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.

Back by popular demand! See the amazing one-of-a-kind creations of the Northern Illinois LEGO Train Club.

Saturday, December 13, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.  
Sunday, December 14, noon–4 p.m. 
Hendrickson Room 

Fun for the whole family. Drop in. 

Stop by the Hub and study for your final exams. We'll provide brain-powering snacks, laptops and group study areas to help you prepare. For teens grades 9-12. Drop in.

Dates and times:
Saturday, December 13, noon-5 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, noon-6 p.m.
Monday, December 15, 3-9 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16, 3-9 p.m.
Wednesday, December 17, noon-9 p.m.
Thursday, December 18, noon-9 p.m.

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: 
 

• My Friends by Fredrik Backman 

• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall 

• The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar 

• The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong 

• What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown  

• Strange Pictures

The library's December newsletter is now available online! Discover what's happening at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library this December including our Makerplace Holiday Gift Guide, Winter Reading, our favorite books of 2025 and more.

Read the December 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.

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

It all began with a photo of Kim Kardashian.

Bestselling author Fiona Davis began Tuesday’s signature One Book, One Village (OBOV) event by sharing the moment that sparked her idea for The Stolen Queen. It all started with an unexpected New York Times article about the 2018 Met Gala involving Kim Kardashian. The piece described how Kardashian posed beside an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus on the red carpet, and how those viral photos ultimately led to the artifact’s repatriation.

“I read that and I thought, okay, that’s the story,” Davis recalled. “We’ll use the Egyptian wing and this ancient art, and

Need help?
In addition to the pantries listed below, many local churches also have food pantries. Google ‘food pantries near 60004’ or call the library at 847-392-0100. Call the location to learn more about what they offer.  

Local food pantries:

• Northwest Compass: Call 847-392-2344 or email info@NorthwestCompass.org to access the Food Connection Program at 1300 W. Northwest Highway, Mt. Prospect.
• Wheeling Township: Call 847-259-7730 to access the Food Pantry. Food Pantry shopping appointments are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-noon or 1-4 p.m.
  • If you have registered for the Food Pantry before, please call for an appointment