Let’s discuss: ‘How to Be an Antiracist’

Please join the Anti-Racist Book Group on Wednesday, January 13 at 6:30 pm, as we dig deeper into How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. ‘We had so much more to unpack’: Book group invites us to keep talking We first discussed Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist in December, and we’re continuing the discussion in January. All are … Read more

Join us for two anti-racist book discussions in December

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. Stamped offers a history of racist and anti-racist ideas in America, from their roots in Europe until … Read more

Register now: Virtual Restorative Justice Conference enters final week

Restorative Justice Conference 2019 Community Committee

The Medicine Wheel: Balancing Humanity Oak Park’s third annual Restorative Justice Conference has been taking place virtually all October, and it wraps up on Friday, October 30. This year’s theme is The Medicine Wheel: Balancing Humanity. The goal has been to provide the community with strategies to cope in these extreme times. “2020 has been … Read more

‘Kids are reflective and ready to do this work’: Supporting anti-racism in Oak Park middle schools

Beronica Puhr and Katy Alejos load van with boxes of books

“Schools are a reflection of our society, so in the wake of social justice and anti-racism demonstrations, we must support our students in becoming global citizens in a diverse democracy.” —Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Anti-Racism in District 97 All Oak Park Elementary School District 97 middle school students are reading and discussing Stamped: … Read more

Supporting Power of Partnerships, a new virtual tutoring collaborative

District 97 E-Team Library Dominican logos

Logistical aspects of this partnership are currently in development. Information will be updated here as more details are formalized. To support Oak Park families and educators who will participate in remote learning, the library is partnering with the Equity Team (E-Team) of Oak Park, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and Dominican University to serve … Read more

Books in Brief, episode 5: Black Lives Matter

Books in Brief: Book covers for Homegoing, How to Be an Antiracist, Just Mercy, White Fragility

Need some book recommendations? Your librarians are here to help! Don’t miss this episode of Books in Brief, a video series featuring four great digital title recommendations in about two minutes. Collection Management Librarian Kathy Sexton recommends four titles to help educate yourself. Black Lives Matter digital titles Watch the episode above and then find … Read more

Classic & contemporary: Black Music Month

Person using headphones

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná McPherson-Joseph Designated in 1979 by President Carter as Black Music Month and renamed in 2009 by President Obama, African-American Music Appreciation Month is a celebration of Black music, Black joy, and Black excellence. Black artists have been originators and redesigners of sound across all musical genres. Check out these albums and … Read more

Relevant reads: Culture

Book covers for Magical Negro, They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, and Wayward Lives Beautiful Experiments on painted canvas

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná McPherson-Joseph Culture is created, manifested, and maintained. It cannot not exist without people actively perpetuating it, and it does not exist in a vacuum. These books explore Black culture in America, how it shapes and is shaped by music, and the ways racial and socioeconomic inequalities influence it. You can find … Read more

‘Filled with the spirit of unity’: Community members collaborate with us to share cultural heritage

This year’s Community Kwanzaa Celebration will be the third one that Oak Park resident Juanta Griffin has organized at the Main Library. Here, Griffin shares what the celebration means and what she’s looking forward to this year. “We believe that inclusion fosters understanding, and understanding builds respect, and with respect there can be peace,” she … Read more

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