About
Books Between Bites
Program Information:
Books Between Bites
is held in the large Founders Room at
Batavia Public Library
10 S. Batavia Avenue
Batavia, IL
is held in the large Founders Room at
Batavia Public Library
10 S. Batavia Avenue
Batavia, IL
https://bataviapubliclibrary.org/
Noon - 1 PM
Third Thursday of the month
September thru May
The program is free and reservations
are NOT required.
Noon - 1 PM
Third Thursday of the month
September thru May
The program is free and reservations
are NOT required.
About the Bites
Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch, or purchase food
at the Library's Flyleaf Bakery Café
Call (331) 302-3480
and pick up your order when you arrive
at the Library's Flyleaf Bakery Café
Call (331) 302-3480
and pick up your order when you arrive
Questions? Please call
Becky Hoag at 630-482-9157
If you would like to be on our Email list to get monthly updates about the program,
please send your name and Email address to the above email address.
Becky Hoag at 630-482-9157
If you would like to be on our Email list to get monthly updates about the program,
please send your name and Email address to the above email address.
Our History in Batavia
Books Between Bites was established in Batavia, IL in 1987 by the late
Rev. Lee C. Moorehead, and his wife, Betty, after retiring to this community. The monthly (September through May) book review program was held at Batavia United Methodist Church until the new Batavia Public Library was built. It was moved to the Library in 2002,
to better accommodate the large group it attracts.
Rev. Lee C. Moorehead, and his wife, Betty, after retiring to this community. The monthly (September through May) book review program was held at Batavia United Methodist Church until the new Batavia Public Library was built. It was moved to the Library in 2002,
to better accommodate the large group it attracts.
Lee & Betty Moorehead
The program was first established in 1972 when they resided in Carbondale, Illinois.
The program was first established in 1972 when they resided in Carbondale, Illinois.
Betty
Moorehead with Rick Kogan of
The Chicago Tribune and WGN Radio.
A real favorite, Rick came out to Books Between Bites for many years, starting in 1994.
The Chicago Tribune and WGN Radio.
A real favorite, Rick came out to Books Between Bites for many years, starting in 1994.
The Mooreheads had launched Books Between Bites
programs in other communities in which they lived
and worked. Lee got the idea from his mother,
Winifred Moorehead. In the early 1950s she
helped start and participated in the Books
Between Bites program at his hometown Decatur
(IL) Public Library. Decatur's program continues
to this day. Lee & Betty first started a program in Carbondale, Illinois
around 1972, while serving as senior pastor at
Carbondale First United Methodist Church. The
next year he moved and launched a program while serving as senior pastor at
First United Methodist Church, Green Bay,
Wisconsin. When the Mooreheads moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 1976, they established Books Between Bites at First United
Methodist Church, Madison.
Moorehead took great delight in tracking down and inviting some of the most esteemed citizens he could persuade to come to his program. Payment was no more than a nice sack lunch, prepared by Betty. Yet he managed to lure governors, senators, mayors, newspaper editors, Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winners, and industry leaders, as well as numerous local authors.
Click on the Archives Page to see our past season flyers and an archive list of Books Between Bites presenters & programs going back to 1987.
Since Lee Moorehead's death in 2003 and Betty's in 2020, the program has been continued by his daughter, Becky Hoag, in partnership with George H. Scheetz and Stacey Peterson of Batavia Public Library.
Unfortunately, in our 33rd consecutive season in 2019-20, COVID forced us to postpone programs after the February 2020 presentation. An effort was made to revive the series in 2021, but that was also cancelled.
We are delighted to return the program to Batavia Public Library for our 34th season in Batavia. Visit our Current Season page for details.
Moorehead took great delight in tracking down and inviting some of the most esteemed citizens he could persuade to come to his program. Payment was no more than a nice sack lunch, prepared by Betty. Yet he managed to lure governors, senators, mayors, newspaper editors, Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winners, and industry leaders, as well as numerous local authors.
Click on the Archives Page to see our past season flyers and an archive list of Books Between Bites presenters & programs going back to 1987.
Since Lee Moorehead's death in 2003 and Betty's in 2020, the program has been continued by his daughter, Becky Hoag, in partnership with George H. Scheetz and Stacey Peterson of Batavia Public Library.
Unfortunately, in our 33rd consecutive season in 2019-20, COVID forced us to postpone programs after the February 2020 presentation. An effort was made to revive the series in 2021, but that was also cancelled.
We are delighted to return the program to Batavia Public Library for our 34th season in Batavia. Visit our Current Season page for details.