Ins & Outs Newsletter: Spring 2026
Read featured articles from the 2026 spring Ins & Outs newsletter and find links to programs for all ages.
A New Genealogy Podcast Episode
Local Genealogists Speak Podcast Series In January, we launched a new genealogy podcast series called “Local Genealogists Speak." This series is a monthly opportunity to hear from a local genealogist as they share their experiences with and knowledge about family history research. Each episode contains tips and suggestions which may be helpful for your own…
Digital Preservation Week 2026
Preserve Your Family Memories & Local History Those old family photos tucked in boxes and albums hold stories worth saving. During Digital Preservation Week, April 26 - May 2, the Library invites you to bring in a few of your cherished photos and let us help you preserve them digitally so they can be shared,…
Jenny’s Pick of the Week: How to Write a Love Story
I can't resist reading a romance novel during February, and How to Write a Love Story by Catherine Walsh was the perfect pick for my romantic heart. It's the literary equivalent of a rom-com movie night: funny, charming, and completely bingeworthy. With its release coming up in early March, definitely keep this one on your…
Cook Memorial Library at 100: The 1970s
The Cook Memorial Library celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021. To commemorate the milestone, we set out to document the library’s history decade by decade. We made it as far as the opening of the current library building in 1968. Thanks to library volunteer Lyndon Shi, a sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign majoring…
Hannah’s Pick of the Week: Vigil by George Saunders
"What a lovely home I found myself plummeting toward, acquiring, as I fell, arms, hands, legs, feet, all of which, as usual, became more substantial with each passing second. Below: a fountain. At the center of the fountain: a gold-plated statue. Of a dog. (Someone must have really loved that dog.) In the mouth of…
Erica’s Pick of the Week: The List of Suspicious Things
Twelve-year-old Miv, the protagonist of Jennie Godfrey’s The List of Suspicious Things, is surrounded by mysteries. Some seem unsolvable: Why does her mother no longer speak? How long will her sourpuss Aunty Jean be living with them? Why is her best friend, Sharon, so comfortable and confident in her own skin? Why does her dad…
Ask the Genealogy Community!
Did you know that there is a whole community at FamilySearch that is dedicated to answering your questions? That’s right! You may only think of FamilySearch as a place to find records and possibly build a tree; however, this resource is one of the many others that they offer. Through the FamilySearch Community, you can…
Marianne’s Pick of the Week: The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
In the past few months, I’ve read some “heavy” books. Novels that addressed topics such as climate change, famine, and disease. So, I was in the mood for something that would give me joy, or at least a distraction. Enter: The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead. Grief, addiction, hope, fame, and acceptance do not…
Jenny’s Pick of the Week: Anatomy of an Alibi
I have not been able to stop thinking about Anatomy of an Alibi for weeks, and since today is release day, I couldn't help but share my thoughts. It's safe to say that Ashley Elston is back and here to deliver another edge-of-your-seat thriller that will make fans of her adult debut, First Lie Wins,…