For more information call 708-452-3440.
If you need special accommodations to attend
any of these events please call 708-452-3471.
Attendance at Library programs and events constitutes
consent to be photographed for Oak Park Public Library
publicity purposes. It should be noted, however, that
names of individuals will not be used in photo captions.
=Main Library =Maze Branch =Dole Branch
= event for kids = event for teens

more events happening at the Library

Monday, November 2

Computer Class: Basic Computer Skills for Beginners. This class is for beginners who have not used computers before. Learn to use the mouse to click, double click, open a browser, highlight, scroll, and drag. This is a two-part class. Second session meets November 9. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Marvelous Mondays. This open play group for children under 2 includes toys, board books, and music. Have fun and socialize with other children and caregivers. No registration is required. 11 am to 12 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

The Big Read Film Series: The Masque of the Red Death. Vincent Price plays the amoral Prince Prospero who hosts an elegant ball for his sadistic friends while a plague ravages the land. 1964, 90 minutes, directed by Roger Corman. Film historian Doug Deuchler hosts this final film in a series. The six films are not meticulous renditions or carefully rendered versions of the Poe works, because that never happened, according to Deuchler. "Hollywood always took liberties. It will be great fun to note the differences." This program is part of The Big Read of Edgar Allan Poe. 2 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Chess Open Play. Open play for all ages, all skill levels. Every Monday. Drop in when you can. 5:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Tuesday, November 3

Dole's Brown Bag Book Group. Pack a lunch and join fellow book lovers for a discussion of favorite books. This book group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. On November 3 "Relive Your Childhood" - talk about your favorite childhood book. What made it so special? 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Dole Branch.

Wayside Stories Book Club. Come to one or more read aloud sessions with Claire or read on your own, then join the final discussion. Books will be available at the Dole Branch beginning October 30. Best for third to fifth graders. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

Wednesday, November 4

Wiggles & Giggles. This energetic program is designed to reflect the importance of movement in a toddler's life. Best for 2 and 3 year olds, with a caregiver. Led by Ms. Shaunda from the Park District of Forest Park. Space is limited! Register at the Main Library. 9:30 am Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Film Series: Strike up the Band with Judy & Mickey. For years, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland constituted the most popular musical comedy team in movies. Come see their ebullient youth and amazing talents every Wednesday through November 25 at 12 noon. On November 4: Strike Up the Band (1940). 12 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Open Boardgame Play. Love board games? The Oak Park Public Library has partnered with the Chicago Boardgames Meetup Group to offer regular evenings of open boardgame play for adults and teens. You bring it, we play it! Or just bring yourself, there will be quite a few games available. Join us on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. 6:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

"Chicago Gardens: Past and Present." Cathy Jean Maloney, Senior Editor of Chicagoland Gardening magazine, and the author of Chicago Gardens: The Early History, presents. Maloney, a lifelong Chicago area resident and garden historian, has explored hundreds of private and public regional gardens. She is also the author of The Prairie Club of Chicago and the forthcoming The Gardener's Cottage in Riverside, Illinois. This free program is co-sponsored with the Garden Club of Oak Park - River Forest. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

The Flu & You: Get the Facts. CANCELLED.

Thursday, November 5

Oak Park Job Club. Professional Career Coaches Peggy Kraigie and April Kenfield will guide networking and provide tips to move your job search forward. Networking begins at 6 pm. Presentation begins at 6:30 pm. The Job Club will meet weekly through December. Call the Library at 708-452-3471 to register or request accommodation. 6 pm Small Meeting Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Friday, November 6

Hip-Hop. School's out—time to get your groove on! Best for kids 6 to 8 years old. Led by Ms. Shaunda from the Park District of Forest Park. Space is limited! Register at the Main Library. 1 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Getting Excited about Science! Join Steve Belliveau for fun, dramatic demonstrations, colorfully explaining pressure, friction, magnetism and electricity, chemistry, conservation of energy, sound, and color. Free tickets are available at the Main Library. Best for kids 4 and up. 3:30 pm Veterans Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Wayside Stories Book Club. Come to one or more read aloud sessions with Claire or read on your own, then join the final discussion. Books will be available at the Dole Branch beginning October 30. Best for third to fifth graders. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

Saturday, November 7

Computer Class: Microsoft Word. Learn to type and format text, insert images and graphics, and other word processing skills. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:15 am to 11:15 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

