Upcoming Events

This event is in the "Teen & Tween" group
This event is in the "Adult" group

Western Springs Writers' Society

7:00pm–8:30pm
Teen & Tween, Adult
Library Branch: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Room: Board Room
Age Group: Teen & Tween, Adult
Program Type: Clubs & Groups
Event Details:

Have a writing itch? The Western Springs Writers' Society welcomes all writers from the community to discuss and hone their craft with other local writers. Whether this is your career or hobby, writers of all levels and genres are invited.

Closed: In Service

All Day
Closing
Branches:
Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Description:

Closed for staff training

This event is in the "Adult" group
This event is in the "Families" group

Photos by the Fireplace

2:00pm–4:00pm
Adult, Families
Library Branch: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Room: Reading Room
Age Group: Adult, Families
Program Type: Community Events
Event Details:

Have a cozy winter photo taken in front of the Library's beautiful fireplace. Photos will be emailed to the address used for registration.

This event is in the "Teen & Tween" group

Exam Cram

12/15/2025 @ 3:00pm–12/18/2025 @ 8:45pm
Teen & Tween
Library Branch: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Room: Reading Room
Age Group: Teen & Tween
Program Type: Clubs & Groups
Event Details:

Stop by the reading room for all your studying needs: snacks, pencils, and quiet space reserved for teens and tweens only.

This event is in the "Children" group
This event is in the "Families" group

Hiya Snowflake!

4:00pm–4:45pm
Children, Families
Registration Required
Library Branch: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Room: Program Room
Age Group: Children, Families
Program Type: Music, Performers
Registration Required
Event Details:

Grammy ® Nominated Artist, Nanny Nikki loves to sing and bring life to classic and original songs for children. Join her for a winter themed, high energy and interactive musical show including sing-along songs, dancing, puppets and more!

This event is in the "Teen & Tween" group

Visit with Therapy Dog Pippin

3:30pm–4:30pm
Teen & Tween
Library Branch: Thomas Ford Memorial Library
Room: Reading Room
Age Group: Teen & Tween
Program Type: Community Events, Hands On
Event Details:

There's nothing like a happy dog to relieve your stress! Come visit special guest Therapy Dog Pippin in the Reading Room.

New & Noteworthy

Staff Picks

Image for "The Executioners Three"

The Executioners Three

An instant New York Times, USA Today, and Indie bestseller!

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Dennard comes The Executioners Three, a mystery filled with rivalry, romance, best friends, and a gruesome curse that dates back centuries.

*This beautiful hardcover edition includes designed printed edges and special endpapers.*

Freddie Gellar didn't mean to get half the rival high school arrested. She’d simply heard shrieks coming from the woods, so she’d called the cops like any good human would do. How was she supposed to know it was just kids partying?

Except the next day, a body is found. And while the local sheriff might call it suicide, Freddie's instincts tell her otherwise. So, like the aspiring sleuth (and true X-Files aficionado) she is, Freddie sets out to prove there's a murderer at large.

But her investigation is quickly disrupted by the rivalry between her school and the school of the partying teens she got arrested. For over twenty years, the two student bodies have had an ongoing prank war, and Freddie's failed attempt at Good Samaritanism has upped the ante. Worse, the clever—and gorgeous—leader of the rival prank squad has set his sights on Freddie.

As more pranks unfurl, more bodies also start piling up in the forest. But it's the supernatural warning signs around town, each plucked straight from an old forgotten poem called "The Executioners Three," that worry Freddie the most. She knows the poem and its blood curse can’t be real, but she's quickly running out of time to prove it.

Because the murderer—or executioners?—knows she's onto them now, and their next target just might be Freddie.

"An irresistible blend of small-town murder mystery and spine-tingling supernatural elements."—Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying


Also by Susan Dennard

The Luminaries trilogy
The Luminaries
The Hunting Moon
The Whispering Night

The Witchlands series
Truthwitch
Windwitch
Sightwitch (novella)
Bloodwitch
Witchshadow
Witchlight

Image for "The Devil's Kitchen"

The Devil's Kitchen

A murder in Yellowstone reveals a historical conspiracy, drawing a park ranger into the heart of a centuries-old mystery.

"...a masterful blend of historical intrigue and contemporary mystery." --Gary McAvoy, bestselling author of The Magdalene Deception

When a history professor is fatally shot at the base of Yellowstone Canyon, seasonal park ranger and former homicide detective Clarence Johnson finds himself roped into the murder investigation. Alongside Special Agent Alison Nance, he quickly realizes they are uncovering more than just a killer.

As Johnson and Nance hunt for the killer, clues gleaned from the professor's research hint at a historic conspiracy involving an ancient relic believed to have been secreted away by royalists during the French Revolution. Their hunt through the wilds of Yellowstone leads them to realize that the professor's death and the missing artifact are intricately connected.

But Johnson and Nance's suspects are disappearing at an alarming rate, pitting them in a race against time before those determined to do anything to protect the secrets of the past strike again.

From the secrets of antiquity to the rugged beauty of America's first national park, The Devil's Kitchen is a masterful blend of historical fiction and suspense that challenges the boundaries between past and present--revealing that the deadliest secrets are often hidden in plain sight.

_________________________

Praise for The Devil's Kitchen: A Murder in Yellowstone:

"Thielman's novel offers something for nearly every reader..."--Library Journal, Starred Review

"Beautifully written, slyly crafted." --Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award winning author

"Part historical and part procedural with flawlessly executed parallel timelines to keep the readers turning pages. One fantastic read!" --Bruce Robert Coffin, international bestselling coauthor of The Turner and Mosley Files

"A revealing journey to the past and the present." --Historical Novel Society

_________________________

What readers are saying:

★★★★★ "...well-researched..."
★★★★★ "...fast-paced action..."
★★★★★ "...half historical half thriller..."
★★★★★ "...strong character development..."
★★★★★ "A masterful blending of the past and present..."

Image for "The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America (Bird Books, Books for Bird Lovers, Humor Books)"

The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America (Bird Books, Books for Bird Lovers, Humor Books)

National Bestseller: Featured on Midwest, Mountain Plains, New Atlantic, Northern, Pacific Northwest and Southern Regional Indie Bestseller Lists

Perfect book for the aviary and anti-aviary alike

A humorous look at 50 common North American dumb birds: For those who have a disdain for birds, or bird lovers with a sense of humor, this snarky, illustrated handbook is equal parts profane, funny, and—let's face it—true. Featuring 50 common North American birds, such as the White-Breasted Butt Nugget and the Goddamned Canada Goose (or White-Breasted Nuthatch and Canada Goose for the layperson), Matt Kracht identifies all the idiots in your backyard and details exactly why they suck with humorous, yet angry, ink drawings. With The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America, you won't need to wonder what all that racket is anymore!

  • Each entry is accompanied by facts about a bird's (annoying) call, its (dumb) migratory pattern, its (downright tacky) markings, and more.
  • The essential guide to all things wings with migratory maps, tips for birding, musings on the avian population, and the ethics of birdwatching.
  • Matt Kracht is an amateur birder, writer, and illustrator who enjoys creating books that celebrate the humor inherent in life's absurdities. Based in Seattle, he enjoys gazing out the window at the beautiful waters of Puget Sound and making fun of birds.

"There are loads of books out there for bird lovers, but until now, nothing for those that love to hate birds. The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America fills the void, packed with snarky illustrations that chastise the flying animals in a funny, profane way. " – Uncrate

A humorous look at 50 common North American birds for bird lovers and haters alike

  • A perfect coffee table or bar top conversation-starting book
  • Makes a great Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthday, or retirement gift