Interior of Oak Park River Forest Museum. A stuffed Dalmation wearing a firefighter's hat sits next to a bin of books, and a person sits on a stool with a picture book.

New pop-up library at Oak Park River Forest Museum

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., Oak Park. Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. The new collection is in the … Read more

A collage of images including teens with friends at the library, illustrations, and text cut from magazines with words like De-stress, friends, and gaming

7 reasons teens visit the library after school

After school, we know kids want to relax, be with their friends, do homework, have fun, and be creative. Here are seven reasons why middle and high school students are spending time at the library after the bell rings. 1. … Read more

Oak Park Township staff Stephanie Scaletta and Yazmin Morales hold up books in the lobby of the Township offices.

New pop-up library at Oak Park Township

Update November 5, 2025: A second Oak Park Township location has been added at their Senior & Disability Services office, 130 S. Oak Park Ave. Announcing our newest pop-up library location at Oak Park Township‘s Youth & Family Services office, … Read more

In a cafe window, there's a tray with a to-go coffee cup and a sesame seed bagel, a bin of kids books with a sign that says "Read while you wait," and paper event calendars

Books & bagels: New pop-up library at Daly Bagel

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: The Daly Bagel, 130 Chicago Ave., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. “We are thrilled and honored to be part … Read more

Illustration of people of all ages outside of a library with a banner that says Find Your Joy.

National Library Week

The American Library Association’s National Library Week is April 19-25, 2026, with the theme “Find Your Joy.” Award-winning librarian, author, and new host of the children’s program Reading Rainbow, Mychal Threets is the 2026 Honorary Chair of National Library Week. … Read more

Collage of three library staff holding signs to celebrate and stand up for public libraries during National Library Week

What libraries mean to Oak Park

Before and during National Library Week, we asked our staff and community members: What do you love about libraries? What do libraries mean to you? Here’s what they shared. Library staff | Community members Oak Park library staff ‘Magical, vital … Read more

A shelf of books in the lobby of a municipal building, and two Village of Oak Park staff

New pop-up library at Oak Park’s Village Hall

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Oak Park’s Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. This new shelf, located in the welcome … Read more

On left, Adult reads a picture book to a child sitting in a swing in a gym for kids; on the right, a bookshelf against a brick wall and next t

New pop-up library at Kids Unlimited

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Kids Unlimited Therapy Services, 820 North Blvd., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. Kids Unlimited is our fourth pop-up library … Read more

Person next to small bookshelf with kids books, and bookshelf in hair salon

Pop-up library now at Styles 4 Kidz

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Styles 4 Kidz, 235 Harrison St., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. Styles 4 Kidz is our third … Read more

Pegboard wall with hanging tags and text that says "Library of Things"

Library of Things turns 1

When our Library of Things collection made its debut last September, Nicole Brown and her family were ready for it. On previous visits to the Main Library, they’d seen staff assembling the wall in the lobby (pictured above) that showcases … Read more

Person holds a VHS tape at a computer station with the words "Creative Studio" on the wall

Preserving culture in the Creative Studio

Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your old VHS tapes. Even if you still have a VCR to play them, the tape quality can degrade as the years go by. The solution? Digitize those tapes. And you can do it … Read more

Children read and play around a bookshelf

Pop-up library now at Wonder Works

Pop-up libraries are collections you can access outside library buildings, in spaces where people already congregate. Our first one was installed this spring at the Park District of Oak Park’s Community Recreation Center, and we’re thrilled to add a second … Read more

Group of library staff pose together against an artwork backdrop

Improving our service to Spanish-speaking patrons

To meet our community’s growing needs, we partnered with Triton College this spring to offer an eight-week conversational Spanish course for 12 library staff members at the Main Library. The course was designed to help staff provide more responsive customer … Read more