Bloomington Public Library, Illinois

Bloomington Public Library, Illinois Location:
205 E. Olive St. Bloomington, IL, 61701

Phone:
309.828.6091

Hours:
Mon - Thurs:
9:00 am -

Tales for Tails--- Wednesdays: September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18--- 6-7pm in the Childr...
09/02/2026

Tales for Tails
--- Wednesdays: September 9, 16, 23, 30; October 7, 14, 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18
--- 6-7pm in the Children's Department
--- Registration required and limited
This program pairs trained and certified therapy dogs with children going into Grades K-6 who want to practice reading aloud.

There will be four 10-minute time slots available for kids to meet and read to a pup in the Children's Department.

Registration for each session opens two weeks before the session meets. Registration can be completed online at bit.ly/talesfortails. Anna Elizabeth will email those who register to assign them a time slot and introduce them to the dog they'll be meeting!

Questions about this program can be emailed to Anna Elizabeth at [email protected].

Fun & Game ~ Family Games Day--- Sundays: September 13, October 18, November 15--- 2-4pm; Children's Program Rooms 1-2Jo...
09/02/2026

Fun & Game ~ Family Games Day
--- Sundays: September 13, October 18, November 15
--- 2-4pm; Children's Program Rooms 1-2
Join us in the Children's Department for classic board games, card games, and puzzles. Game masters from Red Raccoon Games will join us on site to demonstrate how to play a variety of hand-picked games, all appropriate for your family gaming experience.

Questions about this program may be emailed to Miss Jill at [email protected].

GROVE STREET BAKERY IS DONATING TO BPL 25% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM ITS SEPTEMBER COOKIE TRIBUTE Throughout the month of Sep...
09/01/2026

GROVE STREET BAKERY IS DONATING TO BPL
25% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM ITS SEPTEMBER COOKIE TRIBUTE
Throughout the month of September, Grove Street Bakery will honor three incredible icons -- Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen -- with special cookie shapes inspired by their unforgettable contributions to music, film, television, and the arts. The proceeds are being donated to Bloomington Library in honor of literacy and the arts, and we certainly thank Grove Street Bakery for thinking of us!

The special cookie shapes include:
Guitar — inspired by Dolly Parton
Butterfly — inspired by Dolly Parton
Heart — inspired by Tim Curry & “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
Balloon — inspired by Tim Curry & “IT”
Optimus Prime — inspired by Peter Cullen

Cookie 5-Packs include one cookie of each design!

Stop in daily to grab these special shapes or order online at order.toasttab.com/online/grove-street-bakery!
Please direct any questions to Grove Street Bakery at 309.827.0270 or email [email protected].

Please note: Cookie colors may vary depending on the design.

Brainfuse HelpNowBloomington Public Library, Illinois, contracts with Brainfuse HelpNow to provide live, online, bilingu...
09/01/2026

Brainfuse HelpNow
Bloomington Public Library, Illinois, contracts with Brainfuse HelpNow to provide live, online, bilingual tutoring to students from kindergarten to college! Tutoring is offered in the subjects of Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Writing.

--- --- ---Tutors are available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week. --- --- ---

Also Available …
Test Prep, ASVAB Prep & FAFSA Help
--- Additional educational resources, such as Test Prep (AP, SAT, ACT, PSAT & GED), ASVAB Prep,
FAFSA assistance, and Adult Learner Resources are also available.

Help learning Spanish
--- Help learning Spanish is available in the resource’s “Language Lab.”

Additional Features (there are many others) ...
--- Learn the basics of chess tactics and maneuvers from an expert chess coach.
--- Learn tips to integrate AI into the learning process while maintaining academic integrity.

Accessing Brainfuse HelpNow ...
Brainfuse HelpNow is available to Bloomington Public Library cardholders FREE of charge. It is a paid service to others. Those using their library account to access the service for free must log on to Brainfuse HelpNow via the library’s website at bit.ly/bpltutoring or by
scanning the QR Code. Your library card number and PIN will need to be entered.

View an online tutorial at bit.ly/bplhelpnowtutorial or call 309.590.6168 for assistance.

Download the app!

IT’S SEPTEMBER! Ride Connect Transit FREE -- ALL MONTH LONG -- with a stickered library card!In celebration of Library C...
09/01/2026

IT’S SEPTEMBER!
Ride Connect Transit FREE -- ALL MONTH LONG -- with a stickered library card!
In celebration of Library Card Sign-Up Month, throughout September, you can tap your stickered library card to ride Connect Transit FREE!

A Ride Sticker is REQUIRED to ride free during this promotion and can be picked up at Bloomington Public Library, Illinois (BPL), Normal Public Library (NPL), or on the Bloomington Library Bookmobile through September 30.

