Indian Trails Public Library notes

For information or to register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Got Clutter?: "Recovered Pack Rat" and author Rita Emmett will discuss four habits that make clutter grow and how to make it melt away at 7 p.m. Thursday.

America's Heritage exhibit: "America's Heritage: A History of U.S. Immigration" will be on display at the library until Friday. The exhibit provides an overview of American immigration history and laws beginning with the colonial period. Twelve panels describe the social and economic conditions of a specific period and the laws that were enacted to regulate entry into the United States. The exhibit explains, for example, how the Naturalization Act of 1795 and the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1789 were the first public laws to restrict immigration to the new nation.

The exhibit also explores European immigration and its impact on American economic prosperity in the latter half of the 1800s.

Other critical periods are highlighted, including the rise of the Know Nothing Party, the Red Scare of the 1950s, the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act that finally abolished national origin quotas, and changes in the 1990s that revised employment-based categories for immigration and placed restrictions on immigrant rights.

This story of U.S. immigration law and policy is told through vintage photographs, accompanying text, and instructive timelines. The exhibit is open during library hours but may not be accessible during certain library programs. Call ahead to check program times at (847) 459-4100. Indian Trails Library is located at 355 S. Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling.

Holiday Gift Tags: Students in kindergarten through fifth grade can make their own unique gift tags from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Registration is required.

Chocolate Candy Making: Join Rhonda Morkes from Morkes Chocolates who will show patrons how to make cream centers, fudge and a variety of other holiday candies at 7 p.m. Dec. 3. A kit fee of $12 is due at time of registration.

Evening Writers Workshop: Published author Ginny Foley will facilitate as participants share and critique their work at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Registration is required.

Storytimes: Toddler Family Storytime will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 5 and 19. Encourage a child's pre-literacy skills with stories, songs and finger plays. This 30-minute program is designed for ages 18 months through 36 months and their caregivers.

• Lapsit Storytime: Infants build their language skills using songs, fingerplays, rhymes and stories, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10. For babies up to 18 months of age and their adult caregivers.

• Bilingual Storytime: Children 3 to 7 years and their families are invited to listen to stories, rhymes and sing songs in English and Spanish from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 8 and 22.

Stress and the Holidays: Dr. Jillka Vansh will discuss how the holidays often cause additional stress and what one can do, including breathing techniques and various exercises to minimize the impact, at 7 p.m. Dec. 6. Registration is required.

Teen gingerbread craft: Students in sixth through 12th grade can bake their own gingerbread men from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7. The library will supply the decorations. Registration is required.

Big Band Concert Songs: Edizon Dayao, master keyboard artist, will return to the Chicago area with his tribute to the "Big Band Concert Songs Through the Years" at 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Registration is required.

Classical Violin and Piano: Oliver Colbentson, former concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York, will perform classical music with pianist accompaniment at 3 p.m. Dec. 10. Registration is required.

Read-With-Me Program: Children ages 5 and under and their parents can join the Winter Read-With-Me program and "Take a Ride on the Reading Railroad." Sign up at the "Ask Here" desk. Those who complete the program will receive a free paperback book. The program runs Dec. 10 to Feb. 18; the last day to register is Feb. 9.

Read-to-Succeed: Children between the ages of 6 and 14 can join the Chicago Wolves' "Read to Succeed" program by signing up at the "Ask Here" desk. Participants will be given a reading log to keep track of time spent reading from Dec. 10 to Feb. 18. Upon completion, participants will receive a free paperback book, and a chance to win prizes from the Chicago Wolves.

Chicago Wolves Player Visit: Come to the library and learn about hockey and what life is like for a hockey player and pick up some game tips at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. One participant will get to put on a Wolves uniform. For kindergarten and older. Registration is required.

Trader Joe's Holiday Dishes: Trader Joe's in Arlington Heights, will prepare special dishes for holiday entertaining at 7 p.m. Dec. 12. Learn new recipes and preparation techniques. A tasting will follow. Registration is required.

Holiday Safety Tips: Discuss holiday safety tips at 7 p.m. Dec. 13. Topics include: protecting a home, shopping safely and traffic safety. Registration is required.

Museum bus trip: Join a bus trip to the Museum of Science and Industry to see "The Great Train Story" exhibit with 34 model trains operating on a Chicago to Seattle route Dec. 27. The bus will leave the library at 9 a.m. and return at around 3:30 p.m. Cost is $7 per adult and $3 per child due at time of registration. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This program is partially funded by a grant from the Children's Advocates. Registration ends Dec. 13.

Coffee House: High school students can express themselves in poetry, art, song or short stories at 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Refreshments will be available.

Chess for All Ages: Bill Harrison will be available to teach people of all ages the joys of playing chess at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 16. All skill levels are welcome. No registration is required; just drop by.

Family game day: All ages are welcome to play Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero II, and Dance Dance Revolution at 2 p.m. Dec. 16. Water and snacks will be provided. Children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. No registration is required.

Book discussions: Heather Resnick will lead a discussion of "A Redbird at Christmas" by Fannie Flagg at 7 p.m. Dec. 17. Registration is required.

Tom Hermann will discuss "The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness" by Joel Ben Izzy from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 18. Registration is required.