By Children’s Librarian Hal Patnott Have you ever wished you could explore the worlds of your favorite characters? Do you dream of running off on a grand adventure with your friends by your side? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then you might want to try tabletop roleplaying at your next game … Read more
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
Feeling stuck in your own neighborhood? Let’s visit Mr. Jose as he walks us around his Chicago neighborhood, Belmont Cragin, and shows us some of his favorite places. If you were making a video tour of your neighborhood, what are your favorite parts that you would show off? What other places would you like to visit by … Read more
By Middle School Services Librarian Beronica Puhr This winter, be safe with what you send over your digital device and where your devices end up after their lifespan ends. Check out these digital titles available on Hoopla E-Waste in Guiyu, China by Shannon Berg (grades 3-6): Understanding what “e-waste” means and how Guiyu, China was … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Hal Patnott It’s Transgender Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to educating our communities about the lives of transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week is celebrated every year during the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), a day set aside to recognize each life lost during the year to … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris Math. Did you just shudder? Or grin? Most people have a strong reaction to math, one way or the other. When I was growing up, one of my absolute must see shows was Square One TV on PBS. I was definitely a book person over a math person, but I … Read more
By Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove I have always loved looking at maps and studying about other countries and cultures my whole life. Could it be because my last name was Atlas? While I didn’t become a geographer, I still thinks it’s fascinating! Geography has two main branches: Physical geography studies the Earth itself: landforms, oceans, … Read more
By Middle School Services Librarian Beronica Puhr Learn about new tech information in a safe manner with digital titles available in your digital library, create-on-your-own websites, and tech news sources for kids! Check out these digital titles The Fake News Phenomenon by Duchess Harris Snap It! Snapchat Projects for the Real World by Carolyn Bernhardt The Robot … Read more
By Children’s Librarian José Cruz This week, I would like to introduce the African influence on Puerto Rican music by exploring Bomba traditions. Bomba music is a call and response process where the dancer communicates with the drummers and vice versa. This musical tradition dates back to 17th century Puerto Rico, and it served as … Read more
