Don’t Leave Home Without Us!

July 17, 2026

Taking to the road or sky this summer? Stock up on e-books, e-audiobooks, digital music, video and more from AAPLD!

Digital resources are easy to use, easy to access, and won’t clutter the car or load down your luggage. If you haven’t used our digital collections before, vacation time is the perfect opportunity to give them a try. You’ll find everything from escapist beach reads to thought-provoking non-fiction. In addition to e-books, choose e-audiobooks or video for entertainment on the road or in flight. We also offer collections of films.

Our Digital Collections page has tutorials and links to your favorite app store. Download the correct app for your digital device, enter your AAPLD card number, and enjoy entertainment on-the-go.

Ebooks, eAudiobooks, and more

Libby– Download up to 15 items per month with your AAPLD library card. Libby offers ebooks, eaudiobooks, and magazines for adults, teens and kids.

Hoopla– Download up to 15 items per month, with no holds, no waiting. Just click and borrow!

The Palace Project– Download up to 5 items per month. Browse the collection for best-selling fiction, and non-fiction.

Indie Author Illinois– Discover up and coming independent authors writing adult and young adult fiction and non-fiction. There’s no waiting for a title, and books can be checked out for as long as you like. However, you must be in the state of Illinois to access this collection.

Five Reasons To Love Your Library!

April 27, 2023

It's National Library Week-- time to think about all the things we love about the library. While some are obvious...B-O-O-K-S... there are plenty of other services, features and events that make the library the hub of our community. If you haven't been by in a while, stop into the Main Library on Harnish Drive, or the Branch Library on Eastgate Drive. You'll find friendly, helpful staff, comfy places to read, quiet rooms to get work done, crafts, programs, and more!

Read on to discover some library offerings you may not know about...

Our collection of tools, and gadgets can save you money and storage space. Need an extra video game controller for your child's next sleepover, or a laptop and wi-fi hotspot for a virtual job interview? How about a karaoke machine? We have all this and more! Preserve home movies and videotapes by transferring them to digital formats. Considering a new hobby, or learning to play a musical instrument? Visit the Library of Things, and try before you buy! Located near the Makerspace at the Main Library.

Come to AAPLD for passport applications, license plate tags, and notary services, faxing, self-service copying and printing. Find us out in the community, connecting with residents at area senior living facilities, dropping off donations and prizes at the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry, or collecting prom finery for My Sister's Dress of McHenry County. We offer special events such as blood drives, Narcan training, and mobile office hours for local elected officials. During tax season, we partner with AARP to offer free tax preparation for seniors. This spring we'll launch a community garden to benefit area food pantries. Find the Services page at aapld.org, or check our bi-monthly print newsletter to see what's new!

AAPLD offers eight different book discussion groups each month, covering a variety of genres. From non-fiction to sci-fi, romance to horror, mysteries, thrillers, YA and more! Attend one group regularly, or select different groups based on each month's selection. We provide the books for pick-up at the Adult Services desk, simply register for the meeting, and share your thoughts with fellow book lovers. If you can't find a group that suits your interests and schedule, try our DIY Book Club service, where we provide books for a group you organize.

Get Your Craft On with CreativeBug

February 17, 2023

If you can't get enough of crafting, be sure to check out one of Algonquin Area Public Library's most exciting online resources, CreativeBug.com . The site contains a plethora of craft ideas, and projects, plus live and recorded classes covering everything from sewing, perfume-making, quilting, sketching, cooking, plant care, creating home decor, and so much more.

Choose from thousands of projects and crafts, access materials lists, and order supplies. There are one-time classes where you can try something new, multi-session classes for more elaborate projects, instruction for beginners, and deep-dives into technique for those who are more advanced. There are even classes for kids! CreativeBug's Resource and Blog pages offer downloadable patterns and instructions. Not sure what you want to create? Settle in with CBTV, and stream documentaries and demonstrations by renowned artists and crafters that are sure to inspire. Turn a dreary winter day into a chance to explore or rediscover your creativity, make a gift for yourself or a loved one, or even start a month-long creativity challenge.

