Editing Chicago Public Library

{{short description|Public library system in Chicago, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Chicago Public Library
| image = Chicago Library Downtown.png
| caption = [[Harold Washington Library]] – Chicago's Central Public Library
| library_logo = [[File:Chicago Public Library Logo.PNG|frameless|upright=.65]]<br />The library seal contains the Y-shaped [[Chicago municipal device]]<ref>{{cite web| title= The Chicago Municipal Device (Y-Shaped Figure) |publisher=Chicago Public Library |url=http://old.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/cplarchive/symbols/munidevice.php |access-date=December 8, 2014| url-status=dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150131062711/http://old.chipublib.org/cplbooksmovies/cplarchive/symbols/munidevice.php |archive-date=January 31, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=The Municipal Device |publisher=Forgotten Chicago |last=Kaplan |first=Jacob |url=http://forgottenchicago.com/features/chicago-signs/the-municipal-device/ |access-date=June 13, 2014 |date=December 10, 2008}}</ref>
| location = Chicago, Illinois, United States
| coordinates =
| mapframe          = 
| established = {{Start date and age|1873}}
| num_branches = 81
| collection_size = 5,721,334 [[Volume (bibliography)|volumes]] (July 2010, ALA data)
| annual_circulation = 10 million
| pop_served = 2.8&nbsp;million
| budget = $106 million
| director = Chris Brown<ref>{{Citation  |url=https://cplfoundation.org/meet-the-chief-librarian-chris-brown/ |title=Meet the Chief Librarian: Chris Brown |date=May 17, 2021 |work=Chicago Public Library Foundation |access-date=2021-10-11 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| num_employees = 958<ref>{{Citation 
|url=https://www.chipublib.org/facts-and-figures/ |title=Facts and Figures |date=September 27, 2021 |work=Chicago Public Library |access-date=2021-10-11 |language=en-US}}</ref>
| website = [http://www.chipublib.org/ chipublib.org]
}}
The '''Chicago Public Library''' ('''CPL''') is the [[public library]] system that serves the [[Chicago|City of Chicago]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. It consists of 81 locations, including a central library, three regional libraries, and branches distributed throughout the city's [[Community areas of Chicago|77 Community Areas]].<ref>"[http://www.chipublib.org/dir_documents/ar_2010.pdf Annual Report for 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324085336/http://www.chipublib.org/dir_documents/ar_2010.pdf |date=2012-03-24 }}," Chicago Public Library.</ref> CPL was founded in 1872, in the wake of the [[Great Chicago Fire]].

The [[American Library Association]] reports that the library holds 5,721,334 [[Volume (bibliography)|volumes]], making it the ninth largest public library in the United States by volumes held, and the 30th largest academic or public library in the [[United States]] by volumes held. The Chicago Public Library is the second largest library system in Chicago by volumes held (the largest is the [[University of Chicago Library]]). The library is the second largest public library system in the [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], after the [[Detroit Public Library]].<ref>"[http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet22.cfm The Nation's Largest Libraries: A Listing By Volumes Held]" (July 2012), American Library Association.</ref> Unlike many public libraries, CPL uses the [[Library of Congress Classification|Library of Congress cataloging classification system]] rather than [[Dewey Decimal]].

==History==
[[File:Book Room in the Old Water Tank, Chicago, 1873.jpg|thumb|left|The original library, inside the old water tower on the site that is now the [[Rookery Building]].]]
[[File:Old Water Tank, exterior view, c1870.jpg|thumb|left|This former water tower was the site of the original public library, exterior view]]
In the aftermath of the 1871 [[Great Chicago Fire]], [[London]]er A.H. Burgess, with the aid of [[Thomas Hughes]], drew up what would be called the "English Book Donation", which proposed that England should provide a free library to the burnt-out city. The Chicago Public Library was created directly from the ashes of the great Chicago Fire. Burgess wrote on December 7, 1871 in ''[[The Daily News (UK)|The Daily News]]'' that "I propose that England should present a Free Library to Chicago, to remain there as a mark of sympathy now, and a keepsake and a token of true brotherly kindness forever{{nbsp}}..."<ref>''Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science'' (Vol. 5). Ed. [[Allen Kent]]. CRC Press, 1970.</ref>

