Programs for Adults

Charles Forrest Jones, author of The Illusion of Simple will be at the Abilene Public Library on Saturday, May 3rd at 1 pm, for a reading and book signing.
He is the winner of the 2023 Bryan Caldwell Smith Book Award, and a Lawrence, Kansas resident. Read more about Jones at his website: https://www.charlesforrestjones.com/
Reviews of The Illusion of Simple:
“Charles Forrest Jones has written an unflinchingly intimate epic: a patchwork portrait of lives that are far from simple, in a rural Kansas county that is anything but barren. The story pulses with life, teems with gorgeously understated description, and glimmers with truths that are violent, beautiful, ugly, gutting, funny, and real. In these pages, the world is cracked wide open to reveal people who should be stitched together by shared wounds instead of pitted against each other for survival. And all the while, political machinations churn as they do: absurdly theatrical, unethical in execution, and farcically bureaucratic. The Illusion of Simple is an important book—one that pries open life, bigotry, and love and its limits.”—Chris Harding Thornton, author, Pickard County Atlas
“Deftly rendering the desolate landscape and agrarian politics of Ewing County, Kansas, Jones reveals a rural community riven by sins and secrets. A dusty, dark novel full of twists and turns, grief and regret . . . and hope.”—J. Todd Scott, author, Lost River
“I swallowed up The Illusion of Simple in a few sittings. Rather, it swallowed me. From its opening pages, the novel drew me in and wouldn’t let go. Charles Forrest Jones does a masterful job composing a narrative that is compelling, artful, and timely. He takes dead aim at the reader and doesn’t flinch; there is no illusion of simplicity here.”—Andrew Malan Milward, author, I Was a Revolutionary
 
 
 
 
Online Genealogy Resources. Learn about the free online genealogy resources available through the State Library of Kansas. Tuesday, May 20th at 11:00 am. Abilene Public LIbrary

 

 

Online Genealogy Resources


At this program learn about the free online resources that are available through the State Library of Kansas.  

Brown Bag Documentaries

Select Tuesdays at Noon 

Bring your sack lunch and join us for a Documentary Film.  Each  film lasts under and hour, beginning at Noon in the Carnegie Level of the Library.

Brown Bag Documentaries. Select Tuesdays at Noon. Bring your sack lunch. Watch a one hour documentary. Coffee provided

Every Tuesday in March and April

March 4:  Visit standing stones of Callanish, highland cattle and more on the Isle of Lewis

March 11: Follow two orphaned bear cubs through their childhood

March 18: An overview of the presidents 1865 – 1885 – Andrew Johnson through Arthur

March 25:  Stories of British gardens in the 17th century

April 1:  The advent of the helicopter and automation brings changes to the lighthouses in Ireland

April 8: Investigate the scientific secrets of butterflies

April 15:  The presidents 1885 – 1913 – Cleveland through Taft

April 22: Visit Rathlin Island and the Isle of Man

April 29: Explore gardens of the 18th century and the rise of landscape gardens

Book a Tech

Have any technology that you need help with? (computer questions, laptops, tablets, phones, etc.) Come in and sign up for one on one help.

1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, sign up for 30 minute sessions from 2:30 – 4:30 pm.   Sign up is on the 3rd floor.

If you think you’ll need more than 30 minutes, let us know.

If you have any questions, call 785-263-3082, and ask for the technology department.

2025 Reading Challenge

 

Pick up your Reading Challenge card to complete at the library.  

You have until May to complete!

Snacks & Scribbles

Come and join us on the 3rd floor, the 3rd Saturday of every month for art and coloring.

Come and go from 9:30 am – 1 pm.

Snacks provided.  All ages welcome.

 

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