How It Works:
--- Visit Bloomington Public Library (BPL), the BPL Bookmobile, or Normal Public Library (NPL) to get your FREE Ride Sticker.
--- Place the Ride Sticker on your library card.
--- Each time you ride in September, simply tap your library card with the Ride Sticker to board — for FREE!

This promotion also includes:
--- Connect Mobility – Transportation for individuals whose disabilities prevent them from using fixed-route buses.
--- Connect FLEX – The on-demand, shared-ride service serving southwest Bloomington.

Already Have a Library Card?
Visit BPL, the Bloomington Library Bookmobile, or NPL to pick up your FREE Ride Sticker.

Need a Library Card and a Ride Sticker?
--- Bloomington residents: Visit BPL or the BPL Bookmobile to get your FREE library card and FREE Ride Sticker. Visit bit.ly/bplgetacard for additional details.
--- Normal residents: Visit NPL to get your FREE library card and FREE Ride Sticker. Visit normalpl.org/borrow for additional details.

(If you are ages 17+, you will need a current photo ID and proof of address to receive a library card. If you are ages 16 and under, you will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to get a library card.)

THE NEW LIBRARY OF THINGS IS LIVEAn energetic crowd showed up on Saturday for Bloomington Library’s Library of Things Te...
08/31/2026

THE NEW LIBRARY OF THINGS IS LIVE
An energetic crowd showed up on Saturday for Bloomington Library’s Library of Things Test Drive!

The new collection of 80+ lendable items is now live in the library’s catalog. To put any of the items on hold, visit bit.ly/bpllibraryofthings. Items fall into the categories of Music, Fun & Games, Technology, Health & Wellness, and Arts & Crafts.

And thank you to those who joined us on Saturday.
We’re glad you were as excited as we were!

After School @ BPL--- Thursdays: September 10 & November 12--- 3:30-5pm; Children's Program Rooms 1-2Join us at the libr...
08/30/2026

After School @ BPL
--- Thursdays: September 10 & November 12
--- 3:30-5pm; Children's Program Rooms 1-2
Join us at the library for some after-school fun!

Various activities will be offered depending on the date:
--- September 10: Autum Art
--- November 12: Turkey Games

Questions about this program can be emailed to Lisa at [email protected].

Books on Tap Book Club--- Thursday, October 1--- 6pm; Lil Beaver Brewery (5 Finance Drive, Bloomington)The Books on Tap ...
08/29/2026

Books on Tap Book Club
--- Thursday, October 1
--- 6pm; Lil Beaver Brewery (5 Finance Drive, Bloomington)
The Books on Tap Book Club will meet at Lil Beaver Brewery to discuss “Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman.

Registration is preferred but not required. Register online at bit.ly/bplbookclubs, in person at the Help Desk on the library's second floor, or by calling 309.590.6168.
Contact the Help Desk to reserve a print copy of the book. Digital copies may be available online through the Libby or Hoopla apps.

Books On Tap will meet on the first Thursday of each month from February to December. New members are welcome at any time.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Molly at [email protected].

STOP THE BLEED®Sunday, September 13--- 2-3pm; Community Rooms 2-3--- Registration required and limited to 25 seatsThe le...
08/29/2026

STOP THE BLEED®
Sunday, September 13
--- 2-3pm; Community Rooms 2-3
--- Registration required and limited to 25 seats
The leading cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. By learning to STOP THE BLEED®, you’ll gain the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and act to control it.

This class will be presented by Carle BroMenn Emergency Department Staff and will combine lecture with hands-on practice. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for a STOP THE BLEED® kit.

Registration can be completed online at bit.ly/stopbleed0913.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Marcie at [email protected].

Teen Writing Workshop--- Wednesdays: September 9 & 23; October 14 & 28; November 11 & 25--- Noon-1pm; in the TeenZoneThi...
08/29/2026

Teen Writing Workshop
--- Wednesdays: September 9 & 23; October 14 & 28; November 11 & 25
--- Noon-1pm; in the TeenZone
This writing workshop is for teens in Grades 6-12 and is perfect for teens who want to sharpen their writing skills!

Drop by TeenZone for writing tips and tricks and to discuss the art of prose. Essay help and personal creative writing projects are perfect for this workshop which will focus on creative collaboration and improving your writing skills. All you need is a writing project to work on (big or small), an open mind, and your thinking cap! Mini lessons may be available upon request.

Questions about this program can be emailed to Cora at [email protected].

Address

205 E Olive Street
Bloomington, IL
61701

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 9pm
Tuesday 9am - 9pm
Wednesday 9am - 9pm
Thursday 9am - 9pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+13098286091

Website

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