Embedded Files
Her War, Her Story
Explore women’s experiences during World War II through film, examining their service, sacrifice, and resilience on the home front and abroad.
Tuesday, March 10th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Triangle Fire
A film screening and informal discussion examining the tragedy that transformed labor laws and workplace safety in America.
Wednesday, March 11th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
News Matters
Through film and informal discussion, explore the decline of journalism and its connection to misinformation, civic trust, and the health of American democracy.
Tuesday, March 17th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Murder at Starved Rock
A re-examination of the 1960 Starved Rock murders, this true-crime account explores questions surrounding a disputed confession, decades of imprisonment, and later DNA findings that continue to shape discussion about one of Illinois’ most debated convictions.
Saturday, March 21st, 1:00 p.m.
Hennepin Branch
Elvis and the USS Arizona
Through film and informal discussion, discover the unexpected role Elvis Presley played in creating one of America’s most enduring memorials.
Tuesday, March 24th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Teens)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for teens (ages 13–19).
Wednesday, March 25th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Youth)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for ages 8–14.
Thursday, March 26th, 5:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Cherry Coal Mine Museum Tour
Step into the story of the 1909 Cherry Mine fire, one of the deadliest in U.S. history, explore artifacts, and take a self-guided tour.
Saturday, March 28th, 10:00 a.m.
Cherry Mine Museum & Library
Radioactive
A powerful documentary exploring the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown and the citizens who challenged corporate silence in its aftermath.
Tuesday, March 31st, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Adults)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for adults (19+).
Tuesday, March 31st, 5:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Company Town
A powerful documentary exploring a small Arkansas town’s struggle with industrial pollution, and the citizens who challenge corporate power to protect their community.
Tuesday, April 7th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Upstream, Downriver
A powerful documentary exploring the fight for clean water, environmental justice, and the unfinished promise of the Clean Water Act.
Wednesday, April 8th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Earth Days
A powerful documentary screening tracing the birth of modern environmentalism, from a 1969 teach-in to 20 million Americans mobilizing for change, and the lasting impact of a movement that reshaped our nation’s environmental laws.
Tuesday, April 14th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Owen Lovejoy House Tour
Step into the story of the Lovejoy Homestead, a National Historic Landmark and vital Underground Railroad station, explore the restored 1838 home of abolitionist Owen Lovejoy, and discover the lasting legacy he left on Illinois and the nation.
Saturday, April 18th, 10:00 a.m.
Lovejoy Homestead
The Librarians
A film screening and facilitated discussion explores how challenged books place librarians at the center of debates over access, education, and free expression.
Tuesday, April 21st, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Banned Together
Teens take on book bans in their school, and ignite a national fight over who decides what young people are allowed to read.
Wednesday, April 22nd, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Free for All: The Public Library
An insightful documentary revealing the quiet revolutionaries who built the Free Library Movement, and the librarians today defending open access in an era of closures and book bans.
Thursday, April 23rd, 4:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Fire in the Heartland
A powerful documentary revisiting the 1970 shootings at Kent State and Jackson State, examining how civil rights activism, anti–Vietnam War protests, and political tensions culminated in two tragic acts of state violence that reshaped American history.
Tuesday, April 28th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Paul Revere: Dispelling the Myth
Join David Gain, Curator of the Paul Revere House, for a fresh look at the man behind the Midnight Ride, separating myth from history while exploring Paul Revere’s life as artisan, patriot, and entrepreneur.
Tuesday, April 28th, 4:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Adults)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for adults (19+).
Tuesday, April 28th, 5:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Teens)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for teens (ages 13–19).
Wednesday, April 29th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Inside Paul Revere's House Tour
Step inside Boston’s oldest downtown home in a live, 360° guided virtual experience led by a museum educator, featuring immersive close-ups, rich storytelling, and real-time Q&A.
Thursday, April 30th, 4:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Youth)
Explore the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film in this monthly, hybrid book club for ages 8–14.
Thursday, April 30th, 5:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
The Grocery List Show
Every aisle tells a story. Join Chrissy Camba as she explores international grocery stores across America — shopping, cooking, and celebrating the communities that make our food culture so rich.
Tuesday, May 5th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
History of the First Ladies
From Martha Washington to Jackie Kennedy, the women behind the presidency helped shape a nation — often without a title, a salary, or a rulebook. Step inside the historic homes, hotels, and halls of Washington, D.C., where their stories of resilience, influence, and quiet power still echo today.
