Skip to Main Content
Phillips Library Banner

What's New at Phillips Library?

Social Media

Follow us online!

@AuroraULibrary

 

New and Updated Research Guides

Spring 2025 News & Events

Black History Month colored in red and green surrounded by images of black historical people.

Black History Month Student Art Competition: Inspired by Romare Bearden

 

Collage of black students walking down a street

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"Young Students" by Bearden, Romare. Collage, 1964, Bearden Foundation, https://beardenfoundation.org/collages/.
 
Celebrate Black History Month through art! Students are invited to create a collage or painting inspired by the iconic works of Romare Bearden, highlighting themes of Black history, culture, and identity.
 
Competition Details:
🎨 Design Period: February 1 – 27
📅 Registration Deadline: February 21
🖼 Artwork Display & Voting: Friday, February 28 | 12 – 4 p.m.
🏆 Prize: $100 gift card for the winning artist (voted by peers)
🍽 Refreshments will be served
Join us in honoring Black history through creativity! Showcase your artistic vision and let your work tell a powerful story. All students are welcome to participate!
Sign up here

 

Don't know how to make a collage? Watch these tutorial videos:
  1. Creating a Collage: An Art Project Inspired by Romare
  2. Romare Bearden: Master of Collage Art & The Harlem Renaissance

Is there a place on campus where I can use art supplies?
Free art supplies can be found at the Art Cafe at the Schingoethe Center every Tuesday 5-7 p.m. and Friday 12-2 p.m. Phillips Library has various magazines that you can use and art supplies that you can check out!

Black History Month colored in red and green surrounded by images of black historical people.

Weekly Black History Trivia Challenge

 

Test your knowledge and celebrate Black history! Join us for a weekly Black History Trivia Challenge starting February 3. Each week will feature new questions highlighting the achievements, contributions, and history of Black leaders, trailblazers, and culture.

📅 Begins: February 3 (new trivia challenge each week)
🏆 Winners Announced: The following Monday
🎁 Prizes for top scorers!

Think you have what it takes to win? Participate each week for a chance to claim the top spot and show off your Black history knowledge!

Winners must pick up their prize from the library.


Trail Blazers & Pioneers | Monday, 2/3 - Friday, 2/7  | Test your knowledge

Prize: National Museum of African American History and Culture 2025 Wall Calendar

National Museum of African American History and Culture 2025 Wall Calendar. A black woman with an afro in red on cover. 


Civil Rights Movement Monday, 2/10 - Friday, 2/14 | Test your knowledge

Prize: Sweet Home Café Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking

Cookbook displays southern recipes such as fried chicken, cornbread, and macaroni and chees


Black Cultural Contributions Monday, 2/17 - Friday, 21 | Test your knowledge

Prize: Hip Hop Trivia

Small cards with vinyl records that open up with trivia questions about hip hop


Black History Around the World Monday, 2/24 - Friday, 28 | Test your knowledge

Prize: Black History Month Tote Bag

Black tote bag that says "Believe Achieve Succeed Celebrate Black History"

 

 

Black History Month colored in red and green surrounded by images of black historical people.

 

Vote for Your Favorite Fiction Book!

 

Invisible Son by Kim Johnson Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb Memphis by Tara M. Stringfellow

Help us expand our library collection with amazing stories by Black authors! We have 8 incredible fiction books to choose from, and we want your input on which title to add.

📚 How to Vote: Browse the selections and cast your vote for your favorite book.
📅 Voting Deadline: Friday, February 28

The book with the most votes will be added to our library collection—so make your voice heard and help bring more diverse stories to our shelves!

Vote Now!

 

Therapy Dogs 

 

Unleashed & Phillips Library Presents: Therapy Dog De-stress

Come to the library to hang out with the Fox Valley Therapy Dog Club and Destress!

When: February 27 & April 24

Where: Phillips Library

Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

This event is made possible by the Fox Valley Therapy Dog Club.

 

News Literacy Week : February 3 - 7

 

News Literacy Week. A graphic of a person frowning at a phone screen with a question mark near their head. Dialogue bubbles surround them from the phone.News Literacy Week highlights the importance of empowering everyone with the skills to navigate today’s complex information landscape. In a world filled with misinformation and rapidly evolving media, this week focuses on fostering critical thinking, fact-checking, and responsible news consumption.

Find valuable resources below to help you understand how to fact-check and find reliable information.

 

 

 

 

 

News Lit Week: Evaluating News Sources Workshop

Celebrate News Literacy Week with a library workshop about navigating the constant stream of new information we encounter each day. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and find reliable information.

Wednesday, Feb. 5th  | 3 - 4 p.m. | Zoom | Register!

 

Library Research Guides

 

Online Resources

  • Breaking news checklist - "When big news breaks, it can be hard to cut through the noise and find accurate information. Misinformation thrives during times of war, natural disasters and upheaval — and bad actors often spread falsehoods for cheap engagement on social media. This infographic offers six best practices to help you navigate fast-moving stories." - New Literacy Project

 

Tuesday, February 4 | 4 p.m. 

"This free webinar for educators, presented by the News Literacy Project on edWeb.net as part of National News Literacy Week, will offer strategies for teaching students about the complex topic of bias in news coverage" - New Literacy Project

 

Thursday, February 6 |12 p.m.

"Open to educators, students, and interested members of the public, this free webinar features a discussion with investigative journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas about her reporting on concussions in the NFL. It also covers the watchdog role of a free press." New Literacy Project

 

Test Your Knowledge

Blind Date with a Book 

 

Come to the library and uncover your next read from our Blind Date with a Book display. 

For a perfect evening, check out one of the books from this display at the Information Desk.


Short on time, but you still want to participate? Reveal your next read below with our digital Blind Date with a Book.