Illinois Libraries Present

Illinois Libraries Present

Lake Bluff Public Library is a member of Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier online events. Through this partnership, we are able to offer you access to a variety of high-profile events that highlight national names and social justice/DEI issues. You can register for these events through the links below or from our full events calendar.

Illinois Libraries Present is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). Learn more about Illinois Libraries Present on their website.

Upcoming Programming

Chef Art Smith

Holiday Tips and Tricks with Chef Art Smith | 11/20 at 7pm | Register Here
Bring some culinary inspiration into your holiday season with Chef Art Smith. Learn about his culinary journey as Oprah Winfrey’s personal chef and two-time James Beard Foundation award winner.

Raina Telgemeier


The Magic of Raina Telgemeier | 12/10 at 7pm | Register Here
Raina Telgemeier is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. She also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series and has contributed short stories to many anthologies.

Little Women


Experience Little Women: The Musical (2022) | 12/20-22 | Register Here
Enjoy this Broadway HD, pre-recorded, virtual showing of Louisa May Alcott’s classic story of four sisters growing up in 19th-century Massachusetts. This Broadway musical premiered in London in this acclaimed production at Park Theatre in 2022. The musical can be viewed Friday, December 20, through Sunday, December 22. Registrants will receive an email with a special link to the performance.

Steve Dolinsky


Chicago Pizza - Past, Present & Future with Steve Dolinksy | 1/9 at 7pm | Register Here
Illinois Libraries Present Steve Dolinsky, a well-known "Food Guy" reporter at NBC 5 (Chicago) and a James Beard Award winner for his work in TV, radio, and podcasts. Steve is the host of The Feed Podcast with Chicago chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless, as well as Pizza City. He is the author of two books about pizza and the creator of Pizza City Fest, held in four cities.

Michelle Buteau


Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau | 1/23 at 7pm | Register Here
Michelle Buteau, an American stand-up comedian, actress, television host, producer, and podcast host. Buteau published her first book in 2020, a collection of personal essays titled Survival of the Thickest, which was adapted into a series on Netflix. 

James McBride


An Evening with James McBride | 2/4 at 7pm | Register Here
James McBride is an award-winning author, musician, and screenwriter. His landmark memoir, The Color of Water, was published in 1996 and his novel, The Good Lord Bird, won the National Book Award for Fiction. His 2023 novel, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, was named one of the New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2023. A recipient of the National Humanities Medal in 2016, McBride is a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. 

Amy Tan


Slowing Down with Amy Tan | 2/19 at 7pm | Register Here
Amy Tan is the daughter of immigrant parents from China, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Best known for her novel The Joy Luck Club, which was adapted into a 1993 film, Tan also has several other popular novels, short story collections, children's books, and a memoir. 

In 2016, Amy began taking nature journaling classes with John Muir Laws. During the pandemic shutdown, she spent long hours observing the behavior of wild birds in her backyard. Her editor, Dan Halpern, suggested she turn those pencil sketches, colored portraits and journal notes into an illustrated book, The Backyard Bird Chronicles, published in April 2024 by Knopf, which became an instant #1 bestseller. Her drawings were on special exhibition at the Roger Torey Peterson Institute. 

Amy serves on the board of American Bird Conservancy, the National Poetry Series, and The Community of Writers.  She lives with her husband and their dog in California and New York.  

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