New Lenox Library Guide: Spring 2022

Library programs are subject to change based on COVID-19 safety requirements. This Guide may be outdated by the time of the program. Please check the online calendar or ask staff for up-to-date information.

guide

March, April & May 2022

May is for

Makers h B oo h ic

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+ Follow along with remaking the Library!

i l l W i n?

March Madness Book Brackets

New Lenox Public Library

LEGO May-nia!

Build a Tower

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Get Ready for Summer Learning

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide re fe re ndum update

In the Guide 2 Library Renovations Update 3 An Evening with Madeline Miller 4 March Madness Book Brackets 5 Staff Picks: Adult & Teen Services 7 National Poetry Month Events

First phase of renovations planned, Library going out to bid for contractors

8 May is for Makers 9 LEGO May-nia & Summer Learning 10 Storytimes 11 Programs for Kids 13 Programs for Teens 14 Teen Artist of the Month 14 Art Classes with Creativebug 15 Programs for Adults 17 Javanese Gamelan Program 20 Mobile Workforce Center Job Help

The next chapter of New Lenox Library’s lobby renovation begins! We will

Library Closures

be going out to bid for contractors this Spring, with construction likely to

March 4, Staff Development Day

start by early Summer.

The entranceway and Lobby area will be under construction soon. We

April 17, Easter Sunday May 29, Sunday before Memorial Day May 30, Memorial Day

hope to renovate in a way that will not effect the Library’s regular open hours. We are replacing the heavy entrance doors with automatic doors, removing barriers into the lobby, moving the Digital Media Lab downstairs and expanding into a more accessible makerspace, and creating a meeting

Register for Programs

room for smaller groups. We’re shifting the Patron Services public desk

Online at newlenox.librarymarket.com

and workspace, giving you more self-checkouts, more room for holds, and

Call the Library at 815-485-2605

also giving the lobby area an updated look.

creating a quick-copy area. Alongside the reimagining of our space, we’re

Ask a staff member while you’re visiting the building COVID-19 has changed the way we are able to offer Library programs. As we continue to adapt, there may be changes to our published calendar. We thank you for your continued understanding.

New Lenox Public Library

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The lobby area is the first phase of three planned phases over the next 5 to 10 years. The second phase will focus on the downstairs children’s area. The third phase will focus on the upstairs adult and teen areas.

Follow New Lenox Public Library on Facebook, @newlenoxlibrary and @nlplcreative on Instagram, and sign up for our weekly eNews to keep up with renovation progress.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

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An Evening with

Madeline Miller Join us for an evening with Madeline Miller, one of the leaders in Greek retellings, New York Times bestselling author, Orange Prize for Fiction winner, to discuss her works, Song of Achilles and Circe.

Madeline Miller’s first novel, The Song of Achilles, was awarded the 2012 Orange Prize for Fiction and was a New York Times bestseller. Her second novel, Circe, was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller.

Before she was a novelist, Madeline Miller earned her BA and MA in Classics from Brown University, and she taught and tutored Latin, Greek and Shakespeare to high school students for more than fifteen years.

Her novels have been translated into over twenty-five languages, and her essays have appeared in The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Lapham's Quarterly and on npr.org.

Registration is currently open.

This program is presented in partnership with multiple Illinois libraries and limited seats will be available.

Please follow the link in your confirmation email to finalize your registration and list the New Lenox Library as the place you heard about this event. If you do not complete this second step, you will not receive a Zoom link to the event.

Where can you find these books?

At the Library

Libby

Hoopla

Axis 360

Song of Achilles

Book

eBook, eAudiobook

eBook, eAudiobook

eBook, eAudiobook

Circe

Book, Audio CD

eBook, eAudiobook

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eBook, eAudiobook

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

h B oo h ic

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March Madness Book Brackets

i l l W i n?

Starting March 7, vote for your favorite titles each week as sweet sixteen books in eight genre divisions battle it out for the title of March Madness Champion!

Your Sweet Sixteen

Be sure to vote every Monday in March. Each time you vote, your name will be entered into a prize raffle. Get a bonus prize entry when you fill out a bracket with your predictions before the tournament begins; anyone who correctly guesses their entire bracket will win a prize! The winning title will be announced Monday, April 4.

Historical Fiction: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon / Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Brackets and voting forms can be picked and dropped off at the Adult & Teen Services desk.You can also download a bracket, print it out, and bring it to the Library or email it to Kelli Jean at kcunningham@newlenoxlibrary.org. A link to vote online will be available on our online calendar.

Raffle Basket includes: Kurdene S8 wireless earbuds, 18 oz Iron Flask water bottle, ½-pound Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, orange vanilla Dreamsicle scented candle, all-natural blood orange handsoap, and a clip-on trash can basketball hoop.

