The library is a place to learn, try new things and explore ideas, and for many, including a group of friends who met through the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's programming, it also serves as a space to meet new people, build friendships and feel a sense of belonging.
"I had been trying to find a community for a few years, but nothing ever clicked," said Arlington Heights resident Stephanie Aragon. As a young adult without children, she noticed that many social circles in her age group revolved around parenting young children. She had recently moved to Arlington Heights and was finding it challenging to relate to her peers. It wasn't until she started attending library events that she started building meaningful relationships in the community.
"Just check out the newsletter, check out all the events, and say hi to the person next to you," she said. "If they're at the same event, you already have something in common."
Aragon is part of a group of regular Arlington Heights Memorial Library users, from early retirees to newcomers to Arlington Heights, who met at the library's Speed Friending program in 2024. What makes the group special is its diversity, not just in age and background, but in life experiences.
"The book group I was in before had mostly people of similar backgrounds," said member Heath Resnick. "This new group gives me the opportunity to learn something new from every person. I can tell you something fascinating about every single one of them."
Resnick, who initiated the forming of the group, was looking to make new friends after her long-time book club dissolved. "I thought [Speed Friending] would be a good opportunity to connect with people who were interested in libraries and books," she said. But it has evolved into something much deeper; a social club that meets regularly and attends library programs and book discussions together.
After that first event, Resnick gathered emails from other attendees who might be interested in starting a new club and offered to organize it. "It's been very fun and enriching for me. It's something different from your regular friend group."
The group started having conversations on WhatsApp, sharing which library programs they planned to attend. The low-pressure nature of the group made participation easy, and they soon realized they were naturally gravitating toward many of the same programs.
"You start to make connections by continuing to attend [programs]," said Michele Greenberg, who began attending more library programs after retiring early. She emphasized the importance of being open-minded, especially during life transitions. "Sometimes you don't realize that you've been closed off because of that stage of life you're in. You never know who you're going to meet."
The spirit of connection was clear at the library's "One Book, One Gala" event on September 27, which celebrated The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis, the 2025 One Book, One Village community read selection. This group of friends was among the first to register when sign-ups opened. They walked the red carpet together, posed for photos, and mingled over drinks and small bites, enjoying yet another library event together.
Now, the group has a steady presence at many programs, from book discussions to crafting classes at the Makerplace. Even with the library's meeting rooms closed this fall, they found ways to keep meeting at local cafés and other community spaces.
Whether you're new to town, going through a life change, or simply looking to meet new people, the library can be the place to make new connections.
Check out the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's program calendar at ahml.info/attend/events.