Entrepreneurs, new businesses, and nonprofit organizations have access to spaces, training, subscription-based resources, and local community information.
- Use meeting spaces. Let’s get started »
- Get a library card for your Oak Park business. Here’s how »
- Contact Business & Government Services Librarian Bridget Optholt, at bridgeto@oppl.org and 708.452.3466.
Discover industry trends and collect valuable data
Subscription-based resources available with your Oak Park card & PIN include:
- Barrons: Investing and Financial News
- Business Source Premier: Essentials for the business researcher
- Crain’s Chicago Business: Chicago Business News
- Foundation Directory Online (FDO): Find Grants, Requests for Proposals and more
- Illinois Legal Aid: Articles and referrals to free and low-cost legal aid offices
- Legal Information Reference Center: Full-text of top consumer legal reference books
- LinkedIn Learning (Formerly Lynda.com): Business related classes and workshops
- Morningstar Investment Research Center: Financial stock and mutual fund information
- Record Information Services: Data on new homeowners, businesses, and more for market research
- Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA): Directory of 14 million businesses and 89 million residents
- Regional Business News:Business journals, newspapers, and newswires
- Small Business Reference Center: Books, tools, and videos that address small business topics
- Value Line: Information on stocks, mutual funds, options, and convertible securities
Connect with community organizations
- Allies for Community Business: Provides local capital and coaching for businesses
- Available commercial real estate: Shows available local real estate for businesses
- OPRF Chamber of Commerce: Member-based organization supporting the Oak Park and River Forest small business community to stay informed, network with other members and provide marketing opportunities
- Oak Park Economic Development Corporation: Serves developers, property owners and businesses seeking sites, financing or other assistance in the development, sale, purchase, lease or rehab of commercial property within Oak Park
- Score Chicago: Provides free business tools, workshops and face-to-face or online mentoring to aid in the success of small businesses
- Village of Oak Park Business Services: Manages business licenses, permitting, zoning, and health department/fire safety inspections
- Women’s Business Development Center: Provides free mentoring, programs and services to support and accelerate women’s business ownership
