Celebrate a month of growth with us at Willard Library. From morel mushroom hunting to saving heirloom seeds, there’s something for everyone during the month of April. Picking With the Champ: The Art of Morel Hunting with Anthony Williams Tuesday, March 25, 6 p.m.Downtown Lower Level Learn the secrets of morel hunting with 5-time National Morel Hunting Champion Anthony Williams. Williams retired undefeated from competitive picking to become the “Expert in Residence” for the National Morel Festival. His seminar is filled with stories from 70-plus years of picking. Tips on when, where, and how to pick include the personal, finer points that made him the morel champ. Seed Saving 101 Tuesday, April 8, 6 p.m.Helen Warner Branch Join award-winning author Bevin Cohen as he shares his expertise on planning and planting the garden for successful seed saving. Cohen is also the founder of the Michigan Seed Library, and host of the popular podcast, “Seeds and Weeds.” Be the first to check out our very own seed library as well!  Documentary Showing of “Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf” Tuesday, April 15, 6 p.m.Downtown Programming Room Immerse yourself in the world and mind of groundbreaking landscape designer and plantsman Piet Oudolf. Follow his creative process from his beautifully abstract sketches to theories on beauty, to the ecological implications of his ideas. Perhaps this film will inspire your own garden planning and expand your ideas of what gardens can be. Succulents and Cacti 101 with Plumeria Botanical Boutique Tuesday, April 22, 6 p.m.Helen Warner BranchREGISTER HERE Elisha Mayes, owner of Plumeria Botanical Boutique, will join us on Earth Day to talk about succulents and cacti, and how to care for these unique plants. Registration is required, and registrants will get to take home their very own succulent. 

Author, podcast host, screenwriter, and producer Mallory O’Meara joins Willard Library to discuss her book “The Lady from the Black Lagoon” in celebration of Women’s History Month.  According to adult services librarian Brenna LaForge, “The book tells us all about Millicent Patrick, a brilliant woman working in old-school Hollywood. She was one of Disney’s first female animators and an artist well-ahead of her time. But when a jealous male colleague takes credit for the biggest win of her career, she disappears into obscurity.  Author Mallory O’Meara sets out to uncover what truly happened to her, and what her legacy means to women today.”  LaForge added, “The part that always fascinates me is how though Milicent’s career was blossoming, she just disappears from history. Her legacy lives on in “the creature” but her name is relatively unknown.” O’Meara herself worked in the horror film industry, and found a kindred spirit in Milicent Patrick. Through her research, she brings Patrick’s fascinating life and career into focus. The book is described as “a true-life detective story and a celebration of a forgotten feminist trailblazer…it establishes Patrick in her rightful place in film history while calling out a Hollywood culture where little has changed since.” O’Meara is an award-winning and bestselling author and historian. She also hosts the literary podcast “Reading Glasses” with filmmaker and writer Brea Grant. She has written several nonfiction books, including “Girly Drinks,” “Girls Make Movies,” and her most recent, “Daughter of Daring.”  O’Meara will speak on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. in the lower level of Willard Library’s downtown location, 7 W. Van Buren St. Willard Library programs are free and open to the public. 

Willard Library is thrilled to announce the 20th season of Battle Creek Reads, continuing its cherished tradition of uniting the community through the shared joy of reading. Since its inception in 2005, the program has brought residents together around impactful stories, starting with its inaugural selection, Pay it Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde, inspired by Nancy Pearl’s “One Book, One Community” initiative. Accessibility and engagement have always been cornerstones of Battle Creek Reads. Willard Library provides free copies of each year’s selected title to as many community members as possible, culminating in a highly anticipated author event. Memorable past highlights include Jeanette Walls’ 2008 presentation on The Glass Castle, which attracted nearly 1,000 attendees to the Lakeview Middle School Auditorium, and notable selections like The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (2011), The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede (2013), and The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (2023). Even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program adapted with virtual author events in 2020 and 2021. Library Director Matt Willis, who was part of the original planning team alongside former Library Director Rick Hulsey, community advocate Bill Schroer, Father Chris Yaw, and Michael McCullough, reflects on the program’s enduring impact. “These events create a unique opportunity for book lovers to connect,” said Willis. “It’s wonderful to see people gather to hear an author, ask questions, and share their passion for reading.” The book selection process has evolved over the years. Initially guided by steering committees including community members, Willard Library’s staff now chooses titles based on community engagement potential, patron feedback, and insights from programs like Book Club in a Bag. “Battle Creek is a fantastic place for book lovers,” added Willis. “Our community values reading and comes together to celebrate it in a way that’s truly unique.” For its 20th season, Battle Creek Reads proudly presents Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. A New York Times bestseller and a Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club pick, the book has sold over a million copies and spent more than a year on the New York Times Hardcover bestseller list. The novel’s heartwarming and deeply human story has also made it a favorite among Willard Library patrons. Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the story of Tova, a widow working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, and her […]