Chess challenges young minds to think critically. It teaches sacrifice and strategy, and exercises the ability to think ahead. And it’s fun! Whether kids are new to chess or have been playing for some time, your public library has resources for all experience levels—including a virtual chess tutorial, an ongoing virtual workshop series, live tutoring, … Read more
By Middle School Services Librarian Beronica Puhr Here in Oak Park, the Village of Oak Park has proclaimed 2021 as the Year of the Butterfly, and we are learning so much about monarch butterflies and their need for milkweed plants to thrive. Did you know that the extinction of monarch butterflies ties into climate change? … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Friends, can you believe summer is almost here? It feels like winter was just last month and also a full year ago! But the calendar does not lie: our summer reading program, Reading Colors Your World, starts next week on June 1! Kids, like adults, have been doing their best … Read more
Library assistant Margaret can always be found doing origami and helping kids learn! Origami helps kids practice visual and spatial skills, concentration, and math, and is a great fidget activity for experienced creators. It’s also a lot of fun! Watch this video Can you make a butterfly following her tutorial? It’s the perfect way to … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris This week, I shared a video on using breathing to regulate your body when you’re feeling stressed or getting too excited on a fun day. A lot of the songs we sing and games we play in storytime help kids practice self-regulation: kids are following patterns in movement and song, … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Did you know that 70% of disabled adults do not engage in community activities? This statistic, from a 2005 paper, gave me pause the first time I heard it at a conference. I see it with my disabled brother and his friends, but it’s hard to see it widely confirmed. … Read more
Your public library is here to connect you with books, online resources, and learning experiences that honor Asian Pacific American history and culture all year long. On this page, you can: Watch Multicultural virtual learning videos. Browse suggested fiction and nonfiction titles for adults, teens, and kids, all hand-selected by our librarians. Log in with … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris What do you think of when you see a book? Are books something stressful? Boring? Magical? Exciting? Something in between? All of those reactions are valid. Right now, I feel a little sad when I see books. Because of the stress of the pandemic, I don’t have the mental energy … Read more
Celebrated the second Sunday each May (this year on May 9), Mother’s Day was first proposed by abolitionist and poet Julia Ward Howe. In her 1872 “Mother’s Day Proclamation,” Howe suggested that people observe Mother’s Day as a day dedicated to peace and supported the importance of coming together during challenging times. In honor of these … Read more
By Middle School Services Librarian Beronica Puhr The Village of Oak Park has proclaimed 2021 as the Year of the Butterfly, and we’re doing our part to ensure everyone knows all they can to protect the monarch butterfly! Want to help? Find facts, fun activities and resources, books to check out, and programs to attend … Read more
