Tucked away in the northwest corner of the Main Library’s third floor are treasures you might not expect to find in a public library. For example, there’s a childhood essay that Ernest Hemingway wrote on lined paper, titled “A Trip … Read more
From the plague to the 1918 influenza to now, pandemics have been unwelcome members of society. Touching everyone and everything, global sickness and the changes we have to make to get through makes us anxious and sends us looking for … Read more
If you have a school project and need to find a variety of sources for your research, your library is here to the rescue! On the Homework Help for Kids page, you can access many subscription-based resources with your Oak … Read more
It’s that time of the year—the leaves start turning, a chill is in the air, the sun sets earlier, and we all start craving the deliciousness of pumpkin spice. Okay, maybe not all of us, but it is time to … Read more
Have you heard people refer to backing up digital files to “the cloud”? Or the term “cloud backup” or “cloud-based storage”? All of these phrases are ways of describing how files are saved to an offsite location that can be … Read more
When our Library of Things collection made its debut last September, Nicole Brown and her family were ready for it. On previous visits to the Main Library, they’d seen staff assembling the wall in the lobby (pictured above) that showcases … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris The sun is setting earlier, and nights are lasting longer. This is the time of year when our “Chills and Thrills” bin of picture books gets checked out the most, teachers take out stacks of … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná People contain multitudes. We have multiple interests, hobbies, and even go on side-quests from time to time. Celebrities often do the same thing, exploring the depths of their creativity and passions. Books, music & more … Read more
Nothing lasts forever, and that includes your old VHS tapes. Even if you still have a VCR to play them, the tape quality can degrade as the years go by. The solution? Digitize those tapes. And you can do it … Read more
Sharing your identity with friends, family, and community should be empowering and affirming, but for LGBTQIA+ young people, coming out is often scary rather than a moment of celebration. According to the 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Kathy I love how much our community uses the library. Sometimes that means waiting for the hottest titles. Don’t fret! I can help you find a similar reading experience to THAT book you are waiting for … Read more
Today, it’s easier than ever to get information from the internet using smart devices like phones and tablets. When you use smartphones and tablets, you’ll commonly run into the terms downloading and uploading. These words describe activities you have probably … Read more
Pop-up libraries are collections you can access outside library buildings, in spaces where people already congregate. Our first one was installed this spring at the Park District of Oak Park’s Community Recreation Center, and we’re thrilled to add a second … Read more
Latonia Jackson, Manager of Middle and High School Services, says the number one question she consistently gets from teens and their parents is, “Can you help me get a job?” To help prepare teens for getting jobs—as well as providing … Read more
By Creative Technology Librarian Amy Hofmockel Getting to know your phone’s home screen can help you find the apps and tools you need to get your tasks done—whether that’s making a phone call, checking email, or using a favorite app. You … Read more
By Eileen Saam, Children’s Librarian Looking for fun and educational websites for kids without advertisements? You’ve come to the right place! From math games, puzzles, and science videos to language learning activities, art exploration, and narrated stories, the list of … Read more
To meet our community’s growing needs, we partnered with Triton College this spring to offer an eight-week conversational Spanish course for 12 library staff members at the Main Library. The course was designed to help staff provide more responsive customer … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Kathy Have you signed up for adult summer reading? No? Fret not! We are only halfway through so there’s plenty of time to sign up! Already registered? Keep reading, watching, listening, and participating to earn chances … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná We know Halloween is 115 days away—but there is just something extra scary about taking in horror stories in the bright sunshine. (Midsommar, anyone?) We’ve gathered six horror and thriller novels that will make you … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Every July, we come together to celebrate Disability Pride as a community! As a disabled librarian (neurodivergent and chronically ill), I love creating programs not only for disabled kids but celebrating us as well. When … Read more
