Mahomet Public Library

Growing Readers: Parent-Child Book Club
2026-04-20 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Help the Library grow a community of readers with this parent-child book club for kids in grades 3-6 and their adult caregiver(s). Pizza and refreshments will be provided. Registration is required. Please register adults and children separately.
February: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
April: The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
Grades 3-6 & adult caregiver. Individual registration required for each parent or child attendee.

Baby Storytime
2026-04-21 09:30 - 09:50, 2026-04-28 09:30 - 09:50
Bring your baby to the Library for a fun storytime featuring lap bounces, songs, rhymes, and books!
This storytime is designed especially for our littlest library lovers (age 0-18 months) and their caregivers!

Toddler Storytime
2026-04-21 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-28 10:00 - 10:30
Join us at the Library for a storytime specifically designed for toddlers (ages 18 months to 3 years) and their caregivers, featuring songs, rhymes and books!

Adult Crafternoon: Beaded Succulents
2026-04-21 13:00 - 14:30
Join us for creativity, conversation, and fun! Learn a new skill and make a craft with supplies provided by the Library.
Dates and Crafts:
January 20: Woven Mug Rug
February 17: Paper Cone Wreath
March 24: Pressed Flower Luminary
April 21: Beaded Succulents
May19: Perler Bead Magnets

Adults. Registration required.

Preschool Storytime
2026-04-22 10:00 - 10:30, 2026-04-29 10:00 - 10:30
Drop in for a fun-filled storytime designed for preschool-aged children (3-5 years) and their caregivers!
MPL storytimes feature a fun mix of songs, rhymes, and books!

Elementary Explorers
2026-04-22 15:30 - 16:30, 2026-04-29 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: STEM Club

January 14 & 28: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
January 21: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

February: Art Club

February 4, 11, 25: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
February 18: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

March: LEGO Club

March 4 & 25: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
March 11: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
March 18: no meeting

April: Drama Club

April 1, 8, 22, 29: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
April 15: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

Grades K-5. No registration required.

Spring Book Sale
2026-04-23 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-04-24 09:00 - 18:00, 2026-04-25 09:00 - 17:00, 2026-04-26 13:00 - 16:00
Thursday, April 23 | 5:00 – 8:00 pm (preview night for Friends members only; you can join at the door)
Friday, April 24 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday, April 25 | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 26 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Road Trip Ready
2026-04-28 18:30 - 19:30
Get your car ready for your next road trip! Join us for an informative program on basic car maintenance and how to prepare your vehicle for a trip. It will include practical tips on things like checking tires and fluids, understanding regular maintenance schedules and knowing when it’s best to DIY versus bring your car in for service.
Presented by Scott Miller from Bulldog Automotive.
Adults. Registration required.

Ask an Arborist: Caring for Your Trees
2026-04-30 18:30 - 19:30
Keep your trees healthy and resilient this season. Local arborist Tyler Courson from Courson Landscape Management & Consulting will share practical advice on pruning, spotting signs of disease or damage, and knowing when to call a professional. Bring your questions (or photos) for expert guidance during this interactive session.
Adults. Registration required.

Seventh Annual Jigsaw Puzzle Competition
2026-05-02 13:00 - 15:00
This popular event is back! Get ready to piece together a victory at the Library’s yearly puzzle competition. Race against the clock and complete a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle faster than competing teams. Are you up for the challenge?
Registration as a team of up to 4 people is required. All ages welcome.

Arts and Crafts Supply Swap
2026-05-09 09:45 - 10:30
Got a surplus of gently-loved or even brand-new art and craft supplies collecting dust at home? Eager to dive into a new hobby without breaking the bank on fresh materials? From May 3-8, drop off supplies in good condition that you’re ready to part with. Then, at the swap, snag some supplies for your creative adventures, free of charge!
Swap Day Schedule:
9:45-10:00 am: Those who donate will receive a voucher for early entry to the swap.
10:00-10:30 am: Public entry (everyone who did not donate supplies) begins
10:30 am: Anyone is welcome to take the remaining materials, even if you have already filled a bag.

All ages. No registration required.

