In April, New Moms Oak Park Center and Clare Place opened their doors to the community, inviting us in to see their beautiful new building at 206 Chicago Ave. The new location provides 18 permanent supportive homes for previously homeless families with young children, plus space for community programs and an outdoor playground. “For more … Read more
With a collaborative spirit, the ownership of the Dole Learning Center was recently transferred from the Village of Oak Park to the Park District of Oak Park. The Dole Branch Library will continue operations in Dole Learning Center, and the Park District looks forward to offering new senior programs in the building. To prepare, the … Read more
At its May 21 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees welcomed two new trustees: Virginia Bloom-Scheirer (left); and Colleen Burns (right), both sworn in to their elected official positions by Village Clerk Vicki Scaman (also pictured above in both photos). The Board also recognizes two outgoing trustees, Janet Kelenson and Carmenza Millan. Read the approved resolutions … Read more
When visiting local daycares and preschools, Children’s Outreach and Programming Specialist Jenny Jackson (pictured) always includes social and emotional concepts in her storytimes. “What do you think ‘anxious’ is? Have you ever had butterflies in your tummy?” she asks as reads aloud to preschoolers in the PreKindergarten Partnership (PKP) classes at Longfellow Elementary, one of … Read more
Krista Soli Foster always imagined “going on a pilgrimage” to different centers of worship with her daughter, learning about their core values. She wants to model respect, love, curiosity, and acceptance for Lydia, age 6, who is being allowed to make up her own mind about faith and religion. “Then I started to think, ‘Why … Read more
Did you know there’s a barbershop inside the Oak Park Public Library? Twice a month, the Main Library Idea Box brings in local barbers to give free haircuts to anyone who comes in. All are welcome, including children and teenagers. And on Friday, May 17, from 2 to 6 pm, it’s turning into a space … Read more
Every year, our librarians review all our curated reading lists for kids and families, making sure we’re intentionally including books that represent diversity in race and ethnicity, gender, disability and neurodivergence, and more. One recent addition: Arab Heritage Reads, a list with fiction, nonfiction, and picture books by Arab and Arab-American authors and illustrators, is available … Read more
Update 5/9/19: Thank you to Whole Foods Market River Forest and all of the wonderful shoppers who helped to raise $1,372.12 in donations for the Friends of the Oak Park Public Library! We are grateful for and humbled by your generosity! Learn more about the Friends, and how their work supports literacy and learning in … 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
Every Saturday, a group of families gathers at the public library for Arabic Calligraphy Club. Using free meeting room space at the Main Library, they bring supplies: plain white paper, pens and markers, canvases, bottles of ink. And, of course, snacks—a tin of butter cookies, a few tomatoes, falafel, chocolate. “It’s good family time,” says … Read more