Our Makerspace staff uses CreativeBug to find great ideas for craft programs, AAPLD patrons can access this resource from home, by visiting our Online Resources page, selecting CreativeBug.com, and entering an AAPLD library card number .

Discovering Digital: Black History Month

February 8, 2023

AAPLD's digital collections include hundreds of authors, making it easy to discover a great new voice. In honor of Black History Month, we're highlighting books by Black authors that you can find on our digital platforms, Libby, Hoopla, and Axis360. The platforms are easy to use; just download the free apps, enter your Algonquin Area Public Library District card number, create a password, and you're in!
Not an AAPLD cardholder? Check with your home library to learn which digital platforms you can access.

In addition to ebooks, our digital platforms offer downloadable audiobooks, that you can listen to on your phone, or in the car. Discover the ease and convenience of our digital collections!

Check out and download up to 15 titles at a time. Find new and bestselling titles and authors from all the major publishers. Titles circulate for 14 days and may be renewed if no one is waiting. If the book you want is already checked out, place a hold, and you will be notified when it is available to checkout.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb- A mystery about a Black classical musician whose family heirloom violin is stolen on the eve of the most prestigious classical music competition in the world.

Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can't afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather's fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. Then with the international Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—fast approaching, his prized family heirloom is stolen. Ray is determined to get it back. But now his family and the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray's great-grandfather are each claiming that the violin belongs to them. With the odds stacked against him and the pressure mounting, will Ray ever see his beloved violin again?

Available in ebook and downloadable audiobook.

Checkout up to 15 titles per month with your library card and a free hoopla account. Every title on hoopla is instantly available - no holds or waiting lists!

Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall - From the Great Depression through the post-World War II years, Joseph “Ziggy” Johnson, has been the pulse of Detroit’s famous Black Bottom. A celebrated gossip columnist for the city’s African-American newspaper, the Michigan Chronicle, he is also the emcee of one of the hottest night clubs, where he’s rubbed elbows with the legendary black artists of the era, including Ethel Waters, Billy Eckstein, and Count Basie. Ziggy is also the founder and dean of the Ziggy Johnson School of Theater. But now the doyen of Black Bottom is ready to hang up his many dapper hats.

As he lays dying in the black-owned-and-operated Kirkwood Hospital, Ziggy reflects on his life, the community that was the center of his world, and the remarkable people who helped shape it.

Inspired by the Catholic Saints Day Books, Ziggy curates his own list of Black Bottom’s venerable "52 Saints." Among them are a vulnerable Dinah Washington, a defiant Joe Louis, and a raucous Bricktop. Randall balances the stories of these larger-than-life "Saints" with local heroes who became household names, enthralling men and women whose unstoppable ambition, love of style, and faith in community made this black Midwestern neighborhood the rival of New York City’s Harlem.

Accompanying these “tributes” are thoughtfully paired cocktails—special drinks that capture the essence of each of Ziggy’s saints—libations as strong and satisfying as Alice Randall’s wholly original view of a place and time unlike any other.

Available in ebook or downloadable audiobook

Axis360 allows you to check out and download up to 5 titles at a time. Find new and bestselling titles and authors from all the major publishers. Titles circulate for 14 days and may be renewed if no one is waiting. If the book you want is already checked out, place a hold, and you will be notified when it is available to checkout.

Three Girls From Bronzeville by Dawn Turner - They were three Black girls. Dawn, tall and studious; her sister, Kim, younger by three years and headstrong; and her best friend, Debra, already prom-queen pretty by third grade. They bonded as they roamed the concrete landscape of Bronzeville, a historic neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side, the destination of hundreds of thousands of Black folks who fled the ravages of the Jim Crow South.

These third-generation daughters of the Great Migration come of age in the 1970s, in the warm glow of the recent civil rights movement. It has offered them a promise that they will have more opportunities, rights, and freedoms than any generation of Black Americans in history. But the girls have much more immediate concerns: hiding under the dining room table and eavesdropping on grown folks’ business; collecting secret treasures; and daydreaming about their futures. And then fate intervenes, sending them careening in wildly different directions. There’s heartbreak, loss, displacement, and even murder.

