Library staff member wears Smoky the Bear socks for National Library Week.

Library staff member wears The Scream socks for National Library Week.

Library staff member wears fox socks for National Library Week.

Library staff member wears Grogu socks for National Library Week.

Only YOU can prevent censorship. 🔥 Censorship makes us SCREAM! 😱

Last Sunday was the first day of National Library Week, and we started it off in style. Check out these silly stockings for Sock It to Censorship spirit day.

#nationallibraryweek #spiritweek #sillysocks #censorship

Last weekend’s Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale brought out lots of happy young readers! Here are a few sweet moments of kids discovering their next favorite books.

#booksale #friendsofthelibrary #usedbooks

Blue text reading "I'm attending the 2026 Cook Memorial Public Library Local Author Fair", circling a blue outline of the map of Lake County, Illinois, which is holding three books whose sides read Local Author Fair

Are YOU planning to attend our 2026 Local Author Fair? ✒️

Stop by our Aspen Drive Library Workshop on Saturday, April 18 from 10 am to 12 pm and meet some of the local talent that makes Lake County great!

#LakeCountyLocalAuthors #2026LocalAuthorFair

Rainy Day Book image covers of The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts by Kim Fu, When Stars Rain Down by Angela Jackson-Brown, Small Rain by Garth Greenwell, These Summer Storms by Sarah Maclean, Father of the Rain by Lily King, Come Rain or Come Shine by Jan Karon, The Rain Watcher by Tatiana De Rosnay, Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte Mcconaghy

April Showers bring long hours reading — curl up with some of these great reads while we wait for spring to come! #rainydayreads #itsrainingitspouring.

National Library Week Spirit Days. For the full schedule of themes, visit cooklib.org/NLW26.

Get in the spirit with us during #nationallibraryweek, April 19-25! 🎉📚 You’ll spot staff dressed for the occasion all week long, and we’d love for you to play along too. Find the full schedule of pop-ups at cooklib.org/NLW26

#spiritdays #spiritweek

Three of our staff March Madness winners pose with a toy basketball hoop.

Some people watch #marchmadness… others dominate it. 🏀😎 Shoutout to our bracket winners, 🥇Susie, 🥈Kevin, and 🥉Jennifer! The top 2 both backed Michigan all the way — and it paid off! A special shoutout to 1st place winner Susie, whose Wolverine loyalty makes this win feel extra special. #goblue

Arab American Heritage Month

Three book cover selections for adults.

Three book cover selections for young adults.

Three book cover selections for kids.

April is Arab American Heritage Month! Find your next great read from this curated selection of titles. Want more options? Search "Arab American Heritage Month in our catalog.

#arabamericanheritagemonth #arabamerican #readingrecommendations

National Library Week Pop-Up Demos Sunday, April 19-Saturday, April 25

Next week is #nationallibraryweek! Drop in to either Library location during the week to learn more about our new app, play library trivia, discover helpful resources, and more. Check the full schedule at cooklib.org/NLW26

#librarylove #learn #explore

Tune in while Cristina Henriquez discusses her latest novel, The Great Divide. This Zoom event is on April, 16th at 7 PM!
#IllinoisLibrariesPresent #CristinaHenriquez #AuthorEvent

Silent Read-In Book Club meets on Friday, April 17, 7-8:30 pm at Aspen Drive Library. Drop in!

Carve out some time for yourself and join us at the Silent Read-In at Aspen Drive Library next Friday, April 17. 🤫 Drop in to read quietly at the library with others, without life's distractions. See you there!

#shh #silentreadin #metime

Tax Day is April 15. Get help at cooklib.org/taxes.

The countdown is on — only one more week until taxes are due. 🪙 We're here to help! Find links to forms and resources on our website: cooklib.org/taxes

Laughter is the best medicine.

Three featured comedy book covers for adults.

Three featured comedy book covers for young adults.

Three featured comedy book covers for kids.

Your prescription is ready! The library doctor says Laughter Is the Best Medicine. Search the catalog for these titles and place a hold.

#checkoutyourhappy #comedy #laughteristhebestmedicine

Spin & Share March Mix album covers.

It was another lively Spin & Share last Tuesday! 🎶 At our bi-monthly #vinyl club, music lovers spin records & share the stories behind the songs.

Curious what we played? Give our March Mix #spotify #playlist a listen & let it be the soundtrack to your week. https://loom.ly/vfl4lGg

Colorful easter eggs on a blue background. Text above reads "We're CLOSED for EASTER Sunday, April 5. Drop boxes remain open."

