Chicago Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago Public Library |
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| Established | 1873 |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Branches | 79 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 5,721,334 volumes (July 2010, ALA data) |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 10 million |
| Population served | 2.8 million |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $106,000,000 |
| Director | Brian A. Bannon |
| Website | chipublib.org |
The Chicago Public Library (CPL) is a big system of public libraries in Chicago, Illinois. It has more than 80 libraries across the city. This library system started way back in 1873.
Contents
History of the Chicago Public Library
The Chicago Public Library has an interesting start! It was created after the terrible Great Chicago Fire in 1871. A man from London, England, named A.H. Burgess, had an idea. He thought England should give a free library to Chicago, which had been badly burned.
He wrote about this idea in a newspaper in London in December 1871. He wanted the library to be a sign of friendship and kindness forever. So, the Chicago Public Library was truly born from the ashes of that great fire.
Explore Chicago's Library Branches
The Chicago Public Library system has many different locations. These include a main library, regional libraries, and many smaller neighborhood branches.
The Main Library: Harold Washington Library Center
The main library for the entire system is the Harold Washington Library Center. It's a very large and important building in Chicago.
Regional Libraries: Serving Big Areas
Regional libraries are larger branches that serve bigger parts of the city.
North Side: Sulzer Regional Library
- Sulzer Regional Library
South Side: Woodson Regional Library
- Woodson Regional Library
Neighborhood Branches: Libraries Near You
The Chicago Public Library also has many smaller branches spread throughout the city. These branches make it easy for people in different neighborhoods to visit a library close to home.
Images for kids
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The original library, inside the old water tower on the site that is now the Rookery Building.
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This former water tower was the site of the original public library, exterior view.
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The Blackstone Library built in 1904 is one of the oldest libraries in the city.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Pública de Chicago para niños
