Creative Programs / Winter 2022-2023

MEETING THROUGHOUT THE WINTER

International Friendship Club (R)
Thursdays, Jan. 19-Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.
The world is our backyard in Oak Lawn! The International Friendship Club features games and activities that promote intercultural exchange, discussion and global awareness. Whether you speak with an accent or have never been outside of the Midwest, all are welcome at the IFC. No babysitter necessary—babies, toddlers and preschoolers are welcome.

Irish Genealogy Club
Tuesdays, Dec. 27, Jan. 31 & Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Led by Reference and Genealogy Librarian Kathy O’Leary, this group meets once a month to discuss their Irish genealogy. Join us!

Genealogy Club
Thursday, Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Learn about the perfect gifts for your genealogy friends and family members.
Thursday, Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
We’ll talk about census records emphasizing the 1950 and census substitutes.
Thursday, Feb. 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Librarian Jenny Yasecko will discuss genealogy databases available through the Library.

The Yarnery Club
Tuesdays, Dec. 6 & 20, Jan. 10 & 24, Feb. 14 & 28 at 2 p.m.
Bring your handicraft projects—crochet, knitting or sewing—and spend an hour enjoying conversation while your needles do the work.

Beginning ESL
Thursdays, Jan. 19-Feb. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
This half-hour class presents a fun review of common English vocabulary. Beginning ESL students are encouraged to attend the International Friendship Club, which meets directly after class.

DECEMBER

Collage-a-Card
Visit our Collage-a-Card station on the second floor all month long to craft something special. We’ve got a stack of card-making supplies and collage materials for holiday and greeting cards. While supplies last.

Cozy Holiday Raffle
Thursday, Dec. 1-Monday, Dec.19
Stop by the Adult Reference Desk on the second floor to pick up a stamp card for a chance to win a cozy holiday gift basket! Earn a stamp every time you check out a wintry book or DVD or attend any one of our December programs. Return your completed stamp card at the Adult Services Desk by 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 19 and we’ll announce our winner at the 6:30 p.m. showing of “A Christmas Story.” Attendance at the movie is not required to win the prize.

Holiday Gift-Wrapping Saturdays
Saturdays, Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10 & 17 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bring your Santa sack of holiday gifts and stop by the Adult Reference Desk and Oak Lawn teens will wrap your presents.

Black Hawk’s View of Illinois History
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Drawing from Black Hawk’s autobiography, Brian “Fox” Ellis weaves history with folklore, drawing the audience into the worldview of this respected leader. There will be traditional chants and drumming songs, including a chance for the audience to participate in a few social dances celebrating the First Nations of Illinois.

Genealogy Lock-In (R)
Friday, Dec. 2 from 6-8 p.m.
An after-hours special program with several experts on hand to assist you in exploring your family history with Library resources. Space is limited. Register online Nov. 28-Dec. 1. Please arrive for the event before 6 p.m.

Holiday Tech Gifts
Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m.
Find out about all the hottest gadget gifts available this holiday season. From smart homes and smartphones to toys and oddities, Mike Gershbein from Very Smart People will open our eyes to cool options for the family’s (or your own) holiday wish list!

Creativebug Craft Night (R)
Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Stitch a sweet little reindeer (or llama) by hand for a decoration or small gift. No previous sewing experience necessary.

Saturday Library Matinee: Happy Birthday, E.T.!
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m.
“E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) celebrates its 40th birthday this year. Watch this classic movie with us and we’ll sneak you some Reese’s Pieces! A lonely boy befriends a homesick alien stranded on Earth and attempts to help him find a way home. Meanwhile, a group of government scientists attempt to capture the benevolent visitor for research. This film won Oscars for sound, visual effects and score. PG. 115 mins.

Family Heirloom Recipes from the Illinois State Fair
Thursday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.
Caroline Lambrecht, a judge of Midwest heirloom recipe contests, shares charming stories about family recipes from the Illinois State Fair. Attendees will receive a handout of historic holiday recipes from Oak Lawn courtesy of OLPL’s Local History Unit. We’re raffling off an antique Village of Oak Lawn Golden Jubilee decorative plate from 1959—enter by bringing in a copy of one of your own holiday family recipes.

Festive Crafternoon (R)
Friday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.
Crafty odds and ends are bursting out of our art closet! We can make garlands, ornaments and cards for some easygoing crafting with a little hot cocoa on the side. Registration required.

Movie Showing: “A Christmas Story” (1983)
Monday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
We’ll announce the winner of the Cozy Holidays Raffle and then watch this Christmas classic. The cozy coming-of-age tale focuses on a nine-year-old in the 1940s as he connives, conspires and campaigns for the most fabulous Christmas present ever in this heartwarming, nostalgic holiday film. PG. 98 mins.

