View the PDF versions of our newsletter.
Youth Events & Programs – Fall 2026
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month
It may be small, but a library card packs a mighty punch. Explore a universe of books, music, and tools. Connect with others at lively clubs, enjoy movie nights, and get inspired in engaging classes. Support your goals with tech and resources, whether you’re a student, job seeker, or lifelong learner. It’s one card with endless possibilities!
“This is Halloween” Interactive Movie
Sunday, October 18
2:00 PM. Please Register for Each Person Attending. Celebrate The Nightmare Before Christmas with an interactive screening of Tim Burton’s beloved Claymation classic! Follow along with a provided script and enjoy a bag full of tricks and treats as the story comes to life. Costumes are welcome!
Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Drop-Off: Friday November 20 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Pick-Up: Saturday, November 21 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Drop off your favorite stuffed animal or doll at the library any time before 6:00 PM on Friday for a special Stuffed Animal Sleepover! While your cuddly friend spends the night enjoying a fun-filled library adventure, you’ll head home and pick them up the next morning. Join us at 10:00 AM on Saturday for a light breakfast and a photo slideshow to see all the exciting antics your stuffed animal got up to during their overnight stay!
Reading Dragons are Back!!!
Loved our Summer Reading Challenge? Keep the adventure going with Reading Dragons! Pick up a reading tracker at the Youth Desk, read to earn collectible dragon cards, and build your collection one dragon at a time. How many dragons will you discover?
Saturday, September 5
Archaeology Day
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. For grades 1 – 5. Celebrate Illinois Archaeology Month with a hands-on adventure at the library! Presented by the Illinois State Archaeological Survey, this exciting workshop will let young explorers discover how archaeologists uncover clues about the past through fun, hands-on activities like replica pottery reconstruction, Indigenous tool usage, and artifact analysis. Join us to learn how everyday objects can tell amazing stories about history!
Monday, September 7
LIBRARY CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
Wednesdays, September 9, October 14, & November 11
Pajama Story Time
6:00 – 6:30 PM. All ages welcome. Cozy up for Pajama Story Time at the library, where kids can enjoy enchanting bedtime tales in their comfiest PJs! Join us for a magical evening of stories, songs, and snuggles in the Youth Library!
Thursdays, September 11 – November 19
Preschool Story Time
10:00 – 10:30 AM. Imaginations abound at this story time, where we share books, music, and bubbles!
Thursdays, September 10, October 8, & November 12
Lego Club
4:00 – 5:00 PM. For ages 5-12 years. Just bring your imagination – we’ll supply the Legos!
Mondays, September 14 – November 30
Books for Babies Lapsit
10:00 – 10:30 AM. For ages 0-23 months. Stories, songs, and bouncing babies! Read and rhyme with your little one, and connect with other caregivers.
Monday, September 14 & 28, October 12 & 26, November 9 & 23
Crochet Club
3:30 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Whether you're new to crochet or a seasoned stitcher, come join us to learn new techniques, share tips, and connect with other crochet enthusiasts. If you have your own supplies and project, bring it along.
Monday, September 14
Read to a Dog
4:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required. A therapy dog will be visiting the library and wants to listen to you read! Each young reader will have 15 minutes with the dog-on-duty.
Tuesdays, September 15 – November 24
Tales for Twos
10:00 – 10:30 AM. Explore a new theme each week with vibrant picture books, toe-tapping songs, and giggle-worthy moves alongside your story time pals!
Tuesdays, September 15, October 6, & November 10
Bloxels
4:00 – 5:00 PM. Registration Required.
For ages 8-11 years. With Bloxels, you become the artist, writer, designer and director of your own video game! Build art, animations and backgrounds to design your game’s world the way you want.
Tuesdays, September 15 – October 27, & November 10 & 17
Teen Game Night
6:00 – 7:30 PM. For grades 6-12. Go on a quest with fellow players in the classic fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, or drop in with friends to play one of our tabletop games.
Wednesdays, September 16, October 14, & November 11
Snack Around the World
4:00 – 5:00PM. Registration Required. For grades 6-12. Embark on an adventure for your taste buds with food as your travel ticket! Each month we will sample a variety of snacks from across the globe and discover new favorite flavors.
Friday, September 18
Drop-In Playtime
10:00 – 11:00 AM. For families with children ages 1-5 years. Enjoy engaging sensory activities! All Families are welcome to join. This open play is especially great for kids with multi-sensory needs.
