Get connected to trusted resources, local events, and community groups focused on sustainability.
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Participate in library-led environmental and sustainability programs. You can also keep up with the climate conversation by browsing the free Climate Dictionary: An everyday guide to climate change »
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Christine is the library’s Environmental Programming Specialist. She helps you find the sustainability and environmental resources you need. She also collaborates closely with librarians curating the environmental collection, develops related programming, and cultivates community partnerships based on sustainability and the environment.
Online resources
Subscription-based resources available with your Oak Park library card and PIN.
For adults & teens
- GreenFile: Articles from scholarly and general interest titles focused on the environment, with the ability to limit to full-text or peer-reviewed.
- MasterFILE Complete: Popular full-text magazines, reference books, and other highly-regarded sources from the world’s leading publishers. Use the search bar to find titles related to sustainability.
- Mother Earth News: Bi-monthly magazine featuring practical and money-saving information on cutting energy costs, using renewable energy, organic gardening, green home building and remodeling, fun DIY projects, and more.
- Renew Magazine: Fact-based and human-interest stories about building climate and energy resilience in your home and community, the latest in sustainable issues and technology, and useful how-tos for reducing your footprint and contributing to a more resilient future.
- Science Reference Center: Full-text science magazines, journals, reference books, and videos. Explore the Environmental Science topic area—which includes sections on global warming, pollution, renewable energy, and more.
For kids
- National Geographic Kids: Go on amazing adventures in science, nature, culture, archaeology, and space. NatGeo Kids offers a complete run of the magazine from 2009 to the present, as well as books, videos, and images. High-quality informational texts are available for primary, upper elementary, and middle school students.
- ScienceFlix: Explores science concepts and ideas through hands-on projects, videos, multiple text types, interactive features, and more for elementary and middle school students.
Local resources
- Citizens Utility Board (CUB): A non-profit organization that represents the interests of residential utility customers across the state and provides consumer education on energy-saving opportunities.
- Climate Ready Oak Park: A comprehensive and long-range plan developed in response to the global climate crisis, adopted by the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees on August 2, 2022.
- The Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability: Works to improve the quality of the environment for all residents of Cook County.
- One Earth Collective: Builds environmental awareness and inspired action in the Chicago area as well as nationally.
- Village of Oak Park: The Environment and Sustainability page lists numerous initiatives and useful links.
The library’s sustainability initiatives
The library sustains, shares, and respects community resources, including the natural environment. Environmental work includes:
- Free library-led programs supported by a dedicated library staff member
- Board of Library Trustees and library staff participation in PlanIt Green
- Participation in the Village of Oak Park’s Energy and Water Benchmarking Program
- Support for Climate Ready Oak Park, including by sharing information and hosting the plan’s one-year anniversary community conversation
- LED lighting upgrades at Main and Maze library buildings
- Two registered Monarch Waystations pollinator gardens at the Main Library and Maze Branch
