As a public library in a Book Sanctuary Community, our mission is to share the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations.
Your visit
- Locations and hours: Directions, maps, parking information, closings.
- Apps for account management and self-checkout: SWAN Libraries + and Meescan apps.
- Holds, returns, and lockers: Options for picking up and returning library items.
- Accessibility: All three locations are ADA-compliant and we offer more supports for successful library visits.
- Meet our staff: See a list of directors and managers.
Values & priorities
- Mission, vision & impact: We exist to empower every voice in our community, and we share the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations.
- Book sanctuary community: We, and the Village of Oak Park, defend your freedom to read.
- Civic engagement: Understand governmental processes, exercise your rights, and fulfill your obligations.
- Data privacy: We provide privacy statements for individual third-party vendors.
- Equity & anti-racism: We are a library for everyone.
Our story
- Current news & stories: What’s new and happening here.
- Dashboards: Data we track related to patron use of key resources.
- Storyline magazine: Our periodic print magazine of news, stories, and upcoming events.
- Year in review: Annual highlights and accomplishments.
- History: In 2023, we celebrated 120 years as a public library, and 20 years in the current Main Library building.
- Awards: Recognition we’ve received over the years.
Working here
- Available job openings: We are an equal opportunity employer.
Governance
- Board of Library Trustees: Elected officials responsible for the library’s policies, budget, vision, mission, and strategic plan.
- Budget: Current year’s budget and previous years’ audited financial statements.
- Policies: Board-approved governance of library operations.
Support
- Friends of the Oak Park Public Library: A separate 501(c)(3) organization supporting the library and building community bridges.
- Give to your library: Invest in Oak Park’s future.
- Donate books: Share your gently used books & materials year-round.
- Be an #OPPLChampion: Support the library on social media.
- Shop online: Share and wear your Oak Park library pride.
About the website & library social media
Linking to external websites
The library’s mission is to provide the information, services, and opportunities that fulfill Oak Park’s aspirations. Linking to external websites from this website and the library’s social media channels does not imply endorsement by library staff or the Library Board of Trustees of any product, service, activity, event, or viewpoint.
Social media
The library’s social media channels are intended to help users engage with the Oak Park Public Library community. We encourage everyone to share thoughts and ideas. We reserve the right to remove individual posts and posters that include:
- Illegal activities, including hacking, piracy, extortion, blackmail, and copyright infringement.
- Defamatory, discriminatory, harassing, or pornographic messages or content. This includes messages that target someone based on an individual’s actual or perceived race (and traits associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, work authorization status, age, religion, marital status, disability, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, reproductive health decisions, family responsibilities, order of protection status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.
- Harassing, bullying, or intimidating others. This includes defamation and threats of violence using social media to stalk, threaten, or otherwise harass or discriminate against anyone.
- Promotion of commercial activities unrelated to government, and;
- Anything related to spreading spam, malware, and or/viruses.
Photos & videos
The library has a photography and video policy, as well as this language posted in all meeting spaces and on promotional materials: “Library visitors are often photographed and/or recorded for promotional purposes. Please let us know if you prefer not to be photographed or recorded.”