A celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, this commemorative month pays “tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success,” according to the Library of Congress website, asianpacificheritage.gov. Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was established by Congress to mark the … Read more
Hello, Early Bird Readers! In today’s video, Miss Jenny and Miss Shelley will continue talking about social-emotional skills, this time using songs and breathing to help kids name and regulate hard emotions. About Early Bird Readers Early Bird Readers is a digital early learning program to support parents, caregivers, and teachers. It is based on … Read more
Last month we enjoyed sharing stories, creating, and discovering more about the Hindu spring festival Holi at Dole Branch Library! During the event, kids created a craft and learned more about Holi, also known as the “festival of colors” and the “festival of love,” through the Multicultural Collection. Mark your calendars for upcoming events featuring … Read more
Join us as we dig in for the first full season of the Maze Branch Sensory Garden. Launched last fall with local families who have kids with disabilities, the garden is completely accessible and offers programs through summer and fall. “We have a wide range of supports so anyone can come in and be comfortable … Read more
Navin doesn’t start kindergarten until fall 2020, yet he’s already read more than 1,000 books! Committed to the long-term goal of reading together well before kindergarten, Navin and his family participated in the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. It’s designed to prepare babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to arrive ready to learn come kindergarten. “We … Read more
Turn any day into a “learn from home” day with these fun, educational remote learning resources for kids. Login requires an Oak Park Public Library card and PIN. History comes to life African-American History Online: Covering five centuries, log in for a fresh way to find the full spectrum of African-American history and culture. American … Read more
Yes, we’re open! Commit to a day of service, reflection, and growth this Monday, January 21, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Looking for ways to serve your community on MLK Day? Use the Corporation for National & Community Service search tool to find local volunteer opportunities » Join us at the Main … Read more
Poet Luis Tubens has been working with young people at the Main Library since January 2017. That’s when he became the library’s first artist in residence, consistently drawing lots of middle schoolers to his after-school writing workshops and open mics. Although his residency ended in summer 2017, Tubens didn’t stop working with kids at the … Read more
It’s been one year since we launched our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, and our early readers are off to a fabulous start. The library’s long-term reading program is designed to prepare babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to arrive ready to learn come kindergarten. So far, 36 families have achieved the goal of reading 1,000 books together … Read more
In our three-part Race Conscious Readers series this fall, families came together to find ways to talk about race with kids in early elementary school. As one parent said: “It’s important my kids hear these conversations around them all the time, not just at home. It reinforces how important it is.” Books that celebrate, empower, … Read more