Tuesday Night Book Club
2026-05-12 18:30 - 19:30
Tuesday Night Book Club is a great way to connect with fellow book lovers. All are welcome! Grab your copy of the month’s book and we’ll talk about it with good company and great conversation.
January: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
February: James by Percival Everett
March: The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson by Ellen Baker
April: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
May: Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Adults. No registration required.

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

Thank You Reception for Brenda Farney
2026-05-16 13:00 - 15:00
After 28 years, Brenda Farney is retiring from her role as an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer — and we can’t let her go without saying thank you! Brenda got her start at H&R Block in Iowa before moving to Illinois and joining the AARP tax assistance program, meeting clients here at the library. She’s been a familiar, welcoming face every tax season for nearly three decades.

Those who’ve been around long enough may remember when the library called the old downtown building home. Brenda was there, working out of the second floor storage area. She later moved to the basement — more private, she’ll tell you, but noticeably colder. When the current library building opened, she made the move right along with it.
For almost 30 years, she has shown up, patiently and knowledgeably, for anyone who needed help. That kind of dedication is rare, and this community is better for it. We are so grateful for everything Brenda has given to this community. She will truly be missed!
In celebration of Brenda and her contributions to the community, please join us at the Library on Saturday, May 16 from 1-3 pm for cookies and lemonade! No RSVP is necessary.

Adult Crafternoon: Perler Bead Magnets
2026-05-19 13:00 - 14:30

Summer Reading Programs
2026-05-23 - 2026-08-01
Summer reading time is here! The much-anticipated Summer Reading Programs kick off on May 23, the day of our I Spy Summer kickoff at the Library (you can sign up that day!), and conclude on July 31 (the last day to log minutes). This year’s iREAD 2026 theme is “Plant a Seed, Read!” an all ages summer reading program based on the connection between food and stories. A farm grows food that nourishes our bodies; a library grows ideas that nourish our minds. Both food and stories connect us to our family, culture, economy, and ecology. iREAD 2026: Plant a Seed, Read will provide a context for exploring culture, history, science, health, and human connection! There will be child, teen, and adult prizes (even prizes for the community) based on minutes read.
Kids (Birth-Fifth Grade):

Use your reading log to track your minutes read and earn beads for your brag tag!
Finish your whole log and receive a FREE BOOK, Monicals coupon, and star to put up on the wall in the children’s area.
Earn stickers for your badge book full of bonus reading challenges. Complete all the challenges to get a bonus toy prize of your choice.

Teens (Sixth-Twelfth Grade):

Use your reading log to track your minutes read.
Get a raffle ticket for every hour you read.
Finish your whole log and receive a FREE BOOK and Monicals coupon.

Adults:
For every 10 hours you read, fill out a raffle ticket for a chance to win a gift card from a local business!
Community Prizes: Help Us “Unlock” Prizes for Everyone!

Download the “Reader Zone” app or log in on their website.
Enter your total number of minutes read.
If the community reads a certain number of minutes in total, we will unlock the following special community prizes:

50,000 Minutes: Forest Magna-tiles set
100,000 Minutes: New Yoto player and card bundles
175,000 Minutes: Reading nook!
215,000 Minutes: Foam party at the Library

I Spy Summer at the Library
2026-05-23 09:00 - 14:00
Get ready for the ultimate summer kickoff bash! Join our “I Spy” themed walk from Barber Park to the Library, followed by inflatables, carnival games, face painting, temporary tattoos, music, summer reading sign-up, and more. Free hot dogs and chips begin at 11:00 am, while supplies last. Ice Daddy’s shaved ice will also be available for purchase. Don’t miss the fun!

The “I Spy” Walk
You won’t want to miss out on our “I Spy” walk from Barber Park to the Library. All ages are welcome!

FOUR STOPS with special displays! Kids who collect stickers from the red buckets at all 4 stops will get a free book at the end. Grownups will get a free coupon for our Keurig station.
An I Spy hunt all along the route, with plenty of items, some big and some small, to find! This year’s walk will feature robots, socks, and monkeys, plus many unique items. We’ll give you a scoresheet to keep track of what you find.

The shuttle will drop you off at Barber Park, then you’ll follow the bike path to the Library. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the rest of the summer party fun! We encourage people to park at the Library and take the provided shuttle to the starting line.

