Materials donations not accepted at the library
The Friends’ Annual Book Fair is canceled for summer 2021, and we are not accepting donations of books, movies, and music.
Local options for book donations
Oak Park Little Free Libraries
Individually owned residential and Park District of Oak Park Little Free Libraries are on the Cheney Mansion grounds and in Austin Gardens, Lindberg Park, and Mills Park.
Chicago Books to Women in Prison, Chicago, IL
Serves: AZ, CA, CT, FL, IL, IN, KY, MS, MO, and OH
Goodwill Donation Center
1900 Harlem Ave.
Riverside, IL 60546
708.442.3606
Liberation Library HQ in Chicago. Serves youth in all Illinois youth prisons and select Illinois youth jails.Midwest Books to Prisoners Chicago. Serves: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI(Libraries only), MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
Open Books (various drop-off locations, visit the website to schedule a free pickup)
- West Loop: 651 W Lake, Chicago, IL 60661 – Available during store hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 9 am-7 pm; Sundays, noon to 6 pm). No more than four boxes per donation at this location, please.
- 645 W Couch Pl., Chicago, IL 60661 – Drop box off of Desplaines between Randolph and Lake, behind the West Loop store
- Pilsen: 905 W. 19th St., Chicago, IL 60608 – Drop slot in front of building available 24 hours a day. Larger donations accepted during store hours, 7 days a week, 10 am to 4 pm
- River North: 802 W. Superior, Chicago, IL 60642 – Drop box at corner of Halsted and Superior
{Re}Book Oak Park Facebook group
A private Facebook group that you can request to join. The group is for swapping books, not selling.
Giving locally to your library
When you choose to give locally, you support work that strives to empower every voice in our community. You support the freedom to read, to learn, and to grow. And you help make our community stronger with more meaningful connections.
When giving to your local library, you invest in foundational resources, services, and spaces that support a unique quality of life in Oak Park. You support work dedicated to literacy, education, diversity, inclusion, equity, health, safety, and affordability. You also choose to help connect people and community, to educate global citizens, and to sustain, share, and respect our community’s resources.
Monetary donations are tax deductible
Read below for ways you can make Oak Park’s center of information, civic engagement, and local history stronger, or contact Executive Director David J. Seleb (davids@oppl.org, 708.697.6911).
Donate online to a dedicated endowment fund
Endowment funds, by their nature, are often described as an “investment in the future.” The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation currently manages eight library endowment funds.
Jim Madigan Oak Park Public Library Staff Education Fund
Help provide resources for the educational advancement of library staff, in honor of Jim’s 25 years at the library.
Bernard and Cecilia Sinkevitch Fund
Provide ongoing support for building collections.
Fallon Family Fund
Deliver cutting-edge resources for our community’s children. Initiatives financed with proceeds: the Book Bike and lactation suite.
Friends of the Oak Park Public Library Fund
Offer ongoing support for building community bridges. Learn more about our Friends »
H. Spencer Green Trust
This unrestricted fund brings special projects to our community.
Helen M. Harrison Endowed Book Fund
Established by long-time library loyalist Helen Harrison for new books and materials.
Oak Park Public Library Capital Fund
Support capital needs. since July 2011, includes the Ina Ostertag Scholarship Fund, which honors a former library trustee.
Scoville-Hutchinson Library Fund
Help library employees earn a Master’s of Library Science degree through this scholarship.
Honor loved ones through a gift to your library
- Honor your loved ones and personal milestones with a bookplate. You choose a subject area and share the name who you are honoring. Contact us now »
- Give any amount at any time in person at any library location.
- All donations are tax-deductible.
