Grayslake Library Blog

Sunday, June 19th is Juneteenth, a newly-recognized federal holiday, and a day set aside to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We are pleased to offer a wide selection of titles to read in honor of this day, from children’s books about the holiday itself, to hard-hitting adult titles exploring the African American experience. Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free is a children’s book that tells the true story of a Texan woman who fought for recognition of this day in her home state. Juneteenth for Mazie is a title written and illustrated by award-winning author and artist Floyd Cooper. All Different Now tells the story of people who began their day as slaves, and ended it as free people. For adults, Four Hundred Souls is a collection of writings delving into the 400-year history of African Americans. The Warmth of Other Suns is about the exodus of millions of people from the southern states to the north. How to Be an Antiracist asks ...

  It’s June, and that means it’s time to celebrate Pride Month, held every year in honor of the Stonewall riots of 1969. These early protests by the LGBTQ+ community were instrumental in shaping the history of Pride in the US, and across the world. Whether you’re looking to learn more about the movement, or you just want to enjoy books and other media that are created by queer voices, we are happy to supplement your Pride Month with these titles and more. For younger readers, there are several titles that can introduce them to the movement. Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution by Rob Sanders is a good telling of the story that introduces readers to the people instrumental in the riots. Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag , also by Rob Sanders, goes into the history of the now iconic rainbow flag. For adults, there is a wide array of fiction titles that you can read to celebrate LGBTQ+ people. Might we suggest the book Detransition, Baby by Torrey Pete...

Happy spring! April showers bring May flowers–and vegetables, too! Whether you’re planting a beautiful bouquet or yummy veggies to eat, we are your one-stop-shop for resources when it comes to gardening. Looking to grow vegetables? We’ve got you covered, with books like Grow More Food or The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables . Want to know how animals and insects can be your allies? Check out Garden Allies .  Need to know what to plant when? Find titles on year-round gardening to help you pick timely seeds. Want to find out what grows locally? Look up books on Midwest gardening or, more specifically, what to sow in Illinois . We also have for you a number of magazines, from Better Homes and Gardens to Taunton’s Fine Gardening . If you have a Grayslake Library card, you also have access to our emagazines on Flipster , or books on gardening through Hoopla . There are a couple of organizations in and around Grayslake that are dedicated to gardening and harvesting. Check...

  Summer is right around the corner, and the Grayslake Library is here to help you plan your summer (or anytime!) vacation. Looking for the inside scoop on accommodations? New unique places to visit? Fun travel close to home? We’ve got you covered! Discover recommendations, guidance and suggestions to help you plot out your trip across the country, within Illinois borders, or overseas. First, your library has access to different magazines related to travel. Check out Travel + Leisure , a magazine with hot destination tips and up-to-date travel news, including mask and COVID vaccine requirements. You can check out issues from this year or 2021 for all your travel needs. Traveling locally? We suggest Midwest Living for insights on taking trips closer to home. Of course, you also have access to a number of travel books. From publishers like Fodor’s, with current books like Essential Italy 2022 or Paris 2022 to help you plan some international travel. Looking to travel within the US...

  It’s National Library Week from April 3-9 , and to celebrate we’d like to hear from YOU. We’re collecting stories from you , our patrons, about what the library means to you. To share a story, visit the library’s website , call us at 847/223-5313, or stop at any of our public service desks! We’re collecting these stories to use for promotional purposes, so you might see your story appear on our website, social media, in-library signage , and more. In exchange for your story, you can pick up some library-branded SWAG! Once you’ve submitted your story, visit any of the public service desks to pick up your item (while supplies last, items received may vary). Not sure what kind of story to write? Try thinking of a time the library really came through for you, be it finding the perfect book, answering a difficult reference question, offering a fun and educational program or service, or any time we generally left a good impression. Or, use the following examples submitted by an anonymo...

In turbulent times such as these, it is important to stay informed. At the Grayslake Library, you can access multiple sources of information to help you keep current with current events. From newspapers to informative books and videos, you’re sure to find something that sheds light on the Ukraine-Russia conflict and their shared history. One such database is Ebsco’s Newspaper Source . A simple search for “Ukraine Russia Conflict” and sorting by date returns the most recent news on the conflict from a wide range of newspapers. The Grayslake Library, and other libraries in the CCS consortium, also have access to many contemporary books on the subjects of Ukraine and Russia. Some titles to check out include Red Famine by Anne Applebaum , detailing Stalin’s crimes against the Ukrainian peasantry; In Wartime by Tim Judah , which tells stories from Ukraine’s war-torn recent history; or A Short History of Russia by Mark Galeotti . Don’t be afraid to ask for book recommendations as well! Our ...

March is Youth Art Month, but you don’t need to be (or have!) a kid to celebrate. After taking a couple years off due to COVID, the Grayslake Library is once again partnering with local schools and organizations to bring the art to you! Grayslake school districts 46 and 127, as well as Prairie Crossing Charter School and the Grayslake Arts Alliance, have lent us a wide range of artistic creations to promote the importance of the arts. Our goal is to highlight the importance of art education, as well as to provide access to creations you wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Art can be uplifting in these trying times, and from paintings, to drawings, to photography, to sculptures, you’re bound to find something to lift your spirits. The art will be on display throughout the building from March 1 to March 31. Once you’ve browsed the art, you might be inspired to browse our shelves for art books! From books on watercolor painting to exhibition catalogs , the library offers a wide range of materi...