Three Girls from Bronzeville is a memoir that chronicles Dawn’s attempt to find answers. It’s a celebration of sisterhood, a testimony to the unique struggles of Black women, and a tour-de-force about the complex interplay of race, class, and opportunity, and how those forces shape our lives and our capacity for resilience and redemption.

Available in ebook

Homework Help Available Through BrainFuse!

December 4, 2022

If you (or your favorite student) could use some extra help with a particular subject, especially heading into finals week, be sure to check out BrainFuse HelpNow, a digital learning resource available to AAPLD cardholders.

Interact with live tutors for homework help, test preparation and writing assistance. Take college entrance practice exams, create flash cards for study, and collaborate with friends.

You'll find BrainFuse HelpNow under the Virtual Library tab. Select Learning Resources from the drop-down menu, and then scroll the alphabetical list of our databases. Sign in with your AAPLD library card number and your account password. Not sure of your account password? Call the Adult Services department for help.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

November 10, 2022

This challenge runs November 1 - 30 and includes both reading and activities that explore the heritage of Native Americans. To start, log into Beanstack and register for the Native American Heritage Month challenge. You'll earn a Medicine Wheel Beading Kit, available at the Adult Services Desk, just for signing up. Complete the Book Recommendations Activity Badge, plus any two of the additional badges explained below, to win a special Native American Heritage Month Button.

Activity Badge #1 Book Recommendations(required):

Read a book written by an Indigenous author. Choose from one of the recommendations for Adults listed in Beanstack, select a book from the Native American Heritage display at the Main Library, or ask a library staff member for a recommendation. Type the name of the book you choose in the box at the bottom of the recommendations list.

Complete two of the following Activity Badges and record your progress in Beanstack

Activity Badge #2 Events from Algonquin Library: Attend ONE of these in-person or virtual library events:

Forever Young Book Club- Monday, November 14, 7-8 pm, in-person at the Eastgate Branch Library. We will discuss The Marrow Theives by Cherie Dimaline.
Oh, the Horror Book Club- Tuesday, November 29, 7-8 pm Virtual on Zoom. We will discuss The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
No On Sees Indians: Native Americans in the Media. Thursday, Dec. 1, 7-8 pm, Virtual on Zoom. Filmmaker, author, and Illinois Humanities Road Scholar Ernest M. Whiteman III discusses the many representations of Native Americans in the media and how these inform audiences' perceptions of Native peoples and issues.

Activity Badge #3 Land Acknowledgements: Complete BOTH activities to earn this badge:

Read the article Honoring Original Indigenous Inhabitants to learn more about the importance of land acknowledgements.
Visit the Native Land Digital website to learn more about the Indigenous communities and histories in your area.

Activity Badge #4: Local Indigenous History: Explore ONE of these websites:

Visit the Cahokia Mounds website. Cahokia Mounds is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Collinsville, IL that contains the archaeological remnants of an ancient Indigenous settlement.
Explore the Trickster Cultural Center website. The Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg features contemporary Native American art, and exhibits relating to the contributions of Native people to the U.S. military.
Visit the website of Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston. You can also get two free regular admissions with your Algonquin Library card and the Museum Adventure Pass, while supplies last. Contact the Main Library or Eastgate Branch to check availability.
Visit the American Indian Center Gallery website. The Gallery is dedicated to Native American First Voice Art. Explore the website and plan a visit.

Activity Badge #5: Native American Voices. Watch ONE of these webinars:

The Native American Voices Webinar Series was presented in collaboration with Illinois public libraries, and the College of DuPage Native American Studies Committee. The webinars are recommended for ages 14 and over.

Activity Badge #6: Suggested Viewing. Complete ONE of these activities:

Watch something on Kanopy or Hoopla about Indigenous people. An Algonquin Library card is required to access these resources. Don't have an Algonquin Library card? Check with your home library to see if they have access.

Activity Badge #7: Visit the Museum. Complete ONE of these activities:

Google Arts and Culture works with institutions and artists to bring the world's art and culture online so it's accessible to anyone.

