Library Events

Please note this is not an author program but rather a (fun) book club discussion with other book worms.  
The virtual book club will discuss Shannon Reed’s new memoir Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out. In a moving series of essays, Reed humorously and acutely explores our relationship with books and why we read as well as her personal connection to books. Shelf Awareness described Why We Read as “a joyous meander through the world of book love.” 

Hudson, once called the “citadel of abolitionism,” was an active stop on the Underground Railroad and was the childhood home of abolitionist John Brown. Discover the homes, sites and people that played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement of pre-Civil War Hudson. All walking tours are weather dependent and meet at the entrance to the library. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. 

Join us on Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. for a live, in-person author event with Edward O’Keefe, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, who will discuss his new book, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt. This spirited and poignant family love story reveals how an icon of rugged American masculinity was profoundly shaped by the women in his life, especially his mother, sisters, and wives. Kirkus opines, “A fascinating celebration of women who helped make an iconic president.” 

New generative AI tools can create exquisite works of art, realistic photographs, company logos, and so much more. During this hands-on introductory class, participants will experience how generative AI art works through models, prompts and specific techniques that transform words into images. Specific tools discussed in this class will include DALL-E 3, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, and more. Please note that this class will only cover free features of these AI tools. All premium features will not be demonstrated. 

Uncover the true story of five castaways abandoned on the Falkland Islands during the War of 1812 with bestselling author Eric Jay Dolin, hosted by the library on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Dolin’s latest book, Left for Dead, tells the tale of treachery, shipwreck, isolation, and the desperate struggle for survival. 

Get an introduction to the architectural history of Hudson with a tour of the downtown area focusing on the different styles and history of area homes and buildings, including the clock tower, Brewster Mansion, town hall and more. Find out why Hudson streets and buildings are said to define the image of the Western Reserve. All walking tours are weather dependent and meet at the entrance to the library. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Explore the sites of accidents and calamity in Hudson during this tour of the downtown area. Hear about floods, explosions, fires and accidents, some of which permanently altered the architecture and history of Hudson. All walking tours are weather dependent and meet at the entrance to the library. Remember to wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

During orientation training, learn about the Creativity Lab’s policies and best practices on how to use the audio production equipment. Upon completion of the orientation program, participants may register for a two-hour independent session, where they can create their own content. All individuals interested in using the Hudson Library & Historical Society’s Creativity Lab to independently record their own podcast or audio projects must first complete this mandatory one-hour orientation training session.

Bestselling author and Cleveland resident Thrity Umrigar will discuss her newest book The Museum of Failures, which has been named Amazon’s Best Book of the Month. Publisher’s Weekly opines, “[A] rich and emotionally gripping story about familial love and the destructive power of secrets...Umrigar continues to impress.” This author event is in recognition of the Celebrating Ohio Book Awards & Authors (COBAA) LSTA grant program.   

The library will offer a four-week session of in-person, gentle flow yoga classes for all levels. These classes will be held in the Flood Room on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. June 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Learn how to easily navigate, create, and manage spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel. During this introductory virtual class, learn the basics of Microsoft Excel including how to navigate workbooks and sheets, enter data, basic formatting, along with common introductory formulas and functions. This class is designed for those with little to no experience using Microsoft Excel, or for those who have not used the program for some time and would like a refresher course. Basic mouse and keyboard skills are required.

Discover the surprising influence that gardens and gardening have had on mystery novels and their authors with us when horticulturist Marta McDowell discusses her new book Gardening Can Be Murder. This program has been generously funded by the Hudson Garden Club.  

The library, in collaboration with the Cleveland Museum of Art’s award-winning distance learning program, will present a virtual livestreamed presentation on the art of Africa and Byzantium. This program will highlight selected works from the museum’s Africa and Byzantium Special exhibition, which runs through July 21, 2024.

Africa & Byzantium considers the complex artistic relationships between northern and eastern African Christian kingdoms and the Byzantine Empire from the fourth century CE and beyond. The exhibit includes works of secular and sacred art from across geographies and faiths, including large-scale frescoes, mosaics, and luxury goods such as metalwork, jewelry, panel paintings, architectural elements, textiles, and illuminated manuscripts. Lent from collections in Africa, Europe, and North America, many of these works have never been exhibited in the United States. The art and faith of these historical kingdoms—including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—resonate with many worldwide today. This is a one-time streaming event and will not be recorded.

Learn about one of the most robust and free AI tools, Microsoft Copilot, during this demonstrative lecture. Billed as “your everyday AI companion”, Microsoft Copilot provides support across a multitude of Microsoft products and functions as a chat bot, generative AI art service, personal assistant, and much more. Note: If you wish to participate in the class, you will need to have a Microsoft Outlook account, which is available for free. 

The library will offer a four-week session of in-person, gentle flow yoga classes for all levels. These classes will be held in the Flood Room on Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m. June 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Continue to build your confidence and comfort using Microsoft Excel. During this intermediate course, learn how to use additional functions and features in Microsoft Excel to format, interpret, analyze and display data. Specific topics demonstrated will include working with multiple worksheets, creating and customizing charts, tables and graphics, and techniques to sort and filter your data. Completion of the library’s introductory course or previous experience using Excel is required.

Please note this is not an author program but rather a (fun) book club discussion with other book worms.
The virtual book club will discuss Lucy Gilmore’s latest novel, The Library of Borrowed Hearts. In this novel, a librarian stumbles across a rare edition of a book from the 1960s that has cryptic notes written in the margins. These notes lead her on a bookish mystery that may involve her curmudgeon of a neighbor. Library Journal calls this book “a bookish love letter to anyone who has ever found solace between the pages of a book”.

The library, in collaboration with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, will present a virtual livestreamed tour of selected works from the museum’s collection, which houses significant examples of European, Asian, and American art. Learn more about the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a radical and free-spirited woman who made it her life's mission to collect art from around the world and build this museum to share it with the public. This is a one-time special streaming event and will not be recorded. 

During orientation training, learn about the Creativity Lab’s policies and best practices on how to use the video production equipment. Upon completion of the orientation program, participants may register for a two-hour independent session, where they can create their own content. All individuals interested in using the Hudson Library & Historical Society’s Creativity Lab to independently record their own video projects must first complete this mandatory one-hour orientation training session.

This is a one-time special streaming event that will not be recorded.  
On Wednesday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m., join us on a virtual walking tour that explores the rich history and significance of Juneteenth in Washington D.C. Learn about the events and landmarks that played pivotal roles in the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. 

The tour will begin at the Emancipation memorial, also known as the Freedman’s Memorial, as a symbolic starting point for our exploration of Juneteenth’s historical roots. Our knowledgeable guide will provide insights into the Dred Scott decision, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the role of enslaved labor in the construction of iconic landmarks like the United States Capitol while navigating the streets of Washington D.C.