Ins & Outs Newsletter: Spring 2026

Coming in Spring: Updated Online Catalog

Our online catalog is getting a fresh new look! In spring, you’ll notice an updated design that makes searching and browsing easier while supporting our commitment to digital accessibility.

Same great features:

• Reading history — Keep track of everything you’ve borrowed.
• Mobile- and tablet-friendly — Easy to use on any device.
• Preferred pick-up location — Choose inside pickup or the drive-up window at either Library location.

New or improved features:

• Enhanced search — Find what you’re looking for faster.
• Titles grouped by format — See the book, eBook, and audiobook together.
• Multiple library cards — Manage your family’s cards easily in one place.
• Create lists — Save items to read, watch, or listen to later.

Learn more

Drop in during National Library Week for hands-on demos of the
new catalog. Explore helpful features, ask questions, and share your feedback. 

National Library Week: Check Out Your Happy

Sunday, April 19–Saturday, April 25

This year’s National Library Week Honorary Chair, Mychal Threets—librarian, literacy advocate, and host of Reading Rainbow—invites people of all backgrounds to discover what sparks joy for them at the library. Celebrate National Library Week by stopping in for demos that highlight library collections, services, and resources. Discover something new, ask questions, and check out your happy! No registration required; drop in anytime.

• Spin the trivia wheel
• Learn more about our new app
• Dive deeper into the updated online catalog
• and more!

The full schedule will be available in late March.

Friends of the Library: Spring Book Sale

Saturday, April 11 & Sunday, April 12

Save the date for the Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale—packed with great deals on books, movies, music, and more!

Saturday, April 11

• 9:30–11:30 am: Members Only
  Not a member? Join at the door!
• 11:30 am–4 pm: Open to the Public

Sunday, April 12

• 12:30–4 pm: $5 Bag Sale, Open to the Public
  We supply the bag, and you fill it with all the books, movies, etc. that fit for $5. Multiple bags are permitted. Educators who teach at schools in the Library District may select books free of charge with a valid school ID.

Support the Friends of the Library

Membership includes early access to semiannual book sales during Members Only hours. To join or for sale questions, email friendsofcooklibrary@gmail.com, call 847-362-2330, or visit the Friends’ Facebook page.

Yearly Membership: $10 | Lifetime Membership: $50

Donate for the Sale

Donate gently used materials in good condition beginning Sunday, February 22. Donation bins will be available in the lobby of each Library location through Sunday, April 5, or until capacity is reached. Visit cooklib.org/support for details on acceptable donations.

America 250: We the People

This year marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and public libraries remain a powerful reflection of its ideals. At the local level, libraries bring that spirit to life every day by offering free access to information, sharing community stories, and welcoming neighbors of all ages and backgrounds into a shared civic space. Through learning, connection, and curiosity, libraries help ensure that the values of democracy begin close to home—and belong to all of us, now and for the next 250 years.

Join us this summer as we celebrate this important milestone through programs, events, and activities; special material displays; the Summer Reading Club; and more.

Summer Reading Kickoff Party

Help us launch the 2026 Summer Reading Club with a star-spangled, after-hours celebration honoring America’s 250-year anniversary! The whole family is invited to join us for games, crafts, and early registration—because even the Founding Fathers would agree it’s never too early to sign up for Summer Reading. Adults can stop by for personalized reading recommendations from our readers’ advisors, the Bookies. Sign up at the event for your chance to win one of three prize baskets. No registration (or powdered wigs) required. DROP IN

Friday, May 29, 6:30–8:30 pm at Aspen Drive Library

Programs

For a full list of Early Childhood programs, click here. 

For a full list of Family programs, click here. 

For a full list of K-5 programs, click here. 

For a full list of Middle School programs, click here. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Finding joy can be as simple as opening a book. Through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, registered children from birth to age five receive a free, high-quality book delivered straight to their doorstep. It’s a cheerful surprise that helps families build early literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading. Enroll your child online at ImaginationLibrary.com or pick up information at the Youth Information Desk.

