The American Library Association’s National Library Week is April 19–25, 2026, with the theme “Find Your Joy.” Award-winning librarian, author, and new host of the children’s program Reading Rainbow, Mychal Threets is the 2026 Honorary Chair of National Library Week. … Read more
Finding the right book or information for people is what librarians do. So when Jane wrote to us in September with a mysterious book-finding query, multiple librarians across departments jumped right in to try to solve it. “I have a … Read more
Last year, artist Antonia Ruppert traveled to Alabama to visit family. Before she returned to Chicago, her cousin gave her some family memorabilia to take home, including a photograph of her grandfather, Prince James. Ruppert had never met her grandfather, … Read more
One evening when Danielle Désiré was small, about 3 or 4 years old, she was running around in the backyard. It was time to settle down for the night and get ready for bed, but Danielle was too busy watching … Read more
Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Oak Park River Forest Museum, 129 Lake St., Oak Park. Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. The new collection is in the … Read more
After school, we know kids want to relax, be with their friends, do homework, have fun, and be creative. Here are seven reasons why middle and high school students are spending time at the library after the bell rings. 1. … Read more
We had such a fun month of intergenerational disability pride! Thanks to all who participated, collaborated, and supported our events this July and gave us feedback for next year. See just a few of this year’s highlights below, plus: 3rd … Read more
In August, local organizations will host the educational exhibit “Understanding Opioids: Awareness, Support, and Hope” in the Main Library Idea Box, in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31. Additionally, we want to make our community aware that, … Read more
Update November 5, 2025: A second Oak Park Township location has been added at their Senior & Disability Services office, 130 S. Oak Park Ave. Announcing our newest pop-up library location at Oak Park Township‘s Youth & Family Services office, … Read more
Announcing our newest pop-up library location: The Daly Bagel, 130 Chicago Ave., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. “We are thrilled and honored to be part … Read more
Before and during National Library Week, we asked our staff and community members: What do you love about libraries? What do libraries mean to you? Here’s what they shared. Library staff | Community members Oak Park library staff ‘Magical, vital … Read more
Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Oak Park’s Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. This new shelf, located in the welcome … Read more
Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Kids Unlimited Therapy Services, 820 North Blvd., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. Kids Unlimited is our fourth pop-up library … Read more
Oak Park’s Kwanzaa celebration drew almost 200 people to the Main Library on Monday, December 30, and was a resounding success. With music, dance, crafts, artwork, food, and ceremony, the Black American harvest celebration “truly captured the spirit of community … Read more
Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Styles 4 Kidz, 235 Harrison St., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. Styles 4 Kidz is our third … Read more
Every Wednesday after school, middle schoolers gather at the Main Library for tea and snacks with their friends and a couple of trusted adults. It’s called Tea Talk, and it’s a time for everyone to talk about mental health and … Read more
When our Library of Things collection made its debut last September, Nicole Brown and her family were ready for it. On previous visits to the Main Library, they’d seen staff assembling the wall in the lobby (pictured above) that showcases … Read more
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your old VHS tapes. Even if you still have a VCR to play them, the tape quality can degrade as the years go by. The solution? Digitize those tapes. And you can do it … Read more
Pop-up libraries are collections you can access outside library buildings, in spaces where people already congregate. Our first one was installed this spring at the Park District of Oak Park’s Community Recreation Center, and we’re thrilled to add a second … Read more
To meet our community’s growing needs, we partnered with Triton College this spring to offer an eight-week conversational Spanish course for 12 library staff members at the Main Library. The course was designed to help staff provide more responsive customer … Read more