After circulating requests for donations throughout English society, the project donated 8,000 books. Private donors included [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]], [[Benjamin Disraeli]], [[Alfred Lord Tennyson]], [[Robert Browning]], [[John Stuart Mill]], [[John Ruskin]], and [[Matthew Arnold]].<ref>"[http://www.chipublib.org/aboutcpl/history/index.php Library History, 1870–1899] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314133640/http://www.chipublib.org/aboutcpl/history/index.php |date=2008-03-14 }}." Chicago Public Library.</ref>

In Chicago, town leaders petitioned [[Mayor of Chicago|Mayor]] [[Joseph Medill]] to hold a meeting and establish the library. The meeting led to the ''Illinois Library Act of 1872'', which allowed [[Illinois]] cities to establish tax-supported libraries. In April 1872, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance establishing the Chicago Public Library. In the rebuilding section of the city, on January 1, 1873, the Chicago Public Library officially opened its doors in an abandoned iron water tank at LaSalle and Adams Streets. The collection included 3,157 volumes. The water tank was {{convert|58|ft|m}} in diameter, {{convert|21|ft|m}} high and with a {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} foundation. A two-story office building was soon built around it to hold city offices, and a third floor reading room was built for the library.

On October 24, 1873, [[William Frederick Poole]] was elected the first head librarian by the library's board of directors. Poole was mainly concerned during his tenure on building the circulation. In 1874, circulation services began with 13,000 out of 17,533 available for lending. The library moved from place to place during its first 24 years. Eleven years it spent on the fourth floor of city hall. In 1887, Poole resigned to organize the private, research [[Newberry Library]] of Chicago.

On October 15, 1887, Frederick H. Hild was elected the second Librarian of the Chicago Public Library and securing a permanent home was his primary drive. Ten years later, the Central Library was opened. Designed by the Boston firm of [[Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge]] in the same academic classical style as their building for the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], it is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington Street and Randolph Street on land donated by the [[Grand Army of the Republic]], a Civil War Veterans group led by [[John A. Logan]], a Civil War General and U.S. Senator from Illinois. In return for the land, the Library was to maintain a Civil War collection and exhibit in a G.A.R. room until the last northern Civil War veteran died. The library would remain on this site for the next 96 years. The building is now the [[Chicago Cultural Center]].

[[Henry Eduard Legler]] assumed the leadership of the Chicago Public Library on October 11, 1909. Previously a Wisconsin Progressive, he was well known as an aggressive advocate of the expansion of library service. In 1916, Legler presented his "Library Plan for the Whole City", the first comprehensive branch library system in the nation. A landmark in library history, the plan called for an extensive network of neighborhood library locations throughout Chicago. The goal of the plan was to bring "library service within the walking distance of home for every person in Chicago who can read or wants to use books."
Legler was succeeded by his assistant [[Carl B. Roden]] in 1918. Roden served as Chief Librarian until 1950. The South Chicago Branch library history from 1937-1947 has been explored by Latham who focused on its service to an industrial community and adult education.<ref>Latham, J. M. (2011). Memorial Day to Memorial Library: The South Chicago Branch Library as cultural terrain, 1937–1947. ''Libraries & the Cultural Record,'' 46(3): 321–342.</ref> She has also examined the role of the John Toman Branch library from 1927-1940.<ref>Latham, J. M. (2013). "A liberal and dignified approach": The John Toman Branch of the Chicago Public Library and the making of Americans, 1927–1940. In, L. Robbins & C. Pawley (Eds.), ''Libraries and the Reading Public'' (pp. 111–128). Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.</ref>
[[Image:20061028 Blackstone Library Front.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Blackstone Library]] built in 1904 is one of the oldest library buildings in the city and the CPL's first branch library]]
Roden was succeeded in 1951 by Chief Librarian Gertrude E. Gscheidle. During her tenure the Library expanded its service to Chicago's neighborhoods by modernizing its bookmobile services.
In the 1960s several new neighborhood branch libraries were constructed or were established in leased storefronts or reading rooms.

The two-story, {{convert|62000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} modernist [[Carter G. Woodson Regional Library]], named after the "Father of Modern Black Historiography," opened its doors in December 1975, to serve as the South Side. A decade later, Chicago Public Library replaced its north side regional library when the post-modernist Conrad Sulzer Regional Library opened to the public in late 1985. The Woodson regional branch library features the [[Vivian G. Harsh]] Research Collection, one of the largest repositories of African-American archival information in the Midwest. It holds the papers of many notable Chicagoans, such as [[John H. Sengstacke]], [[Robert S. Abbott]], [[Doris E. Saunders]], Timuel Black, Rev. [[Addie L. Wyatt]], and numerous others.

