As a stand-alone 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library have been raising funds and building valuable bridges between the library and community since 1948.
Today, funds raised through book fairs and annual memberships (see how to join below) support library programs, including folk music concerts and Oak Park’s membership in the Illinois Libraries Present virtual presenter series.
Join the Friends
All donations to purchase an annual membership and join the Friends are tax-deductible.
In addition to membership, please consider supporting the library through a donation to the Friends of the Oak Park Library endowment fund. Managed by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation, your donation will be invested sustainably to benefit the library now and in the future. If you are interested in more information, please contact friends@oppl.org.
Contact the Friends
- Call: 708.697.6930
- Email: friends@oppl.org
- Write: Friends of the Oak Park Public Library, c/o Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301
Friends Board of Trustees
Members
- President: Russell Glidden (term ends March 2026)
- Vice President: Kat Bell (term ends March 2027)
- Treasurer: Leila Massouh (term ends March 2026)
- Secretary: Beth Streit (term ends March 2027)
- Membership Chair: Chet Taranowski (term ends March 2027)
- School Liaison: Eric Bryning (term ends March 2027)
- Board member: Robert Becker (term ends March 2026)
- Board member: Diane Cranford (term ends March 2026)
- Board member: Stuart Greene (term ends March 2027)
- Board member: Nancy Hartman (term ends March 2026)
- Board member: Anne Polaski (term ends March 2026)
- Board member: Denise Roser (term ends March 2026)
- Board member: Jennie Stevens (term ends March 2027)
Ex Officio
- Suzy Antell, library deputy director
- Colin Bird-Martinez, library board liaison
- Mika Yamamoto, library board liaison
Meetings
The Friends Board of Trustees meets six times a year at the Main Library on the third Monday of the month at 7 pm. You can also join these meetings virtually through Zoom; links will be posted on this page and the library calendar.
| Date | Meeting Type | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2025 | Regular | |
| August 18, 2025 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) 2025 Book Fair Wrap-Up (pdf) |
| June 16, 2025 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| May 19, 2025 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| March 10, 2025 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) Annual minutes (pdf) |
| January 27, 2025 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| October 21, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| August 12, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| June 17, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| May 20, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
| March 18, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) Annual minutes (pdf) |
| January 22, 2024 | Regular | Minutes (pdf) |
Bylaws
Read the Bylaws of the Friends (pdf).