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BYOBook Club

4:00pm–5:00pm
Authors & Books, Kids & Families
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on August 7, 2025 @ 4:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Storytime Room
Age Group: Elementary School
Program Type: Authors & Books, Kids & Families
Registration Required
Event Details:

Love reading and want to share your book joy with other kids? Join our BYOBook Club! No pre-reading necessary - we'll eat snacks, talk about what we're enjoying and share recommendations. For kids entering grades 3-6. 

Latine Author Book Cafe: "The Seventh Veil of Salome"

6:00pm–7:30pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on August 12, 2025 @ 6:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Registration Required
Event Details:

Latine Author Book Cafe

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month as we discuss works written by Latine authors.* Spanish language copies will be made available when possible. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

*After discussion with community members and staff, the library changed its usage from “Latinx” to “Latine.” Latine is a term created by LGBTQIA+ Spanish speakers. This term uses the letter "e" to illustrate gender inclusivity within existing Spanish pronunciation rules. It is a more inclusive term that acknowledges the gender and language diversity of the community.

Book discussion pick: 1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to be Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times.

Crime & Coffee: "The Library Book"

3:30pm–5:00pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on August 15, 2025 @ 3:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Scoville Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Crime & Coffee

Talk history and crime with fellow true crime lovers over a hot cup of coffee. Each month, participants will be presented with a true-crime case to discuss as a group. Expect multiple points of access to each case, from books, ebooks, and audiobooks to true crime podcasts, documentaries, and more. Then join library staff for coffee and snacks as we discuss the details. Whether you like to read, listen, or watch—or all of the above!—there's an option for everyone. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

Words on Wednesday: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

1:00pm–2:00pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on August 20, 2025 @ 1:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Words on Wednesday

Expect stimulating conversation about fiction and nonfiction titles selected by Adult Services Librarians. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

In Elizabeth Tova Bailey's The Sound of a W

Leyendo Libros: "Cuentos de Eva Luna"

11:00am–12:00pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Offsite
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Offsite
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Event Details:

¡Acompáñanos al club de lectura de tu biblioteca!

Latine Author Book Cafe: TBA

6:00pm–7:30pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Main Library
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural

Latine Author Book Cafe

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month as we discuss works written by Latine authors.* Spanish language copies will be made available when possible. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

*After discussion with community members and staff, the library changed its usage from “Latinx” to “Latine.” Latine is a term created by LGBTQIA+ Spanish speakers. This term uses the letter "e" to illustrate gender inclusivity within existing Spanish pronunciation rules. It is a more inclusive term that acknowledges the gender and language diversity of the community.

Otherworldly Reads Book Discussion: "Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon"

6:00pm–7:00pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 11, 2025 @ 6:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Otherworldly Reads

In Otherworldly Reads, you can enjoy a bimonthly book discussion where we alternate between science fiction and fantasy literature. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

In Shigidi and the brass head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi: Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the O

Author Visit: Oak Park Poet Jim Madigan

2:00pm–3:30pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 14, 2025 @ 2:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Veterans Room
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Hear from local Oak Park poet and author Jim Madigan to celebrate the release of his book Political Prisoners USA and Other Poems.

Words on Wednesday: The Midnight Library

1:00pm–2:00pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 17, 2025 @ 1:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Words on Wednesday

Expect stimulating conversation about fiction and nonfiction titles selected by Adult Services Librarians. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality.

Earth Lounge: An Environmental Book Discussion: "How far the light reaches: a life in ten sea creatures"

6:00pm–7:00pm
Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Sustainability
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 17, 2025 @ 6:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: High School, Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Sustainability
Registration Required
Event Details:

Earth Lounge: An Environmental Book Discussion

Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature on the third Wednesday of every other month. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

In How far the light reaches: a life in ten sea c

Chapter Chasers! Book Pick Up

4:30pm–5:30pm
Authors & Books, Students Grades 6-8, Students Grades 9-12
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 19, 2025 @ 4:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Middle School Space
Age Group: Middle School, High School
Program Type: Authors & Books, Students Grades 6-8, Students Grades 9-12
Registration Required
Event Details:

Chapter Chasers is a book club for teens (grades 6-12) to build a love for reading and have meaningful book discussions.

Tea & Terror Book Discussion: "House of Bone and Rain"

3:30pm–4:30pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 20, 2025 @ 3:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Scoville Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tea & Terror

Join library staff for an afternoon of hot tea and terror in this exciting, horror-themed, bi-monthly book discussion. Horror is much more than ghost stories or bloody murders—it can be scary but also funny, sad, powerful, or moving. There's a whole universe of terror out there, waiting to be discovered by adventurous readers. Expect a variety of horror styles and subgenres—from the ghastly and gory to the spooky and sublime, from the horrors of the natural world to the supernatural terrors beyond!