Creativebug Craft: Decorative Gift Tags (R)
Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 6:30 p.m.
After practicing tricks for hand lettering, we’ll create some decorative gift tags with flair.

JANUARY: Get to know your Library again!

Has it been a while since you’ve visited the Library? We’ve got so much more than just books! In January, we’re showcasing our fabulous collections and services.

Passive Program: Puzzles
The puzzles are BACK, baby! Patrons have been wondering where their beloved adult puzzles had gone. We’ll put out one or two all month long in the adult library—plus, we’ll host a special puzzle bonanza for National Puzzle Day on Sunday, Jan. 29.

VIP Library Tours
Friday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21 at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 6 p.m.
Take a guided tour of what’s new all over the Library. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, get a library card, or update your PIN.

Crawdad Week
Patrons, we’ve heard that you’re excited about the new movie “Where the Crawdads Sing” (2022), which was based on the novel written in 2018 by Delia Owens—the story of a young woman who was abandoned in the North Carolina marshlands by her mother when she was a little girl. Some of you want to discuss the book, the film or both! We will have several programs to dig into this title.
Book Discussion with Emily Bettcher
Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.

Movie Screening and Film Club with Zac Frazier
Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Movie Screening and Discussion with Kate Donley
Thursday, Jan. 12 at 2 p.m.

Planning for Your Financial Future
Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m.
Did your New Year’s Resolution include planning for your financial future? Now is a great opportunity to prepare! Discover proven financial planning tips in a light-hearted and down-to-earth atmosphere with Casey Wealth Management of Orland Park. You’ll be on your way to a comfortable and worry-free retirement.

Take & Make Craft: Winter Suncatcher (R)
Friday, Jan. 13 at 12 p.m.
Brighten your window with a beaded suncatcher—we’ll supply the materials.
QR code: https://cal.olpl.org/event/9738014

Movie Showing: “BlackKklansman” (2018)
Monday, Jan. 16 at 6:15 p.m.
A Black detective sets out to infiltrate the Colorado chapter of the Ku Klux Klan with the help of his Jewish colleague. Based on a true story. R. 135 mins.

Versiti Blood Drive (R)
Saturday, Jan 21 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Giving blood is a quick, simple way to contribute to the community. Versiti makes it so easy! Just register and we’ll link you to Versiti’s system to sign up for an appointment window to make your donation at the Library.

Chicagoland Sports Trivia
Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Join sports fan Dave Tabel for a fun evening of trivia and prizes! Wear your favorite Chicago team sports jersey and get a free cone from Andy’s Frozen Custard. The champion walks away with a grand prize gift certificate to Fry the Coop.

Crafty Messterpiece (R)
Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m.
Who needs perfection? Strive for fabulous! We’ll bring out unique and interesting supplies in the art closet and you’ll glitter your way to “the best mess” for a prize.
QR code: https://cal.olpl.org/event/9751327

The Beyond Books Thing Fair
Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
This all-ages open house will feature fun, games and prizes showcasing the wonderful things available in our Beyond Books collection. View the skeleton, karaoke, tech items, cake pans, STEM-to-Go and Learning Box kits! Then, test out different instruments in our musical instrument petting zoo. We’ll bring out the things and you can check them out with your library card.

National Puzzle Day Bonanza
Sunday, Jan. 29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Celebrate National Puzzle Day by collaborating with Oak Lawn patrons on multiple puzzles on the second floor of the Library. How many can we finish in one day? Librarians want to know!

Final Plans

It’s difficult to think about the end of life, let alone talk about it. Planning for the end can provide comfort and actually can be life-affirming, helping you make decisions about how to live. OLPL is bringing in community experts to get the conversation going in a two-day special series of programs.

The Talk of a Lifetime: Planning for Your Service
Monday, Jan. 30
1 p.m. in English   /   2 p.m. in Polish
Michael Kozlowski, Director of Family Services at Oak Lawn’s Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home & Cemetery, will explain what kinds of planning and decisions are best to make before the end to avoid putting the family in crisis. Michael will present his talk in English and then in Polish.

Writing an Ethical Will
Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m.
Certified End-of-Life Doula and former hospice nurse Margaret England will discuss how ethical wills provide an opportunity to clarify your wishes and concerns surrounding your legacy and death. Margaret will also tell us more about what a death doula does.

Book Discussion: “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” by Margareta Manussun
with Kate Donley and Margaret England
Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 2:30 p.m.
Far from a depressing read, this book shares charming tips on how to lighten your load (in your house and your mind) by decluttering and passing on your treasures. If you have any objects that come with interesting stories, feel free to bring them for some show-and-tell. Pick up your copy of this book at the Adult Reference Desk on the second floor.

