Library News
June 19, 1865 is the day when the last enslaved people in the United States were told they were free in Galveston, Texas - two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. June 19 is now known as Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery and celebrates African-American freedom, culture and achievements.
Our Readers Advisors and Youth Services staff have created lists of books for all ages to explore and learn more about Juneteenth plus a selection of films. View lists here:
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library celebrated the art of making with the grand opening of its newest exhibit, Community & Craftivism, showcasing how art can become an opportunity to build community and advocate for change, one stitch at a time.
Partners, community members and more stopped by the library on Thursday, June 12 to be among the first to view the exhibit including community-driven quilts, art projects created through craftivism and more, all curated by the library in partnership with artist and activist Shannon Downey. In the spirit of community, 279 people contributed to the pieces that are on display
Adult Summer Reading is back with a new challenge this year!
Log reading minutes and earn badges to be entered into monthly drawings for gift cards from a local business. In Beanstack, you can write reviews too.
Also, new this year — help us reach our community reading goal of 250,000 minutes. To celebrate, participants will be invited to join us at an end-of-summer Adult Reading Party in early September where we can share our favorite summer reading memories. Look for details in the September newsletter.
Visit ahml.beanstack.org to sign up and track your progress online or pick up a
Registration for FanCon is now open!
FanCon 2025 will take place on Sunday, July 27, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Command Center opens at noon. For all ages. Register now to be the first to get the full schedule.
From Minecraft to Moana and Star Wars to Dungeons & Dragons, we’ve got a little something for everyone. Experience hands-on workshops, a meet and greet with a baby dinosaur, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournaments, and even a belly-dancing Wookie! Stroll through “Artists’ Alley” featuring local artists or let your creativity shine with crafts available for all ages. Costumes are encouraged, so come
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. The purpose of this commemorative month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally. A highlight of Pride Month 2025 will be the library's unveiling of the Pride Community Quilt, community created squares patched together into a quilt featured at the center of the new Community & Craftivism summer exhibit. A panel from the National AIDS Memorial
Summer Reading 2025
June 1 – July 31 / Birth – Grade 12
Build the habit of reading this summer! Track how many days you read and earn prizes along the way. Starting June 1, stop by the Summer Reading Desk in Kids’ World, the Hub Desk or the Bookmobile to pick up a reading log and claim your registration prize. Visit ahml.beanstack.org to register. Readers must participate on Beanstack to be eligible for the weekly prize drawings.
Register starting June 1. More info at ahml.info/summer.
Level 1 – Can you read for 30 days? Keep track of your reading on
Never be without something to read, watch or listen to! Use your library card to access the library's hoopla database and conveniently stream or download something to read, watch or listen to anywhere, anytime.
In addition to thousands of books and movies, hoopla provides access to music of all sorts. You can easily listen to the latest releases from musicians such as Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Morgan Wallen, Chappell Roan and more. Unlike other hoopla formats, music titles are added to hoopla on their release day so library cardholders don't have to wait to listen to the next best
I Can Learn About My Family’s History
Learning about and doing genealogy can be a rewarding experience, especially if you have good tools to help along the way. The library offers one of the premier regional genealogy collections and many online resources, including:
Ancestry Library Edition (Available in-library only)
Search thousands of collections, census documents, voter lists, immigration documents, vital records, military records and more.
ArkivDigital (Available in-library only)
Swedish genealogy source containing historical documents, church records, court records and estate inventories.
HeritageHub
Obituaries and death notices from U.S. and international sources, including the Chicago Tribune (1860-1984).
HeritageQuest
Census records
Whether you are browsing the shelves at the library, making and sharing with others at the Makerplace, enjoying a quiet moment in the Senior Center Reading Room or visiting the bookmobile in your neighborhood, we invite you to discover something new at your Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Learn more about the library's impact in Arlington Heights through community building and engagement, in the 2024 Impact Report.
This summer, the library is celebrating the art of making with Community & Craftivism, an exhibit showcasing how art can become an opportunity to build community and advocate for change, one stitch at a time.
From June 12 to July 23, this exhibit will display community-driven quilts, art projects created through craftivism and more, all curated by the library in partnership with artist and activist Shannon Downey. An opening event celebration will also take place on the library’s first floor on June 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is the unveiling of the library's Pride Community