New Lenox Public Library

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Graphic Novels: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang / Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Sci-Fi/Speculative Fiction: Brave New World by Aldus Huxley / Dune by Frank Herbert Poetry: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur / The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Biography/Memoir: I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai / The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot Fantasy: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin / The Fellowship of The Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Classics: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton / Beloved by Toni Morrison Romance: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern / The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

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Staff Picks with Adult & Teen Services Audiobooks with Annette

YA with Melissa Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells. The Cruel Prince meets A Curse So Dark and Lonely in this epic reimagining of “The Sleeping Beauty” that follows a teen girl on a quest to wake a sleeping princess in an enchanted forest, while searching for the truth behind her own deadly curse.

A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz.

When an ex-Detective Inspector and an author are invited to a literary festival, they don’t expect to find themselves in the middle of murder investigation, or to be trapped with a cold-blooded killer in a remote place with a haunted past.

The Women’s March: A Novel of the 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession by Jennifer Chiaverini. Alice returns to America after years in the suffrage movement in Great Britain. On March 3, 1913, a march commences, but negligent police allow vast crowds of belligerent men to block the parade route, endangering not only the march’s success but the women’s very lives.

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney.

Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can’t recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary Adam’s wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now.

No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson. A group of researchers sets sail for the North Atlantic in 1905 to explore the cause of mysterious disappearances, most notably a family of four who vanished without a trace after a weeklong holiday on the island. As more unexplainable events unfold, the nowstranded investigators don’t know whether they can trust their own eyes, their instincts, one another, or even themselves.

The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music

by Dave Grohl. Grohl offers an honest portrait of an extraordinary life made up of ordinary moments.

Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside by Nick Offerman. A humorous and rousing set of literal and figurative sojourns as well as a mission statement about comprehending, protecting, and truly experiencing the outdoors by Will County native Nick Offerman.

New Lenox Public Library

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My Hero Academia: Ultra Analysis: The Official Character Guide

by Kohei Horikoshi (translation by Caleb Cook) is jampacked with all the profiles, stats, and trivia about your favorite heroes—plus a color art gallery, sketches, and a team-up discussion featuring My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi in conversation with Bleach creator Tite Kubo!

The Upper World by Femi Fadugba. If you had the chance to change your future, would you take it?

Perfect for fans of Neal Shusterman and Jason Reynolds, this powerhouse, mindbending YA debut follows two teens, a generation apart, whose fates collide across time—and outside of it.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

Continued on pages 6–7 →

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

Fiction with Monica & Juliana You Feel It Just Below the Ribs: A Novel

by Jeffrey Cranor & Janina Matthewson.

Haunting, provocative fictional autobiography in an alternate 20th century that chronicles one woman’s unusual life, including the price she pays to survive and the cost her choices hold for the society she is trying to save.

Something to Hide by Elizabeth George.

When a police detective is taken off life support after falling into a coma, only an autopsy reveals the murderous act.

Detectives must sort through the lies and secret lives of people whose superficial cooperation masks the damage they do.

Brown Girls: A Novel by Daphne Palasi Andreades. A blazingly original debut novel about a group of friends and their immigrant families from Queens, New York—a tenderly observed, fiercely poetic love letter to a modern generation of brown girls.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar. In this tender and evocative novel about love, hope, familial devotion, betrayal, and sacrifice, Thrity Umrigar shows us two courageous women trying to navigate how to be true to their homelands and themselves at the same time.

Lemon by Yeo-sun Kwon. In the summer of 2002, when Korea is hosting the FIFA World Cup, 18-year-old Kim Hae-on is killed in what becomes known as the High School Beauty Murder. Parasite meets The Good Son in this piercing psychological portrait of three women haunted by a brutal, unsolved crime.

Much Ado About a Latte by Kathleen Fuller.

It’s a bitter cup to swallow when ambition turns longtime friends and coworkers Anita and Tanner into rivals. Now that they own competing businesses, how could they ever compete for each other’s hearts?

Non-Fiction with Monica & Juliana Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer by Rax King. An irreverent and charming collection of deeply personal essays about the joys of low pop culture and bad taste, exploring coming of age in the 2000s in the age of Hot Topic, Creed, and frosted lip gloss.

Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World by Eve Rodsky. Creativity is not optional.

It’s essential. An inspirational guide for setting new personal goals, rediscovering your interests, cultivating creativity, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space.

A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon. What did killing mean in a city where gladiators fought to the death to sate a crowd? Explore Roman culture, including how perpetrator, victim, and the act itself were regarded by ordinary people.

Fix It with Food: Every Meal Easy by Michael Symon & Douglas Trattner. 120+ simple, delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to help you manage autoimmune issues all day—plus a​n all-new 10-day, 30-recipe reset to identify your food triggers.

Bibliophile: Diverse Spines by Jane Mount & Jamise Harper. Themed book stacks and reading suggestions from luminaries of the literary world provide curated book recommendations. Diversify your reading list to expand your world and shift your perspective.

A Killer by Design by Ann Wolbert Burgess.

A vivid behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and the evolution of criminal profiling, written by the pioneering forensic nurse who transformed the way the FBI studies, profiles, and catches serial killers.

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

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Homeschool Help with Karen The Everything Guide To Homeschooling by Sherri Linsenbach.

An accessible guide for fun and stress-free homeschooling!

The Homeschooling Option by Lisa Rivero.