Reminder: The Library will be closed Sunday, April 5 for Easter. Hop on over before then to get your weekend materials! 🐰🥕

#easter #hours #holiday

Cook Memorial Public Library District is hiring an After-school Associate. Learn more and apply at cooklib.org/jobs

We're #hiring a part-time After-school Associate. The right candidate will help us create an engaging & welcoming tone in the library for middle schoolers by helping to meet their needs with excitement, empathy & creativity. Learn more & apply at cooklib.org/jobs.

#libraryjobs #lovewhereyouwork

An April Fool's Day joke: colorful books on shelves with text that reads, "Beginning April 1, the Dewey Decimal System will be replaced with the Rainbow System."

An April Fool's Day joke: a very retro reimagining of the Cook Memorial Public Library logo with text that reads, "68% of Gen Z adults feel nostalgic for eras before they were born. In an effort to connect with the youths, we're bringing back our old logo, with more '90s vibes."

An April Fool's Day joke: Photo of two staff members holding up a very large library card with text that reads, "Never lose your library card again! Now available in size EXTRA LARGE."

An April Fool's Day joke: photos of the conference room at Cook Park Library and a fish tank with text that reads, "Based on patrons requests for more fish, the Cook Park Library Conference Room will be converted into a fish tank."

⚠️We're making some changes at the Library.⚠️ Thank you for your patience during the transitions.

Just kidding, happy April Fool's Day!

#gotcha #aprilfoolsday #libraryhumor

Seed packets on the Seed Library cart.

April showers = happy seeds! 🌱 There are still packets available in the Seed Library at both Library locations through March 31. More info: cooklib.org/seedlibrary

#seedlibrary #growingseason #gardening

Look who's running your library! Do you recognize any of these kids?! 🤩😁

#librarykids #thisiswho #babypics #businesscasual

Colorful easter eggs on a blue background. Text above reads "We're CLOSED for EASTER Sunday, April 5. Drop boxes remain open."

No bunny will be here… 🐰 Both Library buildings will be closed for Easter on Sunday, April 5.

#easter #libraryhours #holiday

Caregivers hold up a colorful parachute at Baby Story Time. Mondays, 9:30 am at Cook Park Library and Wednesdays, 9:30 am at Aspen Drive Library.

Wiggle, bounce, and rhyme — It's Baby Story Time! Register to let us know you're coming at cooklib.org/events.

(birth-12 mos w/caregiver)
• Mondays, 9:30 am at Cook Park Library
• Wednesdays, 9:30 am at Aspen Drive Library

#babystorytime #storytime

The #winterreading club is nearly over, but there's still time to log your books! Read 3 or more books by March 31 to get a finishing prize & entry to win this fabulous grand prize basket. All books (and audiobooks!) read between January 1-March 31 count. Login or sign up at cooklib.readsquared.com.

Shout out to Mr. Rob in Youth Services! 👋

#hello #happytohelp #librarian

Two staff members pose in elaborately festive St. Patrick's Day attire.

We're clover the top excited about today and feeling lucky to be your library. 😁🍀🌈

#stpatricksday #puns #festive

Staff members posing in their St. Patrick's Day green outfits.

Irish you were at the Library today 💚📗🌈

#stpatricksday #weargreen #librarylove

Mystery Book Covers

Mystery Book Stack

Books and Bites Spring Event

Wondering what the book buzz looks like this season? Join the Bookies at our Spring Books & Bites event where we'll share new release recommendations and some sweet treats that you won't want to miss! 🍪 📚 #SpringBookReleases #NewBooks #BookRecommendations

Humorous and inaccurate pie chart showing how people browse the library.

Humorous and inaccurate pie chart showing what happens when someone comes in for just one book.

Humorous and inaccurate pie chart showing why people come to the library

Humorous and inaccurate pie chart showing what librarians actually do all day.

Library life in humorous pie charts 📊📚🥧 Which is most accurate? 😆

#piday #piechart #librarylife #humor

Beyond the Page with Percival Everett

Percival Everett, like his fiction, defies categorization. Tune in for our conversation with the award-winning author to get a glimpse beyond the page.
📆Date: 3/19 at 7 PM
#IllinoisLibrariesPresent #PercivalEverett #AuthorEvent

WEATHER we like it or not, it’s springtime in Chicagoland! ☀️🌪️🌨️

#spring #chicagoweather #misspelledonpurpose

We were all smiles at the afternoon concert with Peter Oprisko earlier this week! His smooth vocals and timeless classics had the crowd dancing, swaying, and singing along.

Get ready to SHAMrock & Roll 🍀🎸 From legendary music biographies to music-themed stories for kids, find your next rockin' read — no backstage pass required. Search the catalog for these titles or find more by searching "Rock and Roll."

#rockandroll #rocknroll #musicbiography