The Course

It’s a 1.3-mile route following the bike path the entire way, and stroller friendly!
All hidden items will be located close to the trail in grassy areas. You will not need to venture into the woods or nearby yards.
The bike path runs along Route 150 for a while. Please make sure you have enough adults in your party to supervise young children for these stretches along the road. The route also crosses a few intersections.
We are offering free shuttle service 9am-1:30pm from the library to the start of the walk.

This fundraising event supports your community through the Rotary Club of Mahomet and the Friends of the Mahomet Public Library.

Presented by:

Gold Sponsors:

School's Out! Ice Daddy's Party
2026-05-26 13:00 - 15:00
School’s out, and the fun begins! Let’s celebrate with free frozen Ice Daddy’s treats for kids, courtesy of Classic Plumbing & Air. Don’t forget to get signed up for summer reading!

Baby Storytime
2026-06-02 09:30 - 09:50
Bring your baby to the Library for a fun storytime featuring lap bounces, songs, rhymes, and books!
This storytime is designed especially for our littlest library lovers (ages 0-2 years) and their caregivers!

All Ages Storytime
2026-06-03 10:00 - 10:30
Join us for storytime on Wednesday mornings in June and July! This storytime is geared toward children ages 2-5 with a caregiver, but children of all ages are welcome! There will be books, rhymes, songs, and more!
Ages 2-5 & caregivers. No registration required.

Wonder Club: Guardians of the Sea
2026-06-03 15:00 - 16:00
Join us every Wednesday afternoon for fun activities that will make you wonder! Explore topics like marine biology, gardening, art, weather, and so much more! Each session will feature a different topic for inquisitive minds. Registration is required. Please register for each session separately.
This session’s topic is Guardians of the Sea: Tiny Plankton, Apex Predators, and You!
Dive into the underwater world to discover how every creature, from tiny plankton to powerful sharks, help to keep the ocean healthy. You will learn about ocean food chains, apex predators, and keystone species while also learning why ocean conservation is an important element when it comes to protecting each and every animal. The program is led by Friends With Fins YouTube series host and local TV personality, Jaclyn Friedlander, who brings marine conservation to life with kid‑friendly science facts and a shark craft you can take home with you.
Entering grades 2-5. Register for each session individually.

Yoga on the Lawn
2026-06-03 18:00 - 19:00
Join us outdoors for a welcoming all-levels yoga class led by Colleen Crawford. Each session offers approachable instruction with options demonstrated throughout, so you can decide whether to challenge yourself or simply relax.
Each class is unique and no experience is required. Please bring your own mat. A limited number of mats are available to borrow.
Adults. Register for each session individually.

Dates and Times:
Wednesday, June 3, 6:00-7:00 pm
Wednesday, June 10, 6:00-7:00 pm
Monday, July 6, 6:00-7:00 pm
Monday, July 13, 6:00-7:00 pm

About Colleen Crawford, the Instructor
Colleen Crawford is an experienced fitness instructor, personal trainer, and yoga teacher. She has been teaching since 2007 and has pursued and completed numerous continuing education and certification classes in the years since. In her classes, Colleen strives to provide an experience where all participants feel successful by offering options that allow each individual to tailor the movements to their needs. Colleen’s credentials include RYT-200 hr, NCSA-CPT, Certified Pre- and Post-Natal Coach, Roll Model Method Practitioner, Barre Above, PiYo, TurboKick, and INSANITY.

Little Groovers: Music and Movement
2026-06-04 10:00 - 10:30
Your littles are invited to wiggle, giggle, and groove their way to fun while engaging their imaginations, enhancing motor skills, and building social connections!
We’ll explore rhythm, sound, and movement with a fun selection of songs and dances.
Ages 2-5 and caregivers. No registration required.

Teen Craft Cafe
2026-06-04 15:00 - 16:30
Calling all crafty teens entering grades 6-12! Looking for a chill space to hang out with your friends and do some crafting? Join us for crafty activities, snacks, music, and conversation! We’ll have a variety of craft supplies available: beads, paint pens, button makers, and so much more!
Dates (First Thursdays):
June 4
July 2
Entering grades 6-12. No registration required.