Explore the diverse faces of homeschooled students and the ways in which it can help children with special learning needs.

Everything You Need to Know About Homeschooling by Lea Ann Garfias. Successfully tackle homeschooling in your own style, with confidence, grace, and the joy of learning.

Homeschooling for Dummies by Jennifer Kaufeld. From setting up a learning space, selecting a curriculum, and creating a schedule to connecting with other locals.

Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp.

Plans from preschool to high school, covering each grade, with lists of topics at each level, resource and reading lists, and much more.

The Call of the Wild + Free by Ainsley Arment.

Provide a quality homeschool education and raise kids to experience the adventure, freedom, and wonder of childhood.

A pril is N ational Poetry Month

4th Annual Poetry Contest Adults & Teens Monday, March 14–Friday, April 8

Calling all poets: celebrate National Poetry Month together!

The New Lenox Public Library will be hosting a month-long poetry contest to highlight your creativity. Submit a poem on any topic and in a style of your choosing.

For more information, and to submit your poem, go to our website at newlenoxlibrary.org/poetrycontest.

All submissions will be published in our annual poetry journal!

Prizes will be awarded to the top poems in these categories: • 7th–9th Grades • 10th–12th Grades • Adults

Adults & Teens Tuesday, April 26 6 pm–7 pm Meeting Room AB

Join us to celebrate National Poetry Month with a poetry café.

Come read your favorite poem, share an original work or just come and listen! Please keep prepared material appropriate for all ages and limited to 5 minutes. The Library will provide light refreshments (COVID conditions permitting).

Plus, celebrate the launch of our 2021 poetry booklet! Be sure to stop in and grab a copy.

Only one poem per person can be entered.

Entries accepted only within the United States.

New Lenox Public Library

Poetry Café

Poetry performers are encouraged to register in advance starting March 26, but drop-ins are welcome! All participants will be entered for a door prize raffle.

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

May is for

Makers All Ages

Monday, May 16—Saturday, May 21 Calling all DIYers and lifelong learners! Tune in for webinars, demos, challenges and goodies from local professionals, library staff, and community members.

All week long we will present virtual live-streamed programs and take & make kits. Come in and grab all the material you need for our crafts and surprise challenges! There’s something for every Maker. Stay tuned to our eNews, website or social media for a full list of presenters and projects.

Get hands-on with all that the New Lenox maker community has to offer and engage with us on social media! Be sure to share your creations. What will you Make?

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

LEGO

MAY-NIA!

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All Ages May 1–31 Youth Services Desk + Makerspace Help us build an epic LEGO tower all month long! Visit the Youth Services desk and add two bricks for every book that you check out during the month of May. The LEGO fun doesn’t stop there! Drop by the Makerspace for fun weekly LEGO challenges.

Summer Learning Challenge 2022 Saturday, June 4–Sunday, July 31 Kids, Teens & Adults Summer is the perfect time for adventure and the discovery of new things. Are you ready to take the Summer Learning Challenge?

This summer’s theme is Read Beyond the Beaten Path. It will feel like you have gone camping at the library!

Sign up starts Saturday, June 4. The Challenge is for all ages, from birth through adults. The first week, June 4–12, is for registration only. You’ll be able pick up your challenge logs in either Youth or Adult & Teen Services starting in June.

Let the adventures begin!

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

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Storytimes at the Library

Masks may be required for in-person programs

Mondays

Tuesdays

Movers & Shakers

Pajama Time

Books, songs, rhymes, and bounces for on-themove babies with a caregiver. Siblings are welcome.

Registration required.

Throw on your jammies for a family slumber party!

Grab your favorite stuffed animal and cuddle up for bedtime stories and a simple craft. No children younger than age 3, please. Registration required.

Ages 6–23 months with a caregiver 10:30–11 am Meeting Room at the Library

Ages 3–8 with a caregiver 7–7:30 pm Storytime Room at the Library

program date

registration starts

March 7

Registration starts February 28

program date

registration starts

March 14

Registration starts March 7

March 1

Registration starts February 22

April 4

Registration starts March 28

March 8

Registration starts March 1

April 11

Registration starts April 4

March 15

Registration starts March 8

April 18

Registration starts April 11

April 5

Registration starts March 29

April 25

Registration starts April 18

April 12

Registration starts April 5

April 19

Registration starts April 12

April 26

Registration starts April 19

Library programs are subject to change based on COVID-19 safety requirements. This Guide may be outdated by the time of the program. Please check the online calendar or ask staff for up-to-date information.

Zoom Storytimes Virtual Zoom Storytimes can be viewed on a PC, Mac, smartphone, or tablet. We encourage you to check in early. The Zoom log in information will be emailed to you 30 minutes before the class begins.

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Music Makers

Wee Readers

Listen to stories and explore music while we dance around and sing songs. Registration required.

