If you’ve visited Maze Branch lately, you may have noticed a new spot to sit down and take a rest, on a green bench just outside the building entrance. The inviting new PoSITivity Bench came to Maze Branch this spring, thanks to a local chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Made up of professional women of … Read more
In March, Kheir Fakhreldin joined the library as Archivist in Special Collections. Kheir is an active member of the Chicago Area Archivists and has a Master of Science in Information degree from the University of Michigan. Before joining the library, he worked in the archives at the Newberry Library and WBEZ. He’s also worked in public service … 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
After a pandemic hiatus, our library magazine is back! The summer 2022 issue of The Storyline is online now. Limited print copies will be available while they last at all library locations starting in June. The summer issue highlights what’s happening for kids, adults, and teens at the library and in the community, such as … Read more
On Sunday, June 19, all library locations will be closed for Juneteenth. This national, state, and Oak Park holiday celebrates African Americans’ freedom from enslavement in the United States. Look for Oak Park’s Book Bike and library staff marching in the Oak Park Juneteenth parade, organized by community members and co-sponsored by the Village of … Read more
At its Special Virtual Meeting held on Tuesday, March 8, the Board of Library Trustees voted to appoint Lori Pulliam, the library’s current Director of Public Services and Programs, as the library’s interim executive director. Pulliam steps into the library’s top leadership role most recently held by David J. Seleb, who retired after his 30-plus-year … Read more
As our Health and Senior Services Librarian, Rose Barnes is your go-to for resources on health and wellness and senior services. “I am most interested in exploring more ways to incorporate health and wellness programming into the library while also creating spaces for conversation and growth,” she says. “I am passionate about practicing yoga, baking, … Read more
By Christian Harris Note: A version of this post first appeared in Wednesday Journal and OakPark.com on December 7, 2021. Read the piece on OakPark.com » As a young Black man growing up in Oak Park, I was never taught that Black people lived here before the 1950s, when world-renowned chemist Percy Julian moved in. I would … Read more
Our community showed an abundance of giving in October, during two donation drives hosted at the Main Library. Thanks to all who donated! Boxes & boxes of socks! This was our fifth year participating in the annual Socktober drive. In past years, we collected hundreds of pairs of socks for clients of shelters. And this … Read more
Your public library is here to connect you with books, videos, online resources, and learning experiences that celebrate Native American heritage all year long. This commemorative month was officially designated as Native American Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress in 1990. More: nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov » Currently on display in the Main Library Idea Box North American, Lakota, … Read more