Check out the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian student resources. What is one new thing you learned?
Get inspired by Indigenous Americas from Google Arts & Culture, learn about historic and contemporary art, music, cuisine, and more. Which online exhibit did you explore?
Dive into 65 years of Canyon Records one of the first record labels dedicated to Native American music.

The Big Library Read, the world's largest digital book club, will read the Newberry Award-winning Young Adult fantasy novel A Snake Falls To Earth by indigenous author Darcie Little Badger. Between November 2-16, library patrons can check out the digital book from Libby with no waiting.

Nina, a Lipan Apache girl has always felt there was something more beyond her quiet life, and still believes in the old stories. Oli is a young cottonmouth from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home, but has found a new one on the banks of a bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend brings their worlds together, even as there are those who will kill to keep their worlds apart.

Once you've read the book, join the online discussion board to share your thoughts with readers from around the world, through November 23.

Write Your Story This November

November 3, 2022

November is National Novel Writing Month, when writers of all experience levels craft a 50,000 word novel or non-fiction work in 30 days.

It might sound like a daunting challenge, but many NaNoWriMo projects have gone on to become best-sellers, including The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes, The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green.

If you've always wanted to write a book, we have plenty of resources to help! Let us inspire and encourage you to create the book of your dreams!

Need to know what medieval knights ate for breakfast? What it was like to live in Victorian London? The most popular song in 1902? Our Adult Services staff can help you find accurate information to bring your story to life.

AAPLD cardholders can access these databases from anywhere:

Archive Grid- Search historical collections of libraries, museums, archives and historical societies around the world
Birthday Time Capsule- Type in a date to learn the day's news, top movies, songs, and more.
EBSCO Explora (Masterfile, History Reference Center, Science Reference Center)- Arts and Literature, Biography, Current Events, Geography and Culture, Health, History and Social Science, Science and Math articles, arranged by topic.
Illinois Digital Archives- Books, pamphlets, photographs, and maps related to Algonquin, Lake in the Hills and McHenry County history.
World Factbook- Learn about the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, and military, of 267 countries.
Gale Virtual Reference Library- Encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference sources, including Grzimek's Animals Guide, American Decades, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Business Plans, and more!
Health & Wellness Resource Center- Research current disease, disorder information, conventional treatments, and alternative medicine.
How Products Are Made- Detailed descriptions and pictures about how things are made. Search by keyword or through an alphabetical list.
How Stuff Works- Covers Auto, Science, Health, Entertainment, Travel, Computer, Electronics, Home, Money, and People.
Freegal- Discover music from numerous genres and decades, create custom playlists to set the mood while you write!

Don’t Leave Home Without Us!

June 23, 2022

Planning a trip this summer? Don’t forget to stock up on e-books, e-audiobooks, digital music, video and more from AAPLD! Digital resources are easy to use, easy to access, and won’t clutter up the car or load down your luggage.

If you haven’t used our digital collections before, vacation time is the perfect opportunity to give them a try. You’ll find best-sellers, fascinating non-fiction, relaxing beach reads, plus materials for kids and teens. In addition to e-books, choose e-audiobooks for listening on the road or in flight, without having to keep track of CDs. We also offer collections of films, and digital music.

Our Digital Collections page has tutorials and links to your favorite app store. Download the correct app for your digital device, enter your AAPLD card number, and enjoy entertainment on-the-go.

Ebooks, eAudiobooks, and more

Libby/Overdrive– Download up to 15 items per month with your AAPLD library card. Libby offers ebooks, eaudiobooks, and magazines for adults, teens and kids. The extensive collection includes the latest fiction and non-fiction, classic literature, and graphic novels.

Hoopla– Download up to 15 items per month, with no holds, no waiting. Just click and borrow! Hoopla’s collection includes e-books, e-audiobooks, and more.

Axis 360– Download up to 5 items per month. Browse the Axis 360 collection for best-selling fiction, non-fiction, e-books and e-audiobooks, for adults and kids.

