Blue Island Public Library

10/21/2026

The Blue Island Public Library will be having an in-person viewing in the Meeting Room at 7pm! There will be snacks!

Virtual and In-person event: (💻+🪑)
Register on the website!

Engage in an important and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Eve L. Ewing, acclaimed author, educator, poet, and cultural organizer whose work explores race, education, identity, and community. Through writing that blends scholarship, storytelling, and activism, Dr. Ewing has become one of today’s most influential public voices on culture and education.

Explore the power of language and storytelling as Dr. Ewing reflects on how words shape public memory, challenge systems of inequality, and help communities imagine new futures. From classrooms and libraries to poetry and popular culture, this conversation will consider the many ways stories influence how we see ourselves and one another.

Perfect for librarians, educators, students, writers, and readers alike, this event invites attendees to think critically about the role of literature, learning, and community in times of change. Whether you are familiar with Dr. Ewing’s work or discovering it for the first time, this conversation promises insight, inspiration, and meaningful discussion.
Moderator
Brandis Friedman will moderate the event. Friedman is a writer and anchor for WTTW’s Chicago Tonight and Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, and also serves as a champion for libraries.

10/20/2026

This Thursday in the Children's Department! Come by to make a Halloween Ghost Suncatcher! No registration required!

10/20/2026

Join us tonight in the Makerspace at 7pm! We will have snacks!

Preserving History with Geoffrey Baer
Tuesday, October 20 at 7 PM CST

Tag along for a special conversation with Geoffrey Baer, beloved Chicago historian, storyteller, and host of numerous PBS programs exploring the architecture, history, and hidden stories of the city and surrounding region. Known for bringing local history to life, Baer has helped audiences connect more deeply with the places and communities around them.

Perfect for librarians, archivists, educators, history lovers, and lifelong learners, this event offers an engaging look at the people, places, and stories that define Chicago. Whether you're passionate about local history or simply curious about the stories hidden in your own community, you'll leave with a renewed appreciation for the power of preserving and sharing the past.

Hybrid Event! (💻online +🪑in-person):
The Library will be hosting a small in-person viewing with some snacks in our downstairs Meeting Room!

Register Here💻: https://bit.ly/LPS6GeoffreyBaerRegistration

10/20/2026

Reminder: tomorrow from 4:30PM to 5:30PM in the Children's Department. Our Autumn Art Gallery is small but mighty (and beautiful!) this year, so swing by tomorrow before 5:30PM to vote for your favorite. Winners announced promptly after counting the votes at 5:30PM.

10/20/2026

This Saturday in the Makerspace! Walk-ins Welcome!

☣️ "What if the next global outbreak doesn't spread from person to person..... but from building to building?! ☣️

On Saturday, October 24th! Come by the Makerspace to meet Author, Barton Robertson as he talks about his book "The Remediator."

The Remediator Synopsis: "Brandon Robinson, an environmental remediation specialist whose routine career involves entering contaminated buildings to uncover and clear out toxic growths. However, his job takes a terrifying turn when a genetically engineered fungal outbreak pushes humanity to the edge of extinction."

Barton Robertson will be having a Q&A session, as well as a brief reading from "The Remediator" and MORE.....

Register here:
https://blueislandpl.librarycalendar.com/event/remediator-barton-robertson-9146

10/20/2026

There are still some spots left for tomorrow's Puking Pumpkin program! Join us in the Tech Annex to create a barf blast inside a 3D printed pumpkin! 🎃 🤮

Register here:
https://blueislandpl.librarycalendar.com/event/puking-pumpkin-8140

10/19/2026

📢 Blue Island Public Library has begun a planning process to improve the first floor of our building, and we want to hear from you! 📢 Please take the time to share your thoughts in our Facility Improvement Plan survey.

For more information and to complete the survey, visit:
https://blueislandlibrary.org/facility-improvement-plan

10/19/2026

It's National Friends of the Library Week! 💙 📚
We'd like to take some time to thank the Friends of the Blue Island Public Library for everything they do!

From Volunteering at events such as the Summer Kickoffs, Hosting the Annual Holiday Open House, and so much more, we are grateful for all of their contributions!

A Reminder that the Friends of the Blue Island Public Library are hosting a Literary Cocktails & Canapes on Friday, November 13th from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Albee House!
💙 💙 💙 💙 💙 💙
(EVENT INFORMATION)
A "Friend-raiser" gala complete with cocktail demos by Steering Cocktails, live music, and small bites, etc. A night to enjoy with friends, both literary and down-to-earth.

Every registration to this event will be used to support library functions both big and small.

Together, we can continue to support this terrific library that brings so much joy to this community.

Get your tickets!