore Facer from Facer Law Office

Estate planning is a necessary, but often complex area of legal and financial management. This session will cover key topics to help you understand and navigate the process.

November 7: Dementia and Communication with Sandy Hockman from Evergreen Place

Communicating with someone living with dementia can be challenging. This session will provide knowledge on how to positively interact to create a successful and less frustrating experience for everyone involved.

December 12: Holiday Music Memory Game with Library Staff

Enjoy a festive activity to challenge your memory!

For adults. No registration required.

Cookbook Club: Brilliant Bites
2024-11-07 18:00 - 19:30
Join us at the Library to explore new recipes, share cooking tips, and enjoy delicious food together! This program is intended for adults who enjoy cooking and sharing food together. All experience levels are welcome. Each Cookbook Club will feature a selected cookbook and attendees will bring a dish from the book to share.
Copies of the cookbook will be available one month in advance at the Library’s Circulation Desk. Registered participants will receive a link to a Google form to include the name of the dish they will be bringing. Participants may contact Alyssa with any questions.
Registration is required.

Dates and Cookbooks:
Tuesday, September 3: The Weekday Vegetarians by Jenny Rosenstrach
Thursday, November 7: Brilliant Bites by Maegan Brown

Tuesday Night Book Club
2024-11-12 18:30 - 20:00, 2024-12-10 18:30 - 20:00
Join us at the Library on the second Tuesday of each month as we discuss that month’s great read!
August 13: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
September 10: Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan Henry
October 8: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
November 12: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
December 10: Holiday Party
No registration required.

More information about our December meeting:
Our December meeting will be a festive gathering to celebrate a year of reading! We will not feature a specific book, but we will have bookish fun and camaraderie. We will play some games (including gifts and free books), enjoy snacks, and reflect on our favorite reads from the past year. No need to bring anything but yourself and a list of some of your favorite recent reads.

Wondering what books we’ve previously read for Tuesday Night Book Club? Check out our Tuesday Night Book Club Picks list!

Adult Crafternoon: Intro to Needle Felting
2024-11-19 13:00 - 14:00
Join us for creativity, conversation, and fun each month at the Library! Learn a new skill and make a craft with supplies provided by the Library.
Dates and Crafts:
September 17: Painted Quilt Block
October 15: Upcycled Ghost Painting
November 19: Intro to Needle Felting
For adults. Registration required (register for each session individually).

Illinois Libraries Present: Holiday Tricks and Tips with Chef Art Smith
2024-11-20 19:00 - 20:00
Join Chef Art Smith to learn about his culinary journey and bring some culinary inspiration into your holiday season. A two-time James Beard Foundation award winner, Smith believes “The art of cooking, the act of feeding people, is the most engaging, most memorable way to connect with people.”

Smith began his career at the Florida Culinary Institute and honed his skills working with top chefs in France before finding himself in Chicago. Here he served as Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef for a decade and opened his first critically-acclaimed restaurant, Table Fifty-Two, known for its modern Southern dishes and locally sourced ingredients.
Smith is also a prolific cookbook author and TV personality, sharing his passion for Southern cuisine. He has appeared on Top Chef, Top Chef Duels, Top Chef Masters, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Tonight, BBQ Pitmasters, The Oprah Winfrey Show and more.
Named Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine and Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, both in 2007, Smith is currently Executive Chef and Co-Owner with restaurants in Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Common Threads, a non-profit organization teaching low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals.
Smith will be joined in conversation by Monica Eng, award-winning Chicago journalist and co-host of food podcast “Chewing” w/ Louisa Chu.

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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.

Illinois Libraries Present: The Magic of Raina Telgemeier
2024-12-10 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for a night with critically acclaimed comic artist, Raina Telgemeier! Raina is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. She also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, and has contributed short stories to many anthologies. New in 2024, The Cartoonists Club is a one-of-a-kind graphic novel from Raina and Scott McCloud.
Raina’s accolades include six Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and many Best-of and Notables lists. Raina grew up in San Francisco, then moved to New York City, where she earned an illustration degree at the School of Visual Arts. Raina currently lives and works in San Francisco, CA.
Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove will join Raina in conversation.
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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
Via Zoom. Please register at the link below.

Cookie Decorating Workshop
2024-12-15 14:00 - 15:00
Good things crumb to those who wait! Come decorate sugar cookies at the Library. We’ll use piping and flooding techniques with royal icing. You don’t want to miss this dough-lightful workshop! Cookies and supplies will be provided.
Adults. Registration required.