This program is sponsored locally by the Lake County Regional Office of Education Foundation.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten

Reading from birth is a powerful way to support your child’s development, and it’s easier than it sounds. With 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, families read at their own pace, earning a rubber duck for every 100 books along the way. Celebrate 500 books with a free tote bag, and when you complete the program, your child earns a free book!

One book a day adds up quickly—reading just once a day means you and your child can enjoy more than 1,000 books in three years. You’ve got this.

Sign up in person at Cook Park Library, Aspen Drive Library, or on the Bookmobile.

Seek and Find

Some of your favorite characters are on the loose and hiding in Youth Services. Earn a hand stamp every time you find one, and remember, these characters change spots every week! DROP IN 

19th Annual Creative Writing Contest (grades 4-8)

Calling all young writers! Get your pen and paper ready because it’s time for our annual Writing Contest. Submit your story, essay, or poem for a chance to win publication in Cook Memorial Library’s own literary magazine.  

Submit entries at cooklib.org/kids-events, any CMPLD location, or at participating schools beginning Monday, February 23. Entries must be received by Friday, April 3 at 6 pm. 

Contest guidelines: 

• For students in grades 4-8 who live or attend school within the Cook Memorial Public Library District.  

• One entry per student.  

• One author per entry.  

• Entries may not be longer than 3,000 words. No illustrations, please.  

Questions? Please contact Amy vanGoethem at avangoethem@cooklib.org or 224-513-7421. 

Kids’ Spring Reading Club

March 15–May 15 • Birth-Grade 8

Participating in the Spring Reading Club is fun and easy! Earn 10 points for every book you read, or 20 points for every hour you read. Tally up 100 points and earn an awesome prize! Register starting Sunday, March 15 online at cooklib.readsquared.com or in person at any CMPLD location.

Need a book suggestion? For a personalized list, ask the Bookies: cooklib.org/bookies.

Check Out the Stars — Literally!

Borrow the Library’s telescope for seven days and explore the night sky. Call or stop by the Youth Information Desk for availability and to check it out.

Check Out Your Happy Book Recommendations: Youth

• The Marvelous Now words by Angela DiTerlizzi; art by Lorena Alvarez Gómez
• 50 Ways to Feel Happy by Vanessa King with Val Payne & Peter Harper ; illustrated by Celeste Aires
• How to Grow Happiness by Kelly DiPucchio; pictures by Matt Kaufenberg
• Pepper & Boo Paws Up for Joy! by Charise Mericle Harper

Programs

For a full list of High School programs, click here.

High School Photography Contest
PEOPLE • PLACES • THINGS

May 1–31 • Deadline: Sunday, May 31

Show off your photography skills! Prizes will be awarded to the top place in each category.

CATEGORIES

Photos must fit in one of the following categories: People, Places, or Things.

SUBMISSIONS

Email your submission in any or all three categories as a JPG file to hdove@cooklib.org. Contest is open to grades 9-12. Deadline: Sunday, May 31. Generative AI submissions will not be accepted.

WINNERS

Winners and runners-up will be announced the first week of June and shared on the Library’s social media. One winner from each category will receive a $40 gift card to Michaels craft store.

2025 Adult and High School Winter Reading Club

Through Tuesday, March 31

Join our 2026 Adult and High School Winter Reading Club and get rewarded for your reading. Simply sign up, complete three qualifying books by March 31, and visit the Library to pick up your prize and enter the grand prize drawing. Each finisher will receive a limited edition CMPLD Winter Reading Club 2026 enamel pin (while supplies last) and a chance at taking home a beautiful literary prize basket.  

Sign up online at cooklib.readsquared.com, or in person by picking up a bookmark from the Adult Information Desk at either Library location. Stack up reads and check out rewards with us!

Check Out Your Happy Book Recommendations: Young Adult

• Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms written by Crystal Frasier ; art by Val Wise ; lettered by Oscar O. Jupiter
• Inheritance: A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedo; art by Andrea Pippins
• You Should See Me in A Crown by Leah Johnson
• The Resilient Teen: 10 Key Sills to Bounce Back from Setbacks & Turn Stress Into Success by Sheela Raja, PhD

Programs

For a full list of Adult programs, click here. 

Digital Preservation Week: Preserve Your Family Memories & Local History

April 26–May 2

Those old family photos tucked in boxes and albums hold stories worth saving. During Digital Preservation Week, 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, enjoyed, and remembered for years to come.

