The Medicine Wheel: Balancing Humanity Oak Park’s third annual Restorative Justice Conference has been taking place virtually all October, and it wraps up on Friday, October 30. This year’s theme is The Medicine Wheel: Balancing Humanity. The goal has been to provide the community with strategies to cope in these extreme times. “2020 has been … Read more
As the library’s Teen Services Specialist, Darcel Washington provides outreach and program support to kids in grades 6-12. Darcel joined the library last November, bringing more than 15 years of experience in creating innovative youth development programs. With the library, she works on youth programs such as Living History and Leading Edge, plus this month’s … Read more
Each October, we recognize Health Literacy Month, a time to promote the importance of understandable health information. October is also a month chosen to highlight awareness of many disability communities, a time to call for acceptance of and advocacy for people who use communication aids to speak, have Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, … Read more
“Schools are a reflection of our society, so in the wake of social justice and anti-racism demonstrations, we must support our students in becoming global citizens in a diverse democracy.” —Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Anti-Racism in District 97 All Oak Park Elementary School District 97 middle school students are reading and discussing Stamped: … Read more
Oak Park’s all-virtual summer reading program for adults and teens, Many Voices, Many Stories, features six unique titles connected through one common theme: immigration. This week we’re exploring the title The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui. I’m doing what I can to illuminate the relationship between the past and the present and illuminate … Read more
Oak Park’s all-virtual summer reading program for adults and teens, Many Voices, Many Stories, features six unique titles connected through one common theme: immigration. This week we’re exploring the title 1919 by Eve L. Ewing. Watch Eve L. Ewing read from 1919 in the video below and view her post-reading interview on YouTube » “I became … Read more
As one of the library’s Teen Services initiatives, Leading Edge strives to surround teens with opportunities to maximize their innate potential to lead socially and academically through peer mentoring and coaching. To help spread the word and increase program visibility, we are inviting interested teens to enter an image contest to promote Leading Edge at … Read more
By Shelley Harris and Genevieve Grove, Children’s Librarians Can you imagine a year without your library’s summer reading program? Neither can we! That’s why we’ve put together a safe, convenient, and fun new way to participate in our classic program online, starting June 1. This summer’s virtual version is super flexible, makes it easy to … Read more
With graphic novels, fantasy titles, books in verse, and more, there’s so much for teens to explore in the Hoopla app! Check out titles recently added to the collection and some of our librarians’ favorites below. New! Hoopla checkout limits have temporarily tripled. Now you can enjoy 30 items a month! Want even more? Check … Read more
As your public library, we love to share! Here’s a roundup of free entertainment resources for adults and teens that we’ve been collecting. Have something to share? Please do! Email communications@dev.oppl.org. Nature Explore the natural world around you with free field guides from The Field Museum. Experience spring garden moments with the Chicago Botanic Garden. … Read more
