Disability Pride books, a display & supported events

Collage of book covers

Your public library is here to connect you with books, learning experiences, events, and online resources that celebrate people with disabilities and disability as an identity in July and all year long. On this page, you can: What is Disability Pride Month? Disability Pride celebrates people with disabilities and disability as an identity, honoring the … Read more

How to get free passes & discounted admission to museums & cultural attractions

Person riding a bike in front of a museum

Summer has arrived, and it’s time to get out and see what our beautiful state has to offer. Your Oak Park library card provides instant access to discounted admission and other deals through Museum Adventure Pass and Explore More Illinois. Each program offers different attractions and offers that you can learn more about below! Museum … Read more

44 things to do with your little ones this summer

Illustration of animal families enjoying lemonade in the park in summer

There is so much to do and explore during the summer! Together with the Collaboration for Early Childhood, we’ve put together a collection of activities and free, fun, local community events happening all summer long—especially for families with young children. Take advantage of this beautiful season and drink in the sunshine and long days with … Read more

Celebrating Pride Month

Collage of book covers

Your public library is here with books, resources, and experiences that can help us connect and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Titles we suggest More to explore Reading lists for kids From your digital library Upcoming events For all ages Book Bike: Out in the BurbsSaturday, June 7, 12-4 pm, downtown Oak Park The Book Bike … Read more

Adult summer reading returns June 1

Graphics of a movie projector, book, conversation bubbles, and headphones and a beachy background

It’s time to pull out your reading list and get warmed up for adult summer reading 2025! From June 1 through August 19, sign up via Beanstack, track your reading, complete activities, and earn badges for a chance to win gift cards to local businesses. No library card? No problem. You don’t need one to participate. If … Read more

Books & bagels: New pop-up library at Daly Bagel

In a cafe window, there's a tray with a to-go coffee cup and a sesame seed bagel, a bin of kids books with a sign that says "Read while you wait," and paper event calendars

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: The Daly Bagel, 130 Chicago Ave., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. “We are thrilled and honored to be part of the Pop-Up Library initiative!” said Adrienne Guldin and Amanda Daly of The Daly Bagel. … Read more

Celebrating Seniors Week 2025

Older adults talking and enjoying coffee at the library

Spring is here, so it’s time again for Celebrating Seniors Week! Held this year from May 8 to 15, the weeklong celebration is dedicated to honoring, recognizing, and serving seniors in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park. Celebrating Seniors Week is sponsored by the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, an organization dedicated to uplifting and advocating for older … Read more

National Library Week

Illustration of people of all ages outside of a library with a banner that says Find Your Joy.

The American Library Association’s National Library Week is April 19-25, 2026, with the theme “Find Your Joy.” Award-winning librarian, author, and new host of the children’s program Reading Rainbow, Mychal Threets is the 2026 Honorary Chair of National Library Week. (Watch a recording of our interview with Mychal from April 2025.) Let’s get joyful! Here … Read more

Tech Tips: What does that icon mean?

Chat icon and a question mark

By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian In today’s technology landscape, there are hundreds of icons in use. Icons are meant to help people navigate technology by serving as clear, recognizable symbols that represent a function, tool, or file. However, there is currently no standard for use for most of them.  Still, across various technologies, some icons … Read more

Oak Park celebrates Kwanzaa with ‘the spirit of community and cultural richness’

Delighted faces among audience members in the Main Library Veterans Room

Oak Park’s Kwanzaa celebration drew almost 200 people to the Main Library on Monday, December 30, and was a resounding success. With music, dance, crafts, artwork, food, and ceremony, the Black American harvest celebration “truly captured the spirit of community and cultural richness that Kwanzaa represents,” said Manager of Community Engagement Chibuike Enyia. Seven principles … Read more

How to get started with Little Pim, a language learning app for kids (ages 0-6)

Child watching LIttle Pim video featuring a cartoon panda on laptop screen

Introducing Little Pim, a new way for kids ages 0-6 to have fun while learning a new language! To get started, choose from 12 languages—Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. A series of short, engaging videos voiced by native speakers will help kids to learn the new … Read more

Pop-up library now at Styles 4 Kidz

Person next to small bookshelf with kids books, and bookshelf in hair salon

Announcing our newest pop-up library location: Styles 4 Kidz, 235 Harrison St., Oak Park! Pop-up libraries allow community members to use the library when they’re out and about, no library card or checkouts needed. Styles 4 Kidz is our third pop-up library location, adding to ones installed earlier this year at the Community Recreation Center … Read more

After-school program serves up tea, snacks & space for middle schoolers to talk about feelings

Group of middle schoolers sit around a table and talk with each other and an adult who's standing up

Every Wednesday after school, middle schoolers gather at the Main Library for tea and snacks with their friends and a couple of trusted adults. It’s called Tea Talk, and it’s a time for everyone to talk about mental health and emotions. This mentoring group, now in its second year, draws about 10-15 kids each week, … Read more

Tech Tips: How to use Consumer Reports

Two older adults laughing while using a laptop and holding a credit card

Are you thinking about buying a new car, appliance, gadget, or literally anything else, but feeling overwhelmed or not sure where to start? Consumer Reports is designed to help you navigate all of the options and narrow down products based on consumer tests and reviews. Their goal is to create a fair and just marketplace … Read more

Relevant reads: Pandemic novels & short stories 2024

Illustration of people wearing surgical face masks

By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná From the plague to the 1918 influenza to now, pandemics have been unwelcome members of society. Touching everyone and everything, global sickness and the changes we have to make to get through makes us anxious and sends us looking for an escape. No wonder we turn to fiction that explores … Read more

Books with (pumpkin) spice

Collage books with a repeating pattern of pumpkins, mushrooms, leaves, and fall flowers behind

It’s that time of the year—the leaves start turning, a chill is in the air, the sun sets earlier, and we all start craving the deliciousness of pumpkin spice. Okay, maybe not all of us, but it is time to get cozy and comfy, start baking and boiling, and bust out the sweaters and hoodies. … Read more

Tech Tips: Getting started with cloud storage

Smartphone and tablet both displaying a list of files to upload to cloud storage

Have you heard people refer to backing up digital files to “the cloud”? Or the term “cloud backup” or “cloud-based storage”? All of these phrases are ways of describing how files are saved to an offsite location that can be accessed remotely. Companies like Apple, Dropbox, Google, and Microsoft store these files for you at … Read more