Get ready for super stories, spectacular songs, and silly rhymes. Registration required.

program date

registration starts

program date

registration starts

March 2

Registration starts February 23

March 3

Registration starts February 24

March 9

Registration starts March 2

March 10

Registration starts March 3

March 16

Registration starts March 9

March 17

Registration starts March 10

April 6

Registration starts March 30

April 7

Registration starts March 31

April 13

Registration starts April 6

April 14

Registration starts April 7

April 20

Registration starts April 13

April 21

Registration starts April 14

April 27

Registration starts April 20

April 28

Registration starts April 21

Ages 0–6 years with a caregiver 10:30–11 am Zoom

New Lenox Public Library

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Ages 2–4 years with a caregiver 10:30–11 am Zoom

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide Kids Programs at the Library

Masks may be required for in-person programs

Mondays

Thursdays

Saturdays

May Craft Grab & Go

LEGO Club

Party for King Tut

Drop by the Youth Services desk or call to reserve a different craft every Monday beginning at 10 am. Everything you need is in the craft kit.

We supply the bricks—you bring your imagination! Come build your own creation with friends.

Ages 3–10 Mondays during May (see below) Youth Services Desk at the Library

Crafts are available while supplies last.

Crafts must be picked up by 8 pm on the day they are available.

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1st–5th Grade 5–5:45 pm Meeting Room at the Library

program date

registration starts

March 31

Starts March 17

April 28

Starts April 14

May 2: Teapot Picture Frames May 9: Fun Fiesta Keychains May 16: Hanging Trapeze Animal May 23: Glitter Mosaic Crown LEGO Club 2013

All Ages Saturday, April 30 10:30–12:30 am Makerspace Walk like an Egyptian over to our Makerspace for our 100th anniversary party celebrating the discovery of King Tut’s tomb.

Decorate Tut/Cleopatra masks, play mummy games, make a hieroglyphic name necklace, go on a scavenger hunt, and more! No registration required.

Kids Do-It-Yourself Video Programs DIY bags with supplies for DIY video programs can be picked up at the Youth Services desk. Registrants will be emailed when bags are ready. Registration is required only if you need a supply bag. Videos are posted on Facebook, YouTube, and our website and can be viewed by everyone.

Mondays Mini Mad Science Lab

Super Scientists

Kindergarten–2nd Grade Requires caregiver supervision DIY video posted at 4:30 pm

3rd–6th Grade Requires caregiver supervision DIY video posted at 4:30 pm

Join us for fun (and sometimes messy) science experiments. Registration is only required if you’d like a supply bag.

Do you love hands-on activities? Follow along as we make all kinds of cool predictions and do an exciting experiment.

Registration is only required if you’d like a supply bag.

March 14: Bizarre Science Registration for bag starts February 28

March 28: Bizarre Science Registration for bag starts March 14

April 11: Easter Science Registration for bag starts March 28

April 25: Easter Science Registration for bag starts April 11

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

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Kids Do-It-Yourself Video Programs DIY bags with supplies for DIY video programs can be picked up at the Youth Services desk. Registrants will be emailed when bags are ready. Registration is required only if you need a supply bag. Videos are posted on Facebook, YouTube, and our website and can be viewed by everyone.

Mondays

ART CLUB

Monthly Challenge Art Club

TinkerCAD Challenge

Create awesome art with a step-by-step video to help you create a masterpiece.

TinkerCAD Create your Challenge design in CHALLENGE TinkerCAD, then submit it to the Library for a free print in the color of your choice.

Follow along with the on-demand videos, and ask questions during Sam’s live virtual tutorial, too!

1st–4th Grade DIY video posted at 4:30 pm

4th Grade & Up, Teens & Adults Online on demand, plus tutorials New Lenox Public Library

March 21: Chalk Art Registration for art bag starts February 21 April 18: Paper Flowers Registration for art bag starts March 21

These challenges are online, on-demand and at your own pace. Create your own design using the TinkerCAD website. It’s free to sign up! All you need is an email address. Parental approval required.

Wednesdays Cooking with Kyra

Ages 4–10 with caregiver supervision DIY video posted at 4:30 pm

Once you’ve completed your Challenge design, submit it to the Library for a free 3D print in the color of your choice. The New Lenox Library has a YouTube playlist for on-demand video tutorials and a virtual TinkerCAD classroom with instructions for each challenge.

Hear a story and follow along with Ms. Kyra’s video to make a simple snack.

March 9: Rainbow Oreo Pops Registration for ingredient bag starts March 2

Registration for each challenge opens at the first of the month. Registration is required to access the classroom.

April 6: Springtime Chocolate-Covered Pretzels Registration for ingredient bag starts March 30 Ingredient bags must be picked up by 6 pm on March 11 for the March program, and by 6 pm on April 8 for the April program.

March Challenge: Make an Avatar Challenge registration begins March 1 Live Tutorial: Sunday, March 13, 12–12:45 pm Tutorial registration begins March 1

Fridays Art Attack!

Art Attack Attack! art attack! with Ms. elizabeth

April Challenge: Self-Watering Planter Challenge registration begins April 1 Live Tutorial: Sunday, April 10, 12–12:45 pm Tutorial registration begins April 1

4th–8th Grade DIY video posted at 4:30 pm Your imagination mixes with art in this art video tutorial just for tweens.

