"3 Hot Days in August": Honoring the Legacy of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot

“3 Hot Days in August” is a powerful, 3-day, citywide observance that honors the legacy of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot. Through community programs and public reflection, we seek to remember, reclaim, and reckon with our shared past.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, August 14th at Lincoln Library. Register now to join us for this special evening featuring welcome remarks by Mayor Misty Buscher and Austin Randolph, President of the Springfield Branch NAACP, a screening of Springfield Had No Shame, and presentations from Dr. Brian Mitchell and Anne Moseley.

Leading up to the observance, the community is invited to stop by one of the following origami crafting stations and fold an origami bird or butterfly in honor of those affected by the riot:



• August 2: ALPLM Back to School Bash
• August 2: Rooted in Resources Community & Family Resource Fair
• August 2-12: Lincoln Library Youth Services Department
• August 2-12: Illinois State Museum
• August 2-12: Lincoln Home National Historic Site

The origami creations will be collected and displayed at the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument as a symbol of collective memory and healing.

Discover and Grow

Podcasting 102

Ready to take your podcast idea to the next level?

Join us for the second session in our introductory podcasting series! You'll learn how to use professional recording equipment, edit and mix audio files, export your finished podcast, and publish it for the world to hear. We’ll also share tips and tricks for scripting and crafting compelling content.

All participants must sign a waiver for ongoing access

to The Collaboratory.

August 12th

5:30-6:30PM

Learn More and Register

Yoga: Beginners to Advanced

Everyone ages 13 and up is welcome in this community yoga class.

We will focus on breathing, stretching and honoring our bodies. Just bring a mat and comfy clothes! 

Instructor: Hannah Liechty

August 4th

6:30-7:30PM

August 18th

6:30-7:30PM

Learn More

Making Sense of Dollars

Join us for a series of informative workshops designed to empower you with essential financial knowledge.

Whether you’re just starting out or need a refresher, our program covers key topics to help you build a solid foundation. Let us discover how we can Make Sense of Dollars.



August 11th

4:00-5:00PM

Saving Success

August 25th

4:00-5:00PM

Student Loan Repayment

Learn More

Pop-up libraries are a temporary collection of materials for patrons to browse and check out at a location other than the library.

Come sign up for a library card, renew library cards, and return checked out library materials. You also will have access to our digital library resources and our Wi-Fi.

"Who's on First: What's Up with Freedom of Assembly?"

Join us for the fourth installment of our summer Civil Civics series where we'll take a closer look at the First Amendment.

This session will dive into the intricacies of Freedom of Assembly, that the right to gather collectively as one voice advanced benefits warranting constitutional protection.

August 19th, 6:00-7:30PM

Learn More

Turn your ideas into reality at the CoLab!

Terrain Sculpting Collective | August 4th and August 18th, 5:00-7:00PM

Podcasting 102 | August 12th, 5:30-6:30PM

Zine Club | August 6th and August 20th, 5:00-7:00PM

Learn more and register for a class!

Sharpen your computer skills and uncover your roots with a free genealogy class in the Nancy Huntley Computer Classroom at Lincoln Library.

This introductory course will guide you through the powerful online genealogy tools available through the library. Basic computer skills are required to get the most out of this class.

August 12th, 5:30-7:00PM

Learn more

Gathering of the Bookalos

Join our off-site BYOBook Silent Book Club. There is no assigned reading, just bring whatever book 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.

August 2nd, 2:00-3:30PM

The Pasfield House

Register to attend or learn more

Spinetinglers Horror Book Club

This book club for fans of ghosts, vampires, and other spooks and ghouls meets on the third Tuesday of each month for discussion of a different horror book.



This month's selection is Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes. Follow Claire Kovalik and her crew as they investigate a long-lost luxury space-liner, only to uncover a chilling mystery that threatens their sanity—and their lives.

August 19th, 6:00-7:30PM

Learn more

Sharpen Your Computer Skills

August Computer Classes:



Computer Basics 1

New to computers? Not sure how to get started? Make this class your first stop. Learn the basic components of a computer, how to use a mouse, and more beginner computer skills.

August 4th, 6:00-7:00 PM

August 12th, 10:30-11:30AM

August 19th, 10:30-11:30AM

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. Bring your own device (like a smartphone, e-reader, tablet, or laptop) or borrow one of the computers in our computer classroom.

August 14th, 2:30-3:30PM

August 28th, 10:30-11:30AM

Exploring Your Family Tree

An introduction to the online genealogy resources offered by the library, including Ancestry Library Edition, Fold3, Family Search, and more!

Attendees should have computer experience

August 12th, 5:30-7:00PM