Your public library is here to connect you with books, online resources, and learning experiences that celebrate Arab American history and culture all year long. On this page, you can: The month of April was officially designated as Arab American Heritage Month in Illinois in December 2018. Read the proclamation » Title suggestions for all … Read more
By Hal Patnott, Rainbow Services Librarian (adult & teen titles curated by Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian) Held each year on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility (TDoV) celebrates the lives and accomplishments of transgender and nonbinary people. Trans advocate Rachel Crandall founded TDoV in 2010 because stories in the media about transgender and nonbinary people … Read more
Your public library is here to connect us with each other through books, resources, and experiences that celebrate women’s history. Browse: Title suggestions for all ages. Attend: Events celebrating women in history and women making history right now. Explore: Librarian-curated resources for self-paced learning (with your Oak Park library card and PIN). Browse titles we … Read more
Oak Park Public Library is thrilled to be one of more than 30 organizations around the country—including libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and archives—partnering for Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives. Led by the Queens (NY) Public Library (QPL) as part of the six-month celebration, funded through a $267,760 … Read more
In March 2021, the Board of Library Trustees voted to approve the Oak Park Public Library’s first stand-alone Anti-Racism Strategic Plan. This multi-year plan was created to address internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism in both internal and external practices at the library. To stay accountable to the work outlined in that stand-alone plan—as well … Read more
By Collection Management Librarians Dontaná McPherson-Joseph and Kathy Sexton Check out these recently released fiction and nonfiction titles that might have flown under your radar. They are perfect for celebrating Black History Month. Fiction Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction edited by Sheree R. Thomas, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Zelda Knight Why you … Read more
By Kristen Romanowski, Staff Writer & Editor Juanta Griffin was in third grade at Longfellow Elementary School when her teacher, Mrs. Simmons, turned her onto Eyes on the Prize. Griffin says it was this PBS series, which chronicled the civil rights movement from the perspective of ordinary people, that first opened her eyes and drove … Read more
by Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian Nestled in the middle of February’s observance of Black History Month, and the day before Valentine’s Day, Black Love Day is a celebration of love specific to Black people. Founded in 1993 by Ayo Handy-Kendi, Black Love Day rests upon “5 Loving Acts”: Love for The Creator, Love for … Read more
By Kristen Romanowski, Staff Writer & Editor Growing up, Jason Dorsey always knew he wanted to travel. “It’s almost like I had a thread of adventure inside of me, always,” he says. So he joined the U.S. Marines in 2000, right out of high school. But after returning home from active duty four years later, … Read more
Your public library is here to connect us with each other through books, resources, and experiences that celebrate Black history and culture. Browse: Curated title suggestions for all ages. View: Special exhibits, including “The Work”: Black History Museum in the Idea Box and a documentary film screening. Donate: Gently used teacups and saucers for the … Read more
