By Rose Barnes, Health & Senior Services Librarian
June is my favorite month of the year! The days are longer, the gardens are blooming, and the weather is getting so much warmer. But sometimes when it gets a little too warm, I want to escape to a cooler space indoors. Here are my top three places to beat the heat:
1. Stay in & binge the Great Courses
My favorite indoor space is my home, of course, where I can get comfortable on the couch, hang out with my dog and cats, and watch free movies on Hoopla.
Did you know that Hoopla recently introduced BingePass? With Hoopla‘s new BingePass and your Oak Park library card, you can get unlimited streaming for seven days with a single borrow!
There are a lot of videos and magazines for all ages, but I’m most excited about the Great Courses BingePass. There are so many interesting titles such as Imperial China, The Lost Worlds of South America, Chemistry and Our Universe, and so many more!
Get started with Hoopla BingePass »
2. Check out museum & cultural attraction passes
Another wonderful way to beat the heat is to check out a Museum Adventure Pass or a voucher from Explore More Illinois. There are some new additions to Explore More Illinois that I plan to check out this summer, including the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago and the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal.
Some of my other favorites include:
- DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
- National Museum of Mexican Art
- Museum of Science and Industry
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
- Chicago Botanical Gardens (even though this is outside and therefore not air conditioned!)
How to get free passes & discounted admission »
3. Visit the library & sign up for summer reading
Lastly, stop by the library sometime this summer to cool down! There are so many new and interesting programs all summer long, new books and movies, and friendly staff who are happy to recommend something fun to check out. And don’t forget to sign up for the new adult summer reading program!
Sign up for adult summer reading »
About Rose
Rose is an Adult Services Librarian specializing in health and senior services. She is a passionate reader, baker, and explorer who is always planning her next adventure.
