Lake Forest Library is proud to be an active, contributing member to the Lake Forest community. The Library facilitates active citizenry, community connections, and thoughtful philanthropy. If you are interested in partnering with us, please complete and submit the form on this page.
Civic Involvement and Philanthropy
With a shared goal of an active, informed, and philanthropic society, Lake Forest Library actively engages with city and national organizations.
Allendale Association
The Library donates gently used children's and young adult materials that have been removed from the collection.
American Legion McKinlock Post 264
The Library participates in the Lake Forest Day parade.
Balmoral Care Center
Librarians visit on-site to present book discussions, as well as provide homebound delivery service.
Cards for Hospitalized Kids
The Library provides materials for and encourages patrons to create cards for hospitalized kids during the holiday season.
The Charmm'd Foundation
Library staff attend and contribute to community and leadership meetings.
City of Lake Forest
Video recordings of city council and committee meetings are available to check out from the Library.
Daughters of the American Revolution North Shore Chapter
The Library provides space for DAR displays and partners with them to provide patrons with genealogical research.
Deer Path Art League
The Library sponsors the judges' lunches at the annual juried Art Fair on the Square.
Dickinson Hall
Librarians visit on-site monthly to present Tech Tuesday technology seminars.
Family Christian Health Center, Words of Encouragement Program
The Library donates gently used children’s materials that have been removed from the collection for distribution to children served by the clinic.
Fill a Heart 4 Kids
Young patrons in the Children's Library are invited to craft no-sew scarves for donation to children in need.
Girl Scout Troop 40504
The Library served as a collection site for linens and pet supplies to be donated to Orphans of the Storm animal shelter.
Green Minds Lake Forest-Lake Bluff
The Library served as a collection site during Earth Month for t-shirts that would be repurposed into ecofriendly bags.
Lake Forest Parks & Recreation
The Library hosts programs that encourage healthy, active lifestyles as part of the GO Lake Forest initiative. The Children's Library presents storytimes at the beach each summer.
Lake County Cares
The Library participates in an annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service activity. The handmade quilt that was the 2016 project is on display in the Library.
Lake Forest Place
Librarians visit on-site to present book discussions, as well as provide homebound delivery service.
League of Women Voters
The Library provides space for the League of Women Voters to provide voter registration information to the public. The Library is also hosting the Great Decisions discussion group, facilitated by the LWV.
Mothers Trust Foundation
The Library serves as a collection site for coats donated for families in need.
Valentines for Vets
The Library provides supplies for patrons to make handmade cards and then delivers the cards to Brad Schneider's office for distribution.
Vitalant Blood Drive
The Library provides space and helps promote regularly occurring blood drives.
Program partnership
The Library works closely with neighboring organizations to produce high quality community‑wide programming. Collaboration for these types of programs is extensive and includes planning; sharing costs, resources, and contacts; and distributing events across venues for optimal accessibility and to reach the largest audience.
Lake Forest Reads: Ragdale
Dickinson Hall
Presents a book-related program on site.
Friends of Lake Forest Library
Supports the author's visit.
Gorton Community Center
Shows a free film to the public related to the subject of the chosen book.
Lake Forest Book Store
Sells copies of the author's featured book in the store and at author events. Hosts an author event with a book signing.
Lake Forest College
Provides space and a event moderator for one of the author events.
Lake Forest Parks and Recreation
Presents a book-related program on site.
Ragdale
Facilitates booking the author and presents a book-related program on site.
Read Between the Ravines (formerly, Deep Freeze Read)
Gorton Community Center
Provides space for one of the author events.
Lake Bluff Library
Cosponsors the event with Lake Forest Library and presents book-related events on site.
Lake Forest Book Store
Sells copies of the author's featured book in the store and at author events.
Lake Forest College
Provides space and an event moderator for one of the author events.
Lake Forest Open Lands
Provides space and an event moderator for one of the author events. Presents a book-related event at Lake Forest Library.
Book Club Reception
The Dick Family Foundation
Provides funding for the annual Book Club Reception in May and the book club collection overall.
School outreach
The Children's Library supports school reading lists and known homework and research assignments, assembles materials for teachers upon request, and provides space for studying and tutor activity. The Library also engages with schools remotely, as demonstrated below.
Cherokee Elementary School
A librarian visits annually to talk about the role of a librarian in the community. The librarian also introduces the students to the Library's Summer Reading program.
Deer Path Middle School
A librarian visits to teach databases and other Lake Forest Library electronic resources. Community Day of Service project.
East Lake Academy
A classroom teacher and his/her students visit the Library annually for a tour, storytime, and hands-on activity.
The Episcopal Preschool
A librarian visits and presents a storytime with a hands-on activity for children ages 3–4.
Kinderhaven Preschool Academy
The Library donated a "Personalized Storytime" to the Kinderhaven Giving Tree Fundraiser.
Lake Forest Academy
The Library works with school art faculty to host annual student art show at the Library.
Lake Forest College
The Library attends new student orientation and issues library cards, enabling students to access Library print materials, databases, and study space.
Lake Forest High School
The Library works with school art faculty to host annual student art show at the Library. A Children's librarian presents a monthly storytime at the preschool affiliated with the high school. During Teen Read Week, the Teen Librarian visits the high school to issue Lake Forest Library cards. High school students in a business incubation program taught a technology class for senior citizens at the Library and staffed the One-on-One Tech Help station at the Library for several weeks during the spring and summer.
Sheridan Elementary School
A librarian presents a monthly storytime at the preschool for children with special needs.
Spirit of 67 Foundation
The Library donated a "Personalized Storytime" to their fundraising auction.
Woodlands Academy
The Library works with school art faculty to host annual student art show at the Library.
Community home
The Library is a shared community resource for hosting and promoting programs by local businesses and community organizations. Since all programs at the Library are free, they are accessible to all regardless of financial circumstances, making our programming space an important asset to an equitable community.
Bolly DanceFit
Presents free Bollywood dance workshops for teens and adults at the Library.
Chicago History Museum
Presents free programs at the Library about Chicago history.
Citadel Theatre
Presents free theatrical previews at the Library to excite families about attending plays and performances for young people.
Family Services of Lake County
Presents free programs at the Library with information and resources on topics including adolescent mental health.
The Fresh Market
Presents free programs at the Library on food and entertaining.
The History Center
Presents free history presentations at the Library.
Independent with Autism
Presents free programs at the Library supporting independent living for individuals with autism and their families.
Lake Forest Flowers
Presents seminars and hands-on flower selection and arrangement workshops at the Library, paid for by the Library and provided for free to the public.
Lake Forest Symphony
Presents free music programs at the Library.
A Safe Place
Facilitates an annual book discussion at the Library around topics of domestic abuse and staying safe.
SCORE Chicago
Presents free business and entrepreneurial programs at the Library.
Sunset Foods
Presents free programs at the Library about food and cooking.
Wildlife Discovery Center
Brings wildlife ambassadors to the Library to educate adults and children about animals and nature.