Algonquin library celebrates Shakespeare

One of the most iconic documents in history is visiting Illinois as part of a nationwide tour, and it will be on display a mere 18 miles from the Algonquin Area Public Library District.

The Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda will host a national traveling exhibit of William Shakespeare's First Folio, considered one of the world's most treasured books. To celebrate, the library has scheduled programs highlighting the Bard and his work:

In "Super Simple Sonnet Writing" from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, discover the characteristics of a Shakespearean sonnet, a 14-line structured rhyming poem. Explore contemporary versions of sonnets, then channel the Bard and create your own. Attendees will be entered into a random drawing for "Pop Sonnets: Shakespearean Spins on Your Favorite Songs" by Erik Didriksen.

"Why Shakespeare?" will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. Actor and speaker Bill Hammack gives a performance-oriented lecture illustrating the greatness, versatility and genius of The Bard by performing and dissecting several speeches and monologues. Learn about Shakespeare the man and how his body of work came to us. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for two tickets for "Shortened Shakespeare" at Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier.

All programs are open to the community; an Algonquin Area Public Library card is not required. Register for these programs by visiting www.aapld.org/do or calling the library at (847) 458-6060, ext. 143.

"Shakespeare's First Folio is a cultural treasure that our community deserves to experience," said library Director Stephen Bero. "We are thrilled to spread the word about the Lake County Discovery Museum exhibit and commemorate this unique occasion with our own programs honoring Shakespeare."

The First Folio will be exhibited through Feb. 28 during regular hours at the Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda, (847) 968-3400. The First Folio comprises 36 plays, including "Macbeth," "Julius Caesar," "Twelfth Night," "The Tempest," "Antony and Cleopatra," "The Comedy of Errors" and "As You Like It."

First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare, on tour from the Folger Shakespeare Library, is a national traveling exhibit organized by the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 400th anniversary in 2016 of Shakespeare's death.

It is produced in association with the American Library Association and the Cincinnati Museum Center.

For more information about the programs, call the library at (847) 458-3060 or visit www.aapld.org. To learn more about the First Folio exhibit, visit www.lcfpd.org/museum.