"Genius is contagious," writes author Eric Weiner- an idea which proved true as we listened and learned from a group of Arlington Heights School District 25 teachers who gathered earlier today to discuss The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places, from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley, the selected title for this year's One Book, One Village community read.  Representing three area elementary schools - Greenbrier, Windsor and Olive-Mary Stitt- the teachers had carved out time over the summer to read The Geography of Genius and were eager to be the first

 

To prepare for the start of the school year, nearly 40 new teachers to Arlington Heights School District 25 visited the library on August 18 and learned firsthand about resources available to teachers, how to request classroom materials and about upcoming library programs that will enhance student learning beyond the classroom. 

 

Following a before-hours tour of the library, District 25 Superintendent Dr. Lori Bein welcomed the group to the Hub where they also heard  a special presentation by the library's School Services Coordinator (K-8) Julie Jurgens. The teachers participated in two breakout sessions and also had time to

 

Up, Up and Away! It's a superhero summer at the library, and our Fourth of July parade entry celebrated this theme with everyone in Arlington Heights on Monday. Special thanks to all of the volunteers, staff and library trustees who represented AHML in the Fourth of July Parade alongside the library's bookmobile and our special superhero guests. Thanks also to the Frontier Days Festival organizers for another outstanding parade day in Arlington Heights. See more photos here.

 

Thanks to the more than 600 people who came out on Saturday, June 18 for our first FanCon, a five-hour, library-wide celebration of all things comic and pop culture. All ages turned out, many dressed as their favorite superhero characters, and enjoyed comic-themed activities including meeting comic book artists to participating in drawing workshops, storytimes, DIY crafts, gaming competitions and taking photos with costumed characters from Star Wars and the Ghostbusters. Read more in the Daily Herald or check out the fun on Instagram.

 

Wednesday, May 11 was "pitch night" for more than 40 John Hersey High School student entrepreneurs who took center stage at the library to compete in a Shark Tank-style showdown. In all, eight groups of students presented, each giving their best pitches for new businesses and start-up opportunities before a panel of five judges, including Mayor Tom Hayes, and an audience of more than 100 people.

 

Start-up ideas ranged from Campus View, a virtual college campus tour website, to Mass Meals, a subscription-based meal delivery service. Other ideas included an online gift buying service named Trendit  and

In the past year the library has presented storytimes, STEM clubs, book discussions, author visits, exhibits, summer reading programs and more. We've welcomed the community to celebrate the arts at the District 25 art show and reception, a fairy tale exhibit and costume gala and months of themed programs exploring fairy tales. Arlington Heights came together to read and discuss the themes behind the One Book, One Village book selection and tweens and teens found opportunities to learn and discover together. Local entrepreneurs gathered to share their experiences with small business owners and the library continued to offer new tools

 

Launchpads Take Off in Kids’ World

 

New Launchpad learning tablets are now available for check-out in Kids’ World. Each tablet is pre-loaded with learning games for children. Search “launchpad” at ahml.info to see available tablets and games or look for them in the STEM area in Kids’ World.

 

"Fairy tales were and still are comfort reading to me," said Gregory Maguire, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West during a special library-sponsored appearance at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday evening, March 9. 

 

More than 200 people turned out to hear Maguire deliver a lively 75-minute exploration of creativity and storytelling titled, "No Rest for the Wicked: On Reading and Writing Fantasy....and the Magic of Broadway." 

 

"Life itself is the most wonderful of fairy tales," began Maguire by quoting one of his favorite