Connecting you to Black history, then & now

Collage of book covers

Your public library is here to connect us with each other through books, resources, and experiences that celebrate Black history and culture. Browse titles we suggest More librarian-curated reading lists Ebooks, digital audiobooks, movies & more View the Julian Legacy Museum in the Idea Box The Julian Legacy Museum in the Main Library Idea Box … Read more

Best of 2023: Teen fiction & nonfiction

Best of 2023: Teen fiction & nonfiction

Oak Park’s Best of 2023 is back! Our annual librarian-curated selection of titles features some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers. See our teen fiction and nonfiction favorites on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships | Adult fiction: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | … Read more

Gift Guide 2023

Gift Guide 2023 text with a gold gift box wrapped in a white ribbon surrounded by glitter stars

Looking for gift ideas for this holiday season? Might we suggest a great book? Our collection management librarians have gathered some of their favorite recently published titles that are sure to engage, educate, and inspire people of all ages on your list! Adults | Teens & kids Adults: for the… Teens & kids: for the…

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Books, an event, learning experiences & more

Native American Heritage book display in the Main Library

Oak Park Public Library acknowledges that Oak Park is situated on the ancestral land of the Bodewamiadkiwen (Potawatomi), Myaamia (Miami), Oceti Sakowin, Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), and Peoria. We honor them and thank them for their stewardship of this land. Source: native-land.ca Your public library is here to connect you with books, videos, online resources, and learning experiences that … Read more

Chilling reads, thrilling tales & lots of Halloween fun

Smiling jack-o-lantern in a dark forest

Feel that chill in the air? Halloween season is here! And your Oak Park librarians are back with spine-chilling reads, creepy tales, and lots more Halloween fun: Browse: Spine-chilling tales & scary stories More from your digital library, sorted by audience & app HORROR FOR ADULTS HORROR FOR TEENS HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS Attend: Upcoming events … Read more

Partnership for teen mental health wins award

Group photo with Marché Pernell, Stephen Jackson, Dominique Hickman, Robert Simmons, Vann Harris, Ashley Knapp, Latonia Jackson, Synovia Knox, and Alexander Gutierrez in front of a wall mural

Since 2019, the library has been partnering with researchers from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine to develop a digital tool to help teens with anxiety. Now in the fourth year of a five-year grant, the research partnership has won an award for its strong collaborative research principles and work to impact health and equity … Read more

50 years of hip hop: How we celebrated

Hip Hop graphic with text This project was made possible by: above the Institute of Museum and Library Services logo

Hip hop is more than music and dance, says Director of Equity & Anti-Racism Stephen Jackson. “It is culture. It permeates every fabric of American life. It is the way people talk, the words they use, the way people wear their clothes.” This year, our library was one of more than 30 organizations around the … Read more

Hispanic Heritage books, events, videos & more

Collage of books

Your public library is here to connect you with books, events, learning experiences, and online resources that celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture this month and all year long. On this page, you can: This commemorative month (held September 15-October 15) was officially designated as Hispanic Heritage Month by the U.S. Congress in 1968. Learn more at … Read more

Disability Pride books, a display & supported events

Collage of book covers

Your public library is here to connect you with books, learning experiences, events, and online resources that celebrate people with disabilities and disability as an identity in July and all year long. On this page, you can: What is Disability Pride Month? Disability Pride celebrates people with disabilities and disability as an identity, honoring the … Read more

Meet your T-shirt design winners!

Six finalists designs

Oak Park Public Library is thrilled to be one of more than 30 organizations around the country partnering for Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums, and Archives. And as part of our Oak Park celebration, we hosted a T-shirt design contest. With six finalists (pictured above) to choose from, we received … Read more