Marion Carnegie Library | 618-993-5935

Friends of the Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale
2025-03-08 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-30 09:00 - 16:00, 2025-05-31 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Everyone is invited to a book sale presented by the Friends of the Marion Carnegie Library! All proceeds go to support Marion Carnegie Library’s projects and programs.
For more information on how you can help out visit https://www.marioncarnegielibrary.org/friends
Paperbacks $0.25
Hardbacks $1.00
On Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., fill a shopping bag with books for only $5.00!
NOTICE: All participants and parents understand and agree that photos taken at the event may be used in social media postings and future promotions.

MCL Closed in Observance of Good Friday
2025-04-18 09:00 - 17:00
Marion Carnegie Library will be CLOSED on Friday, April 18th, 2025 in observance of Good Friday. The library will reopen on Saturday, April 19th at 9 a.m. All online services such as Cloud Library, Hoopla, and the Card Catalog will still be available while we are closed.

MCL Closed in Observance of Memorial Day
2025-05-26 09:00 - 17:00

Summer Reading Program Kickoff
2025-06-02 17:00 - 19:00 | Mandala Gardens, 1704 N State St, Marion, IL, 62959, US
Meander through beautiful Mandala Gardens, feed an alpaca, create a unique bookmark with Little Egypt Arts Association, or do a fun garden activity with Marion Garden Club. Don’t miss the bagels or ice cream for a snack and get a cool balloon animal from Mr. Twist! It’s going to be the perfect garden evening!

Library Board Meeting
2025-06-09 18:30 - 19:30 | Marion Carnegie Library, 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, 62959, US

Marionopoly
2025-06-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Marion Cultural and Civic Center, 800 Tower Square Plz, Marion, IL, 62959, US
Take a stroll around Tower Square Plaza beginning at Marion Cultural Civic Center as you play the Marionopoly board game in real life! Follow the directions on the sidewalk, visit with our local merchants, and stop off at the fun activity spaces. When you have completed the whole game, receive a commemorative, limited bookmark!

CLOSED: Juneteenth
2025-06-19 | Marion Carnegie Library, 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, 62959, US
The library is closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Make Music Marion Day
2025-06-21 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
June 21st is Make Music Marion Day! Join us at 1pm or 3pm in the McCoskey Room for the presentation:
Latin Hip Hop as the New Poetry with Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, Catalina Maria Johnson.
And, stop by the Young Adult Department and the Children’s Department for music themed crafts!

Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry
2025-06-21 13:00 - 16:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
June 21st is Make Music Marion Day! Join us at 1pm or 3pm in the McCoskey Room for the presentation:
Latin Hip Hop as the New Poetry with Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, Catalina Maria Johnson.
Don’t forget to stop by the Young Adult Department and the Children’s Department, all day long, for music-themed crafts.
Latin hip hop artists are advancing the poetic traditions of their countries in unique ways. Ana Tijoux from Chile was raised on protest songs and Pablo Neruda; Residente from Calle 13, Puerto Rico spits out rhymes as carefully crafted as any poet’s; Niña Dioz from Mexico reads dictionaries to find the precise words to fit her ideas and rhymes; Xiutehzcatl from Boulder, Colorado rhymes in three languages: Spanish, English and Nahuatl–an ancient indigenous language. Nevertheless, academia and poetic circles have surprisingly not embraced and celebrated these artists as poets.
This program, with video and lyric examples, will make a case for hip hop as the new poetry with a focus on Latinos in the U.S. and the Americas. The presentation, paired with slides and a rich set of musical videos, is lively, light and fun, and focused on participation, discussion, and musical enjoyment!
Presented by Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, Catalina Maria Johnson.
Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D. is a Chicago-based music journalist. She hosts and produces her own radio show, Beat Latino, which airs in Chicago on Vocalo (Chicago Public Media) and other USA cities as well as Berlin. Catalina is also a regular contributor to NPR, Songlines and other publications, and an editorial board member of Revista Contratiempo.
Catalina’s music journalism explores the extraordinary diversity of the global music scene with an emphasis on Latine music – from the most traditional roots music to cutting-edge electronic grooves.
Illinois Road Scholars and Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council Agency], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

Couch Potato Story Walk
2025-07-01 | Tower Square, Tower Square Plaza, Marion, IL, 62959, United States
Follow the story around the square then pick up a prize in the Children’s Department when you’re done!
ALL MONTH LONG

Library Closed in Observance of Independence Day
2025-07-04 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959

Life Size Board Games
2025-07-10 16:00 - 18:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Candyland, Jenga and Connect 4 are just a few of the life-size games you can play at the library today! Visit all three floors and have some snacks too!

All Ages

Blueberry Cake Story Walk
2025-08-01
Follow the story around the square and pick up your prize in the Children’s Department when you’re done!
ALL MONTH LONG.
Ages Birth to 12

Library Board Meeting
2025-08-11 18:30 - 19:30, 2025-10-20 18:30 - 19:30 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959

Friends of the Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale
2025-08-29 09:00 - 2025-08-30 16:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Come join and take a look at the wonderful books that are for sale at the Friends of the Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale!
All Ages welcome!