May Challenge: Balloon-Propelled Car Challenge registration begins May 1 Live Tutorial: Sunday, May 15, 12–12:45 pm Tutorial registration begins May 1

March 11: St. Patrick’s Day Slap Bracelets Registration for art bag starts February 18 April 1: Lotus Flower Suncatchers Registration for art bag starts March 18

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide Teen Programs

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Masks may be required for in-person programs TinkerCAD Challenge

Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

4 Grade & Up, Teens & Adults th

Create your Challenge design, then submit it to the Library for a free print in the TinkerCAD CHALLENGE color of your choice. Follow along with the on-demand videos, and ask questions during Sam’s live virtual tutorial, too! See page 12 for details.

New Lenox Public Library

March Challenge: Make an Avatar (March 1–31) Live Tutorial: Sunday, March 13, 12–12:45 pm (Register) April Challenge: Self-Watering Planter (April 1–30) Live Tutorial: Sunday, April 10, 12–12:45 pm (Register) May Challenge: Balloon-Propelled Car (May 1–31) Live Tutorial: Sunday, May 15, 12–12:45 pm (Register)

Cosplay & Costume Club

7th–12th Grade Sunday, March 13, 1:30–4 pm Saturday, April 2, 12:30–3:30 pm Saturday, May 7, 12:30–3:30 pm Digital Media Lab & Tables Bring your cosplay, costume, and historical clothing projects to work on with like-minded peers. Experienced makers may teach a short skill to start, then host an open lab to work on projects. Bring a project with, or create one out of the materials we have here. Dress up if you like! Any excuse to have fun, right? Registration is encouraged, but not required.

Registration starts February 27 for March 13 Registration starts March 13 for April 2 Registration starts April 2 for May 7

Each month TAG works together to make the library better for teens like you! Come prepared to discuss what you’d like to see at the library including spring programming ideas, your favorite reads, video gaming, and more!

While we are always eager to welcome new members, our goal is to create a group of regulars who will attend monthly meetings. If you are able to make a commitment to consistent attendance, please sign up and join us!

Please contact our Teen Coordinator Melissa at mleggero@ newlenoxlibrary.org if you plan to attend, or if you have any questions about TAG.

Candy Easter Baskets

7th–12th Grade Starts Tuesday, April 12, 4 pm Take & Make, while supplies last Snag everything you need to make these festive candy Easter baskets with theater candy boxes.

Great to give as gifts or brighten up your event as decor. Kits available for pick up at Adult and Teens Service starting April 12. No registration required. Get one before they’re gone!

Finals Study-a-Thon

9th–12th Grade Tuesday, May 24, 1–7:30 pm Wednesday, May 25, 1–7:30 pm Upstairs at the Library

National Oreo Day Celebration 7th–12th Grade Friday, March 11, 4–5 pm Meeting Room A

Celebrate America’s Favorite Cookie in style with a wide variety of flavors of Oreo available to taste. Various Oreocentered activities and games will be available, including “Guess the Oreo,” “Oreo Trivia,” and more! You can come in for an hour of fun or just pop in to snag your Oreos, dine and dash! Registration starts February 11.

New Lenox Public Library

7th–12th Grade Friday, March 18, 4:30–5:30 pm Friday, April 15, 4:30–5:30 pm Friday, May 20, 4:30–5:30 pm Meeting Room AB

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Come to the library and spread out!

We will have everything you need to make your study sessions successful.

De-stress activities and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

No registration required.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

teen artist of the month

Brianna Gancarek

Creativebug Class Picks with Creative Services Creativebug offers art and craft instruction, new ideas, and over 1,500 amazing classes led by creative experts. Access anytime! newlenoxlibrary.org/dml/onlineresources

Sketchbook Explorations: Watercolor Backgrounds and Line Drawing | Fine artist & illustrator Lisa Congdon

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by a lot of musical artists like The Beatles and Nirvana.

Getting started in a new sketchbook can be the biggest hurdle in the creative process. In this introductory class, Lisa shares tips for selecting a sketchbook that is just right for you. She also shares techniques for watercolor paints and how to draw over the paint with Micron pens, similar to Brianna’s art!

Do you have any habits and routines when you create?

I have more bad habits than good. I always paint on my bed with dim lighting. When I’m comfortable, I create better.

Do you keep a sketchbook?

I only used a sketchbook for school. I just work on one big project rather than doodle.

Concept Sketchbook: A Daily Practice | Artist & illustrator Lindsay Stripling Explore a new medium each week including pencil, ink, colored pencil and oil crayons. Add words and details to bring balance to the page, and finish up the month with techniques to turn your sketchbook spreads into even more projects and paintings.

Do you have favorite themes?

My obvious theme is music!

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

“If you’re ever given the chance, take it.”

Words Inform Images: 31 Prompts Using Writing as Inspiration for Art | Digital & handmade artist e bond

See Brianna’s art in the Artist of the Month case in the Teen Scene! Want to be showcased? Apply at newlenoxlibrary.org/teens or visit the Library for an application.

A picture is worth a thousand words but words themselves are priceless. In this unique daily practice, multimedia artist and educator e bond shares some of her favorite fiction, non-fiction, poetry and music to generate play and experimentation. Fuel your visual art through collage, mark-making, and doodling.

