Library News

New Lenox Public Library hosts bestselling horror author Stephen Graham Jones

Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Illinois Libraries Present: Stephen Graham Jones

New Lenox Public Library District joins more than 200 Illinois libraries participating in Season 3 of Illinois Libraries Present, a collaborative effort featuring virtual events with bestselling and award-winning authors and esteemed speakers. The season continues with Stephen Graham Jones, a New York Times bestselling author and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellowship recipient, and will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, October 4, at 7 PM.

Stephen Graham Jones is the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians and Don’t Fear the Reaper. He was awarded an NEA fellowship and received several awards including the Ray Bradbury Award from the Los Angeles Times, the Bram Stoker Award, the Shirley Jackson Award, the Jesse Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Independent Publishers Award for Multicultural Fiction, and the Alex Award from the American Library Association. He is the Ivena Baldwin Professor of English at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Becky Spratford, author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021], joins Jones in conversation. She is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and currently serves as the Association’s secretary and organizer of their annual Librarians’ Day. 

Author events are often a cornerstone of library programming. Throughout the pandemic these events continued virtually as libraries collaborated to host authors and speakers. This ensured that Illinois communities had access to events that may otherwise be unattainable for a single library due to budget or production constraints. Illinois Libraries Present brought together diverse communities, ensured access to patrons across the state, and expanded the speaker’s platform.  

Season 3 of Illinois Libraries Present will continue later in October with Food, Family, and Folktales: A Conversation with Grace Lin. Lin is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of picture books, early readers and middle grade novels. The event will take place via Zoom on Tuesday, October 17, at 7 PM.

The event with Stephen Graham Jones is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. Chills & Thrills with Stephen Graham Jones will begin at 7 PM on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit www.newlenoxlibrary.org. For more information, visit www.newlenoxlibrary.org or call 815-485-2605.

Illinois Libraries Present is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Illinois Libraries Present is committed to inclusion and accessibility.

Register on our event calendar: Chills & Thrills with Stephen Graham Jones

Enjoy life more confidently with A Matter of Balance

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Update September 25: This event has been canceled.

New Lenox Library hosts the next A Matter of Balance series, a set of free fall-prevention classes offered for older adults, starting September 25.

Seniors, have you turned down a chance to go out with family or friends because you were concerned about falling? Have you cut down on a favorite activity because you might fall? If so, this New Lenox Safe Community Coalition series is for you!

A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. You'll learn to:

  • Set realistic goals to increase activity
  • Change your environment to reduce fall risk factors
  • Learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance

The class includes 8 sessions:

  • Monday, September 25 & Wednesday, September 27
  • Monday, October 2 & Wednesday, October 4
  • Monday, October 9 & Wednesday, October 11
  • Monday, October 16 & Wednesday, October 18 (Final session and graduation)

This series is held at New Lenox Public Library, 120 Veterans Parkway in New Lenox, Illinois.

For additional information or to register, please contact Daniel Martin, Safe Community Coordinator, by calling (815) 462-6493 or via email at dmartin@newlenox.net.

Library parking lot now open (updated September 19)

Thursday, September 07, 2023

September 19 Update: All library parking is back open!

Limited parking starting September 7: Specific areas of the parking lot are being worked on starting Thursday, September 7, and parking may be limited. Please be mindful of the workers and their equipment.

Closure starting September 12: The New Lenox Library main parking lot will be closed starting Tuesday, September 12* for resurfacing and will remain closed through the week. We encourage you to park in the Commons or at Village Hall. Whenever possible, we encourage you to leave the parking spaces closest to the Library for community members with mobility difficulties.

*The original start date was Monday, September 11, but has been moved back due to rain.

The book drop will be closed that week, but remember, we're a fine-free library! Most New Lenox Library items won't have daily fees attached. If you have questions about your items or need additional flexibility in due dates for other PrairieCat member libraries' items or interlibrary loans, please call 815-485-2605.

Tech2Go items should not be placed in the book drop, so those continue to be returned to staff as usual.

Last updated September 11 at 9:10 AM.