Lotus Flower Lantern Craft
2025-01-28 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago)
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.

Stitching Circle
2025-02-01 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-01 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-04-05 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.

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.

Tuesday Night Book Club
2025-02-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-03-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-04-08 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-05-13 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!

Valentine Bingo
2025-02-13 13:00 - 14:30
Get ready to shout “BINGO!” in an afternoon filled with fun and anticipation. Local businesses have generously donated exciting prizes. Ensure your spot by registering in advance – this event is tailored for those ages 18 and above. Join us for this delightful Valentine-themed event!
Adults. Registration is required.

A HUGE thank you to the following businesses for donating prizes (listed in alphabetical order):

Briks Pizzeria
Bulldog Automotive
Chophouse on Main
Daddy’s Food Group: Ice Daddy’s, Patty Daddy’s, Mahomet Chocolate Company
Flora Design Studio
Flow Yoga
The Hive Honey Beetique
Leland’s Barbershop
The Little Things
The Main Scoop
OS Salon
Poke Shack
Rad Lad Games
The Rock Counseling Group
Yellow & Co.

Adult Crafternoon: Tote Bag Decorating
2025-02-18 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).

ILP: Slowing Down with Amy Tan
2025-02-19 19:00 - 20:00
National Humanities Medal winner and bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club, Amy Tan joins us to share on her body of work and reflect on the wonder of slowing down and savoring the quiet moments. Her connection to nature is captured in her latest, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, a collection of sketches and essays which debuted at #1 on both the New York Times and the Indie bestseller list.
Born in the U.S. to immigrant parents from China, Tan’s first bestselling novel, The Joy Luck Club, offered a look at the immigration experience from the perspective of mothers and daughters. Other New York Times best-sellers followed, including The Kitchen God’s Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Saving Fish from Drowning, and The Valley of Amazement. Tan is also the author of two children’s books, a memoir, and other works. In keeping with her love of science and childhood love of doodling, she recently took up nature journal sketching. When she found herself overwhelmed by our increasingly divisive culture, she turned to nature and the world of bird life outside her own window.
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
2025-02-24 09:00 - 2025-02-25 20:00, 2025-03-31 09:00 - 2025-04-01 20:00, 2025-04-28 09:00 - 2025-04-29 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.

CANCELED: No More Technology Tantrums
2025-02-24 18:00 - 19:30
Join us for a parenting seminar at the library, where we tackle the challenges of technology in today’s homes. Parenting coach Christine Leeb will help us learn how to set healthy boundaries, foster strong relationships with your kids, and use technology to support, not disrupt, your parenting efforts.
Get practical tips on teaching self-control, preventing tech overload, and creating a balanced family environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to take control of your family’s tech use and promote healthier connections at home. Register now to reserve your spot!
Adults. Registration required. Everyone who registers and attends the program will be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card from Dr. G’s Brainworks!

Game Night at the Library: Wingspan
2025-02-27 18:00 - 20:00
Join us for a fun game night featuring Wingspan, a popular strategy board game about birdwatching and conservation! Perfect for beginners and experienced players, don’t miss this opportunity to play and connect with fellow board game enthusiasts!
Ages 14+. Registration required.

ILP: Exploring Space with Coralie Adam
2025-03-04 19:00 - 20:00
Get an inside look at the space industry with Illinois’ own Coralie Adam. She’ll be joined in conversation by Renae Kerrigan, Curator of Science and Director of the Dome Planetarium at Peoria Riverfront Museum.

Born and raised in Illinois, Coralie holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Astronomy from the University of Illinois, and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences from the University of Colorado. She leads the multi-mission Optical Navigation team at KinetX Aerospace, the first privately held company to provide deep space navigation and flight dynamics expertise to NASA. At KinetX, Coralie has had lead roles on the navigation teams for NASA’s New Horizons, OSIRIS-REx, Lucy, and OSIRIS-APEX missions. Coralie’s work enabled the first exploration of the Pluto system and the historic sample collection of near-Earth asteroid Bennu. In addition to leading the OSIRIS-REx optical navigation team, she co-convened the scientific investigation of Bennu’s active particle ejection phenomena. Coralie is currently the Deputy Navigation Chief on NASA’s Lucy mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, as well as supporting several commercial and government exploration initiatives to the moon and beyond.
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.

Meet the Candidate: Village President Candidate Q&A
2025-03-06 18:30 - 19:30
Village Council member Jason Tompkins is the sole candidate running for Village President on the April 1st election. He has agreed to sit down with Library Director John Howard to discuss his goals and vision for Mahomet, and to answer questions from residents. Please join us to learn more about our candidate.
Adults. No registration required.

Adult Crafternoon: Intro to Paper Quilling
2025-03-18 13:00 - 14:30

ILP: 9to5 - The Story of a Movement
2025-03-21 14:00 - 2025-03-23 23:30
Watch the award winning documentary from the comfort of your home! The documentary highlights the creation of the 9to5 movement, established to fight for workplace equity and against wage discrepancy and was the basis for the feature film, 9 to 5, starring Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin.
In the early 1970s, secretaries in Boston decided to fight against humiliating, harassing and illegal work environments. Their movement became national and is a largely forgotten story of U.S. twentieth century history. Director Julia Reichert was an Academy Award and Emmy Award winning documentarian.
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. Registration is required. The recording can be viewed starting at 2pm, Friday, March 21 through 11:59, Sunday, March 23. Registrants will receive an email with a special link to the performance.

