History Reads Book Club

History Reads Book Club
--- 7pm; Conference Room and Online
The History Reads Book Club meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Participants have the option to meet either in-person at Bloomington Public Library or online via Zoom. Registration is ONLY REQUIRED for online participants and can be completed 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 at reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org or 309.590.6168 to check out or reserve a print copy of the spotlight books. Digital copies of this book (eBook or eAudiobook) may be available using the Libby or Hoopla apps.
During 2026, the History Reads Book Club will meet on the following dates to discuss the following titles:
--- Tuesday, February 3: "Fifty-nine in '84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball, and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had" by Edward Achorn
--- Tuesday, May 5: "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair
--- Tuesday, August 4: "Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West" by John Ross
--- Wednesday, November 4: (meets on Wednesday due to midterm elections): "Onward to Chicago: Freedom Seekers and the Underground Railroad in Northeastern Illinois" by Larry McClellan
Questions about these programs can be directed to Sara at reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.
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Offered in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History, the History Reads Book Club is perfect for readers wanting to learn more about the natural, social, cultural, and political history of Illinois. Titles may include fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and books by Illinois authors. The History Reads Book Club meets quarterly in February, May, August, and November.