Jane Austen’s 250ᵗʰ Birthday

HOLIDAY HOURS TABLE
Date	Hours	Holiday Message	Reason
1/1	0-0	All Library locations are closed Friday, Jan. 1.	New Year's Day 27
3/6	0-0	All Library locations are Closed for Staff In-Service Day on Friday, March 6.	Inservice day
4/5	0-0	All Library locations are closed Sunday, April 5.	Easter
5/24	0-0	All Library locations are closed Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.	Memorial Day Eve
5/25	0-0	All Library locations are closed Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.	Memorial Day
7/4	0-0	All Library locations will be closed Saturday, July 4.	Independence Day
9/6	0-0	All Library locations are closed Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7.	Labor Day Eve
9/7	0-0	All Library locations are closed Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7.	Labor Day
11/25	0-17	All Library locations are closed from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Thursday, Nov. 26.	Thanksgiving Eve
11/26	0-0	All Library locations are closed from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Thursday, Nov. 26.	Thanksgiving
12/24	0-0	All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.	Christmas Eve
12/25	0-0	All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.	Christmas Day
12/31	0-0	All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1.	New Year's Eve

HOLIDAY HOURS TABLE

Date

Hours

Holiday Message

Reason

1/1

0-0

All Library locations are closed Friday, Jan. 1.

New Year's Day 27

3/6

0-0

All Library locations are Closed for Staff In-Service Day on Friday, March 6.

Inservice day

4/5

0-0

All Library locations are closed Sunday, April 5.

Easter

5/24

0-0

All Library locations are closed Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.

Memorial Day Eve

5/25

0-0

All Library locations are closed Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25.

Memorial Day

7/4

0-0

All Library locations will be closed Saturday, July 4.

Independence Day

9/6

0-0

All Library locations are closed Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7.

Labor Day Eve

9/7

0-0

All Library locations are closed Sunday, Sept. 6 and Monday, Sept. 7.

Labor Day

11/25

0-17

All Library locations are closed from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Thursday, Nov. 26.

Thanksgiving Eve

11/26

0-0

All Library locations are closed from 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Thursday, Nov. 26.

Thanksgiving

12/24

0-0

All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.

Christmas Eve

12/25

0-0

All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25.

Christmas Day

12/31

0-0

All Library locations are closed Thursday, Dec. 31 and Friday, Jan. 1.

New Year's Eve

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS TABLE
Date	Hours	Emergency Message	Location
0/0	9-17	Due to inclement weather, all Library locations closed at 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 12.	every
0/0	0-0	Due to inclement weather, all Library locations are closed on Friday, Jan. 12, and will be opening late Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m.	every
0/0	0-0	All Library locations are closed for the rest of the day today, Tuesday, Sept. 12, due to an unforeseen emergency.	every
0/0	0-0	Our Central Library is closed for the rest of the day today, Tuesday, Sept. 12, due to an unforeseen emergency.<br>Our Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates Branches will remain open for regular hours.	central
0/0	0-0	Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.	hanover
0/0	0-0	Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.	hanover
0/0	0-0	Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.	hanover
0/0	0-0	The Hanover Park Branch is closed on Friday, Feb. 24 due to a power outage.	hanover
0/0	0-0	The Hoffman Estates Branch is closed.	hoffman
0/0	13-9	Hoffman Estates Branch opens late on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m., due to building maintenance.	hoffman
11/29	0-0	Due to inclement weather, all Library locations closed at 12:30 p.m. today, Nov 29.	every

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS TABLE

Date

Hours

Emergency Message

Location

0/0

9-17

Due to inclement weather, all Library locations closed at 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 12.

every

0/0

0-0

Due to inclement weather, all Library locations are closed on Friday, Jan. 12, and will be opening late Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m.

every

0/0

0-0

All Library locations are closed for the rest of the day today, Tuesday, Sept. 12, due to an unforeseen emergency.

every

0/0

0-0

Our Central Library is closed for the rest of the day today, Tuesday, Sept. 12, due to an unforeseen emergency.<br>Our Hanover Park and Hoffman Estates Branches will remain open for regular hours.

central

0/0

0-0

Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.

hanover

0/0

0-0

Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.

hanover

0/0

0-0

Hanover Park Branch will be closed Nov. 13-15 for scheduled repairs.

hanover

0/0

0-0

The Hanover Park Branch is closed on Friday, Feb. 24 due to a power outage.

hanover

0/0

0-0

The Hoffman Estates Branch is closed.

hoffman

0/0

13-9

Hoffman Estates Branch opens late on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m., due to building maintenance.

hoffman

11/29

0-0

Due to inclement weather, all Library locations closed at 12:30 p.m. today, Nov 29.

