Illinois Libraries PresentExternal Link provides high-quality online events at equitable prices for participating Illinois public member libraries of all sizes and budgets. We connect communities and audiences across the state through shared event experiences.
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. To request accommodations not listed, please email illinoislibrariespresent@ila.org.
2026 Event Registration
Use the "Register Now" botton to register for these virtual programs via ZOOM. You will be sent a link to join the program via email. Watch the program at home or by using a library computer. Questions? Consider scheduling a 30-minute One-on-One session.
Inside the Empire of AI with Karen Hao
Dates Thursday, September 17
Time 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Time Virtual Program
Ages Adults
Details Registration Required
Join a timely conversation with Karen Hao, the award-winning journalist and author of Empire of AI. In this virtual event, Hao will explore the rapid rise of artificial intelligence; the social, political, and ethical questions surrounding AI development today; and the questions posed in her work: Will AI produce broad-based societal benefits for all? Or will it return us to an age of empire? The path forward is in our hands.
Whether you’re excited about AI, cautious about it, or just trying to understand the hype, this event offers an accessible look at one of today’s biggest technological shifts.
Karen Hao is the instant New York Times bestselling author of Empire of AI and was named one of the most influential people in AI by Time. She is the lead designer of the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight series as well as a co-host of the BBC’s podcast, The Interface. The first journalist to ever profile OpenAI, Hao was formerly a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering American and Chinese tech companies, and a senior editor for AI at MIT Technology Review. Her work has been cited by Congress, featured in university curriculums, and remade into museum exhibits.
Moderator:
Reanna Esmail, Lead Librarian for Instruction at Cornell University and a prominent voice in critical digital pedagogy and intellectual freedom, will join Karen Hao in conversation.
Preserving History with Geoffery Baer
Dates Tuesday, October 20
Time 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Time Virtual Program
Ages Adults
Details Registration Required
Tag along for a special conversation with Geoffrey Baer: beloved Chicago historian, storyteller, and host of numerous PBS programs that explore the architecture, history, and hidden stories of the city and surrounding region. Known for bringing local history to life, Baer has helped audiences connect more deeply with the places and communities around them.
Perfect for librarians, archivists, educators, history lovers, and lifelong learners, this conversation offers an engaging look at the people, places, and stories that define Chicago. Whether you're passionate about local history or simply curious about the stories hidden in your own community, you'll leave this event with a renewed appreciation for the power of preserving and sharing the past.
Moderator:
Shermann "Dilla" Thomas, an Emmy Award-winning Chicago historian, cultural worker, and social media educator, will join Geoffrey in conversation. Known for making Chicago history accessible and engaging, Dilla has amassed more than 40 million views across social media and become a leading voice in telling the stories of the city he proudly calls home.
Words, Power, and Community: Dr. Eve L. Ewing
Dates Thursday, November 12
Time 7:00–8:00 p.m.
Time Virtual Program
Ages Adults
Details Registration Required
Engage in an important and thoughtful conversation with Dr. Eve L. Ewing, an acclaimed author, educator, poet, and cultural organizer, whose work explores race, education, identity, and community. Through writing that blends scholarship, storytelling, and activism, Dr. Ewing has become one of today’s most influential public voices in culture and education.
Explore the power of language and storytelling as Dr. Ewing reflects on how words shape public memory, challenge systems of inequality, and help communities imagine new futures. From classrooms and libraries to poetry and popular culture, this conversation will consider the many ways stories influence how we see ourselves and one another.
Perfect for librarians, educators, students, writers, and readers alike, this event invites attendees to think critically about the role of literature, learning, and community in times of change. Whether you are familiar with Dr. Ewing’s work or discovering it for the first time, this conversation promises insight, inspiration, and meaningful discussion.
Moderator:
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.
Funny on Purpose with Sasheer Zamata
Navigating Hallowed Ground with David Grann
Global Voices, Personal Stories: Megha Majumdar
The Shape of a Story: Ocean Vuong
On Resistance and Responsibility with Angela Davis
These events are 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).
This new virtual event series is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Rolling Meadows Library.