The class politics of urban public librarianship through "outreach" efforts during the federal [[War on Poverty]] uses the Chicago Public Library as a case study during the 1970s under director Alex Ladenson.<ref>Wheeler, Jeff. 2021. "'How Much Is Not Enough?': Public Library Outreach to 'Disadvantaged' Communities in the War on Poverty." ''Library Quarterly'' 91 (2): 190–208.</ref>

In 1974, the board of directors authorized an $11&nbsp;million renovation of the Central Library. While the restoration of the original central library proved a great success, the collections remained warehoused outside the old library while the City debated the status of the future of the central library. One plan was to move the library to the former Rothchild/Goldblatts Department Store which stood empty on Chicago's State Street and had reverted to City ownership.

From 1982 to 1985, [[Amanda Sullivan Randle Rudd]] rose to become the first [[African-American]] to head of the Chicago Public Library system. Rudd had experienced [[Racial segregation in the United States|segregated libraries]] during her childhood in South Carolina. Her stewardship in Chicago saw a particular focus on literacy services, and she strongly mentored younger colleagues, including a future Librarian of Congress, [[Carla Hayden]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/ct-amanda-rudd-obituary-20170219-story.html |title=Amanda Rudd, historic head of Chicago Public Library, dies at 93 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Megan |first=Graydon |date=February 21, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2018 }}</ref>

The ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' editorial board and Cindy Pritzker, then President of the Library Board, launched a grassroots campaign to build a new state-of-the-art central library. On July 29, 1987, Mayor [[Harold Washington]] and the [[Chicago City Council]] authorized a design and construction competition for a new, one-and-a-half block $144&nbsp;million library at 400 South State Street.

==Current services==
In 1991, the [[Harold Washington Library|Harold Washington Library Center]] became Chicago's new central library. It is named for the late mayor [[Harold Washington]]. It was the world's largest municipal public library at the time of its opening. It is accessible from the [[Brown Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Brown]], [[Orange Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Orange]], [[Purple Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Purple]] and [[Pink Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Pink Line]] trains at the "[[Library-State/Van Buren (CTA)|Library]]" stop, from the [[Blue Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Blue Line]] at the "LaSalle" and "Jackson" stops, as well as from the [[Red Line (Chicago Transit Authority)|Red Line]] at the "Jackson" stop.

In January 1994, Mary A. Dempsey was appointed Library Commissioner by Mayor Richard M. Daley and served in that role until January 2012. Under her direction, the Library launched the largest branch building program in its history, constructing or renovating 44 branch libraries; installed more than 2500 free public access computers and Wi-Fi throughout the library system; completed 2 strategic plans; established professional development and training programs for all library staff; and launched signature programs such as One Book, One Chicago; YOUmedia; the museum and Ravinia free admission programs; Teen Volume; Law at the Library; and Money Smart financial literacy programs for adults and teens. The library's success in revitalizing communities through branch library development was analyzed by Robert Putnam in 2003.<ref>Putnam, R. D., & Feldstein, L. M. (2003). "Branch libraries: The heartbeat of the community". In ''Better together: Restoring the American community'' (pp. 34–54). New York: Simon and Schuster.{{ISBN?}}</ref>

The "Charlotte Kim Scholar in Residence Program" took place from 1999–2008. Scholars included [[Camila Alire]] (1999); [[Leigh S. Estabrook]] (2002); [[Kathleen de la Peña McCook]] (2003); Joan C. Durrance (2004); Michael Stephens (2005); Maureen Sullivan (2006); George Needham (2007) and Patricia Martin (2008).<ref>{{cite journal|title=Charlotte Kim Scholars in Residence Program|journal=Reporter|date=October 2007|volume=25|issue=5|page=18|url=http://www.ila.org/pub/reporter/vol25no5.pdf|access-date=4 December 2013|publisher=Illinois Library Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512105539/http://www.ila.org/pub/reporter/vol25no5.pdf|archive-date=12 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

