The main branch of the Oak Park Public Library is one of my favorite places in Oak Park, both a town square and a launching pad for adventure.
When I walk into the building, I feel welcome. The staff at the front desk are friendly and helpful, and I see a variety of people: adults of all ages, babies, students, young children, teenagers, and families. The library offers programming for all.
“We are a library for everyone,” the library’s website, https://www.oppl.org, states. I think they succeed.
The main library building, located at 834 Lake St., was completed in 2003 with the goal of being a sustainable building. Did you know there is a 12,500-square-foot Green Roof that enhances the energy usage of the building, helps with better air quality in the surrounding neighborhood, and redirects rainwater runoff away from area sewer systems?
When my granddaughter was little, she loved to go with me to the first-floor children’s area and explore books and puzzles. She also liked playing with other children in the large play kitchen/counter area. The noise is louder there than in other parts of the library, and it is punctuated periodically by adults reminding, “Take turns.”
I guess I’m not the only Oak Park resident who still has a DVD and CD player because there are shelves of CDs and DVDs that can be checked out for free on the second floor. I’ve attended presentations and concerts in the Veterans Room on the second floor and often visit the Art Gallery next to it, where local artists display their work.
On the third floor, there are non-fiction books plus quiet reading and group meeting rooms. The technology area, with a creative studio that includes a vinyl cutter, a 3D printer, and a laser cutter, is also located on the third floor. If you want to record a podcast or record and edit music, an Audio Booth awaits. I recently attended a presentation on scanning photographs because I was working on sharing family photos.
I’m not the most tech-savvy person in Oak Park, so I followed up with several one-on-one 30-minute scanning sessions with a staff person. I did OK when the staff person was sitting next to me, but I found there wasn’t enough time for me to really learn how to do this process on my own. I wish that individual help could be given for longer than 30 minutes.
The Oak Park Public Library is also a launching pad to other cultural attractions within and outside Oak Park. You can use your Oak Park library card for free visits to museums like the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry on a first-come, first-served basis. Last summer, I got passes to Brookfield Zoo and the Illinois Railway Museum online at https://www.oppl.org/passes. If you don’t have access to a printer, library staff can print the passes for you.
A new non-traditional library area at the main library is called the Library of Things. It is only available for cardholders 18 years and older. The Library of Things includes DIY home items as diverse as a stud finder and a sewing machine, outdoor items including a pickleball and bocce ball set, an entertainment area with a karaoke machine and telescope, and technology items, including GoPro action cameras and wifi hotspots. These items can be checked out for three weeks.
In addition to the main library, there are two branches of the Oak Park Public Library, the Dole Branch at 255 Augusta and the Maze Branch at 845 Gunderson.
For Oak Park residents who are unable to physically come into the library, deliveries are available on Fridays. Patrons can call the library at 708-452-3469 or email them at homedelivery@oppl.org.
Joy Aaronson is an Oak Park resident who wrote stories for the Wednesday Journal in 2023 on the Oak Park Farmers Market. Previously, she contributed to Chicago Parent and wrote the Kids’ World column for the former Logan Square Free Press.