By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian You may be in a cafe, out in Scoville Park, or at the library trying to access a public WiFi network, or connecting with a mobile WiFi hotspot that you have checked out from the library. But how do you know you are connecting to the right network? Using your laptop … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and this week we are celebrating by sharing stories written by Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander authors. Southeast Asian & Pacific Islander creators & stories Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden Why you should try it: This candid memoir … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and this week we are celebrating by sharing stories written by South Asian authors. South Asian creators & stories The Parted Earth by Anjali Enjeti Why you should try it: This intricately plotted novel reveals how Partition divided families and how that division reverberates … Read more
By David J. Seleb, Executive Director Note: A version of this post first appeared in Wednesday Journal and OakPark.com on May 11, 2021. Read the piece on OakPark.com » We are on an anti-racism journey. This includes working with a local consultant and implementing a new anti-racism strategic plan. Why are we doing this? Because as … Read more
Library assistant Margaret can always be found doing origami and helping kids learn! Origami helps kids practice visual and spatial skills, concentration, and math, and is a great fidget activity for experienced creators. It’s also a lot of fun! Watch this video Can you make a butterfly following her tutorial? It’s the perfect way to … Read more
Last summer, we held a logo design contest to help spread the word about the Leading Edge Teen Advisory Board (LETAB), one of the library’s Teen Services initiatives. A volunteer group for students ages 13-17, LETAB’s mission is to offer guidance and a teen-centered perspective to the Oak Park community and the Teen Services team. … Read more
By Shelley Harris, Children’s Librarian This week, I shared a video on using breathing to regulate your body when you’re feeling stressed or getting too excited on a fun day. A lot of the songs we sing and games we play in storytime help kids practice self-regulation: kids are following patterns in movement and song, … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Kathy May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and this week we are celebrating by sharing stories written by East Asian authors. East Asian creators & stories Second Sister by Ho-Kei Chan Why you should try it: A smart and twisty suspense novel that also shines a light on the shadowy … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Did you know that 70% of disabled adults do not engage in community activities? This statistic, from a 2005 paper, gave me pause the first time I heard it at a conference. I see it with my disabled brother and his friends, but it’s hard to see it widely confirmed. … Read more
In February, the Oak Park Public Library launched the community’s first Anti-Racism Resource Challenge. Through February and March, 90 individuals registered for the challenge; 21 of these readers were active and completed a total of 73 activities. One participant completed the entire challenge in just the first two months! While engaging with the materials and … Read more
