The library’s Community Engagement Team builds authentic, collaborative relationships with and among community members and partners. We foster equity, inclusion, and access to diverse library services and resources across the community.
Where can you find us? Providing a variety of in-person and virtual outreach, engagement, and delivery services. These include community-driven programs and exhibits at library locations, home and resource delivery, Book Bike pop-ups, and outreach visits throughout the community.
One way we fulfill our library’s mission and vision: We support and co-facilitate restorative circle discussions to build relationships, address important issues, repair harm, promote compassionate listening, and uplift voices in our library and community.
Meet the team
Chibuike Enyia, Manager of Community Engagement
Chibuike is a lifelong Oak Park resident with extensive management and community engagement experience. He also has a passion and enthusiasm for libraries, which he sees as “sanctuaries” and “imagination incubators.” Chibuike is a member of the library’s Anti-Racism Advisory Team and also served as a 2022 Book Bike Assistant.
Ian Gosse, Community Engagement Librarian
Ian has worked for the library since 2012, having spent seven years in Patron Services, then moving into Community Engagement. Ian is responsible for coordinating the library’s Home Delivery program, as well as assisting with Book Bike visits and other outreach events around the community. When not at the library, Ian enjoys listening to audiobooks and playing video games.
Juanta Griffin, Multicultural Learning Coordinator
Juanta Griffin is passionate about multicultural education for all ages. A longtime Oak Park resident, arts educator, and community organizer, Juanta joined the library in March 2020 as Multicultural Learning Coordinator. She explores and shares learning from the library’s Multicultural Collection, which is curated to help our community explore cultures and build empathy, and she collaborates with community members and groups to offer cultural programming and exhibits facilitated by and delivered through their own unique voices and identities.
Jenny Jackson, Community Engagement Coordinator
Jenny Jackson is an Early Childhood Community Engagement Coordinator who specializes in social and emotional learning development. She can usually be found hanging out with puppets—especially Ruthie the camel—at library storytimes and in the Early Bird Learning video series. She loves listening to and learning from children—it’s the best thing ever!
Claire Ong, Library Specialist
Claire has a passion for libraries and began her library career in 2014. She started working at the Oak Park Public Library in 2021, as a Library Clerk in Adult Services. After joining the Community Engagement Team in 2022, her role has expanded to include outreach, such as riding the Book Bike and attending community events. Claire is especially enthusiastic about the Multicultural Collection, and how it is used to educate and appreciate diverse cultures.
Nora Sanchez, Latinx Language & Culture Librarian
Nora joined the library in 2017 and has worked as a Library Assistant and an Early Childhood Community Engagement Coordinator. In 2022 she began her role as Latinx Language & Culture Librarian, engaging with and meeting the evolving needs of the Latinx and Spanish-speaking community. She provides bilingual and Spanish-language resources, translations, outreach, and programs such as Noche de Lotería (Lotería Night) and Latinx Author Book Cafe. Nora collaborates with the community on celebrations such as Día de Muertos and Convivencia, Oak Park’s Hispanic Heritage Month Festival.
Tatiana Swancy, Restorative Practices Coordinator
Since joining the library in 2015, Tatiana Swancy has held varying roles. She created her current position of Restorative Practices Coordinator because she recognized a need in the library to have more intentional programming and learning opportunities that are anti-racist, anti-oppression, and pro-joy. She partners with community members and groups including artists, nonprofits, and schools, supporting them with library resources and co-creating programming. She also facilitates peace circles for staff and the community.
Sarah Yale, Community Engagement Librarian
Prior to joining the library in 2013, Sarah worked and volunteered in schools and nonprofits focusing on youth development and restorative justice. Before becoming a Community Engagement Librarian, she served the Oak Park community as a Storytime Outreach Intern, Library Assistant, Neighborhood Services Librarian, and Manager. Sarah is passionate about making library resources accessible throughout the community and engaging people and partners where they are—particularly via our library Book Bike, the Paperback Rider.
