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Lincoln Library News & Events
October 2024
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Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad
Many Illinois communities and residents were part of the courageous effort to assist slaves seeking freedom with the help of the underground railroad. These stories are featured in a new traveling exhibit by the Looking for Lincoln Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area called Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad. The exhibit is available and open to the public at Lincoln Library through November 2024.
Special Underground Railroad Events:
Monday, October 21st 6:00-7:30PM
Lincoln Home National Historic Site Historian Tim Townsend will talk about Abraham Lincoln’s neighbor, Jameson Jenkins, who played an important role in the hopes of freedom seekers passing through Springfield.
Monday, October 28th 6:00-7:30PM
Though Illinois entered the Union as a free state in 1818, slavery continued to exist within its borders for decades. Freedom seekers, abolitionists, and pro-slavery forces turned to the judicial system to determine the fate of slavery in Illinois. This talk will highlight several of the nearly two dozen slave cases that reached the Illinois Supreme Court and examine the Court’s role in ending slavery in the Prairie State.
Songs of the Illinois Freedom Road presented by Chris Vallillo
Saturday, November 2nd 2:00-3:30PM
Folk musician and folklorist Chris Vallillo presents a powerful musical performance featuring the songs, stories, and struggles of the Illinois Underground Railroad. The show features rare first-person accounts of freedom seekers who passed through Illinois.
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"The Trolley Problem (made famous by The Good Place): You’re on a runaway trolley about to kill five workmen on the rails ahead, but you see a switch you can throw to divert trolley to a sidetrack where there is only one workman who would be killed. Do you let five die through no fault of your own, or do you intentionally kill one person?
The ancient Greeks were way ahead of us. An angry god gave Agamemnon a choice: sacrifice your concubine, or your entire army will be stranded forever. Agamemnon has made his choice, but what happens afterward? What are the repercussions for Agamemnon? His wife? His children? His entire city? In the three plays of The Oresteia, Aeschylus explores the tragic results of having to make an impossible decision."
-John, Adult Services Librarian
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"Dipping into a genre in which I’ve not waded plus a call to cozy are why I picked up The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst. Cloud bears that protect the forest, a sentient spider plant, and an all-around sense of sweetness (including a librarian main character who literally makes and sells jam) kept me reading.
Life can be sharp and difficult, but this book, if you’re able to sink into the fantasy and delight of it all, is just such a pleasant reprieve. It’s a romantasy, a coming home story, and a tale of finding connection. The characters are likeable, there is suspense that keeps the pages turning, and there is magic – including flying cats. That’s right, flying cats. So put on your jammies, prepare yourself a hot cup of tea, and settle into to the purple-edged pages of The Spellshop."
-Megan, Outreach Librarian
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Turn your ideas into reality at the CoLab!
October Classes:
Podcasting 102 | October 1st, 5:30-6:30PM
Sewing Class: Trick-or-Treat Bag | October 15th, 3:00-5:30PM
Cricut Class: No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating | October 22nd, 3:00-5:30PM
Intermediate Sewing Class: Quilted Jack-o-Lantern Placemat | October 29th, 5:00-7:00PM
Learn more and register for a class!
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The Stitchuation
Join the Stitch-uation! Bring your craft of choice for a time, a place, and a supportive space to work on your projects. Crafters of all kinds and all skill levels are welcome. We have knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, sewing, and more! Whatever project you have to work on, bring it to the DeFrates Reading Room on the 3rd Floor. Share ideas, recommend a book, ask for advice, or just chat about your week while you work.
October 1st, 6:00-7:30PM
Learn More
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Board Game Night at Buzz Bomb
Join us at Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. for a downtown Springfield night of beer and board games! We'll have a wide-ranging collection of board games to choose from, from old classics to modern euro games! Join up with other attendees or come with your own group of players. Borrow one of our games, or bring your own if you have a favorite!
Adults 21+ only.