In House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias: For childhood friends Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and B

Author Visit: Disrupting Segregation: An Evening with Tonika Johnson & Dr. Maria Krysan

7:00pm–8:00pm
Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on September 30, 2025 @ 7:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Veterans Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism
Registration Required
Event Details:

The book "Don't Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It" offers a powerful entry point into underst

Latine Author Book Cafe: TBA

6:00pm–7:30pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural
Main Library
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Multicultural

Latine Author Book Cafe

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month as we discuss works written by Latine authors.* Spanish language copies will be made available when possible. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

*After discussion with community members and staff, the library changed its usage from “Latinx” to “Latine.” Latine is a term created by LGBTQIA+ Spanish speakers. This term uses the letter "e" to illustrate gender inclusivity within existing Spanish pronunciation rules. It is a more inclusive term that acknowledges the gender and language diversity of the community.

Crime & Coffee: "The Wager: a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder"

3:30pm–5:00pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on October 19, 2025 @ 3:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Scoville Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Crime & Coffee

Talk history and crime with fellow true crime lovers over a hot cup of coffee. Each month, participants will be presented with a true-crime case to discuss as a group. Expect multiple points of access to each case, from books, ebooks, and audiobooks to true crime podcasts, documentaries, and more. Then join library staff for coffee and snacks as we discuss the details. Whether you like to read, listen, or watch—or all of the above!—there's an option for everyone. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

The Wager: tale of shipwreck, mutiny and

Author Visit: Be Steadwell

6:30pm–7:30pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on October 22, 2025 @ 6:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Veterans Room
Age Group: High School, Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

We're thrilled to welcome debut novelist, accomplished musician, filmmaker, and screenwriter Be Steadwell.

Leaf Town Forever: A Reading, Haiku & Crafts

3:30pm–4:30pm
Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on November 2, 2025 @ 3:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Veterans Room
Age Group: Babies & Toddlers, Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Arts & Culture, Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Local Chicagoland authors Beth and Kathleen Rooney read from their debut picture book Leaf Town Forever.

Otherworldly Reads Book Discussion: "The Way Spring Arrives & Other Stories"

6:00pm–7:00pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on November 13, 2025 @ 6:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Otherworldly Reads

In Otherworldly Reads, you can enjoy a bimonthly book discussion where we alternate between science fiction and fantasy literature. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

In The Way Spring Arrives and Other Stories, you can dine at a restaurant at the end of the universe, cultiva

Chapter Chasers! Check-in

4:00pm–4:30pm
Authors & Books, Students Grades 6-8, Students Grades 9-12
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on November 14, 2025 @ 4:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Middle School Space
Age Group: Middle School, High School
Program Type: Authors & Books, Students Grades 6-8, Students Grades 9-12
Registration Required
Event Details:

Chapter Chasers is a book club for teens (grades 6-12) to build a love for reading and have meaningful book discussions. This meeting is a check-in for all those who are reading the book.

Tea & Terror Book Discussion: "Lone Women"

3:30pm–4:30pm
Authors & Books
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on November 15, 2025 @ 3:30pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Scoville Room
Age Group: Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books
Registration Required
Event Details:

Tea & Terror

Join library staff for an afternoon of hot tea and terror in this exciting, horror-themed, bi-monthly book discussion. Horror is much more than ghost stories or bloody murders—it can be scary but also funny, sad, powerful, or moving. There's a whole universe of terror out there, waiting to be discovered by adventurous readers. Expect a variety of horror styles and subgenres—from the ghastly and gory to the spooky and sublime, from the horrors of the natural world to the supernatural terrors beyond!

In Lone Women by Victor LaValle: A

Earth Lounge: An Environmental Book Discussion: "We are the Middle of Forever"

6:00pm–7:00pm
Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Sustainability
Main Library
Register now
Registration Required
Registration will close on November 19, 2025 @ 6:00pm.
Library Branch: Main Library
Room: Small Meeting Room
Age Group: High School, Adults, Older Adults
Program Type: Authors & Books, Equity & Anti-Racism, Sustainability
Registration Required
Event Details:

Earth Lounge: An Environmental Book Discussion

Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature on the third Wednesday of every other month. Learn more about library-led book discussions »

An American Library Association Notable Book, We are t