Library staff love to talk about the importance of language and play for kids: It helps them explore their world, learn about themselves and the people around them, get ready for school learning, and so much more! Pediatric staff from … Read more
By Collection Management Librarians Dontaná & Kathy Check out these recently released fiction and nonfiction titles that might have flown under your radar. They are perfect for celebrating Black History Month. Fiction Hush Harbor by Anise Vance Why you should try … Read more
Youth Art Month in Main Library Lobby Thanks to all the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 teachers (pictured above) for curating this display of artwork by students in grades K-5. It will be on view all March in the Main … Read more
Developing accurate and affirming language to name the parts of our bodies and understanding how bodies change as we age is an important skill for young people to learn. Not only is it a matter of physical health, but it … Read more
We often come back to the topic of emotions and social-emotional learning with our kids. Sometimes it may feel like we’re repeating ourselves! But we keep returning to the topic because it’s an important one. Kids (and adults!) learn best … Read more
By Creative Technology Librarian Amy Hofmockel Do you have a desktop covered in icons you don’t use? Are you interested in decluttering your digital workspace? Let’s go over some basics of file management so you can find the files you want … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam Whether playing video games, chatting with friends, watching videos, or browsing a favorite website, it’s important to keep online safety in mind. Although most of us are aware of important online safety tips, we all … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam During winter break, parents and caregivers may find themselves stressing about the amount of time that their kids are spending on a screen. While it’s surely important to set limits, time spent playing educational apps can … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam The internet can be a powerful educational tool and a fun place for kids to explore, but here at the library, we understand that online safety for kids is top-of-mind for parents and caregivers. Keeping … Read more
By Digital Learning Specialist Amelia You probably have seen them somewhere by now, black and white square or circular barcode images—known as QR codes (short for Quick Response codes)—on contactless menus, advertisements, and even as a form of payment around … Read more
October is a big month! Many kids are excited for Halloween, of course. We finally enter an autumn that will last a while; that’s usually pretty great. Sometimes we even see a few snow flurries, which is probably more exciting … Read more
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 or that you finally read … Read more
“You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.” Strong, meaningful words from Fred Rogers, my early childhood hero. … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris It’s never too early to talk about emotions with children, even babies and toddlers. The end of summer and start of new autumn routines is close, and with all of the big changes can come … Read more
By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian When using apps or programs you may come across an image, article, or link that you want to share with someone else. You could copy or download the media and paste it into or attach … Read more
July is Disability Pride Month! It’s been celebrated since 1990, when President HW Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, though many non-disabled people have not heard of it. Disability Pride Month means different things to … Read more
You might be familiar with the keyboard shortcuts for copy, cut, and paste (and if you’re not, check step-by-step instructions on how to use them on a Windows or Mac computer and on your smartphone). But did you know that … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Sometimes kids and adults get nervous about visiting a new place for the first time. We get it! It can be useful to know what to expect before your first visit. With that in mind, we … Read more
By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian When using apps and programs it can sometimes be hard to figure out how to access the menu. It can seem like the icons you need to tap to open the menu are constantly changing, … Read more
April can be a challenging month for many autistic people. Many organizations that aren’t run with or by autistic leaders have campaigns about “lighting it up blue”—furthering stereotypes that autism only affects boys—or about curing autism. These organizations often push … Read more
