Galesburg Public Library Launches April Community Read

Free books, events, and a month of community engagement around the book 'Bite by Bite'

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:08pm

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An abstract, out-of-focus scene depicting people gathered around a table, their faces and surroundings blurred into soft pools of warm color and light, conceptually representing the communal and reflective nature of the Galesburg Public Library's Community Read program.The Galesburg Public Library's Community Read program brings the local community together around a shared literary experience, fostering discussion and engagement on themes of food, memory, and identity.Galesburg Today

The Galesburg Public Library is kicking off its annual April Community Read program, offering free copies of the book 'Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees' by Aimee Nezhukumatathil and hosting a variety of free events throughout the month, including food tastings, panel discussions, author talks, and art workshops.

Why it matters

The Community Read program aims to bring the Galesburg community together around a shared reading experience, fostering discussion and engagement around themes of food, memory, and identity. This year's selection explores personal stories and reflections on food, making it an accessible and relatable read for a wide audience.

The details

Starting April 4, free copies of 'Bite by Bite' will be available at eight locations around Galesburg, including the public library, local businesses, and community centers. Throughout the month, the library is hosting a range of free events, such as a kickoff food tasting, a panel discussion on local food insecurity, an Illinois Humanities presentation on corn, a film screening fundraiser, and a virtual author talk. The Galesburg Community Arts Center is also offering three art workshops tied to the book's themes. A canned food drive benefiting the local FISH food pantry will run the entire month.

  • The Galesburg Public Library Community Read runs all of April 2026.
  • Free copies of 'Bite by Bite' will be available starting April 4, 2026.
  • The kickoff food tasting event will be held on April 4, 2026.
  • The food insecurity panel discussion is scheduled for April 10, 2026.
  • The Illinois Humanities presentation is set for April 13, 2026.

The players

Galesburg Public Library

The public library in Galesburg, Illinois that is organizing the April Community Read program.

Kayla Whitmer

The head of adult services at the Galesburg Public Library and the organizer of the Community Read event.

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

The author of the book 'Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees', which is the focus of this year's Community Read.

Galesburg Public Library Foundation

The primary funder of this year's Community Read program after the library did not receive the NEA Big Read grant it has relied on in past years.

Illinois Humanities

An organization contributing to the funding and programming of the Community Read.

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What they’re saying

“The program has run since 2007. This year's book is 'Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees' by Aimee Nezhukumatathil — a collection of nonfiction essays on food and memory. Each essay runs seven or eight pages, making it easy to read one at a time over a lunch break or between errands.”

— Kayla Whitmer, Head of Adult Services, Galesburg Public Library

What’s next

The Galesburg Public Library will host a virtual author talk with Aimee Nezhukumatathil on April 27, 2026, where she will read from the book, give a talk, and answer questions from attendees.

The takeaway

The Galesburg Public Library's Community Read program provides an opportunity for the local community to come together around a shared reading experience, fostering discussion and engagement on themes of food, memory, and identity. By offering free books and a variety of free events, the library is making this literary experience accessible to all.