Tuesday, May 5th, 6:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Miles, Morale and Memories
Before the battles, there was Bob. This documentary follows Bob Hope and his troupe of entertainers as they brought laughter and light to soldiers on the front lines of World War II — a fearless mission that, for many young servicemen, became their last moment of joy before heading into battle.
Wednesday, May 6th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
I am Big Bird
He was eight feet tall, bright yellow, and beloved by millions — but the most remarkable thing about Big Bird was always the man inside the suit. I Am Big Bird is a warm, intimate portrait of Caroll Spinney, tracing his journey from a bullied childhood to cultural icon, and the heart and humanity that made him unforgettable.
Thursday, May 7th, 4:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Statue of Liberty
She has watched over America's shores for more than a century — a beacon of hope, freedom, and belonging. In this lyrical portrait from Ken Burns, rare archival images and voices from all walks of American life come together to explore the fascinating history of the Statue of Liberty, and the deeper, ever-evolving meaning of liberty itself.
Tuesday, May 12th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Eight Flavors
How did a nation of so many cultures come to share one table? Culinary historian Sarah Lohman traces the answer through eight transformative ingredients — uncovering forgotten recipes, surprising history, and the fascinating flavors that quietly shaped the way Americans cook and eat.
Tuesday, May 12th, 6:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Mr. Polaroid
Decades before the smartphone, Edwin Land imagined a camera as essential as a pencil. Mr. Polaroid tells the little-known story of the Harvard dropout whose revolutionary instant camera sparked a photography craze, shaped the blueprint for Silicon Valley, and turned one man's brilliant — and at times hubristic — vision into a billion photographs a year.
Wednesday, May 13th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Family Recipe: Jewish American
From Iraqi kubbeh to Ethiopian lentils to classic deli staples, Jewish food is as wonderfully diverse as the diaspora itself. Family Recipe: Jewish American Style takes audiences on a rich culinary and cultural journey into homes across America — where deeply personal stories, ancient traditions, and irresistible flavors all come together at the table.
Thursday, May 14th, 4:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Reddick Mansion Tour
Built in 1858, the Reddick Mansion has stood witness to history — including the very first Lincoln-Douglas Debate — and spent generations serving the heart of Ottawa, Illinois. Take a tour of this remarkable landmark, where stories of family, community, and American history come alive within its historic walls.
Saturday, May 16th, 11:00 a.m.
Reddick Mansion
Memorial Day Massacre
In 1937, Chicago police killed striking workers — and the truth was buried for decades. This documentary unearths the Memorial Day Massacre, a forgotten chapter in American labor history whose lessons feel more urgent than ever.
Tuesday, May 19th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Her Story, Our Nation
Washington, D.C. is full of women's history — if you know where to look. Guides from A Tour of Her Own uncover the remarkable stories of the women who helped build a nation, from those immortalized in monuments to those hiding in plain sight.
Tuesday, May 19th, 6:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Brooklyn Bridge
The largest bridge of its era, a feat of engineering and sheer American ambition. Ken Burns captures the drama behind the Brooklyn Bridge's creation — and the enduring hold it has exerted on the American imagination ever since.
Thursday, May 21st, 4:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
Joseph Pulitzer
He arrived in America as a penniless immigrant and became the nation's first media titan. This documentary traces the remarkable rise of Joseph Pulitzer — and his fierce championing of a free press that culminated in a landmark Supreme Court victory still felt today.
Tuesday, May 26th, 1:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Adult)
Explore the American Revolution one book — and one conversation — at a time. This hybrid community book club brings readers together each month to discuss a featured title alongside clips from Ken Burns' upcoming PBS documentary The American Revolution, blending great reading with compelling film and lively group discussion. Open to adults 19 and older.
Tuesday, May 26th, 5:00 p.m.
Granville Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Teens)
Join a hybrid book club exploring the American Revolution through great reads, lively conversation, and clips from Ken Burns' upcoming PBS documentary. Each month features a new book, companion videos, and guided discussion — all connecting the past to the present. Open to teens ages 13–19.
Wednesday, May 27th, 5:00 p.m.
McNabb Branch
Chapter 250 Book Club (Youth)
Explore the American Revolution through great books and film clips from Ken Burns' upcoming PBS documentary. Open to ages 8–14.
Thursday, May 28th, 5:00 p.m.
Condit (Putnam) Branch
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