By Rose Barnes, Health & Senior Services Librarian
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! In celebration, I’d like to share some hidden benefits of having an Oak Park library card.
Did you know that there is so much that you can do with your library card beyond checking out materials and logging onto a computer? Below are some of my “hidden” favorites:
1. Check out technology
We have a wide range of technology available for checkout that provide access to technology outside of the library and help bridge the digital divide:
- Hotspots: devices that use wireless data to provide internet access on the go. They are especially helpful if you don’t have home internet service or if you’re going on a trip where you’ll need internet access.
- Laptops: easily transportable computers.
- Oral history kits provide recording technology, prompts, and instructions for the Oral History Project.
2. Get free passes or discounted tickets to local museums & attractions
Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois offer free or discounted tickets to attractions all over Chicagoland and the state of Illinois. Some of my favorites are the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic Garden available from Museum Adventure Pass and discounted tickets to the Chicago Red Stars and The Lincoln Heritage Museum through Explore More Illinois. Check out both options to see what attractions tickle your fancy!
3. Make a list of books, movies & more
Have you ever made a list in your library account online? Lists are useful ways to keep track of anything in the catalog. From making a list of books you’d like to read to creating bibliographies or sorting titles into subjects, lists are great ways to save and organize titles in the catalog.
Simply log in to your library account with your Oak Park library card number and PIN, then search for titles, and click the Add To List button below the item record. You also can sort and organize lists once you create them. Give it a try and see what fun lists you come up with! Get step-by-step instructions on how to make a list »
4. Let Oak Park Librarians recommend your next read
Read to Order is a readers advisory service offered to Oak Park Library card holders. Use the online form to answer some questions about your reading habits, and our librarians will recommend some titles for you to try next, delivered straight to your inbox! Get started »
5. Pick up your holds anytime
Did you know that we have material lockers that can be accessed before and after the library’s open hours? You can put something on hold and choose to pick it up in a locker outside of the Main Library. It’s very useful if you are up early or out late and want to pick up a hold when the building is not open. Learn more about locker pickup »
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.
