Earth Matters: Rethink the Future
Main Library
May 18 - August 16, 2026
Explore our changing planet through a different lens, immerse yourself in incredible ecosystems and learn how the smallest of actions can have a big impact on our natural world. Earth Matters: Rethink the Future features thought-provoking, fully interactive exhibits, inviting you to see the inner workings of a tree, listen and learn about endangered species, solve complex challenges and push your own ideas to new heights.
Sponsored by the Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation. Created by Scitech in Perth, Australia and produced by Imagine Exhibitions.
Exhibit Opens In
Events
Earth Matters Ribbon Cutting
Main Library Lobby
Monday, May 18 | 4-5 pm
Celebrate the Earth Matters kickoff with a ribbon cutting, giveaways and more as you become one of the first to discover this incredible new interactive exhibit.
Receive a stamp for each exhibit zone you explore. Collect all of the stamps to get a special prize!
Fresh Air Fridays
In The Community
Fridays, May 14 & June 19 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Calling all Nature Rangers! Join us for a walk to enjoy the fresh air at a Kane County Forest Preserve on the third Friday of each month, May through October. These walks are open to all ages. The length of each walk will be determined by location, weather, and participant comfort level.
Garden Painting
South Elgin Branch Hoffer Meeting Room
Saturday, May 16 | 11 am & 2 pm
Painters of all abilities are welcome to come learn from John French!
Brush Piles, Burning & Butterflies:
40 Years of Habitat Restoration
Main Library Elgin Room & Virtual via Zoom
Thursday, May 21 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Bluff Spring Fen is a 170-acre preserve near Elgin with wetlands, hill prairies, and oak woodlands. The program uses images to trace 40 years of restoration and its rare plants and wildlife.
Space Plants
Main Library Sally Lee Rooms
Thursday, May 28 | 11 am - Noon
Let's draw some plants... IN SPACE!!! Join Mark Anderson from Andertoons for a special drawing class that will be strange, extraterrestrial and down right fun!
Garden with Cindy Crosby
South Elgin Branch Hoffer Meeting Room
Thursdays, June 11, June 18 & June 25 | 6 - 7 pm
Plant Stories: Tales from the Garden
If your garden flowers, vegetables, tree, herbs, and shrubs could speak-oh, the stories they would tell!
Add a Little Prairie to Your Garden
Include native Illinois prairie plants in your garden and watch pollinators arrive! Whether your yard is small or big, native prairie plants can make a ho-hum garden intriguing and exciting.
Literary Gardens
Join Master Gardener and natural history writer Cindy Crosby for a fun look at garden in literature and poetry. There are so many gardens that helped shape the books we love to read.
Composting 101
Rakow Branch Shales Living Room
Tuesday, June 2 | 2 - 3 pm
Discover the many benefits of home composting. A Master Gardener will discuss how to turn landscape waste into high-quality compost that you can use to enrich your soil.
National Gardening Week
Rakow Branch
June 7 - 13
Drop by to discover the new Seed Library and learn how to grow your own vegetables, herbs and flowers. You can also take home seeds to start a garden.
STEAM: How Does Your Garden Grow?
Main Library Sally Lee and Eagle Rooms
Monday, June 8 | 11 am & 2 pm
Plant a Seed, Read! We can also plant a seed and grow awesome flowers and food. Budding gardeners join us for STEAM tips and tricks on how to make our gardens grow.
Mobile Makers! Creativity on Wheels - Bilingual
Lords Park - 100 Oakwood Blvd, Elgin, IL 60120
Wednesday, June 10 | 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Bring a chair and join us for a fun, hands-on project! Kids will have the chance to decorate their very own bird feeder to take home.
Stories at Lords Park Zoo
Lords Park Zoo, 325 Hiawatha Dr., 60120
Thursday, June 11 | 11:30 am - Noon
Bring a blanket or chair to sit on and listen to a 30 minute storytime about different animal friends.
Crafty Kids: Nature Art
Main Library Sally Lee and Eagle Rooms
Wednesday, June 17 | 1 - 2 pm
Create artwork inspired by the outdoors using natural materials and organic textures. Grades K-5.
The Scrbble Squad:
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Main Library Sally Lee Rooms
Thursday, June 25 | 11 am - Noon
Grab a pencil and some art supplies and we'll draw and write our way to a great story! This session, we'll design a magic seed and write about how it grows!
Bike Donation Collection
Rakow Branch Parking Lot
Saturday, June 27 | 9 am - Noon
Give your old bikes new life by donating them for communities in need. Bring your bikes to the Rakow Branch parking lot to donate to Working Bikes Chicago.