Can 26 people from 12 different Oak Park organizations unite to create positive change within our community? That’s the goal for the new Oak Park Harwood Public Innovators Lab, which kicks off on Tuesday, December 1. Over three days in December, this group of 26 community stakeholders will gather as one to listen, learn, and … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris This holiday season is not at all what any of us had planned on. For most of us, celebrations will look different and traditions might have to skip a year. These are sad and frustrating things! Young kids may not have the words to express what they’re feeling or how … Read more
Check out the 2020 National Book Awards winners and our read-alike titles, suggested by Oak Park’s fantastically well-read librarians! The National Book Awards were established in 1950 to celebrate the best writing in America. Learn more about how the awards work from the National Book Foundation » Fiction winner Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu & read-alikes … Read more
As our library’s approach to public safety has evolved over the past five years, library staff member Aaron Alonzo has grown along with it. He started at the library in 2017 in a part-time role, and has since worked to become a leader in the organization. This month, Alonzo was promoted to Manager of Public Safety. … Read more
Register now for December 1: Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You Join us on Tuesday, December 1, 6-7:30 pm for the third family and community discussion of Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Register now » Stamped offers a history of racist and anti-racist ideas in America, from their roots in Europe … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Hal Patnott It’s Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week is celebrated every year during the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná McPherson-Joseph November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor the lives and legacies of trans people, the pioneers and the everyday neighbors, who have passed away, most often through violence. A notable and sudden passing this year was Monica Roberts, a Black trans woman who was better known … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Miss Jenny and I both love building fun sounds into our storytimes and our videos. Sounds, especially unexpected ones, get and keep everyone’s interest and attention. Will your preschooler understand you if you give them directions using inflections and gestures but only mooing? Yes, probably! And they might even focus … Read more
As we share information about COVID-19, here’s information about how your public library is continuing to serve you during this pandemic. Questions? Contact us now and call 708.383.8200. For crisis resources and support, contact the library’s Social Services and Public Safety team. Now: Digital & virtual services only To help continue to contain the spread of COVID-19 and … Read more
Buildings closed; digital library, virtual-only service until December 16 Since Wednesday, November 11’s announcement to close the Main Library until Thursday, November 19 due to a staff member testing positive for COVID-19, more health advisories (for Chicago and suburban Cook County) have been issued. Both advisories go into effect at 6 am Monday and last 30 days. To … Read more