Saturdays, September 19, October 17, & November 21
Read to a Dog
10:00 – 11:00 AM. Registration Required. A therapy dog will be visiting the library and wants to listen to you read! Each young reader will have 15 minutes with the dog-on-duty.
Tuesdays, September 22, October 20, & November 17
Minecraft Madness
4:00 – 5:00PM. Registration Required. For ages 8-11 years. Break out your pickaxes, watch out for creepers, and head to the library to play Minecraft with friends on our server!
Wednesdays, September 23, October 21, & November 18
Perler Bead Brigade
3:00 – 4:30 PM. Registration Required.
For grades 6-12. Create a fun design with perler beads during the session! Materials & some ideas will be available, but feel free to bring your own design!
Tuesdays, September 29 & October 27
Pokemon Club Hangout
4:30 – 5:30 PM. For ages 5-12 years. Gotta catch ‘em all! Gather with fellow Pokémon enthusiasts to trade, battle, and try a variety of crafts and games!
Wednesday, September 30, October 28, & November 25
To Be Read…Book Club
6:00 – 7:00 PM. Registration Required.
For grades 6-12. Register to get a free copy of each month’s book at the Youth Desk, read it, and join us to talk all about it!
September – Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
October – A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann
November – WE by Christelle Dabos
Monday, October 12
School’s Out Movie Matinee
1:00 PM. Spend your day off from school enjoying a movie & free popcorn at the library! For a safe and smooth event, we ask that parents or guardians accompany all children inside the library for check-in. An adult must stay with children under 8.
Wednesday, October 21
Read to a Dog
10:00 – 11:00 AM. Registration Required. A therapy dog will be visiting the library and wants to listen to you read! Each young reader will have 15 minutes with the dog-on-duty.
Adult August Events & Programs
Tuesday, September 1 & 15
Memory Cafe
10:00AM A welcoming social gathering for people living with changes in memory or thinking, and those who care for them. Talk with others who understand and can share thoughts and ideas.
Thursdays, September 3 & 17
Movie Matinees
Noon At the Edwardsville Public Library. Bring a brown bag lunch, and we’ll provide the drinks and popcorn. Please call the library or go to our website for movie titles.
Sunday, September 6
Bits & Pieces Junk Journal Club
2:00 PM Bring all necessary supplies to work on your junk journal in a welcoming, no pressure environment.
Wednesdays, September 9 & 23
Adult Crochet Club
3:00 PM Registration Required Whether you're new to crochet or a seasoned stitcher, come join us to learn new techniques, share tips, and connect with other adult crocheters.
Thursday, September 10
The Cozy Comics Club
6:30 PM Discussing – The Moon is Following Us by Daniel Warren Johnson
Saturdays, September 12 & 26
Chair Yoga
10:00 AM Registered yoga teacher Julie Hamilton will lead the class using modifications of many common yoga poses.
Saturday, September 12
The Rough Drafts Writing Club
2:00 PM Let's make time to write! Bring your current project or start a new one.
Monday, September 14
Chess Club
6:30 PM A casual environment for masters and novices to meet up to play and enjoy one of the oldest games in the world.
Monday, September 14
Monday Evening Yoga
6:00 PM Join Yoga Instructor Lisa Allen for an hour of peaceful yoga and meditation.
Tuesday, September 15
Recovery Without Stigma
6:00PM Mark Knott, from the Metro East Recovery Council, will be discussing the stigma of substance abuse disorder and how to deal with this sensitive and personal issue in a non-judgmental manner.
Wednesday, September 16
Screen Screams Society
5:30PM Screen Screams Society is a horror movie club for adults featuring regular screenings of classic and modern scary films. Sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy a fright on the big screen.
Go back to school with us with the 2017 horror comedy, Happy Death Day. Groundhog Day meets the slasher genre as a self-absorbed college student is forced to relive the day of her murder on repeat until she can unmask her killer.
Thursday, September 17
Happily Ever After
6:30 PM A romance book club, discussing – Out of the Woods by Hannah Bonam-Young
Friday, September 18
EPL & Thrillsville Present: Cult Classic Movie Club
6:00PM The Thrillsville/EPL Cult Classic Movie Club is a place to enjoy horror, sci-fi, and fantasy cult classic films. The September event is ages 18+ only. Join us for a hilarious screening of the 1997 comedy classic Beverly Hills Ninja, following Haru, a well-meaning but clumsy orphan raised by ninjas, as he travels to Los Angeles to solve a mystery and prove he has what it takes to be a master.
