So you, your child, or your student has been diagnosed with autism? Congratulations! As overwhelming as it can be to hear a diagnosis, you are now ready to find and receive the supports you need to live the life you want for yourself. There has been an increasing amount of misinformation about autism in the … Read more
Have you ever seen origami art at the Main Library Children’s Services desk? Miss Margaret has made and displayed so many over the years: Carmen Sprung’s Carambola Flower, an Omega Star, a Traditional Star Box, and various Tomoko Fuse Modular boxes. Origami helps kids practice visual and spatial skills, concentration, and math, and is a great fidget activity for … Read more
Are you looking for a great resource for kids to do research online? Did you know that World Book is accessible with your library card? World Book offers a comprehensive suite of engaging content for learners of all ages, all in one place. This site, along with all of our subscription-based resources, can be accessed … Read more
Have curious kids in grades K-5 who want to explore the world? Log in to Pebble Go and Pebble Go Next with your Oak Park library card and find answers to questions like “What do axolotls eat for breakfast?” and “How do I stand up for a friend?” PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next are content hubs … Read more
In honor of Black History Month, let’s learn more about Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, a Puerto Rican historian, writer, curator, and activist! Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico in 1874, Schomburg was the son of a Puerto Rican merchant of German descent and an Afro-Caribbean woman from the Danish West Indies. He spent the majority of his … Read more
Our understanding of gender and the language we use to describe it is constantly evolving. Often, we learn a limiting definition of gender that tries to put everyone into just two categories—boy or girl. Those categories come with many unfair expectations about the activities and interests we’re allowed to enjoy, how we’re supposed to dress … Read more
With hoopla‘s BingePass and your Oak Park library card, you can get unlimited streaming for seven days with a single borrow! Let’s get started… How do I use hoopla’s BingePass? Watch the video below for an overview. For more detailed instructions, see How do I borrow a BingePass. What can I borrow with unlimited access? … Read more
Did you know? Illinois is one of only eight states with an inclusive curriculum bill that ensures students in public schools learn about LGBTQ+ and their contributions as part of their history curriculum. In their published survey results from 2021, GLSEN found that inclusive curricula have a positive impact on the safety and mental health … Read more
Need a tutor to help reinforce concepts learned in class or prepare for a test? Are you a parent looking for academic support for your child? Or are you a teacher seeking supplementary resources to assist your students? Your library is here to the rescue with Brainfuse HelpNow. Find this resource on the Homework Help … Read more
As school projects are assigned throughout the year, know that your library is here to help! In addition to books, your Oak Park library card gives you access to a number of subscription-based resources that you can use to help you with your research, such as American Indian History. American Indian History This library research site … Read more
As mentioned in my first post in this series, Google is a great resource of information and can be a useful first source when researching for school projects. But did you know that there are many subscription-based library resources that can be accessed online with your Oak Park library card? Not only that, but you … Read more
There are so many ways to use your library, and we’ve rounded up a few special ones for kids and families here. Not all of them require a library card, but we encourage Oak Park residents of any age to get one—even babies! I like to explore new places A library card can help you … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Eileen Saam At the Oak Park Public Library, we are always looking for ways to foster learning experiences for children who we serve. We have developed a sizable collection of Discovery Kits, which are filled with everything you need to foster the kinds of exploratory, hands-on experiences that are inherent in STEAM … Read more
Have you ever wished you could explore the worlds of your favorite characters? Do you dream of running off on a grand adventure with your friends by your side? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you might want to try tabletop roleplaying at your next game night. I am a huge … Read more
Planning a road trip or visiting a nearby park? There are so many fun things to do during the summer, and at the library, we have some great resources to take with you that will make it even more fun! Don’t forget to keep track of all your reading and activities for summer reading—either in … Read more
By Hal, Rainbow Services Librarian As the summer approaches, so does Pride Month. In the United States and many other countries around the world, we celebrate Pride during June in honor of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. Nowadays, communities throughout the world celebrate Pride Month with parades of rainbows and glitter. These parades began as … Read more
Interested in facilitating conversations about self-expression and gender identity? Check out these two Discovery Kits about pronouns designed to help kids explore self-expression through play. Playing With Pronouns kit The Wellness & Life Skills: Playing With Pronouns kit includes the books They, She, He, Easy as ABC and What Are Your Words? and a game … Read more
If you have a school project and need to find a variety of sources for your research, your library is here to the rescue! On the Homework Help for Kids page, you can access many subscription-based resources with your Oak Park library card and PIN. National Geographic Kids One valuable resource available to cardholders is … Read more
Sharing your identity with friends, family, and community should be empowering and affirming, but for LGBTQIA+ young people, coming out is often scary rather than a moment of celebration. According to the 2023 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, fewer than 40% of LGBTQ young people found their home to be … Read more
By Eileen Saam, Children’s Librarian Looking for fun and educational websites for kids without advertisements? You’ve come to the right place! From math games, puzzles, and science videos to language learning activities, art exploration, and narrated stories, the list of free websites below offers a variety of engaging online experiences for kids of all ages. … Read more
