National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month! And whether you love poetry or are looking to try something new, we hope you’ll find a new favorite poem (or two!) in these lists of new titles for all ages, curated by your Oak … Read more
Arts & Culture
Artist Marea Cordero honors ancestors & finds common ground
After her father passed away, artist Marea Cordero began learning more about his life growing up in the Philippines. And as she reconnected with the Filipino side of her family, she also began exploring the concept of ancestors more generally … Read more
Let’s explore the Library of Things
Libraries are full of surprises! Discover the new additions to the Library of Things collection, which features a variety of physical objects available for checkout with your Oak Park library card. Explore items in four categories Do It Yourself (DIY) For creating, … Read more
Ways to watch Oscar-nominated films
The countdown to the big night has begun! The 98th Academy Awards airs on Sunday, March 15, and your library has a few ways to watch some of the year’s most talked-about films. Join us: Register for our 16th Annual … Read more
BingePass gives you 7 days of unlimited streaming
With hoopla‘s BingePass and your Oak Park library card, you can get unlimited streaming for seven days with a single borrow! Let’s get started… How do I use hoopla’s BingePass? Watch the video below for an overview. For more detailed … Read more
‘I feel I’m the voice of my ancestors’: Artist Antonia Ruppert explores family in her artwork
Last year, artist Antonia Ruppert traveled to Alabama to visit family. Before she returned to Chicago, her cousin gave her some family memorabilia to take home, including a photograph of her grandfather, Prince James. Ruppert had never met her grandfather, … Read more
Tech Tips: How to use Creativebug
Whether you are new to crafting or a seasoned master crafter, there is something for everyone on Creativebug. An inspirational resource for DIY, crafters, and makers, Creativebug features more than 1,000 award-winning art and craft video classes taught by recognized … Read more
6 ways to make your holidays a little easier with help from your public library
It’s that time again. Love them or hate them, the holidays are back. This year, let your public library help you take the guesswork out of gift-giving, decide what to bring to that holiday party, and—most importantly—give yourself some much-needed … Read more
Learn, create & save: What your Oak Park library card can do for you
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month. Celebrate your public library by trying a service you haven’t used before. Unlock the full potential of your library card While our library continues to provide traditional services such as lending books and movies, providing computers … Read more
Learn for the fun of it
Develop a new skill, dive deep into a hobby you love, or expand your knowledge on a topic you’ve always wanted to explore with these books our librarians love. Check out the curated titles below, plus more to explore in … Read more
Ravinia Festival’s Words & Music Program
All tickets for 2025 concerts have been claimed. Thank you, Oak Park! Ravinia Festival’s Words & Music Program provides patrons of Chicago-area libraries complimentary lawn passes to attend concerts featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other classical artists every season. … Read more
International Drag Day: What to read, listen to & watch
Drag is an art and a performance. In As You Like It, Shakespeare wrote “All the world’s a stage, / And the men and women merely players.” Drag performers throughout history have taken this line to heart, including in Shakespeare’s own … Read more
How to get free passes & discounted admission to museums & cultural attractions
Summer has arrived, and it’s time to get out and see what our beautiful state has to offer. Your Oak Park library card provides instant access to discounted admission and other deals through Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois. … Read more
48 new books, movies & TV shows coming this summer
Collection Management Librarians Andrea, Dontaná, Jenna, and Kathy Jump into summer with these new books, movies, and TV shows—for all ages—that we think will be hot, hot, hot all summer. And don’t forget to register and track your reading for … Read more
Contribute to a community art exhibit
Encoded Memories is an art exhibit coming to the Main Library Gallery in May. Revolving around themes of time, place, and memory, it will feature images showing Oak Park past and present, including historical scenes from the library’s Special Collections. But … Read more
Oak Park celebrates Kwanzaa with ‘the spirit of community and cultural richness’
Oak Park’s Kwanzaa celebration drew almost 200 people to the Main Library on Monday, December 30, and was a resounding success. With music, dance, crafts, artwork, food, and ceremony, the Black American harvest celebration “truly captured the spirit of community … Read more
They did what now? Titles by multifaceted celebrities
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná People contain multitudes. We have multiple interests, hobbies, and even go on side-quests from time to time. Celebrities often do the same thing, exploring the depths of their creativity and passions. Books, music & more … Read more
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
Long books for long days
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná Happy Solstice! It is the longest day of the year. The sun is shining. The air is fresh, and we don’t have to think about fall or winter for several more weeks. To celebrate, we … Read more
New ceramics display at Dole Branch
The next time you’re at Dole Branch Library, come see a wonderful collection of ceramic pieces adorning the library shelves and walls. These pieces were created by participants in the Park District of Oak Park’s Active Adults ceramics class. We’ve … Read more