With the explosion of interest in chess fueled by Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit last fall, library resource BrainFuse HelpNow has responded by offering live chess tutoring with expert coaches. Expert chess tutors are available Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 pm CT. Tutors have certifiable qualifications such as high Elo ratings (2000+), chess coaching … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove While we live very close to one of the most well-known art museums in the world, you don’t need to leave Oak Park, or even your desk, to experience art! Here are a couple of fun resources to explore and use to make your own art, too. Try these activities … Read more
As our new Health and Senior Services Librarian, Rose Barnes is your go-to for resources on health and wellness and senior services. “I am most interested in exploring more ways to incorporate health and wellness programming into the library while also creating spaces for conversation and growth,” she says. “I am passionate about practicing yoga, … Read more
By Collection Management Librarian Dontaná McPherson-Joseph Since Oprah’s first book club pick in 1996, we have been reading as the celebrities do, falling in love with, or hating, characters with our fellow book club readers. Book clubs offer an opportunity to be in community with others, even if we’re not together in person. Other celebrities who love … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Well, 2021 has certainly begun right where 2020 left off: with a lot of tough topics. Even our youngest kids know when big or upsetting things happen in the news. They may not know the details, but they can see and feel the strong emotions of their grownups and that … Read more
By Rose Barnes, Adult Digital Learning Librarian We’ve all been spending more time at home this year, and maybe during that time you’ve been watching more television. Maybe you’ve heard about a new show on a streaming service instead of cable. There are so many options for streaming nowadays and more people are opting out … Read more
After the year that was 2020, we know everyone could use some self-care and recuperation. And what better way to accomplish this than through books that offer hope, spark creativity, elicit empathy, and encourage mindfulness. What we suggest Hope & joy Creativity & inspiration Empathy & kindness Mindfulness & meditation Find more digital titles to … Read more
Joining our Teen Services team is Librarian Alexander Gutierrez! “I’ve always wanted to be a librarian and have the opportunity to work with youths because of their energy and optimism,” he says. His path from library volunteer to librarian Alex has been with the Oak Park Public Library since 2016, when he started as a … Read more
This fall, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite virtual activities with our Discover and Explore posts. Have you missed any? Check out this list of great activities to do all year round! Visit museums virtually The National Museum of Mathematics is offering free classes for kids throughout the pandemic to explore the fun side … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Every year, our final Early Bird Reader tip we send via text (Want weekly early learning tips from the Oak Park Public Library? Sign up now for Early Bird Readers ») is to share stories about the year that’s ending. Sharing memories is a great way to practice narrating stories, … Read more
