Events & News at SSCHPL
February 2025
Monday Matinees: Terms Of Endearment (1983)
Monday, February 2nd at 1:00pm
Join us for a screening of Terms of Endearment (1983), James L. Brooks’ beloved dramedy starring Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson. Winner of five Academy Awards—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress—this classic follows mother and daughter Aurora and Emma as they navigate love, family, and life’s joys and challenges with warmth, humor, and heartfelt emotion.
Help Applying For Human Services
Tuesday, February 3rd at 1:15pm
Representatives from Respond Now will be available to offer guidance and support with your applications. Don't miss this opportunity to get the help you need!
Knitting & Crochet Club
Wednesday, February 4th at 10:15am
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, join us for a cozy, creative session with an expert teacher sharing top tips & tricks. Bring your projects, your questions, and your love for all things yarn!
Chair Yoga
Thursday, February 5th at 12:00pm
Take a break and join us for a refreshing Chair Yoga session with Those Fitness Chicks! This class is perfect for all levels and offers a gentle way to stretch, build strength, and relax. You’ll leave feeling refreshed, balanced, and empowered. Come recharge with us and add some calm, strength, and rejuvenation to your day!
Help Applying For Human Services
Tuesday, February 10th at 1:15pm
Representatives from Respond Now will be available to offer guidance and support with your applications. Don't miss this opportunity to get the help you need!
Knitting & Crochet Club
Wednesday, February 11th at 10:15am
Whether you're a beginner or a pro, join us for a cozy, creative session with an expert teacher sharing top tips & tricks. Bring your projects, your questions, and your love for all things yarn!
Classic Movie Night: Annie Hall (1977)
Thursday, February 12th at 5:30pm
Celebrate Annie Hall (1977) at our Classic Movie Night, in memory of Diane Keaton. This witty, genre-defining romantic comedy features Keaton’s iconic performance, which earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film also won Best Picture, along with Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Join us for this timeless classic, complete with free popcorn and unmistakable ’70s style.
Valentine's Day with IPO
Thursday, February 14th at 7:30pm
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Stilian Kirov and featuring pianist Anastasiya Poff, the 70-minute program (plus intermission) includes works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Selim Palmgren, and Robert Schumann. Tickets are available at the library on a first-come, first-served basis (one per person, admits two). Note: the concert is not held at the library.
Senior Bingo
Wednesday, February 18th at 11:00am
Join us for a fun and social afternoon of Bingo designed especially for seniors! Enjoy exciting games, friendly competition, and the chance to win great prizes. Coffee and refreshments will be provided to keep you energized and cozy. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with your community and have a great time!
Meeting Of The Board Of Trustees
Thursday, February 26th at 7:00pm
Join us for the monthly Board of Trustees meeting where library policies, budget, programs, and future plans are discussed. Stay informed, engaged, and have your voice heard—public input is often welcomed!
Taste Of The Carribean
Thursday, February 28th at 1:00pm
Join us at the library for Taste of the Caribbean, a lively celebration of Black History Month featuring the rich culture of the Caribbean. Enjoy delicious Caribbean-inspired food, vibrant music, and energetic dancing as we honor the traditions, history, and contributions of Caribbean communities. This family-friendly event is a chance to connect, celebrate, and experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Caribbean in a welcoming and festive atmosphere.
Spice Of The Month: Sichuan Red Chili Powder
KABOOM! Science Experiment
Saturday, February 7th at 3:00pm
Get ready for a hands-on science adventure! Kids will explore how their lungs work and discover the amazing science behind breathing through fun, safe, and exciting experiments. This interactive program encourages curiosity and learning while making science go KABOOM!
Family Movie Matinee: The Princess Bride (1987)
Saturday, February 21st at 2:00pm
Enjoy a Family Movie Matinee featuring The Princess Bride! This beloved adventure offers swashbuckling action, true love, and unforgettable humor for all ages. Popcorn will be provided—bring your favorite snacks and enjoy a cozy afternoon at the movies.
Morning Storytime
ages 5 and younger with caregiver
Bring your littlest ones for a time of stories, crafts, and play!
Evening Storytime
ages 5 and younger with caregiver
Bring your littlest ones for a time of stories, crafts, and play!
Take & Make Kits Available!
Take-and-Make crafts are now available at the library while supplies last! These fun and creative craft kits are perfect for all ages, from kids to adults. Simply pick up a kit, follow the instructions, and let your imagination run wild! Whether you're looking for a fun project to do at home or a way to spark creativity, our Take-and-Make crafts have something for everyone. Stop by the library today and grab yours before they're gone!
Ana's Pick
His & Hers by Alice Feeney is a sharp, unsettling psychological thriller set in the quiet English village of Blackdown, where appearances are as deceptive as the people who keep them. When a woman is murdered, television newsreader Anna Andrews is forced back into a place she’d rather forget, while Detective Jack Harper leads the investigation—until he finds himself uncomfortably close to the crime. Told through dueling perspectives, the story unravels a web of lies, secrets, and buried histories, revealing that every truth has two versions, and someone is always lying.
Asheligh's Pick
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green is a thoughtful, deeply personal collection of essays that examines life in the age of human impact, where ordinary moments are shaped by extraordinary influence. Rating aspects of the modern world on a five-star scale—from sunsets and keyboards to wildlife and pop culture—Green blends humor, insight, and vulnerability to explore the contradictions of contemporary humanity. Through reflections shaped by connection, loss, and resilience, the book becomes an open-hearted meditation on what it means to be human, offering a sincere celebration of loving the world even as we change it.
