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:
- Browse: Curated title suggestions for all ages.
- View: A special display in the Main Library Idea Box.
- Attend: Upcoming events.
- Watch: Multicultural learning and Spanish-language videos.
- Explore: Librarian-curated resources.
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 hispanicheritagemonth.gov »
Browse titles we suggest
Plus, check out from your digital library
Available in Spanish
- Ebooks & digital audiobooks for adults, teens, and kids on Media on Demand/Libby
- Magazines for all ages on Media on Demand/Libby and PressReader
- Newspapers on PressReader and Global Newsstream
Special Hispanic Heritage Month collection
- Movies and documentaries on Kanopy
Attend upcoming events
For all ages
Cuentos From the Americas With Jasmin Cardenas
Saturday, September 16, 2-3 pm, Main Library. Cuentos From The Americas is a bilingual, Spanish and English, journey of stories for all ages from North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean Islands, as well as personal stories from Jasmin’s experience of being stuck in between her identities as un Colombiana and an American. The stories are a mix of ancient legends, myths, folktales, and a personal story of being bicultural. Using participatory elements of song, music, and dance listeners will be on their feet by the end learning how to Latin dance! Register now »
Noche de Loteria/Loteria Night
Tuesday, September 26, 6-7 pm, Tacos '76, 838 Madison St., Oak Park. ¡Disfruta una noche de Lotería con tu familia y amigos y gana premios! ¡Para todas las edades! Durante la noche hablaremos en español y ingles. ¿Qué es Lotería? Loteria es un juego similar a bingo. ¡Llena tu tabla primero y ganas!
Enjoy a few rounds of Loteria with your family and friends and win prizes! Throughout the night we will partake in Spanish and some English. What is Loteria? Loteria is a century-old game often referred to as “Mexican Bingo.” Fill your card and you win! For all ages. Register now »
Hispanic Heritage Month Festival: ¡Viva Oak Park!
Saturday, October 7, 2-5 pm, Oak Park Village Hall, South Lawn, 123 Madison St. ¡Únase a nosotros en este evento especial en apoyo y celebración de nuestra comunidad Hispana y Latine! Este evento gratuito está lleno de diversión, comida, y recursos para toda la familia.
Please join us for this special event supporting and celebrating our Latine and Hispanic community. This free event is filled with fun, food, and resources for the whole family. Register now »
For adults
Latine Author Book Cafe
Tuesday, 6-7 pm, Main Library. Join us the second Tuesday of each month, as we discuss works written by Latine authors. Spanish language copies will be made available when possible.
- September 12: The Five Wounds. Register now »
- October 10: Solito. Register now »
Film Screening: Selena
Friday, September 15, 1-3 pm, Main Library. Selena is a 1997 American biographical musical drama film based on the true story of Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, chronicling her rise to fame and tragic death when she was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar at the age of 23. Register now »
Author Visit: Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez: For Brown Girls With Sharp Edges & Tender Hearts
Sunday, September 24, 1-3 pm, Main Library. Join us for an evening with author Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez, author of For Brown Girls With Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts. Feminist. Theologian. Storyteller. Advocate. Mojica Rodríguez merges storytelling with pedagogy to help folks understand the larger forces at play, also known as systemic oppression. Register now »
Taller de escritura y poesia boricua con Elisaura Vaźquez Ayala/ Puerto Rican Writing & Poetry Workshop With Elisaura Vaźquez Ayala
Sunday, October 1, 12:30-4:30 pm, Main Library. Escritura, cultura, compartir. Presentación de poesía “spoken word.” Escritura de poesías con contenido castellano o bilingüe al estilo Boricua. Conversatorio sobre los mitos, las alegrías, el sabor y las realidades del pueblo de Puerto Rico. Disfrute grupal, compartiendo los poemas de las creaciones poéticas realizada en el taller por los participantes. Les espero! —Elisaura Vázquez Ayala, Poeta puertorriqueña
Join Puerto Rican poet Elisaua Vázquez Ayala for writing and sharing workshop, where participants will write poems in Spanish in the Boricua style and hear about the myths, joys, flavor, and realities of the Puerto Rican people. This program will be presented in Spanish. Register now »
Author Visit: Cynthia Pelayo
Wednesday, October 4, 7-8 pm, Main Library. Join us for a lively evening with Bram Stoker Award-winning and International Latino Book Award-winning author and poet, Cynthia Pelayo, and moderated by Micheal Allen Rose. Register now »
Spanish Conversation Hour/Conversación en español
Saturday, October 14, 3-4 pm, Main Library. Join us for a casual hour of open conversation with other Spanish speakers. Whether you speak enough to hold a basic conversation or can rattle off long stories, all levels are welcome. No class, no formal lesson—just practice for current Spanish speakers. Register now »
For kids
Cuenta Cuentos con Kathy/Spanish Storytime With Kathy
Saturdays, September 23-October 28, 2-2:30 pm, Main Library. Acompañanos para una media hora de cuentos en español con Kathy Valdivia. Ven a escuchar historias, canciones, y baile! Este programa está abierto a todos los niños de edades 3 a 6 años y sus cuidadores, y es mejor para aquellos que les gustaría estar inmersos en el idioma español.
Join us for a Spanish language Storytime facilitated by Kathy Valdivia. Come hear stories, songs, and dancing! This program is open to all children ages 3 to 6 years old and their caregivers, and is best for those who are eager to be immersed in Spanish language. Register now »
Latin American Music With Pop-Up Music School
Sunday, October 15, 2-3 pm, Main Library. Ms. Magaly Cordero will lead a musical adventure for your little ones where they will dance, sing, and learn about the African and Indigenous influences of Latin American music. Best for children ages 0-5. Instruments will be provided. Register now »
Watch Early Bird Learning videos in Spanish
- Color Hunt: Amarillo
- Los Pollitos Dicen
- Lego y Amigos
- Uno Dos Tres Chocolate
- Jugando y Contando
- Kathy y Munchy cantan Pin Pon
Online resources to explore
Get access to subscription-based resources that Google can’t offer, with your Oak Park card and PIN:
For kids
- MUZZY: Learn Spanish with fun and animated stories featuring Muzzy and friends.
- 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.
For adults & teens
- Gale in Context: Biography: Explore authoritative biographical entries covering international figures from all time periods and areas of study, including a collection of biographies on notable Hispanic Americans. To start your search, choose Browse People and from the Topics dropdown, select Hispanic Americans.
- Mango Languages: Reach conversational proficiency in Spanish.
- Novelist Plus: Find book reviews, annotations, read-alikes, discussion guides, and book lists for fiction and nonfiction readers. Use the Advanced Search option to find titles by Hispanic American authors by selecting Hispanic American under Authors Cultural Identity.
