From Award-Winning Author's Talk to AI Exploration: Hayner Library Outlines March Programs

Our Daily Show Interview! Hayner Library: AI Information Events, Fun with the Family and More!

ALTON - From talks with award-winning authors to artificial intelligence FAQs and more, Hayner Public Library District will offer a variety of programs in the next month.

Executive Director Mary Cordes joked that the spring newsletter — which will hit mailboxes in the next few weeks — might be a bit long, but it’s “a nice problem to have” because it means the library has tons of free programs and events for community members to enjoy.

“There’s a lot of libraries across the country that would love to have the problem of too many programs, too many things going on,” she said. “There’s a variety of programs and there’s the demand for all of them. It’s not like we have one type of program and a bunch of people want to see it. We offer a lot of programming for a lot of different interests, and they’re all still highly attended.”

To start off, Cordes invites people to register for the Illinois Libraries Presents program, a statewide virtual presentation by author Percival Everett. Everett’s book “Erasure” inspired the 2023 film “American Fiction,” and his most recent book “James” received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. At 7 p.m. on March 19, 2026, you can watch his virtual presentation and ask questions.

Cordes is especially looking forward to this program, but she understands the virtual component can be challenging for some patrons. She suggests making a 30-minute one-on-one Tech Help appointment with the library’s reference librarian, Johanna Shultis, who can talk you through how to do anything from setting up an email account to downloading apps and more.

This is one example of the services that Hayner offers. They have a variety of technology classes available, including a 12–1 p.m. class on March 25 at Hayner’s mall library that will go over “Everyday Uses of AI.” Hayner has partnered with AARP to sponsor this class, for patrons of all ages, to share information about how to use and identify artificial intelligence.

The kids’ and teens’ programming is always busy, but Cordes is excited to offer a special Easter egg hunt for kids ages 3–11 from March 30 to April 4, 2026. Kids and their caregivers can come to the KidsSpace section of the mall library and search for eggs. Kids must collect the number of eggs corresponding with their age and bring them to the desk to win a prize.

More exciting programs and activities for kids will continue throughout the summer. Cordes suggests keeping an eye on the library’s calendar for details about upcoming storytimes in the park. Hayner plans to host a storytime at Haskell Park and another at Riverview Park in the next few months, with details coming soon.

You can also view the library’s most recent newsletter for an updated list of programs. The Spring 2026 newsletter will be unveiled soon, with everything from more technology classes to a silent disco.

Cordes promises lots of fun and exciting free experiences for people to enjoy. She emphasized that the library’s goal is to provide traditional services while accommodating the community’s ever-changing needs and interests.

“We’re trying to strike a balance between traditional library services and the library of the future,” she explained. “We’ve got some really fun ones coming up. I’ve got two words for people: silent disco. We’re going to try a silent disco in the library and see how that goes. We’re thinking outside the box and trying to bring new people in the library and new generations of people into the library and have some fun.”

For more information about Hayner Public Library District, or to register for their upcoming events, visit their official website at HaynerLibrary.org.

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