Warm Up with a Good Book! Winter Reading Challenge for Adults and Teens
2025-01-02 - 2025-03-01
Cozy up and read this winter with our Winter Reading Challenge for Teens & Adults! Pick up a reading log from the Library and earn a raffle entry for every 10 hours you spend reading. Four prize baskets are up for grabs! Whether you like novels, audiobooks, or graphic novels, every hour counts.
Raffle tickets can be submitted at the Library for your choice of 4 different prize baskets. Winners will be announced in the first week of March.

Stitching Circle
2025-01-04 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-02-01 10:00 - 11:30
Connect with fellow crafters, share your skills, and learn from others! Whether you are an expert or novice, there is something for everyone in our circle. We’ll provide some materials, or you can bring your own project (maybe one you’ve been procrastinating on!).
All skill levels are welcome and there is not need to register. Spread the word and invite your friends. We can’t wait to see you there!

Dates and Times:
Saturday, January 4: 10:00-11:30 am
Saturday, February 1: 10:00-11:30 am
Saturday, March 1: 10:00-11:30 am
Saturday, April 5: 10:00-11:30 am

No meeting in May. Stitching Circle is a part of our Adult Craft Connection Program series. No registration required.

ILP: Chicago Pizza - Past, Present & Future with Steve Dolinsky
2025-01-09 19:00 - 20:00
Famed Food Guy reporter at NBC 5 (Chicago), Steve Dolinksy has won 13 James Beard Awards for his TV, radio and podcast work. Steve is also the producer and host of Pizza City, a bi-monthly podcast featuring some of the nation’s greatest pizza makers. In 2022, he launched Pizza City Fest in Chicago. Now in four cities, the events bring together 40 of the region’s best pizzerias baking live on electric and wood-fired ovens. Steve is also the author of two pizza books. Join him to dish on The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide: A History of Squares & Slices in the Windy City, his comprehensive guide to the styles, locales and people that make the Windy City a prime destination for slices and pies.
Steve grew up in a kosher home in St. Cloud, Minnesota and it wasn’t until he was a teenager that he began to fall in love with food. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, and moving to Chicago to work as a reporter for CLTV, Steve caught his big break in 1995 when the station launched Good Eating, a weekly program that mirrored the Tribune’s food section. After eight years, Steve moved to ABC 7, Chicago’s #1 news station, where he produced two original reports every week under the moniker, The Hungry Hound.
Since 2014, Steve has hosted The Feed Podcast with Chicago chef/restaurateur Rick Bayless, a podcast covering the world of food from their professional perspectives. He is also a judge on Iron Chef America and has served as one of the 27 Regional Academy Chairs for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants for the past 13 years. Steve lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.

Adults. Via Zoom. Registration required.

Tuesday Night Book Club
2025-01-14 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-02-11 18:30 - 20:00
Join us at the Library on the second Tuesday of each month as we discuss that month’s great read!
January 14: West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
February 11: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
March 11: Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
April 8: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
May 13: True Biz by Sara Novic
No registration required.

Wondering what books we’ve previously read for Tuesday Night Book Club? Check out our Tuesday Night Book Club Picks list!

Adult Crafternoon: Yarn Wrapped Letter Craft
2025-01-21 13:00 - 14:30
Join us for creativity, conversation, and fun each month at the Library! Learn a new skill and make a craft with supplies provided by the Library.
Dates and Crafts:
January 21: Yarn Wrapped Letter Craft
February 18: Tote Bag Decorating
March 18: Introduction to Paper Quilling
April 15: Decoupaged Wooden Boxes
For adults. Registration required (register for each session individually).

Beginner Sourdough Workshop
2025-01-23 18:30 - 20:00
Sourdough bread is trending, but do you know how to make it? Join us for a fun and interactive beginner class at the Library! We’ll learn how to make and maintain a starter, the science behind the sourdough fermentation process, and tips and techniques for making the perfect loaf. Attendees will make starter in class to take home.
Adults. Registration required.

ILP: Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau
2025-01-23 19:00 - 20:00
Join comedian, actress, and producer Michelle Buteau in conversation with Greta Johnsen. Michelle is the creator/writer/star of the Netflix series Survival of the Thickest, inspired by her autobiographical book of essays of the same name. She is also the host of two popular reality competition shows – The Circle and Barbecue Showdown, and hosts the popular podcast, Adulting. In 2024, she starred in Babes alongside fellow comedian/actress Ilana Glazer.

Born in New Jersey to Caribbean parents, Michelle brings her unique perspective and big personality to stage and screen. Her one-hour comedy special, Welcome to Buteaupia, won the Critics Choice Award for Best Comedy Special. Her new special, A Buteau-ful Mind, dropped on Netflix December 31.