October 3rd, 7:00-9:00PM
Learn More
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Gathering of the Bookalos
Join our off-site BYOBook Silent Book Club. There is no assigned reading, you just bring whatever book in whatever format you'd like and read it quietly alongside others who are doing the same thing. That's it. It's a time dedicated to quiet reading, learning about what others are reading, and hanging with folks out in the community.
October 5th, 3:00-4:30PM
Register to attend or learn more
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Just Add Magic: An Eclectic Take on Self-Publishing
Author Sianyn Leigh discusses the pros and cons of skipping big name publishers and publishing yourself in the modern day.
Presented by the Lincoln Library Amateur Writer's Guild.
October 14th, 6:00-7:00PM
Register to attend or learn more
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Civil Civics
Join us as we examine big issues heading into the Presidential election this fall.
In order to become a US citizen, you have to pass the US Citizenship Test. Illinois eighth graders take a similar test: the Illinois Constitution Test. Are you up to the challenge?
October 1st, 6:00-7:30PM
Come and try your hand at our original game, "Race to 270". It takes 270 Electoral College votes to be elected President of the United States. Can you devise the winning strategy to sway the swing states, get to the magic number, and propel your candidate across the finish line and into the White House?
October 15th, 6:00-7:30PM
What does fascism really mean? Are fascist terms and imagery really being used in our current political discourse, and if so, what's the big deal?
Join us as we hear from UIS Professor of Political Theory and Philosophy, Dr. Richard Gilman-Opalsky, speak to us about fascism and its forms, past and present.
October 30th, 6:00-7:30PM
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TEENtober
Teentober is a nationwide celebration hosted by libraries every October to highlight year-round Teen Services and celebrate the teens themselves. Here's how we are celebrating:
TEENtober Reading Challenge
Read five books in the month of October to earn five entries into our raffle for wireless noise-cancelling headphones! Teens (grades 6-12) can register and pick up reading logs at the Youth Services desk.
YA Civil Civics
October 1st, 4:00-5:00PM
It's Family Feud meets the US Citizenship Test! Can you pass?
October 15th, 4:00-5:00PM
It's Risk meets the Electoral College! Can you propel your candidate across the finish line and into the White House?
Teen Time
Wednesdays, 3:00-4:00PM
October 2nd: Squishy star decorating craft
October 9th: Board game day
October 16th: Teen Advisory Group
October 23rd: Teen Book Club
October 30th: Teen Halloween
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Learn New Skills at the Library!
October Computer Classes:
Computer Basics
Learn the basic components of a computer, how to use a mouse, and more.
October 7th, 6:00-7:00PM
October 22nd, 10:30-11:30AM
Microsoft Word Basics
Learn how Word works! From writing letters, to crafting research papers, and even making labels-we'll show you how.
October 10th, 2:00-3:00PM
PowerPoint 101
Learn the basics of Microsoft PowerPoint with this helpful computer class.
October 11th, 3:30-4:30PM
Ask a Library Techie
Our tech-savvy staff members will be on hand to answer tech questions or help you one-on-one with any kind of computer or device.
October 17th, 2:30-3:30PM
October 24th, 10:30-11:30AM
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Dr. Andrew Lam Presents "The Only Winner in War Is Medicine"
A Fundraiser for the Lincoln Library Alliance
International best-selling author and Springfield native Dr. Lam will present a riveting look at how WWII sparked innovations in cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, and trauma care that saved lives in postwar America, referencing his most recent publication, The Masters of Medicine. Signed copies will be available for purchase through partnership with the Lincoln Library Alliance, with all proceeds benefiting Lincoln Library!
Thursday, October 31st 3:30-4:45PM
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Visit Us:
326 S. 7th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 753-4900
www.lincolnlibrary.info
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Hours:
Mon - Wed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Thur - Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sun 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Curbside Hours:
Mon - Wed 10:00 am - 6:45 pm
Thur - Fri 10:00 am - 4:45 pm
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