Get ready, get set, go!
Reading Marathon, AAPLD's newest reading challenge starts today, and we're excited! Beginning February 1, AAPLD cardholders, 18 and over, will have the chance to stretch their reading muscles by reading 26 books! With 26 different reading themes-- like 26 miles in a marathon-- there's plenty to keep you reading all the way to the end of November. Even better, any Reading Marathon books read during Summer Reading, count towards both programs. To read more about how the Reading Marathon Challenge works, check out our page.
Now if you're thinking, "26 books? Easy peasy!" be sure to stop by the Adult Services desk and tell us what you're reading! (The rumors are true...library staff love to talk about books.) But if you're thinking, "26 books? You've got to be kidding!" Read on. You can do this, and we're here to help, with 7 tips for success.
- Review Your To Be Read List- if you keep a list of books you'd like to read, pick up a Reading Marathon log sheet at the Adult Services desk and note which books fit the themes. Use Goodreads or NoveList to see covers, page counts, author info and more.
- Attend a book club meeting - Many AAPLD book clubs will read at least one book this year that fits a Reading Marathon theme. A few suggestions: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (Title = Family; Unicorns & Spaceships, February) Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (NYT Bestseller; Happily Ever After, April), The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters (Set overseas; Nail Biters, June), I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai (Illinois Author; Fiction Addition, July); Confessions by Kanae Minato (Translated Work; Oh, The Horror!, August); Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londono (Road on the Cover; Stranger Than Fiction, September)
- Browse our displays - Each month, we'll feature two Reading Marathon themes on display in the Adult Services area by Study Room D.
- Look Around Your House- The "Own It, Haven't Read It" theme lets you choose a book from your household collection. You might find unread books that fit other themes too.
- Try an E-book or Audiobook- While there's nothing like curling up with a print book, ebooks and audiobooks are great for reading on the go. Listen on your commute, while working around the house, or on a road trip. Download ebooks so you always have a book handy.
- Ask us! Need suggestions for what to read, or want to learn to use our reading apps? Your friendly library staff is ready to help.
- Make reading a healthy new habit - For many of us, the problem isn't what to read, but finding the time. Ebooks can help you fit reading into the small pockets of time you're likely to spend scrolling. Combine audiobooks with walks, or workouts at the gym. Swap your phone, social media and news apps for a book-- especially before bedtime. Your mind and body will thank you!




AAPLD welcomes photographer Paul McFadden to the Art Wall in the Adult Services Department. Paul’s work reflects his varied interests and experiences, including a love for wildlife, travel, and his career with American Airlines. Each year, Paul creates a wildlife calendar for family, friends, and “numerous doctors,” and has also gifted them with privately printed books of photography. Paul and Beverly, his wife of 55 years, made their home in unincorporated Algonquin for 46 years before moving to Crystal Lake. His work will be displayed through December and January. Learn a little more about this talented artist.
Background/Experience: Paul began his photography career just after high school graduation, when he went to work for the Telegraph-Herald newspaper in Dubuque, IA. After serving in the Air Force for five and a half years during the Vietnam War, he returned to newspaper work, before taking a position with American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport. Though he didn’t work as a professional photographer, he describes himself as a photographer at heart. His work was recently featured in a two-page spread, in Quintessential Barrington magazine’s Wide Open Spaces.





During November, you’ll find the work of artist Patti Stricker on the Art Wall in the Adult Services Department at AAPLD. Patti’s colorful paintings transform simple objects– from old watering cans, to vegetables– into dramatic and eye-catching art. Patti’s love for painting began in her teens, and has been nurtured through continuing education. Her art will be displayed through the month of November. Learn a little more about this talented artist.
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This month on the Art Wall, in the Adult Services Department at AAPLD, you’ll find the work of artist Kim Anderson. A bead artist and retired law enforcement professional, Kim has turned her talents to watercolors and acrylics. Her art will be displayed through the month of October. Learn a little more about the talented artist behind the work.
If you’re a local artist interested in exhibiting your work, please submit samples of your work and contact information to