In March 2016, Robert Simmons joined the library as its first social worker, a direct result of the library’s intentional strategy of listening and responding to community aspirations. Since then, the Social Services and Safety team he’s built has served more than 350 vulnerable patrons. Most are Oak Park residents experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and … Read more
By Maliha Chishti Dr. Maliha Chishti is a researcher specializing in war and post-conflict peacebuilding and a Lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy. On Wednesday, October 3, she joins us at the Main Library at 7 pm as part of the ongoing series Understanding the World of Islam, presented in partnership with the … Read more
Know anyone who needs help getting started with digital learning? Starting Monday, September 17, join us for a new season of tech workshops beginning with Intro to Computers. And find personalized help that works with your schedule. Learn more about opportunities at your library » In July, Oak Park resident Kevin Scott learned how to compose and send … Read more
Know someone without a card? September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Help us spread the word about all the great things libraries have to offer! Learn more about getting and using your card » #1: You get to say yes more No late fines and automatic renewals? Go ahead, get all the books, music, and movies … Read more
When it comes to opioid use and abuse, Oak Park and River Forest are really no different than anywhere else in the country, said Mike Charley, Director of the Oak Park Department of Public Health. Local data show increases in overdoses, particularly from heroin, and mirror what’s going on in the rest of the country, … Read more
“It’s been a long time since I had a civics or a government class,” a patron wrote to us recently, requesting that the library host community workshops or classes on the workings of government. “Like Civics for Dummies or Civics 101.” You’ve told us: as citizens, you want to be engaged, empowered, and informed. As … Read more
Last year, the founder of local Facebook group Raising Race Conscious Kids in and around Oak Park reached out to us. Although she had been raised to be “color-blind,” Andrea Kovach wrote, she is raising her 3- and 6-year-olds differently because “research has shown that instead of dismantling structural racism, that way of parenting just … Read more
As we head into fall and a new school year, we reflect on our visit with poet Kevin Coval, author of this summer’s One Book, One Oak Park selection. Coval joined us for an evening at the Main Library in June to read from his collection of poetry, A People’s History of Chicago, which honors the … Read more
“One way we welcome all families into the library is providing supports for kids with disabilities,” said Early Literacy Librarian Shelley Harris. Pens that scan and read text aloud With one of the scanner pens available for checkout (pictured above), you can scan text in a book and hear the words read aloud. You also … Read more
Library live-streaming canceled; join us at OPRF Three years ago, Academy Award-nominated director Steve James filmed a year in the life of a dozen Oak Park and River Forest High School students. Due to overwhelming response and limited resources, we have canceled our plans to live-stream at the library. Please join us at Oak Park … Read more