SmashKart Tournament. Join us for the Mario Kart Wii and Super Smash Brothers Brawl tournament finals. After a season of competition, featuring 32 players in a simultaneous single elimination tournament, its time for the finals. Players entering grades 6 through 12 have a chance to win $40, $30, $20, and $10 gift certificates to Best Buy, and the chance to compete in the tournament finals for a chance at an iPod Touch, Nintendo DSi, an iPod Nano, and an iPod Shuffle. Call 708-452-3440 for more information. Doors open for the finals at 10 am Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Sunday, November 8

Lyric Opera Lecture Series: "Katya Kabanova." "Katya Kabanova" by Leos Janacek. Lyric Opera fans are invited to the complete Lyric Opera Lecture Series of eight programs hosted by the Oak Park Public Library and the River Forest Public Library through the end of February. The lectures are free and open to the public. 2 pm Small Meeting Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Monday, November 9

Computer Class: Basic Computer Skills for Beginners. Second of two sessions. First session meets November 2. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Marvelous Mondays. This open play group for children under 2 includes toys, board books, and music. Have fun and socialize with other children and caregivers. No registration is required. 11 am to 12 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Chess Open Play. Open play for all ages, all skill levels. Every Monday. Drop in when you can. 5:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Oak Park Photography Club. All skill levels welcome. Richard Mack will share photographs from his newly published book, Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Thirty Years of American Landscapes. Club meets second and fourth Mondays. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Tuesday, November 10

Wayside Stories Book Club. Come to one or more read aloud sessions with Claire or read on your own, then join the final discussion. Books will be available at the Dole Branch beginning October 30. Best for third to fifth graders. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

Wednesday, November 11

Branch Libraries Closed for Veterans Day. Dole Branch and Maze Branch closed for Veterans Day. Main Library open regular hours. More Library closings.

Film Series: Strike up the Band with Judy & Mickey. For years, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland constituted the most popular musical comedy team in movies. Come see their ebullient youth and amazing talents every Wednesday through November 25 at 12 noon. On November 11: Babes on Broadway (1941). 12 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Oak Park Viewers Cult Classics Film Series: This is Spinal Tap. Every second Wednesday through December, Oak Park Viewers presents a selection of cult classics: the wild, the weird, and the wonderful. A discussion will follow each film. This is Spinal Tap: the world's loudest band, Spinal Tap, is chronicled by hack documentarian Marti DeBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour. Does for rock and roll what The Sound of Music did for hills. 1984, directed by Rob Reiner. 82 minutes. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Great Books Discussion: Roman Fever by Edith Wharton and Smokers by Tobias Wolf. The Great Book Discussions occur the second Wednesday of every month. Continuing in November with ENVY, the group will discuss readings from The Seven Deadly Sins (Great Books Foundation). 7:30 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Thursday, November 12

Computer Class: Introduction to the World Wide Web. Get a basic introduction to the Internet and how it works, including some information on searching and getting an electronic mail account. This is a two-part class. Second session meets November 19. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Oak Park Job Club. Professional Career Coaches Peggy Kraigie and April Kenfield will guide networking and provide tips to move your job search forward. Networking begins at 6 pm. Presentation begins at 6:30 pm. The Job Club will meet weekly through December. Call the Library at 708-452-3471 to register or request accommodation. 6 pm Small Meeting Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

"Flying Pictures" Project. Oak Park artist Lindsay Olson will describe a unique international visual journal exchange she participated in with seven other women in five countries. Lindsay and her fellow artists designed and hand built their own visual journals and sent them around the world in round robin fashion. Lindsay will explain how the women got started, became better friends, and had a lot of creative fun. Some of the books that were created will be available for viewing and Lindsay will answer any questions about how teachers, artists, and others could start their own visual journaling project. For more information see the related website. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Friday, November 13

Computer Class: Introduction to Spreadsheets. Learn to create, edit, format, save, and print simple spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Basic Computers for Beginners and Microsoft Word. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Wayside Stories Book Club. Come to one or more read aloud sessions with Claire or read on your own, then join the final discussion. Books will be available at the Dole Branch beginning October 30. Best for third to fifth graders. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

Saturday, November 14

Saturday Storytimes. Moving and Grooving: A celebration of things that go! No registration required. Best for children 2 to 6. 10 am Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Quilt-In for Linus Project. Whether you are a novice or experienced quilter or know nothing about sewing or quilting, you are welcome! No experience required! Members of the Oak Park Quilters will be available to help you select squares of pre-cut fabric and machine sew them together. These blocks will then be assembled into a child's or baby's quilts. All finished quilts will be donated to Project Linus, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing new, handmade blankets and quilts to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. This activity is suitable for adults and children age 10 or older. 11 am to 4 pm Dole Branch.

