Clark and Division Takes Center Stage

For the first time since 2019, the signature event for the library’s annual One Book, One Village (OBOV) community read, an evening of conversation with the featured book’s author, took place in person. More than 270 readers filled Forest View Auditorium to hear author Naomi Hirahara delve into this year’s OBOV title, Clark and Division, a gripping mystery of one Japanese American family’s search for truth in 1940s Chicago. More than 110 people also tuned into the library’s YouTube channel and watched the event live. This simultaneous livestream of an author event on YouTube was a first for the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and its community read.

Hirahara was joined on stage by Erik Matsunaga, an author and historian of Chicago’s Japanese American community. Hirahara and Matsunaga took the audience on an insightful journey, including the development of Clark and Division, their experiences growing up as Japanese Americans, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and their subsequent relocation from the camps to cities including Chicago. The conversation was followed by an audience Q&A.

Since Clark and Division was announced as the book for OBOV 2022 in August leading up to the October event, copies of the book had circulated more than 2,200 times—the highest circulation of an OBOV title since 2015. An Evening with Naomi Hirahara was supported, in part, by the Friends of the Library.

Halloween Fun

Kids’ World hosted its 10th annual Halloween Fun celebration, with this being the first time in two years it was offered as a drop-in event. Customers of all ages enjoyed the event with more than 500 people attending.

OCT

Texting Service

In order to greater meet the accessibility needs of the community, LibChat services were expanded to include text

The Arcade Age

After a late November opening, the library was bustling with love for arcade games and nostalgia all December long, and well into January. More than 2,700 visitors came to The Arcade Age exhibit in November with another 6,994 visitors in December. All ages explored and played the games and shared memories, particularly grateful for access to this activity during cold-weather months and while kids were out of school. On loan from the Cradle of Aviation Museum and Education Center and sponsored by the Friends of the Library, the exhibit tells the story of the history of arcade games from their inception in the 1940s to their general decline in the 1990s.

The 12 arcade games were set to free play for library visitors to enjoy. On November 18, the exhibit officially opened with an 80s-themed dance party, with 450 visitors of all ages. Arcade-centric and inspired programming offered throughout the month met the interests of many different audiences. A total of 20 gamers ranging from teens to adults competed in tournaments for Mortal Kombat, Pac-Man and Tetris with more tournament play continuing into January.

Holiday Book Drive

This year more than 1,000 books were generously donated for infants, children and teens for Wheeling Township's Adopt-a-Family program. Special thanks go to the library staff and volunteers, the Rolling Green Country Club Women’s Golf Association, the Lakeshore Circle Book Club and Patton Elementary School for their very generous donations. The library book drive has provided more than 23,000 books to children and teens in need since 1998.

Holidays Keep Equipment Humming

From drumsticks to mugs, sheet music to ornaments, the laser cutters at the Makerplace got quite a workout with over 187 circulations in December. Sublimation printing was also a huge draw with 188 sheets of sublimation paper sold and printed. 110 3D prints were submitted and printed by Makerplace staff in December as well. The holidays were a busy time at the Makerplace!

A Year in the Kitchen

December marked the first full year of culinary classes offered to the public at the Makerplace’s new commercial kitchen. In total, the library offered 74 classes and welcomed 1,057 attendees. Though the variety of classes were designed for adult audiences 18+, this year’s schedule also included classes designed for tweens, teens, parents and even one instructed by an ESL volunteer as a complement to One Book, One Village 2022. Overall, the classes in the kitchen were one of the library’s most in-demand offerings in 2022.