Neighborhood News: Explore the South Loop’s Harold Washington Library Center
“Libraries today are much more than just repositories of books; they are vibrant community hubs offering a wide range of services and resources. They provide free access to information, technology, and educational opportunities, serving as vital social service providers and spaces for community engagement.”
Nowhere is this more evident than the City of Chicago’s central library, named for the first African-American Mayor of Chicago.
The Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, towers 10 stories above Ida B. Wells Drive, protected by five imposing owls that overlook each corner of the roof and center. The library itself serves the community as not just a book repository of a research center, technology hub, a book repository, a social center, and and activities center for all ages, housed in 950,000+ square feet of space.
And best of all, it’s free and open to the public seven days a week.
History
For more than 100 years, the Chicago Public Library’s central library was housed in what is now the Chicago Cultural Center,78 E. Washington Street. However, expanding technology, services and activities dictated that a much larger building was necessary. In 1987, Mayor Harold Washington ordered a design/build competition for a new central library in the South Loop. The City Council authorized the competition and the $144 million bond issue to finance the project on July 29, 1987.
Groundbreaking took place October 13, 1988, and opened October 7, 1991.
The library’s main branch features a mix of classic and modern architecture, as well as a ninth floor winter garden.
Here are the top reasons to visit the Harold Washington Library Center, according to their website:
Experience the outdoors, indoors: The breathtaking Winter Garden on the 9th floor is perfect for quiet contemplation, thoughtful conversation and a moment’s peace in the bustling heart of downtown. (It’s also available for private events.)
Learn about the man whose name graces the building: The Special Collections and Preservation Division on the 9th floor permanently showcases the career and voice of Mayor Harold Washington, in addition to other rotating exhibits.
Research your family history: Most of CPL’s genealogy databases are available to CPL cardholders on any computer, but the very popular Ancestry Library Edition is only available on CPL computers or personal devices connected to their WiFi. While you’re here, you can comb through the library’s rich newspaper microfilm collection for family news, or check their events calendar for genealogy classes!
Appreciate visual art: Original artwork on display throughout the building includes works by over 50 artists, both local and internationally known, employing a variety of mediums and styles. A checklist of works, organized by floor, is available in the lobby.
Meet the Authors: Avid readers can rub shoulders with their literary favorites at author events. (Previous speakers include Neil Gaiman, Sandra Cisneros and Michael Chabon.)
Have some fun with the whole family: Book clubs, story times and fun at the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library and cutting-edge creative events for teens at YOUmedia offer something for everyone.
Make something!: The award-winning Maker Lab on the 3rd floor offers free workshops, open lab hours and drop-in demonstrations.
Play music: Chicago’s only free music practice rooms available to the public—including pianos and over 40,000 volumes of printed music—are on the 8th floor.
Get online: Use WiFi on any floor, anytime they’re open.
Read, learn, discover: Harold Washington Library Center has over 1.2 million book holdings and is open seven days a week to serve Chicago’s lifelong residents, new city dwellers, visitors, commuters, students—everyone!
Seed Libraries: A seed library is a lending library that holds garden seeds instead of books! Yes, the Harold Washington Library Center has one. If you have leftover seeds from your garden, or need new seeds for the growing season, check in here! You can also check out books about gardening and growing plants in the Chicago region.
Pay Bills? At the Library? Yes, there are EZ Pay Stations, where you can pay City of Chicago ordinance violations, parking/speed/red-light tickets, permits, taxes, and utility bills.
PLEASE NOTE: The pay stations accept cash, credit cards, debit cards and personal checks. EZ Pay Stations do not give change for cash transactions.
The Harold Washington Library Center is open Monday-Thursday from 9am – 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 9am – 5pm, and Sunday from 1pm– 5pm. PLEASE NOTE: They are closed on June 19, re-opening June 20. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
