Events

Story Time: Ages 0-8+ and their caregivers will enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, crafts, and more on Monday mornings at 10:15. Please contact the library to register.

Chess Club: All ages and skill levels are welcome at the weekly chess club meetings on Wednesdays 6-7:30pm above the library.

Lego Club: Meet up with your friends after school for fun challenges and free building. No registration. Fridays 4:30-5:30pm. All ages welcome, but anyone under 8 must bring an adult.

Kid Book Club: Grades K-5+ are invited to pick up a copy of this month's book at the library then join in a discussion while eating free snacks. Monday, January 19 at 4pm. Books available now.

Adult Book Club: This fun group meets at 7pm on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Pick up a copy of this month's book selection at the library and join in the discussion.

Bringing History to Life with Jonathan Eig

Tuesday, January 13th at 7pm Virtual Event

Jonathan Eig is the bestselling author of six books, including his most recent, Pulitzer Prize-winning King: A Life. Vividly written and exhaustively researched, it is the first major biography in decades of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.―and the first to include recently declassified FBI files. In this revelatory new portrait of the preacher and activist who shook the world, Eig gives us an intimate view of King, who masterfully employed peaceful protest in the streets but was rarely at peace with himself. From the classroom to the pulpit to the streets of Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis, Eig
dramatically re-creates the journey of a man who recast American race relations and became our only modern-day founding father―as well as the nation’s most mourned martyr.
Eig began his writing career at age 16, working for his hometown newspaper, The Rockland County Journal News (N.Y.). He studied journalism at Northwestern University, and went on to work as a reporter for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, The Dallas Morning News, Chicago Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. According to his parents, his greatest claim to fame is that his name once appeared in a Jeopardy! question. Eig lives in Chicago with his wife and children and shares office
space with the laundry machines.
Mark Bazer will join Jonathan in conversation. The host of The Interview Show, Bazer
also frequently moderates events for Chicago Humanities and is a contributing writer for
Chicago magazine.

This event is intended for adults.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP 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).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. American Sign Language (ASL)
interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided for all events by default—no special
request needed.

Registration for this event closes at 5:00 p.m. on event day. Late registrations will
be processed after the live event, allowing access to the event recording.

Hinckley Hub Event Calendar for All Things Hinckley

Try out these upcoming programs at the DeKalb Public Library, generously shared with the Hinckley community:

Dennis Warner Concert

January 24, 2026, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Singer and Songwriter Dennis Warner draws on his wealth of stage experience in creating a warm, welcoming, and intimate concert. Accompanying his vocals on six or twelve-string guitar, this concert will blend serious, thought-provoking songs with lighter, up-tempo material. Dennis will bring the audience into the performance with laughter and sing-alongs.

Dennis has released eleven albums and authored the book Beads on One String, now in its Ninth Printing. Radio monitoring service FOLK DJ named him one of the top folk singers in 2012 based on the success of his Seeds album, which they also listed among the top albums that year based on folk radio play around the world. His 2020 release, Pilot Me, debuted at number eight on the FOLK DJ radio charts that August.

“Great songs, contagious energy and an engaging personality make Dennis Warner an outstanding entertainer. Add his smooth vocals and solid guitar work, and you’ve got a fantastic show!” Dave Humphreys - Two Way Street Concerts, Downers Grove, IL

Find more information on Dennis Warner.

This concert is free and open to all. No registration is required.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Just Jane: A Visit with Jane Austen

January 28, 2026, 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Jane Austen visits you from the autumn of 1815. Her first three novels, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park are published, and Emma is complete. Jane visits with you at this, the most vibrant and hopeful time of her life. Drawing from her letters, juvenilia, and novels, this 45-minute performance delves into the personal life of one of the most beloved and intriguing novelists of the 19th century.

By the end of the presentation, the audience will know more about Miss Jane Austen the woman, as well as the author. The presentation is followed by a Q&A and photo opportunities.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Registration is not required. All ages are welcome.

For more information, please contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

James the Magician

January 31, 2026, 1:00pm - 1:45pm

Since 1986, James Ember has been creating and performing magic.

He has performed his award winning, interactive, comedy magic show throughout the world.

Performing magic with a wild passion since he won his first talent show at the age of 6, his exceptional magical talent has been showcased at school programs, during weddings, at corporate events, on stages, on the street, and everywhere in between.

There’s one thing that drives every single one of his performances – he knows joy is contagious. It’s passed from the performer to the audience, then from audience members to each other and, by the end of the show, everyone is laughing, amazed, and having fun.

This magic show is free and intended for ages 5 and up, even adults! No registration is required.

This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

For additional information, please contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1700.

Burl Ives, Midwestern Minstrel

February 7, 2026, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Burl Ives was and is an iconic figure in the annals of American Folk Music and he got his start in the little S. Illinois town of Newton, IL.

Ives went on to become one of the world's most well-known folk singers and actors, but never lost his hometown ‘folksie’ touch. He recorded more than 100 albums in his career and was called America's Great Ballad Singer by none other than Carl Sandburg. In the 1930's he was an “official hobo,” traveling the country in boxcars, but went on to become an internationally recognized star. A fixture of the nascent “folk scene” of the 40's, 50's & 60's in New York City, Ives became an Oscar winning actor in 1958's Big Country and many other films.

Award-Winning singer/songwriter Barry Cloyd portrays a friend of Ives, Gypsy Davey, who was a hobo and guitar-toting minstrel. Hear ‘Gypsy’ perform many of Burl Ives' most well-known folk songs.

This event is free and open to all. No registration is required. It is sponsored by Gretchen Moore in memory of Charles Moore.

This event is part of the America 250 initiative; celebrating our nation throughout the year.

For additional information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Sound Healing: Rest & Renewal

February 21, 2026, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Noelle of Bare Soul Healing leads this free sound healing session designed to ease the nervous system and quiet the mind. Soothing vibrations from therapeutic instruments such as crystal singing bowls, Koshi chimes, drums and more create a peaceful space for grounding, relaxation, and renewal.

This session will pay special attention to the heart chakra, in honor of Valentine’s Day.

Please bring a yoga mat or towel if you wish. A limited number of chairs will also be available.

Due to the nature of this event, we will be closing the doors when the program begins at 11:00 a.m., so please arrive on time if you wish to be admitted.

This event does not require registration. It is first come, first served, and there is a limit of 50 participants. It is limited to ages 12 and up.

Noelle is a healing practitioner in Sycamore and has a passion for sharing the benefits of sound healing with the public. Bare Soul Healing is a nature-rooted practice integrating sound healing, yoga, meditation, astrology, and other methods dedicated to supporting emotional well-being and inner peace.

For additional information, please contact Chelsea at chelsear@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 1700.

Jack Benny: An Illinois Original

February 28, 2026, 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Jack Benny is regarded as one of the top comedians in American history, shining in vaudeville, radio, television, and film, while making a huge impact upon the sitcom genre. Join Film Historian Dr. Annette Bochenek for a special “Hometowns to Hollywood” tribute to Jack Benny, as she discusses his career, legacy, and early years in Waukegan, IL, in a multimedia presentation.

This event is intended for adults. Registration is not required. This is part of the America 250 initiative: celebrating our nation throughout the year. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

For more information, contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

Events

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