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide Adult Programs

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Masks may be required for in-person programs

Making & Crafting

Crafting with the Cameo Adults Digital Media Lab

Seed Starter Kits

Take & Make for Adults Starts Tuesday, March 1 while supplies last

We’ll use the Digital Media Lab’s Silhouette Cameo to make a paper, vinyl, or heat transfer project each month.

Spring is fast approaching, which means it’s almost gardening season! Stop by the Adult & Teen Services desk and pick up a seed starting kit for your vegetable or herb garden. It’ll be the perfect way to start your garden growing for the season.

Kits available for pick up at Adult and Teen Services desk starting March 1. No registration required. Get one before they’re gone!

TinkerCAD Challenge

4th Grade & Up, Teens & Adults Online on demand, plus tutorials Create your Challenge design in TinkerCAD, then submit it to the Library for a free print in the color of your choice.

Follow along with the on-demand videos, and ask questions during Sam’s live virtual tutorial, too! See page 12 for details.

Shamrock Card Take & Make, March 7–14 Get in the St. Patricks Day spirit with a paper 3D card craft. Registration not required, while supplies last.

Paper Terrariums, April 19 at 6:30–7:30 pm Make a terrarium guaranteed to stay green and no maintenance year round! Registration required for inperson meeting or to request a Take & Make.

Fairy in a “Bottle,” May 17 at 6:30–7:30 pm Explore the making 3D paper objects with this cute start-of-summer creation. Registration required for inperson instruction or to request a Take & Make.

New Lenox Public Library

TinkerCAD CHALLENGE

Registration for each challenge opens at the first of the month. Registration is required to access the classroom.

March Challenge: Make an Avatar (March 1–31) Live Tutorial: Sunday, March 13, 12–12:45 pm (Register) April Challenge: Self-Watering Planter (April 1–30) Live Tutorial: Sunday, April 10, 12–12:45 pm (Register) May Challenge: Balloon-Propelled Car (May 1–31) Live Tutorial: Sunday, May 15, 12–12:45 pm (Register)

Adults Tuesday, March 22 at 6:30pm Meeting Room AB Sew a versatile fleece-and-flannel blanket that will become a favorite snuggle-up addition to your home. New-tosewing and experienced sewers welcome. Registration begins February 23.

Poetry & Printmaking Adults Tuesday, April 5, 6–7 pm Meeting Room AB

As part of our celebration of National Poetry Month, we will be honoring the iconic poet and printmaker William Blake by creating our own beautiful ink prints!

Fiber Arts Club, Community-Led Group Adults Thursday, March 3 & 17, 6–7:30 pm Thursday, April 7 & 21, 6–7:30 pm Thursday, May 5 & 19, 6–7:30 pm Meeting Room B

Bring your projects and hang out with other knitters, crocheters and fiber artists in a relaxed social gathering.

Beginners welcome. Registration not required.

New Lenox Public Library

Sew a Quillow

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Using simple tools and styrofoam sheets, you will create a block print in the style of the master—or make it a style all your own! Registration starts March 5.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

Adult Programs

Masks may be required for in-person programs

Writing & Book Clubs

Mystery Book Club

Horror Club

Adults Tuesday, March 15, 1:30–2:30 pm The Unkindness of Ravens, M.E. Hilliard Tuesday, April 19, 1:30–2:30 pm Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens Tuesday, May 17, 1:30–2:30 pm Doctored Evidence, Donna Leon Meeting Room A

Community-Led Group

Adults Wednesday, April 20, 6–7 pm Meeting Room A

Horror Club with

Do you like being scared? Join us as we discuss Children of Chicago by Cynthia Pelayo, available to borrow on hoopla. Horror aficionados and newcomers are welcome! Registration starts March 20, and is encouraged but not required.

Writers, We

Community-Led Group

Adults Wednesday, March 5 & 16, 6–7:45 pm Wednesday, April 6 & 20, 6–7:45 pm Wednesday May 4 & 18, 6–7:45 pm Meeting Room B (Zoom also available) Join local writers to discuss and workshop your writing. The group welcomes those new to the art as well as those with experience. Bring your haunting horror, sappy romance, blood-pumping action, children’s literature, shining sci-fi, poetic pathos—all genres welcome.

Writers, We (The New Lenox Writers’ Group) publishes an annual anthology of their themed submissions which can be found on Amazon. In addition to meeting at the Library, there is also the option to join via Zoom.

Email writerswe@use.startmail.com to request a Zoom link.

Fiction Book Club

Community-Led Group

Adults Wednesday, March 9, 6:30–7:30 pm This is Happiness, Niall Williams Wednesday, April 13, 6:30–7:30 pm Klara and the Sun, Kazuo Ishiguro Wednesday, May 11, 6:30–7:30 pm What Alice Forgot, Liane Moriarty Meeting Room A This member-run book club meets the second Wednesday of every month and reads a variety of titles, both fiction and non-fiction. Come discuss, share and enjoy the experience of reading with a group! Call to reserve a copy of the book, or stop by Patron Services to pick up a copy.