''The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building'' published by the Urban Library Council (2006) highlights several Chicago public libraries and their efforts in strengthening the community and effectively enhancing the well-being and capacities of urban neighborhood residents, associations, non-profits and public institutions.<ref>''The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building'' Urban Library Council (2006)</ref>

Brian Andrew Bannon was appointed Library Commissioner effective March 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL History |url=https://www.chipublib.org/cpl-history |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.chipublib.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

Some of the free programming the Chicago Public Library offers include: The One Book, One Chicago program, The Summer Learning Challenge, Bookamania (held every November), Kids Museum Passport Program (allows patrons free admission to a variety of Chicago's world-class institutions), and Words and Music Program<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chipublib.org/eventsprog/programs/words_music.php|title=Words and Music|work=Chicago Public Library website|access-date=2009-05-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531073925/http://www.chipublib.org/eventsprog/programs/words_music.php|archive-date=2009-05-31}}</ref> (which provides patrons with free lawn tickets to selected Ravinia concerts). The library also offers a free homework help desk daily in order to serve struggling students after school.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Toppo|first1=Greg|title=Libraries' choice: Change or fade into oblivion|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/07/changing-libraries-digital-age/9862861/|access-date=28 March 2016|publisher=USA Today|date=2 June 2014}}</ref>

The Chicago Public Library offers free lecture series covering a variety of topics including: Law at the Library (a free monthly lecture series that offers participants the opportunity to speak with a legal professional about a variety of legal topics), Money Smart (a series of financial literacy programs), and Author Series.

The Chicago Public Library provides access to a large selection of databases, most of which are also available for use at home or other remote location with a Chicago Public Library card. Internet computers are available for anyone with a Chicago Public Library card. Also, anyone can use the Wi-Fi on their own laptops, tablets and smartphones without a library card.

In June 2013, the library announced a $1 million grant from the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] establishing a partnership between the Chicago Public Library and the public library system of [[Aarhus]], Denmark.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hadro |first1=Josh |last2=Schwartz |first2=Meredith |date=August 2013 |title=$1 Million Grant To Fund Chicago, Aarhus Venture |journal=[[Library Journal]] |publisher=[[Media Source Inc.]] |volume=138 |issue=13 |page=15}}</ref>

That same month, the Library opened its Innovation Lab, featuring a Maker Lab with 3D software, milling machine, laser cutters, and 3D printers. The space has proven highly successful in offering free access to the latest in advanced manufacturing technology and was awarded the Chicago Innovation Awards Social Innovator Award in October 2013<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-31 |title=Chicago Public Library Wins Chicago Innovation Award for Maker Lab |url=https://www.chipublib.org/news/chicago-public-library-wins-chicago-innovation-award-for-maker-lab/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.chipublib.org |language=en-US}}</ref>.

In late 2013, a study released by the Information Science Department of Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany ranked Chicago Public Library first in the United States and third in the world, when comparing 31 major urban libraries taking leadership roles in supporting "smart cities" in a "knowledge economy."<ref>{{Cite report |title=Public Libraries in the Knowledge Society: Core Services of Libraries in Informational World Cities |url=https://www.phil-fak.uni-duesseldorf.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Institute/Informationswissenschaft/siebenlist/Lehre/PS_I2/libri-2013-0024_63-4-295-319_Mainka_Stock.pdf |last=Meinka |first=Agnes |date=2013 |access-date=2021-03-06}}</ref>

Andrea Telli was appointed Library Commissioner effective June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL History |url=https://www.chipublib.org/cpl-history |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.chipublib.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2019, CPL became the largest public library system in the United States to eliminate fines for borrowed overdue items. All existing fines were forgiven. There are still due dates, and patrons are still required to return items or replace them to continue their borrowing privileges.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/09/30/chicago-public-library-eliminates-late-fines/ |title=Chicago Public Library To Eliminate Overdue Fines, Wipe Out Existing Debts |date=September 30, 2019 |work=CBS Chicago |access-date=2019-09-30 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Chris Brown was appointed Library Commissioner effective February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL History |url=https://www.chipublib.org/cpl-history |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=www.chipublib.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, the CPL celebrated its 150th anniversary with an exhibit exploring the history of its branches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CPL 150 Anniversary |url=https://www.chipublib.org/cpl-150-anniversary |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=www.chipublib.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Branches==