APPOINTMENTS

Register for a time slot to meet one-on-one with Library staff to scan your photos. They’ll guide you through the digitization process and show you how to use the software.

DETAILS

Participants may bring up to five photos to digitize, no larger than 8.5″x11″.

Learn more and reserve your spot at cooklib.org/dpw.

Tune In: CMPLD Podcast

Add the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast to your rotation. Listen to book reviews, learn how to use helpful resources, listen to interviews with genealogists, and get to know your local library staff. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. cooklib.org/podcast

2025 Adult and High School Winter Reading Club

Through Tuesday, March 31

Join our 2026 Adult and High School Winter Reading Club and get rewarded for your reading. Simply sign up, complete three qualifying books by March 31, and visit the Library to pick up your prize and enter the grand prize drawing. Each finisher will receive a limited edition CMPLD Winter Reading Club 2026 enamel pin (while supplies last) and a chance at taking home a beautiful literary prize basket.  

Sign up online at cooklib.readsquared.com, or in person by picking up a bookmark from the Adult Information Desk at either Library location. Stack up reads and check out rewards with us!

Seed Library Sprouts Up March 1–31

“I often find that happiness is right where I planted it.” — Anonymous

Starting March 1, visit Cook Park or Aspen Drive Library to find your joy in the Seed Library! A special cart will be at the Information Desk with seed packets, books, and brochures full of tips and inspiration to get you growing. No green thumb? No problem! There’s no pressure to return seeds or promise a perfect harvest—just dig in, have fun, and see what grows. cooklib.org/seedlibrary

• Available March 1–31, while supplies last
• Limit 3-5 packets per person
• Flower, herb, fruit, vegetable, and native seeds available
• All seeds are free

Studio Workshops

Register for a short, 30-minute workshop on a variety of Digital Studio topics. Visit cooklib.org/events to view the schedule and register.

• Set up recording sessions for music or podcasts.
• Digitize VHS tapes, cassettes, and vinyl records.
• Scan photos, slides, and negatives.
• Get familiar with the Cricut machine.

Check Out Your Happy Book Recommendations

Fiction

• Upward Bound by Woody Brown
• Happy Ending by Chloe Liese
• The Paris Match by Stuart Woods
• Good Joy, Bad Joy: A Novel by Mikki Brammer

Nonfiction

• Humor Me: How Laughing More Can Make You Present, Creative, Connected, and Happy by Chris Duffy
• Happy Habits: A Happier, Healthier Life One Minute at a Time by Tal Ben-Shahar
• The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World by Robert J. Coplan
• Joyspan: the Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half by Dr. Kerry Burnights

Beep beep — The Library is getting a brand-new Bookmobile this year! While our current Bookmobile has served the community well for many years, it’s time for an upgrade that will help us better reach neighborhoods, schools, and community events across the District.

Why is the Library getting a new Bookmobile?

The 23-year-old Bookmobile has reached the end of its operational life. Like any well-loved vehicle, the bus required more maintenance and in turn more service interruptions. Upgrading to a newer vehicle will ensure a reliable schedule and reliable service to our community.

Features

Energy-Efficiency

All internal electronics will run on rechargeable batteries, which will either be charged at the library or by solar panels on top of the vehicle, eliminating the need for a diesel generator. The vehicle also features interior and exterior LED lighting for visibility and conservation.

Size

At 26 feet long, the more compact size allows us to navigate neighborhoods more easily and grants us more opportunities to visit locations with smaller parking lots, expanding our community outreach.

Modular and Flexible

The new vehicle features one fixed staff desk, and the rest can be customized based on what type of location the vehicle is going to: placement and number of shelves, book carts, seating, and an additional desk space. This important feature ensures that the vehicle can adapt to our community’s needs.

Accessibility

Accessibility was an important consideration in the design process to ensure all patrons have access to our materials. The vehicle features a wide aisle and a lift for patrons with mobility issues. The lift can also be utilized for loading and unloading book carts.

Timeline

The vehicle is expected to hit the road this summer. Watch for updates at cooklib.org/bookmobile.