Digital Audio and Video

In addition to books, Hoopla also offers CDs, movies, and television series, including selections from AcornTV, home to many popular British and Australian series.

Kanopy showcases more than 30,000 of the world’s best films, including award-winning documentaries, rare and hard-to-find titles, film festival favorites, indie and classic films, and world cinema. Check out up to 10 items per month. The Kanopy Kids collection offers unlimited streaming of TV classics like Sesame Street and animated storytimes from award winning books.

Freegal offers access to about 15 million songs, including Sony Music’s catalog of legendary artists and over 40,000 music videos. In total, the collection is comprised of music from over 40,000 labels with music that originates in over 100 countries. There is no software to download, and there are no digital rights management (DRM) restrictions. You can enjoy unlimited streaming and download up to 5 songs per week.

Discover Our Digital Library!

March 16, 2022

Did you know that AAPLD cardholders can check out and enjoy books, audiobooks, music, and video, anytime, anyplace? Using our digital library collections means that you never have to go without something to read or watch.

While our digital collections have plenty of fans, there are still lots of myths and misconceptions that might have discouraged you from trying Libby, Hoopla, Axis360 or Biblioboard.

In honor of the upcoming travel and road trip season-- which digital content is perfect for, by the way-- please join us for a bit of digital library myth-busting!

Love Your Tech in 2022!

December 27, 2021

Did you receive a new device as a holiday gift, or upgrade with a great year-end deal? Maybe you've resolved to get more comfortable with technology in 2022. Your library is here to help!

In January, we're offering classes to help you get the most out of your technology, whether you're a beginner who wants to master the basics, or you want access to thousands of books, videos, music and more, 24/7 with your library card! Classes are taught by Digital Literacy Librarian Kenny Duray, and you can attend in-person or online. Click the class link to register, or call the Adult Services department.

Don't know how to use a computer, tablet or smartphone? Have questions about your device, or another tech-related topic? Our Tech With Kenny classes are for you! Classes are held Wednesday mornings from 10-11 a.m. Each session includes a half-hour lesson, followed by a half hour for Q&A and practice time.

January 5: Using The Mouse and Keyboard - learn basic mouse controls and keyboard keys

January 12: The Internet - learn about browsers, how to search, create a bookmark, and tips for online safety

January 19: Email - Learn to create an email account, send an email, and attach to an email

January 26: File Management - Learn to organize your files for easy access later

Check out and download books, video, music and more, any time, any place, with your library card! Learn about our digital library apps and discover the fun and convenience of ebooks, eaudiobooks, digital video, magazines and newspapers. Classes are held Monday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m., in person or online.

January 10: AAPLD Library Apps - Learn about the services you can access through our apps, plus how to install and use them.

January 17: Downloading Ebooks and Audiobooks - Ebooks and eaudiobooks are convenient, portable, and perfect for travel, commuting, or enjoying from the comfort of home.

January 24: Downloading Movies and TV Shows - Stream movies and TV shows, documentaries, indie hits, and selections from around the world, including shows from the popular BBC and Acorn TV networks.

January 31: Downloading Magazines and Newspapers - Find your favorite magazines and newspapers, including international publications, in multiple languages.

Algonquin Library Adult Services

Digital Resources

Don’t Leave Home Without Us!

Five Reasons To Love Your Library!

Library of Things

Device Advice

Community Services

Home Delivery

Book Clubs

Get Your Craft On with CreativeBug

Discovering Digital: Black History Month

Libby/Overdrive

Hoopla

Axis360

Homework Help Available Through BrainFuse!

Live Tutoring

Skill Surfer

Writing Lab

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Beanstack Challenge

Big Library Read

Write Your Story This November

Algonquin Area Writers Group

Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author Manuscript Contest

Inkie

Research Help

Hints and How-To

Don’t Leave Home Without Us!

Discover Our Digital Library!

Myth #1- "I don't have an ereader."

Myth #2- "I'd rather read print books."

Myth #3- "Who has time to read?"

Myth #4- "Digital reading is hard on your eyes."

Love Your Tech in 2022!

Beginner Basics

Your Library On The Go!