This timeline below has the most recent news at the bottom. Scroll down to see how the library’s journey has evolved over the last decade.
- Diversity, Inclusion, Participation, and Equity
- Economy
- Education and Learning
- Health, Safety, Livability
Joining a handful of public libraries with similar social services-based positions, the library developed a new role to provide services for the most vulnerable patrons experiencing challenges such as homelessness and access to mental health support. Rob Simmons, bringing more than 16 years of experience providing comprehensive social service expertise in for-profit, nonprofit, and education organizations, was hired as the library’s first Manager for Community Resources. He later moved into the new role of Director of Social Services and Public Safety.
The library acquired Oak Park Elementary School District 97’s Multicultural Collection, as the district transferred ownership of thousands of artifacts, books, and films that had since outgrown district space. As the collection’s new steward, the library planned to provide wider public access to the unique pieces and an ongoing commitment to professional curation—all in support of more hands-on learning for children and their families.
Library staff members collaborated with new community partners, leading to new initiatives in restorative justice and multicultural programming as well as new opportunities in social justice, leadership, and college and career readiness for middle and high school students.
Community leaders shared ideas and challenges when approaching institutional change in support of equity and anti-racism. Groups meeting regularly included Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Oak Park and River Forest High School, River Forest Public Library, and River Forest School District 90.
Aaron Alonzo became the library’s Manager of Public Safety in support of the library’s new Social Services and Public Safety model.
In a unanimous vote, the Board of Library Trustees approved the library’s first anti-racism strategic plan, a policy dedicating resources and defining accountability.
After a pandemic hiatus, we welcomed local artist exhibits back to the library. A new library committee composed of a diverse group of library staff was formed to review and select exhibit proposals. This new process follows a more conscious effort to align with community-wide aspirations of diversity, equity, inclusion, literacy, and education.
On June 19, all library locations were closed for the Juneteenth holiday. Library staff and board members marched in Oak Park’s first Juneteenth parade.
To bring more visibility to the policy “A Library for Everyone: Striving to Support Positive Experiences,” we added large “A Library for Everyone” signage in the Main Library Lobby and parking garage, and on screens at Dole and Maze branches. We made new T-shirts for staff and library board members, and created and posted the full policy text on all floors in the Main Library and branch libraries.
Staff established two new affinity groups—one for Latine staff members and another for LGBTQ+ staff members.
Joslyn Bowling Dixon became the library’s first Black executive director, bringing a prolific catalog of knowledge and experience gleaned from more than 20 years of urban and suburban public library experience to her new role in Oak Park. Dixon’s hiring also increased the number of BIPOC staff in director-level positions to three, up from only one in 2017.
To successfully deliver programs like the 1619 Series Anti-Racist Discussion Circle and D-Composed Concert in November 2022, we built teams with more BIPOC staff members in program planning roles, and these teams created and delivered authentic experiences that prioritized people of color.
By the end of the year, 25 percent of all library staff had participated in ongoing restorative practices trainings. Having staff members equipped with this tool enables staff to equitably serve the community through creating spaces where people can show up authentically as themselves.
Our Middle & High School Services Team launched three new ways for youth in grades 6-12 to build relationships, learn with their peers and mentors, and grow in their schoolwork, job readiness, health, relationships, and overall confidence and self-awareness. The three mentorship programs were created with community organizations Your Passion 1st, A Greater Good Foundation, and the Oak Park Township.
In honor of Black History Month, the second annual Idea Box Black History Museum honored Black Oak Park history and the leaders who defied racial barriers to lay the foundation of this diverse, progressive village.
Director of Public Services and Social Safety Rob Simmons was recognized for his commitment and contributions as a member of Oak Park’s Alternative Call Response Task Force, which brings together a wide range of experts, community members, and specialists focused on helping individuals suffering from a mental health crisis. In June, the task force presented its findings to Oak Park’s Village Board. As one step among many, they recommended embedding crisis and social workers within the police department, so that these trained staff would be first responders, rather than police officers, when someone calls 911 for a mental health crisis.
At its June 20 regular meeting, the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees approved a new resolution declaring the Village of Oak Park a Book Sanctuary Community. This resolution upholds the library’s and community’s values of supporting democracy, intellectual freedom, and reading diverse and inclusive books.
More than halfway through her first year as the library’s executive director, Joslyn Bowling Dixon reported on accomplishments and committed to new equity and anti-racism work. “I am proud of the anti-racism and equity work our library has accomplished so far, and I am excited for the next chapter,” she said. “We will never be ‘done’ with striving to provide a culture that actively demonstrates that we are A Library For Everyone.”
We celebrated hip hop as it turned 50, along with many other libraries, museums, colleges, universities, and archives around the country. The collaborative initiative, Collections of Culture: 50 Years of Hip Hop Inside Libraries, Museums and Archives, was led by the Queens Public Library and funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In Oak Park, we put on a supa dupa fly fashion show, film screenings, spoken word and arts workshops, a T-shirt design contest, karaoke in the Idea Box, and more.
A research partnership between the library and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine won an award for its strong collaborative research principles and work to impact health and equity in Oak Park and neighboring communities. The partnership’s goal is to provide accessible, evidence-based mental health services to local teens, particularly those from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic communities and those who most experience health inequities.
OPALGA+ (Oak Park Area Gay and Lesbian Association) recognized our library for “outstanding efforts on behalf of LGBTQ+ people in Oak Park and the surrounding area.”
We offered two adult programs focused on trans and nonbinary identities and gender-affirming care. As a Library for Everyone, we believe that offering programs like these are a necessary component of us striving to be an anti-racist and equitable organization.
We shared our 2023 Strategic Priorities and Equity & Anti-Racism reports, with stories and data that showcase the library’s progress in becoming an equitable and anti-racist organization, connecting people and building community, empowering every voice in our community, and more. Read the reports »