Adventure begins at your library: Digital audiobooks & adult summer reading

Graphics of a movie projector, book, conversation bubbles, and headphones and a beachy background

June is Audiobook Appreciation Month It seems like we have a month and/or week to celebrate just about everything these days. This month is Audiobook Appreciation Month, which covers one of my favorite pastimes. I listen to audiobooks constantly—when I’m doing dishes, walking the dog, or drifting off to sleep (after setting a sleep timer on … Read more

Meet author, artist & ‘library guy’ Jacob Grant

Jacob Grant with covers of three books, Bear's Scare, No Pants! and Umami, and an acorn character reading a book on a cushion of leaves

Jacob Grant is an award-winning Oak Park author, illustrator, and dad who makes picture books, including Umami, No Pants!, and Bear’s Scare. He won the prestigious Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustration Exhibition earlier this year. And he designed our new acorn character mascot for the Pop-Up Library initiative, which debuted in April! Below, Jacob shares … Read more

ICYMI: Recently released fiction & nonfiction for AANHPI Heritage Month

Collage of book covers

By Collection Management Librarians Dontaná & Kathy Check out these recently released fiction and nonfiction titles that might have flown under your radar. They are perfect for celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Hawaiian Mythology by Martha Beckwith Why you should try it: If you’ve made your way through the gateway … Read more

‘Burn Book’: Waiting for it? Loved it? Try these titles!

Burn Book by Kara Swisher

By Collection Management Librarian Kathy I love how much our community uses the library. Sometimes that means waiting for the hottest titles. Don’t fret! I can help you find a similar reading experience to THAT book you are waiting for or that you finally read and loved. Burn Book readalikes Bad Blood: Secrets & Lies … Read more

ICYMI: Recently released fiction & nonfiction

Book collage

By Collection Management Librarians Dontaná & Kathy Check out these recently released fiction and nonfiction titles that might have flown under your radar. They are perfect for celebrating Black History Month. Fiction Hush Harbor by Anise Vance Why you should try it: This gritty dystopian novel will make you think. Description: A resistance group takes America’s … Read more

Best of 2023: Adult fiction & nonfiction

Best of 2023: Adult fiction & nonfiction

Oak Park’s Best of 2023 is back! Our annual librarian-curated selection of titles features some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers. See our adult fiction and nonfiction favorites on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships | Adult fiction: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | Teen nonfiction … Read more

Best of 2023: Teen fiction & nonfiction

Best of 2023: Teen fiction & nonfiction

Oak Park’s Best of 2023 is back! Our annual librarian-curated selection of titles features some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers. See our teen fiction and nonfiction favorites on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships | Adult fiction: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | … Read more

Best of 2023: Kids & picture books

Best of 2023: Kids & Picture Books

Oak Park’s Best of 2023 is back! Our annual librarian-curated selection of titles features some of the titles most requested and checked out by Oak Parkers. See our kids and picture books favorites on this page or browse more using the links below. Adult fiction: General | Adult fiction: Romance, lives & relationships | Adult fiction: Mystery, thriller, sci-fi & fantasy | Adult nonfiction | Teen fiction | Teen nonfiction … Read more

Book bans, censorship & intellectual freedom: Attend Saturday’s panel discussion

Headshots of four Barbara Ballinger Lecture presenters on teal background, with Barbara Ballinger Lecture logo

Across the United States, a movement has been growing to censor books in schools and public libraries, especially books by and about people of color and members of LGBTQ+ communities. As your public library, we will continue to make challenged and endangered books accessible to everyone, and to educate our community on the history and … Read more

‘Tom Lake’: Waiting for it? Loved it? Try these titles!

Book cover image for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

I love how much our community uses the library. Sometimes that means waiting for the hottest titles. Don’t fret! I can help you find a similar reading experience to THAT book you are waiting for or that you finally read and loved. Tom Lake readalikes Good Company by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Why you should try … Read more

Get cozy for autumn

Collage of book covers on a fall forest watercolor background

When the weather starts to turn and the air gets crisp, we pull out our sweaters, socks, and blankets. We start to build a soft nest, perfect for watching the fall rain and the winter snow. We get cozy and settle in with some comfort food and a cup of something warm. Autumn is a … Read more

‘Fourth Wing’: Waiting for it? Loved it? Try these titles!

Fourth Wing book cover on a background of dragon scales

I love how much our community uses the library. Sometimes that means waiting for the hottest titles, especially when they get TikTok famous. Don’t fret! I can help you find a similar reading experience to THAT book you are waiting for or that you finally read and loved. Fourth Wing readalikes In Fourth Wing, a scribe-to-be … Read more

Throwback summer blockbusters

Movie posters with starburst background

Some of the best things about summer are the beaches, outdoor events, and, of course, cooling off in a movie theater. Why not recreate that movie theater experience at home with these throwback summer blockbusters? Past summer movie hits Alien (1979) Why you should watch it: With fantastic visual effects, a powerful female protagonist, and … Read more

Oak Park supports democracy and the freedom to read as a Book Sanctuary Community

Village hall board meeting room presentation

Big news! At its June 20 regular meeting, the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees approved a new resolution declaring the Village of Oak Park a Book Sanctuary Community. This local resolution follows a new state law that Gov. JB Pritzker signed in early June that is meant to discourage state libraries from removing … Read more

Oak Park Creates: Spotlight on local creators in 2023

Titles in the Oak Park Creates Collection

Each week through June, we’re celebrating a different local creator from the Oak Park Creates collection on our social media pages. We’re highlighting just some of the novelists, nonfiction authors, comics creators, and more right here in our community. We hope you find inspiration in their accomplishments, or simply find some new books to check … Read more

Adventures with audiobooks

Collage of books with a road map in the background

By plane, by car, by train, by bus, by bike, by foot…however you travel, an audiobook is a perfect way to keep yourself (and your traveling companions) entertained. Audiobooks for your next trip The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell Where are you going: To find the ultimate dessert, or maybe just to try THAT dessert … Read more