Greta Johnsen is an interviewer, podcast host, and book person. She is loved as co-host of HBO’s Official Game of Thrones Podcast and hosted WBEZ’s Nerdette podcast for eleven years. She can also be heard on podcasts like Pop Culture Happy Hour and City Cast.
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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
Adults. Via Zoom. Registration is required.

Adult Take and Make Kits
2025-01-27 09:00 - 2025-01-28 20:00
Take home a craft to make! Our take-and-make crafts come with all the supplies needed for a project.

Dates and Crafts:
Beginning January 27: Wool Dryer Balls
Beginning February 24: Hand Warmers
Beginning March 31: Seed Starter Kit
Beginning April 28: Wind chime

Stop by the Library to pick up a free kit. Kits are available while supplies last. Limit one kit per person, please!
Adult take-and-make crafts are part of our Adult Craft Connection series.

Lotus Flower Lantern Craft
2025-01-28 18:00 - 19:30
Make a lovely lotus flower lantern using colored paper and wireframes! The Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project will give us step-by-step instructions to make this fun project.
This is a hybrid in-person/ Zoom program. Participants will meet at the Library, with the presenter on Zoom.
Adults. Registration required.

Braver Angels Debate: Should Medicare Be For All?
2025-02-03 18:30 - 20:00
Join Braver Angels (a non-partisan group promoting respectful embrace of political disagreements) for a thought-provoking debate on the subject of Medicare. Hear speakers on both sides of the issue, or share your own thoughts. A Braver Angels Debate is an opportunity both to exercise our minds and to open our hearts. Unlike some debate programs, the point isn’t to win; it’s to understand the other side a little better.
The debate will have a special parliamentary debate format, and be led by a specially trained Debate Chair. This format encourages everyone to participate, supports good faith, accurate disagreement, and promotes better understanding for all.
Adults. Register below.

Cookbook Club: Cook This Book
2025-02-04 18:00 - 19:30
Join us at the Library to explore new recipes, share cooking tips, and enjoy delicious food together! This program is intended for adults who enjoy cooking and sharing food together. All experience levels are welcome. Each Cookbook Club will feature a selected cookbook and attendees will bring a dish from the book to share.
Copies of the cookbook will be available one month in advance at the Library’s Circulation Desk. Registered participants will receive a link to a Google form to include the name of the dish they will be bringing. Participants may contact Alyssa with any questions.
Adults. Registration is required.

Dates and Cookbooks:
Tuesday, February 4: Cook This Book by Molly Baz
Thursday, April 3: Indulge by Valerie Bertinelli

ILP: An Evening with James McBride
2025-02-04 19:00 - 20:00
Illinois Libraries Present James McBride, an award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, was published in 1996 and is considered an American classic, read in schools and universities across the United States. His 2013 novel, The Good Lord Bird, won the National Book Award for Fiction and was adapted by Ethan Hawke and Jason Blum into a Showtime series bearing the same name. His latest, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was named one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2023.

In 2016, President Obama awarded McBride the National Humanities Medal “for humanizing the complexities of discussing race in America. Through writings about his own uniquely American story, and his works of fiction informed by our shared history, his moving stories of love display the character of the American family.” In 2024 he became the latest recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. A native New Yorker, McBride is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University.
Heather Marie-Montlilla of PBS Books will join McBride in conversation.
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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
Adults. Via Zoom. Registration is required.

Murder at Sutter's Hill Ranch: Murder Mystery Fundraiser Dinner
2025-02-08 18:00 - 21:00
Sutter’s Hill used to be one of the biggest and richest ranches in California, until financial setbacks and scheming brought on hard times. The matriarch of the ranch has invited the whole town to dinner and an announcement of a business venture that may save the ranch. But not everyone wants the venture to succeed. Family drama, hidden secrets and radical environmentalists may all combine and result in murder!
You are invited. Put on your best “Yellowstone-style” duds and come out for good chow, drinks and a chance to solve the Murder at Sutter’s Hill Ranch. Tickets for our annual murder mystery fundraiser usually sell out fast, so get yours today.
Adults. Ticket ($55) required.
As of Saturday, February 1, this event is SOLD OUT. No more tickets are available. Thank you for your interest!

The Menu:
The dinner will feature barbecue from Project 47 in Mahomet.
Each person will get pulled pork or beef brisket, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, cornbread and green beans. A variety of desserts are included. Each guest gets two tickets good for a beer/seltzer/wine. Non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited.
Please let us know any special food needs (such as vegetarian or gluten free) ahead of time so that we can accommodate you.
