Algonquin Library Adult Services

Meet This Month’s Featured Artists

AAPLD is pleased to welcome the Land Conservancy of McHenry County back to our Art Wall, displaying the entries in the organization’s 2026 photo contest. Amateur photographers are invited to participate in the annual contest, highlighting the beauty and diversity of McHenry County’s landscapes. The photos were taken at properties the Land Conservancy has helped protect or restore. Since its […]

Spice Club – April 2026 – Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds come from the plant Foeniculum vulgare, an aromatic herb in the carrot family. The seeds are small, oval, and greenish-brown, with a sweet, slightly licorice-like flavor. They are harvested from the dried flowers of the plant and used widely as a spice, while other parts of the plant, such as the bulb and fronds, are also edible. Culinary […]

Build A Stronger Community…Volunteer!

Want to make a difference in your community? Whether it’s working with kids and families in need, offering a helping hand to a senior, or protecting the beauty of our local environment, don’t miss AAPLD’s Volunteer Fair on Saturday April 18 from 1:00- 3:00 pm at the Main Library on Harnish Drive. Representatives from over a dozen organizations will be […]

Read, White, & Blue + Book Clubs = Challenge Success

Read, White, & Blue -Voices of America is AAPLD’s special reading challenge to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. Open to AAPLD cardholders 18 and over, the challenge invites you to read books from 13 all-American categories between now and July 31, 2026. Visit Adult Services at the Main Library or Eastgate Branch to sign up. Did you know that many […]

Meet March’s Artists of the Month

This month’s exhibit on the Art Wall in the Adult Services Department at the Main Library features not just one artist, but many– all members of the 1,000 Words Photography Club of the Algonquin Area Public Library District.

Spice Club – March 2026 – Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a fragrant herb from the mint family, native to the Mediterranean region. It has small, aromatic leaves on woody stems and produces tiny purple or pink flowers. Thyme grows well in sunny, well-drained soil and is commonly grown in herb gardens. It has been used for thousands of years in cooking, traditional medicine, and cultural practices. […]

Read, White & Blue- Join The Celebration!

This year, our nation marks its 250th birthday! Celebrate America’s people, history, natural wonders, and more with “Read, White, & Blue- Voices of America,” a special reading challenge for AAPLD cardholders. Between March 1 and July 31, 2026, read one book from each of the thirteen categories listed below. Why thirteen? For the original thirteen colonies and the thirteen stripes […]

Get Planting! Seed Library Returns March 1!

Just in time for spring planting, Algonquin Area Public Library, is excited to offer the Seed Library which provides seeds to local gardeners free of charge! Take a look at the Seed Library Catalog. Each listing includes photos and descriptions of plant varieties, along with helpful details on when, where, and how to plant them. Seed packet quantities range from […]

Meet February’s Artist of the Month

February’s exhibit on the Art Wall at the Main Library on Harnish Drive, “Echoes of Hiroshima, A Survivor’s Story” depicts the experiences of Masakazu Saito, who survived the detonation of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima Japan, a little more than a mile from the epicenter. The exhibit displays a series of watercolors painted by an unknown artist, which Saito commissioned […]

Spice Club – February 2026 – Allspice

Allspice comes from the pepper plant Pimenta dioica, a member of the myrtle family that grows as a shrub or tree and produces aromatic berries. The berries are harvested unripe, then sun-dried, and sold whole or ground as a spice. Originally native to Jamaica, allspice spread throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America by migratory birds. Today, it is grown […]