“Banned Books Week, being celebrated this year from September 22-28, usually is about challenging outright censorship,” wrote Kent Oliver, director of the Nashville Public Library, for a recent opinion piece published in his hometown newspaper. Now, “publisher Macmillan’s new e-book embargo must be challenged too.” We couldn’t agree more, Kent! Ebook embargo limits what libraries … Read more
New! Watch the promotional video » Join us for the three-day Restorative Community Practices: Building Stronger Families, Schools, and Communities conference at the Main Library this October 4-6. Expanding on last fall’s restorative justice conference, this year’s conference takes a wider look at how restorative practices can be applied within families, schools, and communities. Also … Read more
Our librarians keep ending up in the hospital! No need to send flowers, though—they’re doing just fine. It’s all been in the name of sharing resources and access to information. Over the past year, library staff have been making repeat visits to Rush Oak Park Hospital, 520 S. Maple Ave., to sign up hospital staff … Read more
Caregivers looking for spaces to breastfeed, pump, or bottle feed now have another option at the Main Library. Our newly installed and ADA-compliant Mamava lactation suite is now open in the Children’s Services Area for first-come, first-served use. “We are so excited to be able to offer this amenity,” says Jennifer Norborg, Manager of Children’s … Read more
A community needs survey is now underway The survey’s goals are twofold: to learn more about what keeps people from using library resources and to help shape how library spaces could and should be used in the future. Oak Park households receiving this random sample survey can choose to complete it on paper, online, or … Read more
The following post was originally published in the Wednesday Journal as “Sharing space, making room for all voices,” a One View column by Juanita Harrell, on Tuesday, July 30. Juanita Harrell is Oak Park Public Library’s One Book coordinator and Health & Wellness Librarian. ‘Who owns the public space?” asks Linda Francis in a recent Wednesday Journal column … Read more
The following post was originally published in the Wednesday Journal as “Parks, libraries, and building community,” a One View column by Jan Arnold and David J. Seleb, on Tuesday, June 18. Jan Arnold is executive director of the Park District of Oak Park. David J. Seleb is executive director of the Oak Park Public Library. … Read more
How do you close the “homework gap”? In part, by working together. On Monday, June 10, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Superintendent Dr. Carol Kelley, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Senior Director of Technology Michael Arensdorff, and Oak Park Public Library Director David J. Seleb presented a webinar entitled “Closing the Homework Gap: … Read more
Inspired by this summer’s One Book, One Oak Park selection Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg, we are asking about and sharing community members’ perspectives on social infrastructure. This is what Klinenberg calls “the missing piece of the puzzle; and building places where all kinds of people can gather is the best way to … Read more
In this summer’s One Book, One Oak Park series, we’re connecting over Eric Klinenberg’s Palaces for the People, which looks at how open, accessible spaces can promote civic engagement and social interaction. The author uses the term “social infrastructure” to describe public libraries, parks, schools, community gardens, and other places where people assemble and engage. … Read more