Betty's Pick
A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown is a raw, fearless memoir that chronicles one woman’s astonishing survival through unimaginable hardship. Orphaned as a child and trapped in an abusive foster system, Cupcake descends into a world of addiction, homelessness, prostitution, and crime before she is even twenty. Told with brutal honesty, sharp humor, and unflinching clarity, her story traces a journey through trauma and self-destruction toward resilience, redemption, and hope—proving that even the most broken beginnings can lead to extraordinary transformation.
Evelyn's Pick
The Summer Hikaru Died, Vol. 1 by Mokumokuren is a quiet, unsettling horror manga set in a rural Japanese village where something has come back wrong. Six months after Hikaru disappears in the mountains, he returns looking, sounding, and remembering everything exactly as before—except he isn’t human. As Yoshiki struggles to accept the terrifying truth that his best friend is gone, the two continue their daily lives under the shadow of an inhuman presence, blending eerie body horror with emotional dread and the pain of clinging to someone who should no longer exist.
Jessica's Pick
The Fall (2006), directed by Tarsem is a visually stunning adventure fantasy that unfolds through the power of storytelling and imagination. Set largely within a hospital, the film follows a young girl who befriends a wounded stuntman, who begins telling her an epic, dreamlike tale of heroes seeking revenge against a ruthless ruler. As fantasy and reality intertwine, the story becomes a reflection of grief, hope, and the fragile bond between the two narrators. Renowned for its breathtaking visuals and emotional depth, The Fall has since gained cult status.
Madi's Pick
Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is an emotional contemporary novel that explores the fragile bond between a mother and daughter navigating love, grief, and betrayal. Morgan Grant and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Clara, are locked in constant conflict, determined to avoid becoming anything like one another—until a tragic accident shatters their family and forces them to confront painful truths. As secrets emerge and both women seek comfort in unexpected places, the story traces the lasting impact of loss and miscommunication, asking whether forgiveness and understanding can heal what’s been broken.
Martha's Pick
The Girl from Devil’s Lake by J. A. Jance is a gripping suspense novel that finds Arizona Sheriff Joanna Brady facing the most far-reaching case of her career. What begins with the discovery of a murdered boy beneath a flooded desert bridge quickly reveals the presence of a seasoned killer—and a trail of violence that stretches across decades, states, and even countries. As Joanna uncovers connections between long-cold cases and a body found near Devil’s Lake in North Dakota, she must race against time to stop a predator before he strikes again, risking everything to protect her town and bring justice to the forgotten dead.
Melissa's Pick
Woman Down by Colleen Hoover is a tense, reality-bending thriller that explores obsession, creativity, and the dangerous cost of being seen. After a viral backlash destroys her reputation and stalls her career, disgraced author Petra Rose retreats to a remote lakeside cabin in a desperate attempt to write her way back to stability. When a mysterious detective enters her life, her creativity reignites—but as fiction and reality begin to blur, Petra realizes her inspiration may be fueling something far more sinister. What begins as salvation spirals into a psychological descent where control, identity, and truth are no longer clearly defined.
Sal's Pick
Cry by Faith Hill is a 2002 genre-blending album that mixes country, pop, R&B, and rock. Featuring the Grammy-winning title track, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums, eventually going 2× Platinum. Though met with mixed reviews for its crossover sound, the album highlights Hill’s powerful vocals and ambition to expand beyond traditional country music.
Shay's Pick
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros is a devastatingly emotional romance about love, loss, and the promises we keep after goodbye. When Beckett receives a final letter from his best friend killed in the army, he’s asked to return home and look after the family left behind—especially Ella, the sister carrying unbearable grief while raising her children alone. What follows is a heartbreaking journey of healing, sacrifice, and unexpected love, as two broken people try to survive their losses and find hope in each other.
The Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library now has a full-time, Social Worker on staff. The Social Worker is available for 20-minute consultations to provide guidance and referrals to community services. To schedule a meeting, please submit an assessment form.
Did you know...
our staff is trained to help you find a book you will love to read?
Whether you're looking for something fun or scary, mysterious or romantic, hilarious or thought-provoking -- there is something out there for every reader. We can also help you find the right format of book for you -- maybe you like holding it in your hand, or maybe you like larger text, or reading on your phone, or maybe you'd like something to listen to while you're driving or working around the house. Let us help you find something that works for you!
Browse through reading lists of different genres by clicking here.
Comics Plus
Big news, comic fans! The Steger-South Chicago Heights Public Library now offers Comics Plus — unlimited, instant access to thousands of digital comics, graphic novels, and manga for kids, teens, and adults. Whether you love superheroes, fantasy, slice-of-life, or manga madness, there’s something for everyone. Start reading today by visiting sschlibrary.org/ebooks.
Gale Presents: Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform for adults who want to grow professionally or further develop a personal interest. Choose from thousands of continuously updated, on-demand video courses in business, technology, design, and personal enrichment—and become who you’ve always wanted to be. Log in FREE with your SSCHPL card and start learning today!
EBSCOhost
Look here for accurate information on anything from car repair, legal advice, old newspaper articles, and academic research! Reach out to jess@sschlibrary.org if you have questions about using these databases.
Language Learning & Citizenship Prep Resources
The library now offers all SSCHPL cardholders a free subscription to Pronunciator, a platform where you can study 315 different languages. In addition, patrons studying for the US Citizenship Test can use ProCitizen free with their library card in either English or Spanish.
Ebooks, Movies, Magazines, and More