===Central library===
[[Harold Washington Library|Harold Washington Library Center]]
[[File:Harold Washington Library.jpg|thumb|[[Harold Washington Library]] Center – in the Loop]]

===Regional libraries===

====North====
[[File:Conrad Sulzer Regional Library.jpg|thumb|[[Conrad Sulzer Regional Library]] – North]]
* [[Conrad Sulzer Regional Library|Sulzer Regional Library]]

====South====
[[Image:20070325 Carter Woodson Regional Library.JPG|right|thumb|[[Carter G. Woodson Regional Library]] – South]]
* [[Carter G. Woodson Regional Library|Woodson Regional Library]]

====West====
[[File:Leglerlibrary.JPG|thumb|[[Henry E. Legler Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library|Henry E. Legler Regional Library]] – West]]
* [[Henry E. Legler Regional Branch of the Chicago Public Library|Legler Regional Library]]

===Branches===
====North District====
* [[Albany Park Library|Albany Park Branch]]
* Austin-Irving Branch
* Harold Bezazian Branch (Uptown)
* Bucktown-Wicker Park Branch
* Budlong Woods Branch
* Richard M. Daley (West Humboldt Park) Branch
* Dunning Branch
* Edgebrook Branch
* Edgewater Branch
* Galewood-Mont Clare Branch
* Humboldt Park Branch
* Independence Branch
* Jefferson Park Branch
* Lincoln-Belmont Branch
* Lincoln Park Branch
* Logan Square Branch
* Mayfair Branch
* John Merlo Branch
* North Austin Branch
* North Pulaski Branch
* Northtown Branch
* Oriole Park Branch
* Portage-Cragin Branch
* Roden Branch
* Rogers Park Branch
* Uptown Branch
* West Belmont Branch

====Central District====
[[File:Hall library.jpg|thumb|George C. Hall Branch]]
[[File:Chicagobee1.JPG|thumb|Chicago Bee Branch]]
* Austin Branch
* Back of the Yards Branch
* [[Blackstone Library|Blackstone Branch]]
* Brighton Park Branch
* Canaryville Branch
* [[Chicago Bee Building|Chicago Bee Branch]]
* Chinatown Branch[[File:CPLChinatown04212016.jpg|thumb|Chinatown Branch]]
* Richard J. Daley Branch
* Douglass Branch
* Gage Park Branch
* Garfield Ridge Branch
* George Cleveland Hall Branch
* Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch
* Little Italy Branch
* Little Village Branch
* Rudy Lozano Branch
* Mabel Manning Branch
* McKinley Park Branch
* Near North Branch
* Sherman Park Branch
* Toman Branch
* Water Works Outpost
* West Chicago Avenue Branch
* West Loop Branch
* West Town Branch

====South District====
[[File:Kellylibrary.JPG|thumb|Kelly Branch]]
* Altgeld Branch
* Avalon Branch
* Beverly Branch
* Brainerd Branch
* [[Chicago Lawn Branch]]
* Clearing Branch
* Bessie Coleman Branch
* Greater Grand Crossing Branch
* Hegewisch Branch
* Jeffery Manor Branch
* Kelly Branch
* Thurgood Marshall Branch
* Mount Greenwood Branch
* Pullman Branch
* Scottsdale Branch
* South Chicago Branch
* South Shore Branch
* Vodak East Side Branch
* Walker Branch
* West Englewood Branch
* West Lawn Branch
* West Pullman Branch
* Wrightwood-Ashburn Branch
* Whitney M. Young, Jr. Branch

==See also==
{{Portal|Books|Chicago}}
* [[List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago]]
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chicago Public Library}}
* [http://www.chipublib.org/ Chicago Public Library website]
* [https://mts.lib.uchicago.edu/ Mapping the Stacks] – library's website devoted to Black history archives
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://cpl.lib.uic.edu|title=Chicago Public Library}}
* [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bibliocommons.chipublib Chicago Public Library Android application]
* [http://www.chipublib.org/search/results/terms/ Books catalog]
* [https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/locations Map of branch locations]
* [http://www.newberry.org/collections/FindingAids/roden/Roden.html Carl B Roden Papers] at [[Newberry Library]]

{{Chicago}}
{{Chicago municipal government officials}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chicago Public Library| ]]
[[Category:Public libraries in Illinois]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Illinois]]