Plant Swap
2025-03-29 11:00 - 12:00
Attention green thumbs and leaf enthusiasts! It’s time for a plantastic exchange! Bring your beloved plants, cuttings, and seeds to the Library. Share the plant love and take home some new leafy pals. Just remember to bring your plants in pots you’re ready to bid farewell to, then let the “plant swap” commence!
Plant Swap Info:

Bring house plants, seeds, and/or rooted propagations in soil.
All items should come in containers/packaging you are willing to part with AND be labelled with the name and basic care instructions. Example: Spider Plant – water every 5-10 days, partial sun

Schedule:

11:00-11:30 am: Arrive with your plant(s), browse other plants that have been brought in, mingle with fellow plant-lovers
11:30 am-12:00 pm: Plant swap (Note: There will be a table for giveaway plants.)

Adults. No registration required.

Cookbook Club: Indulge
2025-04-03 18:00 - 19:30

ILP: The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:00
Alexis Nikole Nelson is a forager and an outdoor educator using her platforms, TikTok account alexisnikole and Instagram page blackforager, to celebrate all the edible plants hiding in plain sight. She peels back historical layers on African American and Indigenous food traditions that have traditionally been repressed and empowers those living in food deserts with greater self- sufficiency.
Nelson received the James Beard Award for “Best Social Media” 2022, was chosen for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and as a TikTok Tastemaker, and was honored as part of Fortune Magazine’s Creator 25 in 2021. Nelson gave a TED Talk in 2022 and in 2023 joined the YouTube channel Crash Course to host a 15-episode botany series.
Alexis Nikole Nelson will be joined in conversation with Natalie Evans, a wild edible foods instructor.
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 Crafternoon: Decoupaged Wooden Boxes
2025-04-15 13:00 - 14:30

Save Money with Zero-Waste
2025-04-17 18:00 - 20:00
Join Linda Stroh, Zero-Waste Advocate, to learn money-saving strategies that also sustain the future of our planet. Discover the benefits of the five R’s (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot), and how to implement them to detox your home and reduce clutter. Walk away with resources and tips to lessen unnecessary consumption, improve your health, and preserve the Earth for the next generations.
Adults. Registration required.

Poetry Concert: Poetry and Music with Carl Reisman and M.J. Walker
2025-04-22 18:30 - 20:00
Celebrate National Poetry Month with an evening of poetry and music that speaks to the heart of the adult experience. Performers Carl Reisman and M.J. Walker are storytellers in verse and song, exploring emotions and dilemmas we hesitate to discuss. The program will feature M.J. Walker’s musical interpretations of poems by former U.S. Poet Laureate and National Book Award winner Philip Levine, as well as original songs and poetry by Carl Reisman.
Philip Levine’s (1928-2015) poetic work continues to give us glimpses and truths of Industrial and post-Industrial America, via his own, his friends’ and family’s work within the massive car production industry in Detroit Michigan. He was able to use his factory work to help others see what American life was like for men and women working in factories in factory towns in Twentieth-century, Midwest America. Following his younger years in Detroit, Levine lived, worked and wrote his poetry in Chicago and elsewhere, and in his later years, in California, where his poems also consider work there, including wildfire fighters’ experiences. Philip Levine’s poetry continues to be relevant because in each poem he brings together very large forces like a massive industry or wildfire disasters with very individual experiences of specific people like his brother (his twin), his son, childhood friends, or a woman co-worker — all of whom continue to live rich and thoughtful lives as they navigate work and life.
MJ says, “This essential combination of specific personal lives within big endeavors, events and changes is what drew me to Philip Levine’s poetry, and also inspired me to put some of his poems to music. In my own life, I have loved playing guitar and singing since I was a child and have used my music to ponder my experiences, and to share them with others. I have one CD of my own songs, Gold Mill (2000) and have performed solo and with Carl Reisman in Shy Folk and many other musicians in the Champaign-Urbana area, including Amasong Women’s Chorus and The Coneflowers. Philip Levine’s poetry in the collection What Work Is (1991) transported me into the lives of his subjects so that I felt I could ‘live a little of their lives’, which is what all good storytelling can do. I was moved to use my musical ideas to attempt to, hopefully, deepen my own and others’ experiences of some of Levine’s poetic work. That said, his poems stand alone quite strongly and with much integrity to this day. One of the things I have found so hard in this project is how songs differ from poems, in both rhythm and structure, which is part of the challenge of putting poetry to any song form. Regardless, I hope to continue to encourage interest in his work and for new readers to seek it out, in order to get to know it in their own ways.”
For adults. No registration required.

About the Performers:
Carl Reisman is a singer-songwriter, poet, and retired lawyer who lives in rural Mahomet with his wife, veterinarian Robin Hadley, three horses, and their dog, Friday. He’s the founder, lead singer, and song writer for the Americana group, Ticketless Traveler, which has produced one CD and is currently finishing a second album of songs recorded at studios in New Orleans and Urbana. Carl has published two collections of poetry, Kettle (Hot Lead Press, 2005) and Home Geography (Stone City Press, 2007), as well as essays and poems in various very sweet and very obscure literary journals. Ticketless Traveler’s songs and videos can be streamed on Spotify and YouTube. Carl most recently played the singer songwriter listening room showcase at Yellow and Co. in Mahomet.
Carl and M.J. Walker began collaborating a decade ago in the group that they started, Shy Folk. They continue to collaborate. M.J. has provided back up vocals on Ticketless Traveler’s recordings and Carl has provided M.J. with occasional backup vocals and percussion for her Phillip Levine songs, including a typewriter.
