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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
Dear Oak Park Community, We are sickened and horrified by the needless killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. We are frightened for the black and brown members of our staff and our community who daily must endure the racism of our society. We are furious at the inequities that cause … Read more
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
