Library News
The library's January newsletter is now available online! Discover what's happening at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library this January including our Digital Conversion Kits, Small Business Coffee and Connect, Winter Reading, Poverty Awareness Month and more.
Read the January newsletter here.
The online edition includes live links to easily register for your favorite programs and services. You can also register through the library's online calendar or by calling 847-392-0100.
Thank you to all of our customers, staff and community groups who helped contribute to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's 2025 Holiday Book Drive!
This year more than 720 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 and the Rolling Green Country Club Women’s Golf Association for their very generous donations.
The library book drive has provided 25,426 books to children and teens in need since 1998. Thank you again for helping provide the gift of literacy to our community during this holiday season!
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness of poverty's impact and advocating for solutions. The month highlights the complexity of poverty and encourages individuals and communities to take action through donations, volunteering and advocacy.
Small but mighty continues to be the inspiration behind the third annual Tiny Art installation at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML). On display throughout December, the newest batch of 4”x4” canvases, 156 in total, shows a new level of creativity from the community members that participated. Each mini masterpiece adds a different element of entertainment and fun to this impactful tradition.
“Tiny Art reaches a new bar each year with the ideas the community comes up with," said Nikki Camp, Programs and Exhibits coordinator at AHML. “This year we have a ‘beary’ cozy bed, a hobbit door made of clay so that the piece is 3D, and a shout out to SJJ Sharkie, the San
Local youth artists in grades K-12 are invited to celebrate books, reading and art by designing a bookmark in honor of the library's 100th birthday. Pick up a form at the library's Checkout Desk, in Kids’ World or in the Hub. You can also click here to download the form. Drop off submissions at the Kids’ World, Hub or Checkout Desk, or email editorial@ahml.info by Saturday, January 31. All entries will be on display in the library Monday, March 9 through Sunday, March 29. Winning bookmarks will be printed and available at the library while supplies last.
Cozy up with a fantastic book (or two, or three!) this winter. Babies, kids, tweens and teens can join Winter Reading, track 20 days of reading and earn play-to-win prizes as well as a prize book of their choice.
Readers will also be entered to win a weekly drawing for Chicago Wolves ticket vouchers.
Winter Reading runs from Saturday, December 13 to Saturday, January 31. Sign up for the challenge at the Kids' World Desk, Hub Desk or online at ahml.beanstack.org.
December is here, which means it's time for the holiday season! If you're looking for the perfect gift, a quick trip to the Makerplace may be just what you need. We've created a list of some of the easiest items that can be made at the Makerplace in a short amount of time. The Makerplace, located at 112 N. Belmont Ave., is home to more than 40 different types of equipment, all available free of charge. From laser cutters to 3D printers, you won't run out of ways to handmake the perfect gift for your loved ones.
There are costs
The best books entertain us, educate us on important topics and keep us turning pages into the wee hours or provide us with a welcome escape. This year, the library’s Info Advisors had a great time sharing their favorite reads with customers and helping each person find the perfect book match. From fiction to nonfiction, from popular bestsellers to hidden gems, discover what our Info Advisors loved reading in 2025, including:
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My Friends by Fredrik Backman
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Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
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The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
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The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
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What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown
I Can Discover Hidden Treasures with my Library Card
You never know where your interests will take you! Maybe you’d like to investigate a favorite band or perhaps determine the value of that antique table in your front room. Perhaps you’d like to just browse through colorful articles on nature and world culture or do a deep dive into learning a language. The library can help with specialized online resources, like these:
Rock’s Backpages
Are you a music lover? Rock’s Backpages is a treasure trove of thousands of music journalism articles from hundreds of international publications and recorded interviews, covering many genres & subgenres from 1948-present.
National Geographic
No need to keep a huge pile
The creative spirit of the Arlington Heights community was on full display Thursday night as the Art with Alayne Artists' Celebration Reception brought together 31 artists, their families, friends and community members for a warm and celebratory evening honoring the creative work inspired through the library's popular Creative Aging program series, and artist Alayne McNulty, who for many years has designed the monthly projects and facilitated meetups. Attendees shared enthusiastic compliments about the presentation, photo slideshow and art display, noting that the arrangement “made every artist feel seen” and “captured the spirit of the class perfectly.”
The atmosphere was especially meaningful for those who have learned from Alayne