FEBRUARY

Black History Month
Bring a friend to brush up on your facts and try something new! Our station features the wonderful game Mancala plus flash cards, books and info sheets.

Genre Fiction Reading Challenge
Feb. 1-April 30, 2023
Do you look forward to a new romance novel like it’s a piece of candy? Or maybe you can’t wait to snuggle up with a cup of tea and a cozy mystery. What if aliens or hard sci-fi send your imagination skyward? Here’s the question: how much can you read of your favorite genres while exploring other styles of fiction? This reading challenge will reward you for reading both in and outside your comfort zone. Earn rewards and raffle prize tickets by experimenting with reading romance, mystery and a sci-fi novesl. Sign up on Beanstack from Feb. 1-15 and get your first prize for registration!
Job Search Media Plan (R)
Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Getting a job involves connecting with employers through email, social media, a resume and websites like LinkedIn and Monster. By the end of this session, attendees will create a media plan for their job searches. Dress for work—the Library’s photographer will be taking professional headshots of attendees that can be used for online resumes.
QR Code: https://cal.olpl.org/event/9751200

OLPL’s Job Search Toolbox: Resumes and More
Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.
We’ll showcase all the incredible databases and job search resources available through the Library. By the end of this session, attendees will locate at least one job ad and look at sample resumes for their fields. Participants are encouraged to bring a device to connect to OLPL’s Wi-Fi.
https://cal.olpl.org/event/9751210

Creativebug Crafternoon: Orizomegami Valentines (R)
Friday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m.
Orizomegami is a Japanese art form that creates geometric patterns by folding and dipping paper into ink. We’ll use a range of pinks and reds to create our own Valentine’s Day cards.
https://cal.olpl.org/event/9756944

Game On! Tabletop Gameplay
Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Bring your friends or family or make new friends and come try some new board games! We’ve got word games, Trivial Pursuits, pop culture quizzes and even some niche games like Star Trek Catan.

Love in the Library – Oak Lawn’s RomCon (R)
Saturday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Romance lovers, swoon over this: an entire day of programming dedicated to romance! Independent bookstore Love’s Sweet Arrow is collaborating with OLPL to bring out the romance and local talent. We’ll have romance trivia, author panels, book signings, sweet treats and raffled, then close out the day with a movie screening of “Isn’t It Romantic” (2019). Register online for your free ticket and we’ll send you updates about the day’s schedule.
Marketing, please make the QR code from this link and also list the link – this is a big one!
https://cal.olpl.org/event/9727480

ALL ABOUT MOVIES…

Love your Library Date Nite: “The Book Club” (2018)
Friday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m.
Four friends in a book club spice up their routine by reading “Fifty Shades of Grey.” With each of them in a different romantic situation, the women gather inspiration and tips for the bedroom and prove they can still do new things later in life. PG-13. 104 mins.

“Southside with You” (2016)
Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
A docudrama about Barack Obama’s first date with Michelle Robinson, his future wife, during the summer of 1989 in Chicago. PG-13. 84 mins.

“Moonstruck” (1987)
Monday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
“That’s amore!” In this classic love story starring Nicolas Cage and Cher, a Brooklyn widow engaged to a mama’s boy falls in love with her fiancé’s brother. PG. 102 mins.

Movie showing: “Isn’t it Romantic” (2019)
Saturday, Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
After a romantically-cynical architect who isn’t getting the career recognition she wants gets mugged in New York City, it doesn’t take her long to realize she is somehow now living in the thing she hates the most—a romantic comedy. PG-13. 89 mins.

“Marry Me” (2022)
Monday, Feb. 20 at 6:30 p.m.
As Kat Valdez prepares for her live, on-stage wedding, she finds out about her husband-to-be’s infidelity. In a heartbroken moment of spontaneity, Kat singles out Charlie, a stranger in the crowd, and offers to marry him instead. PG-13. 112 mins.

Chicagoland Movie Trivia
Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Explore Chicagoland’s rich film connections in a trivia night filled with favorites, stumpers and prizes. Bring in your own trivia question for a special round to see if we can outsmart the quiz master, movie-buff Jeffrey Olson.

“Love, Simon” (2018)
Monday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.
Simon is a closeted high schooler who falls for an anonymous online pen pal from his school who is also gay. When a blackmailer obtains his candid e-mails, Simon must decide how to reveal his sexuality to his friends and family while attempting to turn his online flirtation into a real-life romance. “Heartstopper” fans, this one’s for you! PG-13. 109 mins.