By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian School supplies are everywhere you look and first days of school and preschool are looming on your calendar, but it’s still solidly summer here at your library. Oceans of Possibilities runs through August 31, so there are still a few more weeks of summer reading! Many families start the summer strong, logging … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian By now, you’re very familiar with our new Early Bird Learning video series, right? Each week we share a new video, alternating between content to watch with your kids and content just for caregivers. To help create content for these videos, we’ve partnered with our friends at Collaboration for Early Childhood, … Read more
Your public library is here to connect you with books, learning experiences, events, and online resources that celebrate people with disabilities and disability as an identity in July and all year long. On this page, you can: Browse: Curated title suggestions for all ages. Attend: Upcoming supported events. View: A special display in the Main Library Idea … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam This summer at Oak Park Library we have so much to explore, including music! I invite you to explore music in different ways and see what it brings to your life. Music may help you relax and unwind. It may bring you joy and excitement or allow you to feel … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian Let’s take a walk through memory lane! In January 2016, Jenny (pictured above with Ruthie the camel) and I launched the Early Bird Reader program, with weekly literacy tips texted out and monthly videos for caregivers that dug a little deeper into a specific literacy topic. In March 2020, we had … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove School’s out, but learning is in at the Oak Park Public Library this summer! Sure, we have books, but also so many other options to engage your brains and bodies. Check out these fun ways to use your library today. Need a library card? Apply at any library branch or … Read more
Your public library is here to connect you with books, learning experiences, events, and online resources that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in June and all year long. On this page, you can: Browse: Curated title suggestions for all ages. Attend: Upcoming events. View: A special display in the Main Library Idea Box through June 15 and test … Read more
For the past four years, Oak Park library patron Lindsay Olson has hosted a weekly Zoom storytime with her granddaughters on the West Coast. “We were so grateful we had our storytime sessions in place when the pandemic hit,” Olson says. “Not seeing our family for two years was made easier by our Sunday storytimes.” … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian Have you ever explored the little side yard of the Maze Branch Library (pictured above)? It’s not exactly quiet, because it’s right next to the expressway. But it can still be a cozy place to curl up with a book, do some yoga on the grass, watch for butterflies in the … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian At the library, we often hear from parents, teachers, and other caregivers that social-emotional learning (SEL) is important to you. What exactly is SEL? Let’s take a brief look and then dig in below. What is social-emotional learning? Social-emotional learning is a learning approach that helps people understand their emotions, feel those … Read more
