LIBRARY CLOSURE

Bloomington Library will be CLOSED Monday, May 13 through 5pm on Thursday, May 16.

  • The library will be closed ALL DAY from May 13-15.
  • The library will open at 5pm on May 16.

The Bookmobile will make its stops during these closures. Find the Bookmobile schedule at bit.ly/bookmobileschedule.

The closure will allow us to begin to bring back and shelve 3,500 boxes of books which were moved to storage when our construction project began. Additional closures will be necessary and will be announced as details develop. Some collections may not be available until the move is complete.

During open hours, call 309.590.6120 or text 309.446.8398 with questions.

Event List

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Mason Jar Ring Wind Chime

05/06/2024 @ 10:00am to 05/31/2024 @ 5:00pm
Offsite Event at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
At Home (supplies and/or written instructions provided)
Age Group:
Teens
:

Mason Jar Ring Wind Chimes for Teens With this take-and-make craft, teens can create a Wind Chime. Kits will be reserved for the first 40 teens who register. An email with detai...

Register
Required
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Offsite Event
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: At Home (supplies and/or written instructions provided)
Required
Seats Remaining: 12
:

Mason Jar Ring Wind Chimes for Teens

With this take-and-make craft, teens can create a Wind Chime. Kits will be reserved for the first 40 teens who register.

"Ashes Under Water" with Author Michael McCarthy

Thursday, May 16, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Community Rm 2 & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Bloomington Reads is a community reading program series, encouraging people to read and talk about the same book or, for 2024, the same topic. --- Ashes Under Water: The SS E...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Community Rm 2 & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 44
:

Bloomington Reads is a community reading program series, encouraging people to read and talk about the same book or, for 2024, the same topic.

---

Music of the Great Lakes and Illinois Waterways

Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Community Rm 2 & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Child, Adult, Teens, Everyone
:

This program is part of Bloomington Reads, a community reading program series which encourages people to read and talk about the same book or, in 2024, the same topic. --- Mu...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Community Rm 2 & Online
Age Group: Child, Adult, Teens, Everyone
Program Type: Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 49
:

This program is part of Bloomington Reads, a community reading program series which encourages people to read and talk about the same book or, in 2024, the same topic.

English Language Conversation

Monday, May 20, 2024 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Community Rm 2 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Adult, Teens
:

English Language Conversation The English Language Conversations Group, offered in partnership with STAR Adult Literacy, is designed for adults for whom English is a second lang...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Community Rm 2
Age Group: Adult, Teens
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 35
:

English Language Conversation

The English Language Conversations Group, offered in partnership with STAR Adult Literacy, is designed for adults for whom English is a second language.

Fiction Book Club

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:15pm
Conference Room & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Fiction Book Club n recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month, the Fiction Book Club will meet to discuss Künstlers in Paradise by Cathleen Schine. Partic...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
:

D&D: Rise of the Necromancer

Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 12:45pm - 4:45pm
Conference Room at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Teens
:

When a strange, violent storm forces your party to hide in a cavern, you discover a nefarious plot. It’s up to you to put a stop to these plans to engulf the land in eternal darkne...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Conference Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 1
:

When a strange, violent storm forces your party to hide in a cavern, you discover a nefarious plot. It’s up to you to put a stop to these plans to engulf the land in eternal darkness!

Fact and Fiction with Author Jocelyn Green

Saturday, May 25, 2024 at 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Community Rm 2 & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

This program is part of Bloomington Reads, a community reading program series which encourages people to read and talk about the same book or, in 2024, the same topic. --- Au...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Community Rm 2 & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Bloomington Reads, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 54
:

This program is part of Bloomington Reads, a community reading program series which encourages people to read and talk about the same book or, in 2024, the same topic.

Teen Craft: Upcycled Fabric Pendants

All Day 5/28 - 6/11
Offsite Event at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
At Home (supplies and/or written instructions provided)
Age Group:
Teens
:

Teens who register for this program will follow instructions to create a fabric pendant necklace or keychain using 3D-printed frames and upcycled fabric.  Beginning May 28,...

Required
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Offsite Event
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: At Home (supplies and/or written instructions provided)
Required
Seats Remaining: 9
:

Teens who register for this program will follow instructions to create a fabric pendant necklace or keychain using 3D-printed frames and upcycled fabric. 

Vase Designs with CodeBlocks

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Computer Lab at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Teens
:

Vase Designs with CodeBlocks Tinkercad Codeblocks is a software program which allows blocks of code to create designs for 3D-printing models. In this program, teens will design ...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Computer Lab
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 6
:

Vase Designs with CodeBlocks

Tinkercad Codeblocks is a software program which allows blocks of code to create designs for 3D-printing models.

Books on Tap Book Club

Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Offsite Event at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
Book Club
Age Group:
Adult
:

Books on Tap Book Club The Books on Tap Book Club will meet at Lil Beaver Brewery to discuss Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between by A...

