Events

Industrious, irreverent, humble–though he may deny the accusation–Percival Everett, like his fiction, defies categorization. His most recent novel, James, earned both the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award, and his 2001 novel Erasure inspired the film American Fiction, which received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2024. 

Everett’s other titles include Dr. No, The Trees (finalist for the Booker Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction), Telephone (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), So Much Blue, and I Am Not Sidney Poitier. Despite these accomplishments, he remains devoted to reviewing his own work critically, and indeed his writing process involves intensive research and revision. Tune in for our conversation with Percival Everett to get a glimpse beyond the page. 

Brandis Friedman will moderate the event. Friedman is a writer and anchor for WTTW’s Chicago Tonight and Chicago Tonight: Black Voices, and also serves as a champion for libraries.

Register here. This event is intended for adults. Registration is required for this event and closes at 5:00 p.m. on event day. Late registrations will be processed after the live event, allowing access to the event recording.
 

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 the 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.

The Park Forest Public Library Board of Trustees meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm.

Meditate with Gogo! This guided beginner-friendly session for adults will give you the tools you need to start your meditation and self-care journey. All are welcome to join, no prior experience is needed. 

• Enhance Well-Being: Reduce stress and cultivate calm through guided meditation and self-awareness practices.
• Improve Focus and Productivity: Mindfulness increases clarity, sharpens attention, and supports emotional regulation.
• Build Emotional Resilience: Develop greater balance and inner peace through consistent self-care and grounding techniques.
• Support a Positive Culture: Encourage open-hearted communication and deeper connection amongst one another.

No registration is required.

Families are invited to enjoy a relaxed and meaningful reading experience together at the library! Parents/Caregivers will have the opportunity to read one-on-one with their child at their own pace in a comfortable, welcoming space. The library will provide a variety of books, cozy reading spots, simple activity supplies, and engaging materials to support shared reading time. Start with 30 minutes of reading with your child followed by 30 minutes of interactive, sensory play!

Registration for this event is required.

Join us in the Kids' Zone for an art project! Suitable for ages 13 and under.

No registration required!

Join us as we bring intentions to small actions.

This month we will be reading No New Things by Ashlee Piper.