Milestones in our equity and anti-racism journey
To bring more visibility to our policy “A Library for Everyone,” these words now greet everyone who enters the Main Library. A larger version of the policy “A Library for Everyone: Striving to Support Positive Experiences” is posted on the board to the right.
Over two days, restorative justice practitioners from organizations including Heartland Alliance, Catherine Cook School, and A.L.M.A. (Arts Language Music Alliance) led workshops and spoke on panels at the Main Library, sharing strategies they’re using. “This model relies on proven techniques of forgiveness and empowerment, which are far more successful than our current…
The Main Library Idea Box is reinvented once again to focus on multicultural holiday and celebration displays. This Day of the Dead ofrenda was designed and built by fellow librarian, talented artist, and Oak Park resident Raleigh Ocampo in remembrance of the lives of those we have lost to COVID-19.…
Using specially selected books, media, articles, and websites divided into unique themes, staff create a year-long self-guided learning experience for adult and teen patrons. Both the challenge itself and the materials featured in it were curated with intention, passion, and library-wide representation by the library’s Anti-Racism Resources Guide Team. Patrons…
During a global pandemic, create a multicultural virtual learning video series to showcase holidays and heritages. Collaborate with community members to bring “windows and mirrors”—helping develop empathy and compassion—into the homes, daycares, and virtual classrooms of our youngest patrons.
Led by library staff who are certified facilitators, we come together to explore a subject by asking a series of questions and providing all with an equal opportunity to share, listen to one another, and reflect on the importance to their own lives. Circles as we practice them are rooted…
The Dole Branch Library opens its doors as the new home to Oak Park’s Multicultural Collection. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 transferred ownership to the library of the collection (thousands of unique artifacts, books, and films) nearly 30 years in the making had outgrown available school space. Today, the…
Manager Rob Simmons grows a Community Resources team to include full-time Community Resources Specialist Stephen Jackson and four part-time Safety and Security Monitors. Together, the team offers a referral-based outreach program to benefit vulnerable library patrons; supports youth development; and ensures in-house safety and security monitoring of the library. Rethinking…
Executive Director David Seleb was introduced to the Harwood practice in October 2013. Using this approach and “turning outward” over the next year, he would speak with and learn from many members of the Oak Park community, in a series of Community Conversations with participants from different age groups, races,…
The library’s associate director and two librarians attend Harwood practitioner training, discovering how aspirations and public knowledge can help reframe discussions, enlist allies, develop strategies, and align actions. Staff dig more deeply into shared themes from first impressions, gathering with area groups to learn more about diversity, inclusion, participation, and…