Register
Required
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Offsite Event
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club
Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
:

Books on Tap Book Club

The Books on Tap Book Club will meet at Lil Beaver Brewery to discuss Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between by Amrou Al-Kadhi.&nbs

Tales for Tails

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Department at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud. There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet ...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Department
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 8
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud.

There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet and read to a pup in the Children's Department:

Tales for Tails

Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Children's Department at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud. There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet ...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Department
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 8
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud.

There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet and read to a pup in the Children's Department:

True Colors Book Club

Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Offsite & Online at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult, Teens
:

True Colors Book Club he True Colors Book Club will meet to discuss The Pink Line: Journeys Across the World's Queer Frontiers by Mark Gevissier. Participants have...

Register
Required
Offsite Event
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Offsite & Online
Age Group: Adult, Teens
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
:

Lego Construction

Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 9:30am - 11:30am
Children's Program Rm 1 & 2 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

Lego Construction Join us for Lego Construction and have your picture taken with your creation. The challenge is to build whatever you want! Note: No registration is needed f...

Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Program Rm 1 & 2
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
:

Lego Construction

Join us for Lego Construction and have your picture taken with your creation. The challenge is to build whatever you want!

Lego Construction

Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 1:30pm - 3:30pm
Children's Program Rm 1 & 2 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

Lego Construction Join us for Lego Construction and have your picture taken with your creation. The challenge is to build whatever you want! Note: No registration is needed f...

Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Program Rm 1 & 2
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
:

Lego Construction

Join us for Lego Construction and have your picture taken with your creation. The challenge is to build whatever you want!

Let's Dish! A Cookbook Club

Monday, June 10, 2024 at 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Community Rm 3 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
Book Club, In-Person Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Let’s Dish! A Cookbook Club Calling culinary enthusiasts! Join us in exploring the book The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Prepare a recipe of your choosing ...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Community Rm 3
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 14
:

Let’s Dish! A Cookbook Club

Calling culinary enthusiasts! Join us in exploring the book The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt.

Lighted LED Festival Lanterns for Teens

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Innovation Lab at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
Innovation Lab, In-Person Program
Age Group:
Teens
:

In celebration of the 2024 Summer Reading theme -- Read. Renew. Repeat. -- teens will create festival lanterns from recycled materials, including used soda bottles, used magazines,...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Innovation Lab
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Innovation Lab, In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 12
:

In celebration of the 2024 Summer Reading theme -- Read. Renew. Repeat. -- teens will create festival lanterns from recycled materials, including used soda bottles, used magazines, and an assortment of paper.

Mystery Book Club

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Conference Room & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Mystery Book Club The Mystery Book Club will meet to discuss The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne. Participants have the option to meet either in-person at Bloomin...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 24
:

Mystery Book Club

The Mystery Book Club will meet to discuss The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne. Participants have the option to meet either in-person at Bloomington Public Libra

Tales for Tails

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Department at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud. There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet ...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Department
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 8
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud.

There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet and read to a pup in the Children's Department:

The Woman Who Would Not Be Silenced

Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Virtual Room at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital (the state mental asylum) in 1860 and was kept under lock and key for three years, all the while protest...

Register
Required
Virtual Event
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Virtual Room
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
:

Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard was committed to the Illinois State Hospital (the state mental asylum) in 1860 and was kept under lock and key for three years, all the while protesting her sanity.

D&D for Kids

Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Children's Program Rm 2 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

This Dungeons and Dragons experience for kids in grades 3-5 will include a simplified, rules-light adventure. Maybe you want to prove to yourself that you are strong and capable; m...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Program Rm 2
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 5
:

This Dungeons and Dragons experience for kids in grades 3-5 will include a simplified, rules-light adventure.

English Language Conversation

Monday, June 17, 2024 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Community Rm 2 at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Adult, Teens
:

English Language Conversation The English Language Conversations Group, offered in partnership with STAR Adult Literacy, is designed for adults for whom English is a second lang...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Community Rm 2
Age Group: Adult, Teens
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 39
:

English Language Conversation

The English Language Conversations Group, offered in partnership with STAR Adult Literacy, is designed for adults for whom English is a second language.

Fiction Book Club

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 7:00pm - 8:15pm
Conference Room & Online at Bloomington Public Library & Online
Program Type:
Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Age Group:
Adult
:

Fiction Book Club In recognition of Pride Month, the Fiction Book Club will meet to discuss The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune. Participants ha...

Register
Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Required
Seats Remaining: Unlimited
:

Tales for Tails

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Children's Department at Bloomington Public Library
Program Type:
In-Person Program
Age Group:
Child
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud. There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet ...

Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library
Room: Children's Department
Age Group: Child
Program Type: In-Person Program
Required
Seats Remaining: 8
:

This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children in Grades K-5 who want to practice reading aloud.

There will be 4 time slots available for kids to meet and read to a pup in the Children's Department: