Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

"This author also wrote A Gentleman in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway. I am so glad I finally read his first book, with characters and writing I instantly fell in love with. The setting is New York City in the late 1930’s, it will remind you of Fitzgerald/Gatsby in some ways. A great sentimental story to savor." Recommended by Kelly Kuningas, Adult Services Librarian, Main Library.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

"Chloe Brown is a chronically ill, socially awkward control freak. Redford is a gentle, tattooed, emotionally intelligent artist who is recovering from an abusive relationship. Their love story is moving, hilarious, and steamy--and one of the best romances I've ever read. The other two books in the trilogy are just as good." Recommended by Rachel Ruetz, Adult Services Librarian, Main Library

The Daydreams by Laura Hankin

"A fun behind the scenes Hollywood page-turner about the stars of a popular teen TV series who are reunited thirteen years after their show ended in a spectacular melt-down during the live season finale. With flawed but likable characters, plenty of backstage drama, betrayal and redemption, The Daydreams is the perfect summer vacation read." Recommended by Elizabeth Harmon, Adult Services Library Associate, Main Library

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

"Great historical fiction set in the 1950s and 1960s exploring what it was like for women in science, TV, and domestic situations. The dog named 3:60 was really funny, and I loved that his perspective was included throughout the book. His perspective gave some levity to an otherwise somewhat heavy book." Recommended by Jennifer Griffin, Librarian, Eastgate Branch

To vote in Illinois:

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• You must be 17 years old on or before the date of the Primary Election and turn 18 on or before the date of the 2022 General or Consolidated Election.
• You must live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
• You must not be serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution as a result of a conviction.
• You may not claim the right to vote anywhere else.

Not sure if you’re registered to vote, or your polling place location? Use Illinois’ online voter information site to find out. If you’re not registered, you can do so online, through 11:59 pm on October 23, or in-person at an early voting site (including AAPLD),  Monday- Friday, October 24-28, 8:30 am -4:30 pm, and Saturday, November 5, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.

You can also register in person on Election Day, at your precinct polling place. To find your precinct polling place click here. Two forms of identification with at least one showing your current residence address are needed when you register in-person.

Here are the acceptable forms of ID for voter registration:

• Passport or Military ID
• Driver's License or State ID card
• College/University/School/Work ID
• Vehicle registration card
• Lease, mortgage or deed to home
• Credit or debit card
• Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid card
• Insurance card
• Civic, union or professional membership card
• LINK/Public Aid/Department of Human Services card
• Illinois FOID card

Mail of the following types addressed to you

• Bill, transcript, or school report card
• Bank statement, pay stub, or pension statement
• Utility, medical, or insurance bill
• Official mail from any government agency

BrainFuse JobNow!, found on our online resources page, is an all-in-one service where you can search for jobs, get feedback from live resume experts, prepare for your interview, and more! To get started, just click the link, enter your library card number and library account password. (If you don't remember your password, give the Adult Services department a call to reset it).

Once you're logged in, search job listings on ZipRecruiter, Indeed, and Monster, as well as specialized lists such as Idealist.org (non-profit employers), College Grad Job Hunter (entry-level positions) and Silent Professions (defense and private security). Find resources for veterans entering the civilian job market, practice tests for graduate school, and professional certifications, and links to live help with unemployment applications and benefits. You can also get live feedback on your resume and cover letter, or work with a coach to brush up on your interviewing skills.

LinkedIn Learning offers an array of online courses to boost your technology and business skills. Enhance your resume with a new certification, or explore Learning Paths to open doors to a new career field. LinkedIn Learning offers job hunting help too, including courses on setting up a professional profile on LinkedIn, the premier social media and networking site for professionals. Find LinkedIn Learning on our online resources page, and sign in with your AAPLD library card number and account password.

Don't miss the LinkedIn Learning class on September 14, taught by AAPLD Digital Literacy Librarian Kenny Duray. Choose in-person or virtual learning. Registration is required and open to AAPLD cardholders.

A to Z Databases allows you to search for jobs on Indeed.com, and research a prospective employer with one click. Enter your zip code to look for full-time, or part-time jobs and internships close to home! You can also search in Spanish. Find A to Z Databases our online resources page.

AAPLD's Digital Literacy Librarian Kenny Duray teaches weekly classes on a variety of tech topics! Classes are held Monday evenings from 7 to 8:30, in person at the Main Library or virtually, from the comfort of home. Registration is required, classes are open to all.

Gmail - Aug. 8

Excel Basics - Aug. 15

Google Sheets - Aug. 22

Intermediate Excel - Aug. 29

Google Docs - Sept. 6

Microsoft Word Basics - Sept. 12

Google Slides -  Sept. 19

PowerPoint - Sept. 26

 

Browse our Career, Testing and Computer books, displayed near the Adult Services reference desk. Our collection includes study guides for major graduate entrance exams (GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT), plus certification tests for a variety of fields, from Nursing, to Firefighting, CPA, Real Estate and more. Expand your knowledge of popular software, or read up on a career field.

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask a staff member. We're always happy to help.

Whether you’re a member of the community, a supportive ally, or if you’d just like to know more about the experiences of LGBTQ folk, past and present, real and fictional,  check out our Read The Rainbow display in the Adult Services section, or browse our online catalog to place a book on hold.

Discover one of these captivating stories:

Conventionally Yours by Annabeth Albert - When two "big name fans" go head-to-head at a convention, love isn't the only thing at stake. Charming, charismatic, and effortlessly popular, Conrad Stewart seems to have it all…but in reality, he's scrambling to keep his life from tumbling out of control. Brilliant, guarded, and endlessly driven, Alden Roth may as well be the poster boy for perfection…but even he can't help but feel a little broken inside.

When these mortal enemies are stuck together on a cross-country road trip to the biggest fan convention of their lives, their infamous rivalry takes a backseat as an unexpected connection is forged. Yet each has a reason why they have to win the upcoming Odyssey gaming tournament and neither is willing to let emotion get in the way—even if it means giving up their one chance at something truly magical.

 Outlawed by Anna North -  A Western like no other. The day of her wedding, 17 year old Ada's life looks good; she loves her husband, and she loves working as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife. But after a year of marriage and no pregnancy, in a town where barren women are routinely hanged as witches, her survival depends on leaving behind everything she knows.

She joins up with the notorious Hole in the Wall Gang, a band of outlaws led by a preacher-turned-robber known to all as the Kid. Charismatic, grandiose, and mercurial, the Kid is determined to create a safe haven for outcast women. But to make this dream a reality, the Gang hatches a treacherous plan that may get them all killed. And Ada must decide whether she's willing to risk her life for the possibility of a new kind of future for them all.

 A Psalm for the Well-Built by Becky Chambers - Centuries before, robots of Panga gained self-awareness, laid down their tools, wandered, en masse into the wilderness, never to be seen again. They faded into myth and urban legend.

Now the life of the tea monk who tells this story is upended by the arrival of a robot, there to honor the old promise of checking in. The robot cannot go back until the question of "what do people need?" is answered. But the answer to that question depends on who you ask, and how. They will need to ask it a lot. Chambers' series asks: in a world where people have what they want, does having more matter?

GoPro Hero 5- Compact and lightweight, this camera combines the portability of a point and shoot camera, and a camcorder. Packed into a rugged frame that's waterproof and virtually indestructible, take this camera where your phone can't go!

Controllers - Need an extra controller for your kid's next sleepover? The Library of Things has controllers for XBOX, Wi, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation. Borrow, don't buy, and keep the gaming going all night long.

Tell Me a Story Kit- Visiting family this summer? This kit will help you collect and record your family members' stories, to create an oral history that will be treasured for generations. In addition to the recorder, the kit contains an Oral History Workshop booklet of suggested topics to help you get started.

Kodak Ektagraphic III Slide Projector - Curious about those boxes of old slides in Grandma's basement? This simple carousel slide projector uses a rotary tray to load slides, and project photos and slide shows right on your wall. Combine it with the Tell Me A Story Kit, to capture precious family stories and memories before they're lost.

Raised in New York City, Harvard graduate Whitehead made his publishing debut in 1999. The Intuitionists brought him critical acclaim, but Whitehead's 2016 release The Underground Railroad made him a best-selling author. The novel reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal railroad operating in secret throughout the Civil War-era South, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2017.

When Cora and Ceasar, two slaves on a cotton plantation, decide to escape on the railroad, things don't go as planned.  Cora kills a young white boy who tries to capture her. Though they manage to find a station and head north, they are being hunted.  Cora and Caesar’s first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city’s placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom.

When San Francisco attorney Guillory took part in 2015's National Novel Writing Month, she didn't realize she was about to embark on a new career as a romance novelist. The draft she wrote in November 2015 became her 2018 debut novel The Wedding Date, which was a Library Reads selection.  The follow-up novel, The Proposal was a Reese's Book Club selection.

