Chillicothe Public Library

Looking for a spot to view the eclipse? Come join us at the library! We’ll provide solar viewers (while supplies last). You can also try out a pinhole viewer. We’ll also run a live stream from NASA indoors, showing the eclipse and providing commentary. If you plan to view the eclipse from elsewhere, you can stop by the library and pick up a viewer ahead of time.
Note: While certain parts of the country will experience a total eclipse, here in Chillicothe, we’ll be able to see a partial eclipse of about 94%. Still quite impressive! The eclipse will begin at 12:47 pm, reach its maximum at 2:04 pm, and end at 3:19 pm.

Join our friends from Communication Junction for an in-person story time filled with stories, songs, movement, and bubbles! Ages 0-5. 

Every other Tuesday afternoon, the library offers a literacy or STEAM based program for homeschool families. Join us to connect with other homeschoolers in the community and explore the resources the library has to offer to support your family’s educational journey!

Location: Youth Activities Room
Gather each week to dive into the FUNdamentals of creativity! On the 2nd Tuesday of each month, we will explore the basics of creative writing. Ages 8+

Practice your Spanish skills in casual conversation with other learners and native speakers.
Speakers of all levels are welcome.

Location: Youth Activity Room
A place for little ones to explore music & movement as cornerstones of early literacy! Experiment together with songs, dances, and stories to develop foundational skills in music, motor skills, literacy, and communication. Ages 0-5.

Location: Youth Activity Room
Bring your friends and your imagination! Compete in a timed challenge and show off how creative you can be during the free build. Ages 4 and up.

Location: Public Meeting Room
Expand your horizons—and your palate!
For this special session, you are invited to bring a dish to share (a family favorite or something from your place of heritage) and a copy of your recipe.We’ll taste the dishes and hear each others’ stories. Please plan for 25 small samples.
Register at bit.ly/3uX9G4w or call 309-274-2719.
Visit cpldcooking.weebly.com for recipes and photos from past programs.

Location: Youth Activity Room
A place for little ones to explore music & movement as cornerstones of early literacy! Experiment together with songs, dances, and stories to develop foundational skills in music, motor skills, literacy, and communication. Ages 0-5.

Create charming and useful plant labels for your garden or houseplants. These won’t fade or wash away! Please bring a clean aluminum can. Register at bit.ly/3uX9G4w or call 309-274-2719.

Drop in for a free visual acuity screening with Illinois Eye Center, no advanced preparation required. Find out how well you see at a distance, if you would pass the DMV vision test for renewing your drivers license, and if your vision has changed to the degree that you should visit your eye doctor.

Bring the whole family to enjoy stories and songs at the library! All ages welcome.

(2017) NR, 1hr 12m
After spending his early years in foster care, without access to language, DJ Savarese (“Deej”) found not only a loving family but also a life in words, which he types on a text-to-voice synthesizer. As he dreams of college, he confronts the terrors of his past, society’s obstacles to inclusion and the often-paralyzing beauty of his own senses. In this first-of-its-kind collaboration between a veteran filmmaker and a nonspeaking autistic, Robert Rooy and DJ share editorial control as they navigate the challenges of representing autism. DEEJ is a story told from the inside, not by parents or “experts.”
Popcorn served; feel free to bring your own snack or sack lunch.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005) PG, 1hr 50m
Popcorn served; feel free to bring your own snack or sack lunch.

Location: Youth Activity Room
Learn new languages with the library! In each storytime we will explore new languages from around the globe. Language learners of all levels welcome!

Location: Public Meeting Room
Gather each week to dive into the FUNdamentals of creativity! On the 3rd Tuesday of the month we will be exploring cooking. Learn to measure and mix, then munch on snacks you make yourself! Ages 8+.

Location: Study Room 1 & 2

This support group, led by a volunteer trained with the Alzheimer’s Association, offers a safe, confidential, supportive environment and a chance for caregivers to develop informal mutual support and social relationships. Participants also learn about dementia and build problem-solving methods and skills.

This group meets monthly on 3rd Tuesdays, and is open to caregivers and others who have loved ones with dementia.

Registration is requested but not required: call (800) 272-3900 or visit bit.ly/3MtEUcp.

Location: Study Room

Join us to discuss books while enjoying the company of other readers and your favorite brew (we’ll provide tea, coffee, and assorted adult bevs).More info atchillicothepubliclibrary.org/books-brew.

Copies of our current book are available to check out at the library.

January 16 –All Systems Red, by Martha Wells

February 20 –The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, by Sandy Tolan

March 19 –Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus

April 16 –Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, by Ben Goldfarb

May 21 –Harlem Shuffle, by Colson Whitehead

June 18 –Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury

July 16 –One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, by Scaachi Koul

August 20 –Sense & Sensibility, by Jane Austen

September 17 –The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power, by Deirdre Mask

October 15 –Real, by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddardand/orOut of My Mind, by Sharon M. Draper

November 19 –The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline

December 17 @ 6:00 pm –The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey, plus, our annualHoliday Party! Share some treats, chat about what we’ve read this year, and play bookish games. You’re invited to bring a savory or sweet treat to share. We’ll also reveal the 2025 reading list!

Location: Computers
Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel by creating a simple budget.

Please register at bit.ly/3CmbZ4m or call 309-274-2719.

Location: Computers
Learn the basics of Microsoft Excel by creating a simple budget.

Please register at bit.ly/3CmbZ4m or call 309-274-2719.

Practice your Spanish skills in casual conversation with other learners and native speakers.
Speakers of all levels are welcome.

Location: Youth Activity Room
A place for little ones to explore music & movement as cornerstones of early literacy! Experiment together with songs, dances, and stories to develop foundational skills in music, motor skills, literacy, and communication. Ages 0-5.

Location: Youth Activity Room
Bring your friends and your imagination! Compete in a timed challenge and show off how creative you can be during the free build. Ages 4 and up.

Americans invested a tremendous amount of labor into making and maintaining their wardrobes during the 19th century. This presentation by Erika Holst, Curator of History at the Illinois State Museum, will highlight examples of garments and artifacts from the museum’s collections, while exploring the life cycle of clothing during the 1800s: how it was created, mended, remade, washed, and ultimately recycled. You’ll have the opportunity to draw parallels between then and now, reflect on your own experiences, and discuss modern attitudes towards fast fashion and mending vs. discarding.
This event is presented as part of Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Bureau.