every

GENERAL NOTICES TABLE
Date	Hours	General Message	Reason
0/0	0-0	All Library locations are Closed for Staff In-Service Day on Friday, March 14.	staff
0/0	0-0	Due to transitioning to a new catalog, Library account access is unavailable from Sunday, March 9, through Tuesday, March 18.	ILS
0/0	0-0	Please be advised that the public elevator will be out of service on Thursday, Mar. 28 and Friday, Mar. 29. Feel free to call the Library with any questions.	Elevator
0/0	0-0	Due to inclement weather, all Library locations are closed on Friday, Jan. 12, and will be opening late Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m.	Snow Warning
0/0	0-0	Due to the weather, the Town Square Concert is rescheduled for Tuesday, July 16.	Concert Rain
0/0	0-0	Hoffman Estates Branch opens late on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m., due to building maintenance.	Repairs Warning
0/0	0-0	For the latest updates and information about tonight's event, please call our hotline at <a style="color:white;" href="tel:1-847-923-3399">(847) 923-3399</a>.	Concert
0/0	0-0	Central Parking Lot Closed Monday, Sept. 1, for repaving. Drive-up book drop not available.	Paving
0/0	0-0	The East entrance ramp will be closed periodically for repairs this week.	Ramp
0/0	0-0	On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the library catalog and some services will be temporarily unavailable. <a style="color:white" href="/about/news/upgrade">See here for full details.</a>	Ramp
0/0	0-0	Elevator temporarily unavailable until further notice.	Elevator
0/0	0-0	The phones are currently not working at the Hanover Park Branch. Please call 847-985-4000 for assistance.	Custom
0/0	0-0	Account access will be unavailable on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20, due to system upgrades.	ILS Upgrade
0/0	0-0	All Library locations are open today.	Columbus Day
11/28	0-0	All Library locations are open today.	Day after Thanksgiving
1/20	0-0	All Library locations are open today.	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2/17	0-0	All Library locations are open today.	Presidents Day

GENERAL NOTICES TABLE

Date

Hours

General Message

Reason

0/0

0-0

All Library locations are Closed for Staff In-Service Day on Friday, March 14.

staff

0/0

0-0

Due to transitioning to a new catalog, Library account access is unavailable from Sunday, March 9, through Tuesday, March 18.

ILS

0/0

0-0

Please be advised that the public elevator will be out of service on Thursday, Mar. 28 and Friday, Mar. 29. Feel free to call the Library with any questions.

Elevator

0/0

0-0

Due to inclement weather, all Library locations are closed on Friday, Jan. 12, and will be opening late Saturday, Jan. 13, at 1 p.m.

Snow Warning

0/0

0-0

Due to the weather, the Town Square Concert is rescheduled for Tuesday, July 16.

Concert Rain

0/0

0-0

Hoffman Estates Branch opens late on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 3 p.m., due to building maintenance.

Repairs Warning

0/0

0-0

For the latest updates and information about tonight's event, please call our hotline at <a style="color:white;" href="tel:1-847-923-3399">(847) 923-3399</a>.

Concert

0/0

0-0

Central Parking Lot Closed Monday, Sept. 1, for repaving. Drive-up book drop not available.

Paving

0/0

0-0

The East entrance ramp will be closed periodically for repairs this week.

Ramp

0/0

0-0

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, the library catalog and some services will be temporarily unavailable. <a style="color:white" href="/about/news/upgrade">See here for full details.</a>

Ramp

0/0

0-0

Elevator temporarily unavailable until further notice.

Elevator

0/0

0-0

The phones are currently not working at the Hanover Park Branch. Please call 847-985-4000 for assistance.

Custom

0/0

0-0

Account access will be unavailable on the evening of Friday, Oct. 20, due to system upgrades.

ILS Upgrade

0/0

0-0

All Library locations are open today.

Columbus Day

11/28

0-0

All Library locations are open today.

Day after Thanksgiving

1/20

0-0

All Library locations are open today.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

2/17

0-0

All Library locations are open today.

Presidents Day

December 8, 2025 in Library News

Jane Austen’s 250ᵗʰ Birthday

Jane Austen’s 250th birthday is a chance to celebrate a beloved author whose stories still delight readers everywhere. As we enjoy this milestone, join in activities and events for all ages that honor her timeless characters and charming worlds.

Related Programs

All Ages

Pop-Up Program: The Language of Flowers

Tuesday, December 16 • All day • All locations

Drop by any of our library locations to make a pressed flower bookmark. Learn the symbolism behind flowers, and how Jane Austen used this in her writing.

Jane Austen Birthday Concert

Thursday, December 18 • 6:30-7:30 p.m. • Central Commons

Listen to harpist Abigail Stoner and flautist Gianna Capobianco play classical music, filling the first floor with music from Austen's era.

Adults

Online Program: Jane Austen, Imaginist

Thursday, December 11 • 7-8 p.m. • Online

Enjoy this fresh and engaging account of Jane Austen's authorship and legacy with images of original manuscripts, artifacts, and artworks. Presented by Juliette Wells, Professor of Literary Studies at Goucher College.

Regency Era Tea Cuisine with Susan Maddox

Thursday, December 18 • 7-8 p.m. • Central Rasmussen Room

Join Chef Susan Maddox as she honors Jane’s contributions to the literary world by cooking up some Regency era tea cuisine.

Book and Movie Lists

Movies

Books by Jane Austen

Jane Austen Read-a-Likes

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Jane Austen’s 250ᵗʰ Birthday

Jane Austen’s 250ᵗʰ Birthday

Related Programs

All Ages

Adults

Book and Movie Lists