Maria Papanastassiou, Kids’ World assistant manager at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML), is a winner of this year’s I Love My Librarian Award. Maria is one of only 10 librarians in the country to receive this prestigious national award presented by the American Library Association (ALA).

Recognized for her leadership in transforming lives through access to education, Maria's efforts have helped position AHML at the forefront of serving children who are differently abled. Papanastassiou’s work, passion and dedication has helped families with diverse needs find a home at the library.

Much of what Maria has accomplished lies rooted in

Welcome to our new website. All user accounts have been transferred to the new site.

We hope you find the new site helpful and easy to navigate, with:

• better catalog search results
• a self-checkout option in the library with your mobile device
• a new room booking feature for conference rooms (available for Arlington Heights cardholders)
• greater website security
• better accessibility with the ability to increase or decrease the font size on the site, and
• an option to translate the site into over 100 different languages

The redesign includes many new features for a better user experience that is more responsive

Please consider a donation to the newly-formed AHML Foundation. The Foundation supports the library through generous individual, foundation and corporate donations, ensuring the library's collection, programs and services will be available for generations of learners to come.

The Foundation invites you to join them in building the next-generation of library experience with AHML's new Makerspace. Learn more and donate here.

Did you know you can now check out books in Hindi? This is just the latest addition to the library’s World Languages collection, which continues to grow, with plenty of options for residents who read and speak in different languages.

“Every day I look at the Japanese books,” said Eriko Yamamoto, who regularly checks out books. Yamamoto recently moved from Japan to Arlington Heights, and began using the library after her husband recommended it as a place to learn English.

She enjoys reading fiction books in her first language. “Because America has many, many English [books], I forget to read

Learn more about the exhibit by joining a tour guided by one of our volunteer docents. Tours meet by the Universal Stove near the elevators by the Marketplace on the first floor. Each tour is approximately 20 minutes long. Look for the docent in red apron to get your tour started. For all ages. Drop in.

December Tour Schedule:

Every Tuesday and Thursday, 11 am-1 pm

Wednesday, December 4 & 18, 1-3 pm

Learn more about the exhibit here. 

Saturday, December 14-Sunday, January 26

Ages 0–4: It is never too early to build your child’s literacy skills. By starting early, you form the foundation for your child’s success later in life. Simple activities involving talking, singing, reading, writing and playing together will help your child. Pick up an activity log in Kids’ World then check off he activities you complete. When you have completed ten, bring the log back and select a free book to take home.

Age 5–Grade 3: Pick up your Winter Reading Challenge card at the Kids’ World Desk and determine your own reading goal. Whether

October 4, 2019 – January 5, 2020 / First floor
Discover the delectable offerings of Culinary Curiosity, a collaborative exhibition that celebrates the preparing and sharing of food across time and cultures. This extraordinary collection is on public view for the first time outside its original home at Chicago’s Kendall College. More than 250 rare cooking tools, utensils and gadgets are on display across four area libraries.

At the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML), view more than 50 culinary artifacts and two historic stoves. Marvel at the technical innovations in the world of food and cooking implements. Explore themes such

The library has added three new online tools for young learners:

Scholastic Teachables: Unlimited access to activities & printable skills sheets, lesson plans, games & other resources for grades Pre-K to 8.

TumbleMath: Math lessons in the form of read-alongs, quizzes & lesson planning tools.

World Book Discover: Encyclopedia with easier-to-read articles. Includes reference articles, text-to-speech capabilities, learning & life skills activities, research tools, multimedia & interactive video.

Find them at https://www.ahml.info/research/databases.

J.P. Jones, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, shows off his new Veteran and Armed Forces library card. Thank you, J.P., for your service to our country. A 50-year resident of Arlington Heights, J.P. visits the library regularly and will put the card to good use. Any active-duty military or veteran resident of Arlington Heights is eligible for this new card.

In addition to offering the same benefits as standard resident library cards, this card also allows the cardholder to print up to the cost equivalent of 100 black and white letter pages per week at

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library closed on the property at 112 N. Belmont Ave. on June 27, and released a Request for Qualification seeking architectural services in early August to transform the building into the library’s makerspace. Proposals from 11 architects were evaluated by staff, and a recommendation to engage one of the firms was on the agenda at the September 17 meeting of the Board of Library Trustees. 

The makerspace will offer opportunities for hands-on experiential learning, with technology and creative equipment and supplies for use.  Planned equipment offered includes laser cutters, 3D printers, embroidery, quilting and sewing machines,