Best of 2024: Movies, TV shows, & music

Best of 2024: Movies, music & more

Oak Park’s Best of 2024 is back! See some of our staff’s favorite TV shows, movies, and music on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships | Adult fiction: Thriller, graphic novel, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction |Teen fiction & nonfiction | Kids books | Picture books | Movies & TV shows | Music Movies & TV shows The … Read more

National Book Award Winners 2024

Book covers of the winners of the 75th National Book Awards

Check out the 2024 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 » The winners & readalikes The winners

Transgender Awareness Week: Books & resources

Transgender flag drawn in chalk

This November 13-19, we celebrate Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week takes place in the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)—a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to transphobic violence around the … Read more

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Book cover collage

Oak Park Public Library acknowledges that Oak Park is situated on the ancestral land of the Bodewamiadkiwen (Potawatomi), Myaamia (Miami), Oceti Sakowin, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Peoria. We honor them and thank them for their stewardship of this land. Source: native-land.ca Your public library is here to connect you with books, videos, online resources, and learning experiences that … Read more

Relevant reads: Pandemic novels & short stories 2024

Illustration of people wearing surgical face masks

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná From the plague to the 1918 influenza to now, pandemics have been unwelcome members of society. Touching everyone and everything, global sickness and the changes we have to make to get through makes us anxious and sends us looking for an escape. No wonder we turn to fiction that explores … Read more

Chilling reads, thrilling tales & lots of Halloween fun

Collage of book covers

Feel that chill in the air? Halloween season is here! Your Oak Park librarians are back with spine-tingling reads, creepy tales, and plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Browse: Spine-chilling tales & scary stories More from your digital library HORROR FOR ADULTS HORROR FOR TEENS HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS Attend: Upcoming events FOR ADULTS Wednesday … Read more

Books with (pumpkin) spice

Collage books with a repeating pattern of pumpkins, mushrooms, leaves, and fall flowers behind

It’s that time of the year—the leaves start turning, a chill is in the air, the sun sets earlier, and we all start craving the deliciousness of pumpkin spice. Okay, maybe not all of us, but it is time to get cozy and comfy, start baking and boiling, and bust out the sweaters and hoodies. … Read more

Banned Books Week 2024

Banned Books Week 2024: September 22-28, ala.org/bbooks text with the ALA American Library Assocation logo and an open book with the words Freed Between the Lines wedged between the pages

Every year during Banned Books Week (September 22-28 this year), the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates the freedom to read by recognizing books that have been challenged, censored, and banned in libraries and schools. Check out some of the most challenged books (below)—and why they were challenged—from the last year (compiled from data from the ALA’s Office … Read more

Hispanic Heritage books, events, videos & more

Collage of book covers

Your public library is here to connect you with books, events, learning experiences, and online resources that celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture this month and all year long. On this page, you can: This commemorative month (held September 15-October 15) was officially designated as Hispanic Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress in 1968. Learn more at … Read more

They did what now? Titles by multifaceted celebrities

Collage of book covers

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 by multifaceted celebs Hidden Faces by Salvador Dalí How you know them: Salvador Dalí is one … Read more

Library Card Sign-Up Month

New library cardholders posing with their new cards

By Collection Management Librarian Kathy September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and to celebrate we are featuring some fun facts you might not know. (Don’t have your Oak Park card yet? Let’s get started ») With your Oak Park library card, you can… Get creative Did you know? You have access to a poster printer, a laser … Read more

‘All Fours’: Waiting for it? Loved it? Try these titles!

All Fours book cover

By Collection Management Librarian Kathy I love how much our community uses the library. Sometimes that means waiting for the hottest titles. Don’t fret! I can help you find a similar reading experience to THAT book you are waiting for or that you finally read and loved. All Fours readalikes The Misfortune of Marion Palm … Read more

The 2024 Booker Prize Longlist

The 2024 Booker Prize books stacked on a pedestal

By Collection Management Librarian Kathy The UK’s most prestigious literary award, The Booker Prize is awarded annually to the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK or Ireland. Check out the longlist titles below—featuring all of the titles currently or soon to be available in the U.S.—and look for the shortlist … Read more

Celebrity book club round-up, August 2024

Text 'Read with the stars' on a background of sparkling stars with a book collage above

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná Since Oprah’s first book club pick in 1996, we have been reading as the celebrities do, falling in love with, or hating, characters with our fellow book club readers. Book clubs offer an opportunity to be in community with others, even if we’re not together in person.  Other celebrities who love … Read more

Learn for the fun of it: How-to, hobby & crafting at your library

A collage of book covers

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 how-to books and resources our librarians love, plus upcoming events where you can expand your knowledge, make, and create. How-to books How-to resources from your digital library Browse how-to ebooks, … Read more

8 ways to use your library to beat the heat

A collage of photos: A person reading, a tiny clay version of the book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and a person getting help from library staff in the Creative Studio

Looking for ways to stay cool, engaged, and connected to neighbors and friends this summer? We’ve got you covered at the library and at home. The library hosts movie screenings, art exhibits, and workshops, and offers devices and books for checkout, of course! Continue below to learn more. Join the summer reading fun Get up … Read more

Adult summer reading: Adventure awaits!

Graphics of a movie projector, book, conversation bubbles, and headphones and a beachy background

By Collection Management Librarian Kathy Have you signed up for adult summer reading? No? Fret not! We are only halfway through so there’s plenty of time to sign up! Already registered? Keep reading, watching, listening, and participating to earn chances for the grand prize! Below find some materials and activities to get you on your … Read more

Hot hot horror

Collage of book covers set on a background of molten lava

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná We know Halloween is 115 days away—but there is just something extra scary about taking in horror stories in the bright sunshine. (Midsommar, anyone?) We’ve gathered six horror and thriller novels that will make you glad that nights are very short this time of year. Summer screams: 6 books you’ll … Read more