NEW DATE: Illinois Libraries Present: Babel-On with R.F. Kuang

R.F. Kuang’s genre-bending fiction broaches ordinarily serious topics from a satirical and fantastical perspective. Academic yet approachable, Kuang’s work combines history, magic, and classical literary tradition to render powerful critiques of academia, the publishing industry, and even contemporary popular culture.  Her most recent novel, Katabasis, follows two graduate students as they descend into hell after the death of their professor, and the screen rights options to the novel were sold to Amazon MGM Studios for an upcoming TV series before its publication. Kuang’s other bestselling titles include Yellowface, Babel, and The Poppy War trilogy, and she is the recipient of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, and the American Book Award.  Kelly Jensen, an anti-censorship advocate, a senior editor at Book Riot, and writer who has compiled such anthologies as Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World and (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, will be joining Kuang in conversation. Register Here:  https://bit.ly/ILPKuang Registration for this event closes at 5:00 p.m. on event day. Late registrations will be processed after the live event, allowing access to the event recording. Please note: You must select The Hayner Public Library District from the How Did You Hear About This Event? drop-down menu when registering for this event. Libraries are listed alphabetically by our full formal names (The Hayner Public Library District).   This event is intended for adults. This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of the Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).  ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided for all events by default—no special request needed. If a patron needs accommodations not listed, the member library should email illinoislibrariespresent@ila.org.  Recording terms: 30 days public and emailed to all registrants    Patron FAQ

What platform is used for the live event and registration?

Events take place on Zoom.

Will this program be recorded?

Yes. Event recordings will be accessible to registered attendees for a limited time, typically up to 30 days, as per contractual agreements with the speaker. 

Where will the recording be posted?

The link will be emailed to Zoom registrants (those who attended the live event and those who did not). The email will come directly from Zoom and will include the final date to view the recording.

When will the recording be available?

Within 5 days of the program (pending actual post-production time). It will be viewable typically up to 30 days from the post date.  

Can I share the video with my patrons after the event?

Yes, the event recording link may be shared with patrons via a member library’s social media as well as in emails and newsletters.

Will the event be captioned?

Yes

Who is the audience for this event?

Adults

What if someone needs accommodations?

American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Closed Captioning are provided for all events by default—no special request needed.  If a patron needs accommodations not listed above, the member library should email illinoislibrariespresent@ila.org

Are attendees allowed to use AI-based tools (such as notetakers, summarizers, or transcription services)?

Attendees are NOT permitted to use AI-based tools (such as notetakers, summarizers, or transcription services) or to record the event in any form. If an ILA-ILP moderator observes the use of these tools during a session, attendees may be immediately removed from the event. Repeated violations may result in a temporary or permanent ban from attending future events.

What if a patron can’t find/says they never received their Zoom registration link?

After completing registration on Zoom, patrons need to allow up to two business days for the registration to be approved. Once approved, registrants will receive an email confirmation with the link to join the event. We recommend that patrons check their spam/junk mail folders if they do not receive a confirmation within two business days The event link is emailed from Zoom with the subject heading related to the event they are registering for.

   

Wednesday, May. 20 2026 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Venue: Hayner Library

132 Alton Square, Alton, IL 62002