New Lenox Public Library

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Join our long-running book club as they discuss a different mystery each month! Stop at the Patron Services desk to pick up a copy of the book at any time.

History & Genealogy How to Use Fold3 for Genealogical Research Presented by Genealogy Club Adults Tuesday, March 8, 6–7:45 pm Meeting Room B

Do you have questions about how to use Fold3?

Not sure what it is or how Fold3 might help you? This presentation is for you! Jenny Warner of the Genealogy Speakers Guild and Association of Professional Genealogists will go over the basics of how to use Fold3 specifically for genealogists.

Fold3 features premier collections of original military records. These records include the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served in the military. Many of the records come from the U.S. National archives, The National Archives of the U.K., and other international records. Registration starts February 8.

Jennifer Warner has been doing genealogy for 42 years. Her mother started her and her sister early, learning about where their family came from and how to research their history.

Jenny is a member of many Lineage Societies, as well as Genealogical Societies: National Genealogical Society, Genealogical Speakers Guild, and DuPage County Genealogical Society to name a few. Jenny holds offices in many local lineage groups and genealogical societies.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

Javanese Gamelan Adults & Teens Monday, May 23, 6–7 pm Zoom Celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the Library and Chicago’s own Friends of the Gamelan, affectionately known as FROG. Join Artistic Director, Alex Yoffe as he explains the instruments and cultural context of Gamelan—the traditional music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia.

The evening will conclude with a pre-recorded traditional piece from the full ensemble! Come enjoy a night of music and culture with us.

Registration starts April 23. A recording of this program will be made available on YouTube.

New Lenox Public Library

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Friends of the Gamelan, affectionately known as FROG, traces its roots to the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, held in Chicago. One of the many exotic attractions on the Midway Plaisance was the Java Village, complete with a Sundanese gamelan. Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History was founded to preserve, catalog, and exhibit the many cultural treasures from the Exposition, including the gamelan. In the late 1970s, a group began to meet regularly at the Field Museum to play on those very instruments. FROG was formed in 1980 as a notfor-profit educational organization with the purpose of purchasing a Javanese gamelan for pedagogy and performance, to continue the work begun at the Field Museum.

Alex Yoffe is a Javanese gamelan musician and teacher. After completing his degree in music composition at the CCPA, he went on to the concentrated study of Central Javanese gamelan, having been awarded a scholarship—fully funded by the Indonesian government— at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Surakarta (ISI Surakarta).

Yoffe has performed with and taught many gamelans across the US, including Gamelan Laras Tentrem (Boston), Gamelan Kusuma Laras (NYC), Gamelan Sari Raras Irama (Buffalo, NY), as well as at numerous universities and colleges. He has also performed with many groups and renowned musicians in Java, Indonesia.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

Adult Programs

Masks may be required for in-person programs More Than Money and Land: Evolution of Bounty Land, Military Pensions & Alternative Records

History of American Country Music Adults Thursday, March 24, 6–7 pm Meeting Room AB

Presented by Genealogy Club Adults Tuesday, May 10, 6–7:45 pm Zoom

Join us for an exploration of the history of American country music through story and song with music historian and performer Steve Justman.

Registration starts February 24.

Steve Justman has been performing Americana, folk, and popular music in the Chicago area and neighboring Midwest region for many years and has been singing since he was 2 and a musician since he was 12. Steve is a collector of songs as well as other artifacts of Americana. Entertainers of all types influenced him, the kind and variety rarely found today.

Bounty land applications and military pensions are useful resources for anyone with a male ancestor of military service age. Learn how laws concerning compensation changed over time, how to request records to explore your family’s connection to smaller military campaigns and conflicts dating from 1820–1916.

Registration starts April 10. A recording of this program will be made available on YouTube for 4 weeks following the program.

Steve showcases his collection of songs in his performances, singing and interpreting a mix of traditional and popular folk, pop standards, early rock & roll, rockabilly, and classic country that people might know while focusing on connecting with his audience and pure entertainment.

Debra M. Dudek is Head of Adult and Teen Services at the Fountaindale Public Library District in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Ms. Dudek specializes in British genealogy, World War I research, and emerging technology topics.

An alumna of Olivet College (Olivet, Michigan) and the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland), Ms. Dudek holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Masters in Information and Library Studies, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies.

Read All About It! Newspapers in Genealogical Research Presented by Genealogy Club Adults Tuesday, April 12, 6–7:45 pm Meeting Room B

Education & Skills

Learn how to find and use newspapers to find information about your ancestors as well as the times they lived in.

Some of the items to be found in newspapers include obituaries, marriage and engagement announcements, birth announcements, legal cases, and ship passage information.

We will learn how to find newspapers online and in libraries and archives and cite your sources.

Registration starts March 12. A recording of this program will be made available on YouTube for 1 week following the program.

Caron Primas Brennan has been doing family history research since a 6th Grade school project got her started. Researching online and off for over 20 years, Caron has been speaking at libraries and genealogical societies for over a decade.

