Princeton Public Library is joining libraries across the state of Illinois to host award-winning actress and Illinois native Marlee Matlin. In celebration of Deaf Awareness Month, Matlin will share the highs and lows of her Hollywood career and journeys as an activist. The event will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 14 at 7 p.m.

The virtual event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.  REGISTER HERE.

The youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar for her film debut, Matlin’s acting career never slowed down. She went on to receive Emmy nominations for her television work including roles on Seinfeld, The West Wing, and Law & Order: SVU. Most recently, her Apple TV+ film CODA swept every category it was nominated in at the 2022 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In addition to acting, Matlin broke barriers when she starred on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She has written three children’s novels, a bestselling autobiography, and released an app to help teach American Sign Language to millions of smart phone users.

A longtime advocate for Deaf rights, Matlin continues to break down barriers for herself and others through her acting, awareness, and writing. As she has so aptly stated, “The only thing I can’t do is hear. The rest is there for the taking.” 

This inspiring conversation will be offered in ASL and translated through an interpreter.

This event is presented in partnership with Illinois Libraries Present, a collaborative effort designed to bring virtual events with bestselling, esteemed, and diverse speakers to library patrons across the state. More than 140 libraries have joined the second season of Illinois Libraries Present which is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Princeton Public Library has joined Illinois Libraries Present for Season Two. Upcoming events will include:

• Wednesday, Oct 12: A Conversation with Novelist Jesmyn Ward, author of the novels Where the Line Bleeds and Salvage the Bones (winner of the the 2011 National Book Award), and Sing, Unburied, Sing (winner of the the 2017 National Book Award). She is also the editor of the anthology The Fire This Time and the author of the memoir Men We Reaped, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
• Wednesday, Nov 16: Caitlin Doughty, author of From Here to Eternity and Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, mortician, advocate and founder of reform collective, The Order of the Good Death https://caitlindoughty.com/
• Tuesday, Dec 13: Shauna Sever, author of Midwest Made: Big, Bold Baking from the Heartland, joins us to celebrate baking this holiday season. https://www.shaunasever.com/book