Monday, September 21
Adult Animation Showtime
5:30PM Anime club has been revamped to include all forms of adult animation! We will be showing Rock & Rule (1983).
Monday, September 21
Riveted Readers Book Club
6:30 PM Discussing – Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
Wednesday, September 23
Side Quests: 20s and 30s Hangout
5:30 PM A casual monthly hangout for adults in their 20's & 30's. Bring your friends and meet new ones too. Enjoy a low-stakes evening of fun activities, crafts, and snacks, all while watching nostalgic movies and TV shows on the big screen.
For our first meeting, we will be watching the 2002 live-action Scooby-Doo!
Monday, September 28
Nothing But Vinyl
6:00 PM Bring your favorite record and play us your favorite song or just come enjoy the music and discussions.
Monday, September 28
Digital Decluttering with Greg G.
4:00 PM These days we all have digital clutter. By appointment only, bring us your device and we will help you clean up and organize your digital files. Call the adult services department at 618-692-7556 ext. 6 to see open time slots.
Tuesday, September 29
Riveted Readers Book Club
6:30 PM Discussing – The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 9
Financial Aid Workshop
6:00 PM Jessica Lambert from Illinois Student Assistance Commission will be covering topics relating to financial aid and college-going processes including the FAFSA, scholarships, financial aid award offers, and more.
Tuesday, September 15
ICASH Illinois
3:00 PM The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office connects people with their cash and other assets through the I-Cash program.
Saturday, September 19
House Plant Swap
Come between the hours of noon and 1PM to drop off your house plants, clippings or unused garden seeds to give them a second life. Those who dropped off a plant will have priority access to the swap between the hours of 1-2PM. From 2-3PM the swap is open for the public to enjoy! Please no outdoor plants, bulk cuttings, or unidentifiable seeds.
Sunday, September 20
Edwardsville Fandemonium
1:00 PM The entire library will be abuzz with fun for the whole family. This year’s con will feature:
- Limited Edition D&D themed Library Cards
- Geeky Trivia Rounds
- Free Caricature Drawings
- Pokemon Card Trading
- Trading Card Game Play
- D&D Monster Arena Battles
- LEGO Building Area with Bricks & Minifigs
- Free comic books & more from Heroic Adventures
- Nintendo Switch Tournament
- Costumed Characters
- Activities and crafts for kids
Tuesday, September 22
Using Grant Station
6:00 PM Grant Station is our newest online database. Grant Station can help you discover funding opportunities for a range of projects. We will be discussing the basics of how Grant Station Works and beginning search strategies.
Wednesday, September 30
The 1942 Lynching of James Person in Edgar County, Illinois
6:00 PM Renatto Carr, PhD, Lecturer, John Martinson Honors College, SIUE will present his research on the 1942 lynching of James Person, recently published in the the Journal of African American History.
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month!
It may be small, but a library card packs a mighty punch. Explore a universe of books, music, and tools. Connect with others at lively clubs, enjoy movie nights, and get inspired in engaging classes. Support your goals with tech and resources, whether you’re a student, job seeker, or lifelong learner. It’s one card with endless possibilities!
Sign up or renew your library card to get a free piece of candy. If it’s your first library card with us, you can have your name put in a drawing for a goodie bag at the end of the month!
Saturday, October 3
Edwardsville Book Festival
8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Join us outside the library in City Park for some book-ish fun, including regional authors, new and used book sales, and fun activities for kids. Make sure to also stop by the Land of Goshen Community Market which will be set up around City Park. All ages are welcome at our 8th Annual Book Festival!
Edwardsville Memory Digitization Project
|8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Appointment RequiredYou are invited to sit down and record your memories for future generations as part of our new Goshen Voices Oral History Project. You, or you and a friend or family member, can make an appointment to reserve one of our study rooms, an oral history kit containing sample questions, and a digital recorder, and talk about your favorite memories. A copy of the recording will be provided in varying formats. If you have questions about how oral history works or what is involved, please call we are happy to answer any questions.
We are also, as always, providing our digitizing services that can help you turn your photos, slides, negatives, video, and film into digital files that can be shared and preserved. Call to set up an appointment and we will help you to preserve and protect your memories.
Contact Us
618-692-7556 ext. 6 edereference@edwpl.org
Greg Kessler, Head of Adult Services gregk@edwpl.org
Kelcey Stewart Adult Services Assistant kelceys@edwpl.org
Greg Guntren Adult Services Assistant gregoryg@edwpl.org