Juneteenth is the June 19 holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. Long celebrated by the African American community, it is now an official Village of Oak Park holiday, as well as an official library holiday. It’s also on its way to becoming an Illinois state holiday. About Juneteenth The holiday is … Read more
By David J. Seleb, Executive Director Note: A version of this post first appeared in Wednesday Journal and OakPark.com on May 11, 2021. Read the piece on OakPark.com » We are on an anti-racism journey. This includes working with a local consultant and implementing a new anti-racism strategic plan. Why are we doing this? Because as … Read more
During the past year, we’ve reaffirmed that technology and collections—both physical and digital—are core and essential services and functions of our library. And they require greater attention and leadership than ever. To address these needs, achieve our strategic objectives, and have a more significant and positive effect on our community and staff, we’ve shifted some … Read more
Last summer, we held a logo design contest to help spread the word about the Leading Edge Teen Advisory Board (LETAB), one of the library’s Teen Services initiatives. A volunteer group for students ages 13-17, LETAB’s mission is to offer guidance and a teen-centered perspective to the Oak Park community and the Teen Services team. … Read more
As part of our ongoing focus to sustain the natural environment and to offer new opportunities to learn, we installed two beehives in the spring of 2019, buzzing with up to 20,000 Italian honeybees, on the Main Library’s Green Roof. With our two rooftop hives, the library joined a small community of beekeepers in Oak … Read more
Work is happening this spring at the Main Library to improve indoor air quality and to reduce electricity consumption and waste. Air quality and safety: To support safety for our staff and community, we’re reducing the risk of airborne viral transmission by installing an air purification system in our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) … Read more
In the April 2021 issue of Library Journal, our Teen Services Manager Stephen Jackson writes about restorative practices and libraries. Read the article online or access the entire digitized issue. He illustrates how our library has integrated restorative practices since he joined the staff in 2016. Examples include the use of circles, annual community conferences, … Read more
This week, we celebrate both National Library Week (April 4-10) and National Public Health Week (April 5-11). The American Public Health Association sponsors National Public Health Week every April. The theme this year, during what it calls “the most challenging public health crisis of our lifetimes,” is Building Bridges to Better Health. National Library Week … Read more
From a very young age, Nora Sanchez knew she wanted to work with children. Before going to college, she worked in a daycare center, assisting teachers who became role models to her. “Because it wasn’t just a job to them,” Nora says. “It was who they were.” Years later, after having two children of her … Read more
This spring, join us for anti-racism community discussions using the model of circles, a restorative practice which honors our stories, community relationships, and ability to keep learning from each other. Register for upcoming anti-racism circles Wednesday, March 31, 6 pm: Community Circle – Identifying the Real Story of Rosa Parks. Register in Zoom » Thursday, April 15, … Read more
