Following the death of country music icon and philanthropist Dolly Parton on August 25, 2026, Allen County community members and organizations continue to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Allen County through gifts that help ensure local children receive free, age-appropriate books every month from birth until age 5. In the week following Parton’s passing, more than 500 new children registered for the program, underscoring the growing demand for participation in

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is expanding its bilingual storytime offerings with the addition of “Bilingual Mon Storytime,” creating a new opportunity for families with Myanmar heritage in Allen County to celebrate reading in their home language and English. The new addition will debut this Saturday, Sept. 12, from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Main Library StoryScape. The program will feature a traditional story from Mon culture, shared in both Mon and English, and is intende

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) and Fort Wayne Community Schools (FWCS) are launching a new partnership designed to ensure that every FWCS second grader has a guaranteed library experience as part of the school day. The visits are part of the FWCS Schools of Success initiative, which connects classroom learning with experiences throughout the community. Through Guaranteed Experiences, students form community connections, explore industries, and learn about local cultur

Sixty years ago, audiences first heard those famous words: “Space, the final frontier.” On September 8, 1966, Star Trek made its television debut, launching a cultural phenomenon that would inspire generations to boldly go where no one had gone before. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, the Allen County Public Library will celebrate six decades of Star Trek with a Star Trek 60th Anniversary Marathon at the Main Library Theater. The free event begins at 3 p.m. and will transport fans

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is giving residents even more reasons to carry their library cards. In celebration of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, ACPL is releasing a new batch of limited-edition library cards featuring artwork inspired by Fort Wayne’s vibrant mural scene, while expanding opportunities for cardholders to save at local businesses through the 2026–27 Community Discount Program. Beginning September 1, library users can choose from limited-edition

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, and the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is celebrating with a little hometown team spirit. This year, ACPL is partnering with the Fort Wayne Football Club (FWFC) to encourage Allen County residents to get in the game and discover everything a library card has to offer—with a special limited-edition library card featuring Friendly the Goalrilla, FWFC’s mascot. The partnership will kick off with “Library Night at Fort Wayne F

The Allen County Public Library is inviting the community to celebrate the power of books and support young readers through two upcoming events raising awareness of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Allen County. The events will give community members opportunities to learn more about the program, connect with library staff, enroll children, and support the effort to put free books into the hands of local children. First, the Club Room at the Clyde (1808 Bluffton Rd, Fort

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is celebrating a successful summer of learning and discovery as its annual Summer Learning Program wrapped up July 31. This year’s “Unearth a Story” theme invited children, teens and adults to explore reading, learning, and hands-on experiences throughout the summer, with thousands of community members taking part. The free program, which ran from June 1 through July 31, attracted 15,685 registered participants, including 11,795 youth an

The Allen County Public Library's Rolland Center for Lincoln Research invites the community to explore the lasting impact of Abraham Lincoln through a new temporary exhibit and the latest installment of its popular “Lincoln at the Library” virtual lecture series this August. Opening August 12, the free temporary exhibit “Carrying Lincoln's Legacy” examines the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, the president's only son to live into adulthood. As the last living connection to Abraha

Some people are looking for love in all the wrong places. At the Allen County Public Library, they’re finding it right on the shelves. In honor of National Book Lovers Day on Aug. 9, the ACPL is celebrating one of its most popular collections: romance novels. From slow burns and second chances to cowboys, vampires, hockey players, and happily-ever-afters, the library’s romance collection has become a favorite destination for readers looking to fall head over heels for a good

The Allen County Public Library's Aboite Branch is partnering with two local Girl Scouts to host a community hygiene drive benefiting area families in need. The donation drive will run through August 15, collecting essential personal care items that will be assembled into hygiene kits and distributed to local food pantries. Community members are invited to donate new, unopened hygiene products including: Toothbrushes and toothpaste Deodorant Bar soap and body wash Shampoo and

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) and Blessings in a Backpack will host a special Backpack Giveaway on Friday, July 31, to mark the final day of an impactful summer initiative to combat childhood hunger and promote literacy across Allen County. Beginning at 10 a.m., children and families are invited to stop by the Georgetown, Hessen Cassel, Little Turtle, Pontiac, Shawnee, Tecumseh, and Waynedale branches, as well as, the Main Library to receive free backpacks filled wit

The Allen County Public Library invites the community to discover the fun, skill, and creativity of juggling during “Planting the Juggling Seed,” a free, family-friendly performance presented by the International Jugglers' Association Festival and produced by the Youth Juggling Academy. The event will take place Tuesday, July 28, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Theater at the Main Library (900 Library Plaza). Designed for audiences of all ages, the interactive showcase features b

The Allen County Public Library invites the community to the final Rock the Plaza concert this weekend, with one last evening of music, memories, and celebration on Saturday, July 18, from 4 to 10 p.m. on the Main Library Plaza. After nearly two decades as one of Fort Wayne's favorite summer traditions, Rock the Plaza will take its final bow with an extended concert featuring some of the series' most beloved performers: Phil's Family Lizard Pop N Fresh Alicia Pyle & the Local

The Allen County Public Library's Audio Reading Service has received international recognition from the International Association of Audio Information Services (IAAIS), earning a 2026 Program Award for excellence in broadcasting. The award was presented during the IAAIS Annual Conference, held June 9–11, and recognizes programming that was recorded, produced, and broadcast during 2025. The IAAIS represents more than 80 audio information services across the United States, Cana

Indiana First Lady Maureen Braun visited the Allen County Public Library (ACPL) on Wednesday to celebrate early literacy and the growing impact of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Allen County, reading to local children during a special Storytime at the Main Library's StoryScape. The event highlighted the community-wide partnership that has brought free, high-quality books to thousands of Allen County children each month. Since launching in late 2024, Dolly Parton's Imag

The Allen County Public Library invites families to enjoy two special performances by Grammy-nominated and award-winning children's music duo Wendy and DB at the Main Library on Thursday, June 18. Known for their blues-pop fusion family music, Wendy and DB combine original songs and interactive storytelling to create interactive musical experiences for audiences of all ages. Their high-energy performances encourage participation and celebrate creativity through music. What:

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is continuing work on its Facilities Master Plan with a new round of community-focused Listening Sessions. These informal, drop-in events will give residents an opportunity to learn more about upcoming branch improvements, share feedback, and help shape the future of their neighborhood libraries. The sessions mark an important milestone for the Aboite and Dupont branches, both of which were selected for significant upgrades during the f

The Allen County Public Library Audio Reading Service (ARS) will launch a redesigned broadcast schedule and refreshed programming lineup on Monday, June 1, marking a most comprehensive service updated based on feedback from an extensive listener survey conducted last summer. The ARS team implemented this feedback, as well as a deep analysis of streaming, podcast, and download data to better understand listener preferences, how audiences access programming, and what types of c

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is continuing its commitment to local families this summer through its annual partnership with Blessings in a Backpack, helping ensure children have reliable access to food even when school is out of session. On Fridays from June 5 through July 31, eight ACPL locations will serve as distribution sites for Blessings in a Backpack weekend meal bags. Each bag contains non-perishable food to help sustain a child over the weekend. This effort