Lawyer in the Library
2025-09-16 17:00 - 19:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
An attorney will be available for 20-minute, one-on-one meetings to assist with legal coaching, document review, referrals to additional community services, e-filing court documents, and legal questions.

7th Annual Library Crawl
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-31 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
This October, take some time to appreciate some of our incredible libraries throughout the State of Illinois!
The Annual Library Crawl is a unique event organized by the public libraries of Illinois Heartland Library System as a fun way to introduce our public library’s patrons to the other libraries of the IHLS service area. Patrons can visit area libraries throughout the month of the crawl and get a passport stamp at each library they visit. Some patrons have tried to visit every library in the crawl! The main purpose, though, is to help participants discover the many, many great resources available to them with their library cards.
Pick up a Library Crawl Passport from MCL’s Main Desk, and get a stamp from each participating library you visit.
Share your posts with the hashtag #IHLSLibraryCrawl2025 to let everyone follow your adventure! The first three Marion Carnegie Library patrons who return a passport with at least five stamps will receive a small gift bag of Marion Carnegie Library branded items!
ALL MONTH LONG!

Enchanted Millinery
2025-10-30 16:30 - 19:30 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Stop by Carnegie Commons during the Enchanted Square event and create a witchy fascinator. Hats and embellishments will be provided. This will be a come-and-go craft — patrons can stop by anytime between 4:30pm and 7:30pm while participating in the full Enchanted Square event happening on the square. The Enchanted Millinery craft is strictly for ages 18 and older.
Ages: 18+

Friends of Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale
2025-11-21 09:00 - 2025-11-22 17:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
The Friends of Marion Carnegie Library will host a book sale on Friday, November 21st and Saturday, November 22nd from 9am to 4pm in the McCoskey Room.

Stop by that Saturday from 2pm to 4pm to fill a bag for $5!

Food for Fines
2025-12-01 - 2026-01-31 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Support the Marion community while taking care of some MCL late fees when you participate in our annual Food for Fines program!
Visit the MCL Main Desk and donate items listed in the “What can I donate?” section of our Food for Fines page. All donations will help local non-profit Gum Drop Kids provide child-friendly food to help enhance the quality of life for at-risk children.
You’ll receive $1 in MCL account credit for each donated item. Only valid to waive overdue fines.

Season's Readings
2025-12-02 17:00 - 19:00 | 206 S Market St, Marion, IL, United States, Illinois 62959
Visit the Library to get in the festive spirit! Fun activities on every floor!
Children’s Department

Ice Fishing
Snowball Fight
Snowman Bowling
Snowflake Stamp Craft

Main Floor

Beeswax Candle Craft
Hot Cocoa in Carnegie Commons

YA Department

Giant Jenga
Waterless Snow Globe Craft
Popcorn

PNG Lab

Custom Wooden Ornaments

MCL's 110th Birthday Celebration
2026-03-02 17:00 - 19:00
You’re a part of our story!

We’re celebrating our 110th birthday on Monday, March 2nd from 5pm to 7pm. Join us and journey through more than a century of reading and information!

Step into history by passing through the original library entrance on Market Street. Enjoy refreshments, activities, and historical displays throughout the building. Sign our card, strike a pose in our photobooth, and take home a vintage-styled postcard and bookmark!

Marion Carnegie Library opened its doors to the public on February 29th, 1916, and has gone through several renovations over the years. Throughout it all, the library has been dedicated to offering resources and programs, as well as fostering connections within the community.

Friends of Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale
2026-03-20 09:00 - 2026-03-21 16:00
The Friends of Marion Carnegie Library will host a book sale on Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st from 9am to 4pm in the McCoskey Room.

Stop by that Saturday from 2pm to 4pm to fill a bag for $5!

Friends of Marion Carnegie Library Book Sale
2026-05-29 09:00 - 2026-05-30 16:00
The Friends of Marion Carnegie Library will host a book sale on Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th from 9am to 4pm in the McCoskey Room.

Stop by that Saturday from 2pm to 4pm to fill a bag for $5!

Library Garden Party: Summer Reading Kickoff
2026-06-01 17:00 - 19:00 | Mandala Gardens, 1704 N State St, Marion, IL, 62959, US
Join us at Mandala Gardens for our Summer Reading Kick-off!

Enjoy a fun evening with multiple businesses and organizations, and register for MCL’s Summer Reading challenges. Downtown Fizz and Drizzle Donuts will be there, along with entertainment from yo-yo performer Jack Hudspath. Look out for the cute and friendly donkeys with their handlers for photo ops!

Life Size Board Games
2026-06-11 17:00 - 19:00
Enjoy life-sized games on every floor!
Yahtzee, Connect 4, Jenga, and more!

Freedom to Read: An American 250 Celebration
2026-06-30 16:00 - 18:00
MCL is celebrating 250 years of The Declaration of Independence!
Add a leaf to the Liberty Trees to celebrate independence and the pursuit of happiness. Take a selfie with The Statue of Liberty and enjoy a cookie. Watch an 18th century spinning wheel demonstration with the Black Sheep Fiber Guild and visit with costumed volunteers with the Harrison-Bruce Historical Village.

Children’s: Themed crafts and balloon horse races
YA: Hamilton showing
Main Floor: Teas of the Boston Tea Party and community jigsaw puzzle