Smell the Glove: Guitar Hero World Tour Competition. In conjunction with National Gaming Day @ Your Library, Oak Park Public Library's genre X group will host this Guitar Hero World Tour Competition. Teams of four will compete for first, second, and third place prizes in this rock band blowout. Judging will be based on score and accuracy, showmanship, and audience response. Costumes and personas are highly encouraged. Pre-register by calling Adult and Teen Services at 708-452-3440. For more information visit the genre X blog. 7 pm to 11 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Sunday, November 15

Free Readers Ensemble: "Bullets Over Broadway." Gangsters and Show Business at the height of the Roaring Twenties! Straight-arrow playwright David Shayne, plans to stand firm against compromising his work, but quickly abandons that stance when his producer finds a backer to mount his show on Broadway. There's just one catch...the backer is a mobster! Will David "sell his soul" in order to get his play produced? Screenplay by Woody Allen. For more information see the Free Readers Ensemble website. 3 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Monday, November 16

Marvelous Mondays. This open play group for children under 2 includes toys, board books, and music. Have fun and socialize with other children and caregivers. No registration is required. 11 am to 12 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Chess Open Play. Open play for all ages, all skill levels. Every Monday. Drop in when you can. 5:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Tuesday, November 17

Dole's Brown Bag Book Group. Pack a lunch and join fellow book lovers for a discussion of favorite books. This book group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month. On November 17 "Let's Eat!" - since it's almost Thanksgiving, we're discussing books about food. Did you read Julie and Julia or Chocolat? Tell us about your favorite food books - even cookbooks! Discussions will also include your favorite Thanksgiving meal, so bring a copy of a recipe to share. 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Dole Branch.

Wayside Stories Book Club Final Party. After reading as part of our Book Club, come to the final party. Best for third to fifth graders. 4 pm to 5 pm Dole Branch.

Library Board of Trustees Meeting. Open to the public. 7:30 pm Scoville Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Wednesday, November 18

Computer Class: Job Searching Online. Learn to use the Internet to find and apply for jobs. Learn to search job sites and sort and refine search results. Also learn formatting choices and tools for resumes. Prerequisite: valid email account. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Film Series: Strike up the Band with Judy & Mickey. For years, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland constituted the most popular musical comedy team in movies. Come see their ebullient youth and amazing talents every Wednesday through November 25 at 12 noon. On November 18: Girl Crazy (1943). 12 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Book Discussion: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean-Dominique Bauby. In December 1995, at the age of 43, the author suffered a sudden and severe stroke in the brain stem and emerged from a coma several weeks later to find himself in a rare condition called "locked-in syndrome" (LIS). Although his mind was intact, he had lost virtually all physical control, able to move only his left eyelid. There was no hope of significant recovery. This memoir, composed and dictated the following summer, consists of Bauby's brief and poignant reflections on his condition and excursions into the realms of his memory, imagination, and dreams. Copies of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly are available at the Second Floor Service Desk. 1 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Open Boardgame Play. Love board games? The Oak Park Public Library has partnered with the Chicago Boardgames Meetup Group to offer regular evenings of open boardgame play for adults and teens. You bring it, we play it! Or just bring yourself, there will be quite a few games available. Join us on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. 6:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Book Discussion: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. In 1907 Wisconsin, Ralph Truitt advertises for "a reliable wife" and ends up with Catherine Land, a beauty with a shady past. Her plan: to poison him and then inherit his riches. Though he is aware of her deception, Ralph marries her anyway and a suspenseful story begins.Copies of A Reliable Wife will be available at the Maze Branch a month before the discussion. 7:30 pm Maze Branch.

Thursday, November 19

Computer Class: Introduction to the World Wide Web. Second of two sessions. First session meets November 12. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Book Discussion: The Mysterious Benedict Society. Join us for snacks and a discussion of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. Copies of The Mysterious Benedict Society will be available at the Dole Branch a month before the discussion. No registration is necessary, but RSVP is appreciated. This on-going program is best for 3rd and 4th graders and will use materials from the Juvenile Fiction collection. 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm Dole Branch.

Oak Park Job Club. Professional Career Coaches Peggy Kraigie and April Kenfield will guide networking and provide tips to move your job search forward. Networking begins at 6 pm. Presentation begins at 6:30 pm. The Job Club will meet weekly through December. Call the Library at 708-452-3471 to register or request accommodation. 6 pm Small Meeting Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

"Suburban Promised Land: The Emerging Black Community in Oak Park, IL 1880-1980." For the past four decades, Oak Park has forged a deserved reputation as a progressive community, whose residents worked hard beginning in the 1960s to build a racially integrated village. That story has led some to believe that African Americans were latecomers to Oak Park. But a new book Suburban Promised Land: The Emerging Black Community in Oak Park, Illinois, 1880-1980 sets the record straight and tells many of the rich stories of black and white residents who have built a community together and struggled with the often contentious issue of race in the United States. Authors Stan West, Peggy Sinko, Frank Lipo, and Yves Hughes, Jr. will discuss and sign copies of this new book, just published in October. The Historical Society of Oak Park - River Forest will have the books for sale. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Friday, November 20

Native American Heritage Craft. Make a Dance Fan to celebrate Native American Heritage Month in this drop-in program with Ms. Ellen. No registration is required. Best for kids 4 and up. 4 pm to 5 pm Dole Branch.