Trivia Night at Beggars

Adults Thursday, March 10, 6–8 pm Thursday, May 12, 6–8 pm Beggars Pizza (650 Maple Street, New Lenox) Looking for something to do on a Thursday night? Look no more! Join us for a brain-busting evening at Beggars Pizza in New Lenox. Enjoy pizza and drinks and answer questions on a multitude of topics. Form a powerhouse team or play by yourself for prizes! program date

registration starts

March 10

Registration starts February 10

May 12

Registration starts April 12

“I have found the most valuable thing in my wallet is my library card.” laur a bush , libr arian & first lady

New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide Adult Programs

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Masks may be required for in-person programs

Navigating Divorce Pro Se

Time and Information Management: Organizing in a Digital World

Adults Thursday, March 31, 6–7 pm Meeting Room B

Will County Courthouse Law Library presents a pro se divorce information session for self-represented litigants in divorce cases. You will learn what you need to file a divorce pro se and how the process works.

Additionally, learn about their free Early Resolution Program for Pro Se Divorces. Highlights include what the program is, how it compares and contrasts from the traditional divorce process, and how to participate in the program if interested and eligible. The session will conclude with a brief Q&A. Materials will be available following the program. No registration required.

First Time Home Buying

Adults Tuesday, May 3, 4:30–5:30 pm Thinking about buying a home? Mark Lenard is here to help you learn the basics, including the difference between renting and owning, applying for a mortgage, and the stages of the mortgage and underwriting process. Registration starts April 3, and is encouraged but not required.

Mark Lenard has been a New Lenox resident for 28 years. He is a Senior Mortgage Professional at Fifth Third Bank with almost 30 years of experience in finance.

Adults Wednesday, May 4, 6–7pm Zoom

“I don’t have time!” We hear this and say this so often in this fast-paced digital world we live in! Can we change this?

Yes! While we can’t create more hours, we can be more efficient with the hours we do have. We’ll look at how we receive and manage our time and information, and highlight the “why bother” behind learning to use the tools available to us in this digital age. Then, we’ll look at the top apps/ programs for managing everything from our schedule and tasks to our projects and teams.

Registration starts April 4. A recording of this program will be made available on YouTube for 2 weeks following the program.

Jennifer Barnes is an Organizer, CEO and founder of JB Organizing, and Mom of 5 kids in 5 years including a set of twins. Jennifer offers Real Organizing for Real People Doing Real Life. She helps people bring order to their home, life, office and future by presenting to groups and organizations and by working one on one with clients to organize a given space or process and manage time and tasks efficiently.

Jennifer began her career as a Professional Organizer and Speaker over 20 years ago. Since that time she has spoken across the country on topics related to organizing, parenting, relationships, and small business/ personal development and has worked with individual clients from Milwaukee to Chicago and beyond.

Community Connection New Life for Old Bags

Friends of the Library

Community-Led Group

Adults Wednesday, March 23, 6–7 pm Wednesday, April 27, 6–7 pm Wednesday, May 25, 6–7 pm Meeting Room A

Adults & Teens Monday, March 28, 6–7:30 pm Monday, April 25, 6–7:30 pm Monday, May 23, 6–7:30 pm Meeting Room AB Make mats for the homeless by reusing plastic grocery bags.

A great opportunity for teens needing community service hours! No court-ordered community service accepted. If you are interested in bringing a group, it is required you contact the community group leader. Plarn and crochet hooks may be available through the group or the Digital Media Lab. New Lenox Public Library

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The Friends of the Library fundraise to help add new materials, equipment and services to the Library. They meet the 4th Wednesday of each month. Learn more about Friends projects, membership at newlenoxlibrary.org/about/friends.

120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

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815-485-2605

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newlenoxlibrary.org

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Spring 2022 New Lenox Library Guide

Job Help with the Will County Mobile Workforce Center

Pop-Up Programs & Challenges

2nd & 4th Fridays of the Month, 10 am–3:30 pm Adults & Teens | In Front of Library

Job seekers of all kinds, we're here to help! The Library is partnering with the Workforce Services Division of Will County to bring you the Mobile Workforce Center!

The Mobile Workforce Center offers a variety of services for job seekers, including computers with internet access for online applications and job searches, the ability to create/revise a resume and a job board with listings from Will County businesses.

A Certified Professional Resume Writer and Certified Professional Career Coach, and will be available to assist you with any job seeking questions you may have.

While we plan most of our programs months in advance, we might have pop-up events, challenges, or videos!

Stay in the know: • Join our weekly eNews list at the bottom of newlenoxlibrary.org • Subscribe to our YouTube Channel • Follow New Lenox Public Library on Facebook

On-demand digital programs & tutorials Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see videos on crafting, history, science experiments, catalog tips and tricks, and more! Find us by going to YouTube and searching for New Lenox Library.

The bus will be located in front of the library. Resources will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Registration not required.

At the Library Hours

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Contact Us

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Social Media

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New Lenox Public Library

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120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Illinois 60451

Monday–Thursday: 10 am–8 pm Friday: 10 am–6 pm Saturday: 10 am–4 pm Sundays: 1–5 pm

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815-485-2605

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