Mahomet Public Library

Preschool Playdate
2025-01-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-31 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Children (ages 3-5) and their caregivers are welcome to join us on Friday mornings for open-ended playtime! Each session will feature a different assortment of toys and activities.
Ages 3-5. No registration required.
Please note: There will NOT be Preschool Playdate on April 25 due to the book sale.

Acting Out: Theatre Workshop
2025-01-18 10:00 - 16:30
Theatre kids from all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to join us for a workshop focusing on basic acting skills and exercises. Students will learn about characterization, improvisation, and interpreting a script. There will be separate sessions for different age groups.
Grades K-12. Register for the session that corresponds to your age group.

Age Groups and Times:
Grades K-3: 10:00-11:30 am (register here)
Grades 4-6: 12:30-2:00 pm (register here)
Grades 7-12: 3:00-4:30 pm (register here)

Baby Storytime
2025-01-21 09:30 - 09:50, 2025-01-28 09:30 - 09:50, 2025-02-04 09:30 - 09:50
Bring your baby to storytime on Tuesday mornings at the Library! There will be songs, bounces, and books!

Ages 0-18 months. No registration required.
Please Note: There will not be Baby Storytime on April 1 due to the election.

Toddler Storytime
2025-01-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-01-28 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-02-04 10:00 - 10:30
Join us on Tuesday mornings to enjoy storytime for toddlers and caregivers. There will be songs, rhymes, and stories!
Ages 18 months-3 years. No registration required.
Please note: There will NOT be Toddler Storytime on April 1 due to the election.

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).

Preschool Storytime
2025-01-22 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-01-29 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-02-05 10:00 - 10:30
Join us on Wednesday mornings for storytime for preschoolers and caregivers. There will be songs, movement, and books!
Ages 3-5. No registration required.
Please note: There will NOT be Preschool Storytime on April 2 due to the election.

Elementary Explorers
2025-01-22 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-01-29 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-02-05 15:30 - 16:30
Join us every Wednesday for a fun, one hour after school program! Activities will rotate monthly. We’ll usually meet from 3:30-4:30 pm, but we’ll move it up to 1:30-2:30 pm on early dismissal days.
January: LEGO Club

January 15 & 29: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
January 22: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

February: Art Club

February 5, 12, 26: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
February 19: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

March: Pokémon Club

March 5 & 26: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
March 12: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
March 19: no meeting

April: Maker’s Club

April 2: no meeting
April 9: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
April 16, 23, 30: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)

Grades K-5. No registration required.

Little Groovers! Music and Movement
2025-01-23 10:00 - 10:30, 2025-02-06 10:00 - 10:30
Join us for a fun-filled music and movement program designed for toddlers and preschoolers age 2-5 and their caregivers. In this interactive program, children will sing, dance, and move to a variety of exciting songs that engage their imaginations, enhance motor skills, and encourage social interaction.
For children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. No registration required.

Dates (approximately every other Thursday):
January 23
February 6
February 20
March 6
March 27
April 10

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.

Dungeons & Dragons Club
2025-01-26 13:30 - 16:30
Join us for exciting DnD adventures that encourage creativity, strategy, and teamwork! There’s sure to be fun at every session. This is a continuous campaign beginning from character level 1. Players should expect to attend each session.
Grades 6-12. Your registration is for all of the sessions together.
Dates:
Sunday, January 12
Sunday, January 26
Sunday, February 9
Sunday, February 23
Sunday, March 9
Sunday, March 23
Sunday, April 6

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.

Graphic Novel Book Club: The Night Librarian
2025-01-31 16:00 - 17:00
Calling all graphic novel enthusiasts! Join us as we read and discuss a set graphic novel at each book club session. Participants are welcome to bring and/or talk about other graphic novels they’ve enjoyed.

Dates and Books:
January 31: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln
March 28: Wings of Fire: the Dragonet Prophecy Graphic Novel by Tui Sutherland

Grades 3-7. Please register for each session individually.

Stitching Circle
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.

Take Your Child to the Library Day! Scavenger Hunt & Hot Cocoa Bar
2025-02-01 14:00 - 16:00
Help us celebrate “Take Your Child to the Library Day” and join us for a scavenger hunt in the Library, along with a cozy hot cocoa bar!
All ages. 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.