Teen Coffeehouse/Open Mic. Teen Coffeehouse brings together area teens to showcase their skills on our stage every third Friday. Bring poetry, dance, hip-hop, music, comedy-whatever you do! Food and drinks are always provided. No registration is required. 7 pm to 9 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Saturday, November 21

Saturday Storytimes. Giving Thanks for Good Books: We're grateful for great stories! No registration required. Best for children 2 to 6. 10 am Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Monday, November 23

Marvelous Mondays. This open play group for children under 2 includes toys, board books, and music. Have fun and socialize with other children and caregivers. No registration is required. 11 am to 12 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Chess Open Play. Open play for all ages, all skill levels. Every Monday. Drop in when you can. 5:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Oak Park Photography Club. All skill levels welcome. Members share photos via digital slide show. Club meets second and fourth Mondays. 7 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Tuesday, November 24

Computer Class: Beyond the World Wide Web. Move beyond the topics covered in the Introduction class. Learn about email, advanced finding tools, and evaluating the accuracy of web pages. Registration is required. Sign up at the Third Floor Service Desk at the Main Library or call 708-452-3480. 9:30 am to 11:30 am Computer Classroom, Third Floor, Main Library.

Toddler Playgroup. Make some new friends in a fun setting for children up to 24 months and their caregivers. We'll supply appropriate toys, books, and music…you supply the toddlers! No registration is required. 10 am to 11 am Dole Branch.

READiculous Readers. Stop in to listen to the wild adventures of Five Alien Elves. This program is a great way to relax and enjoy tales of hilarious hyjinks every Tuesday and Friday afternoon - fantastic fun for ages 8 and up! Books are available for those who want to read ahead on their own. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

genre X Book Discussion: The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Though the events of the story threaten to paint her eclectic parents in a less than favorable light, it is Walls' sympathetic, non-judgmental tone despite everything she endured that makes this memoir so unique. genre X is a book discussion group for those in their twenties and thirties. The group meets every fourth Tuesday at 8 pm Molly Malone's, 7652 Madison Street, Forest Park.

Wednesday, November 25

Film Series: Strike up the Band with Judy & Mickey. For years, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland constituted the most popular musical comedy team in movies. Come see their ebullient youth and amazing talents every Wednesday through November 25 at 12 noon. On November 25: Words and Music (1948). 12 pm Veterans Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

Drop-In Game Play! Bring your favorite board or card game, or just play one of ours. Lots of favorites to choose from, including Battleship, Monopoly, Connect 4, and UNO. Snacks provided! No registration is required. Best for children 5 to 11. 1 pm to 4 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

All Library Locations Close Early. Main Library, Dole Branch, and Maze Branch close at 5 p.m. for Thanksgiving Holiday. More Library closings.

Thursday, November 26

All Library Locations Closed for Thanksgiving. More Library closings.

Friday, November 27

Fall Crafts. Work off those Thanksgiving calories in this drop-in program, featuring your child's choice of craft - scarecrows or reindeer! No registration is required. Best for children 2 and up. 10 am to 11 am Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

READiculous Readers. Stop in to listen to the wild adventures of Five Alien Elves. This program is a great way to relax and enjoy tales of hilarious hyjinks every Tuesday and Friday afternoon - fantastic fun for ages 8 and up! Books are available for those who want to read ahead on their own. 4 pm to 4:30 pm Dole Branch.

Saturday, November 28

Saturday Storytimes. Fantastic Feline Fun: A cornucopia of cat tales! No registration required. Best for children 2 to 6. 10 am Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Fall Crafts. The weekend after Thanksgiving officially marks the holiday season around here...bring the whole family in to make spectacular cards to impress everyone on your list. No registration is required. Best for children 2 and up. 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Storytime Room, First Floor, Main Library.

Monday, November 30

Chess Open Play. Open play for all ages, all skill levels. Every Monday. Drop in when you can. 5:30 pm to 9 pm Book Discussion Room, Second Floor, Main Library.

December 2009

October 2009

December 2009