Your public library is here to connect you with books, online resources, and learning experiences that celebrate Arab American history and culture all year long. On this page, you can:
- Browse: Title suggestions for all ages.
- Attend: A National Arab American Heritage Appreciation Workshop.
- Celebrate: Ramadan with books and a craft, a special Idea Box display at the Main Library, and a video about a fanoos, a lantern used during Ramadan.
- Explore: Online resources for self-paced learning (with your Oak Park library card and PIN).
The month of April was officially designated as Arab American Heritage Month in Illinois in December 2018. Read the proclamation »
Title suggestions for all ages
- More for kids: Check out even more picture and chapter books »
- From your digital library: Stream and download ebooks, digital audiobooks, movies, and more on Hoopla »
Appreciation workshop
National Arab American Heritage Appreciation Workshop
Saturday, April 8, 2:30-4:30 pm, Main Library Small Meeting Room
Celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month and learn more about Arab Americans at this fun and interactive workshop led by Dima Ali. Age appropriate and full of colorful and rich content, this interactive workshop includes an educational presentation, artifacts, show and tell, a showcase of beautiful and colorful dresses from Dima’s personal collection, and storytime in Arabic/ English.
Attendees will leave with an understanding of Arab American culture and history. The program promotes the fact that although we all have many things in common, being different adds value to the human experience. We must celebrate our differences and not fear them. Child and family-friendly event! Register now »
Celebrating Ramadan
View a display in the Main Library Idea Box curated by community member Dima Ali
Throughout the month of Ramadan, view a beautiful collection of what brings together Muslims from different parts of the world, presented in collaboration with Oak Parker Dima Ali, on display in the windows of the Main Library Idea Box through the month of April. Learn more »
Attend Eid Mubarak! Read Aloud & Craft
Sunday, April 16, 2-3 pm, Main Library Lobby Community Space
Join us for a fun-filled celebration of Eid with books and crafts as we commemorate the end of Ramadan, a Muslim holiday of great significance. During Eid, families gather to attend special prayers, visiting friends and family, exchange presents, feast on delicious sweets, and give charity. We'll explore these fascinating traditions through stories and make a craft. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn and celebrate! Register now »
Learn about Fanoos
In this Virtual Learning & Fun for Kids video, Miss Juanta introduces Dima Ali, an Oak Park resident who is excited to tell you about her fanoos, a lantern used during Ramadan.
Watch more multicultural videos »
Subscription-based resources that Google can’t offer
Sign in with your Oak Park library card and PIN:
For kids
- PebbleGo (preschool-grades 3) and PebbleGo Next (grades 3-5): Check out the Social Studies module to explore.
- World Book Student (elementary & middle schoolers): Explore a collection of articles, tables, and multimedia of the world, and find maps showing political, population, economic, and meteorological information in the World Resources section.
Language learning
- Mango Languages: Reach conversational proficiency in Arabic. Language options include Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Iraqi), Arabic (Levantine), and Arabic (Modern Standard).
Newspapers & magazines
- Global Newsstream: Get full-text access to newspapers, news wires, websites, and blogs from leading publishers throughout the Middle East region. From the GlobalNewsstream front page, select "International Newsstream" and then "Middle East & African Newsstream."
- Muslim Journal [Chicago]: Read current full-text issues of the publication.
- PressReader: Search by language or country to find publications available in Arabic and/or from Arab countries.