When Nikole Paterson goes to a Dodgers game with her actor boyfriend,  the last thing she expects is a scoreboard proposal. Saying no isn't the hard part--they've only been dating for five months, and he can't even spell her name correctly. The hard part is having to face a stadium full of disappointed fans...

At the game with his sister, Carlos Ibarra comes to Nik's rescue and rushes her away from a camera crew. He's even there for her when the video goes viral and Nik's social media blows up--in a bad way. Nik knows that in the wilds of LA, a handsome doctor like Carlos can't be looking for anything serious, so she embarks on an epic rebound with him, filled with food, fun, and fantastic sex. But when their glorified hookups start breaking the rules, one of them has to be smart enough to put on the brakes.

AAPLD will host a virtual visit with Guillory on February 16, where she will share insights on the modern rom-com.  The talk will be moderated by Black author Morgan Rogers, debut author of Honey Girl.

Attica Locke's mysteries and thrillers have earned her best-seller status and a nomination for the Edgar Award, one of the genre's top awards. A writer and producer with the television series Empire, she is equally adept at portraying New York's powerful and wealthy, and the hardscrabble rural towns of East Texas. This area, which Locke visited often as a child, is the setting for Bluebird Bluebird, the first book in  her Highway 59 series, featuring Texas Ranger Darren Matthews.

When it comes to law and order, East Texas plays by its own rules--a fact that Darren Mathews, a black Texas Ranger, knows all too well. 
When his allegiance to his roots puts his job in jeopardy, he travels up Highway 59 to the small town of Lark, where two murders--a black lawyer from Chicago and a local white woman--have stirred up a hornet's nest of resentment. Darren must solve the crimes--and save himself in the process--before Lark's long-simmering racial fault lines erupt.
A rural noir suffused with the unique music, color, and nuance of East Texas, Bluebird, Bluebird is an exhilarating, timely novel about the collision of race and justice in America.

Chateau Christmas - Margot, a world-renowned pianist, returns to Chateau Neuhaus to spend the holidays with her family and rediscover her passion for music. While there, her ex-boyfriend and former bandmate Jackson, convinces her to headline the annual Christmas concert. As they work together, old feelings return. Starring Merritt Patterson and Jesse Hutch.

The Christmas House - When Bill and Phyllis Mitchell call their two grown sons, Brandon and Mike, home for Christmas, they hope to make peace with a difficult decision and celebrate a memorable holiday. As Brandon and his husband Jake make the trip home, they are anxiously awaiting a call about the adoption of their first child. Meanwhile, Mike reconnects with his high-school sweetheart Andi. Starring Robert Buckley, Ana Ayora.

Love, Lights, Hauukkah! - When a DNA test reveals that Christina Russo, a lonely Cleveland restauranteur, is Jewish she reconnects with her biological mother, Ruth, and long-lost extended family. Over eight festive nights, she forges new bonds, discovers new traditions, and unexpectedly falls for the local food critic who once panned her Italian restaurant. Starring Mia Kirshner and Ben Savage.

On The 12th Date of Christmas - Two seemingly incompatible game designers team up to create a romantic city-wide scavenger hunt themed for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Starring Mallory Jensen and Tyler Hynes.

A Christmas Tree Grows In Colorado - Erin, the mayor's daughter, is planning the Christmas festival for her town, and must persuade Kevin, a handsome single dad and firefighter, to donate the beautiful spruce tree on his property for the celebration. Starring Rochelle Aytes and Mark Taylor

Five Star Christmas - When a travel writer shows up unexpectedly at her parents' bed and breakfast, Lucy Ralston and her siblings masquerade as guests to convince the writer to give the inn a good review. But when Lucy finds herself falling for Jake, a real guest, she feels guilty about her deception. Starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Victor Webster.

Christmas In Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing - In Evergreen, Vermont, a town devoted to Christmas, mayor Michelle Lansing is planning her wedding. As the big day approaches she rushes to finish the launch of the town museum, while also questioning her relationship and her future with fiance, Elliot. Starring Rukiya Bernard and Antonio Cayonne.

A Veteran's Christmas - Newly discharged  from the Marines, Grace Garland finds herself stranded in a small Colorado town, following a car accident. Local judge Joe Peterson offers Grace shelter in his guesthouse while she waits for her car to be repaired, and helps her rediscover the joy and community that have been missing from her life. Starring Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris.