Evanston Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Evanston Public Library |
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| Evanston Public Library, 2009 | |
| Established | 1873 |
| Coordinates | 42°2′54.24″N 87°40′48.36″W / 42.0484000°N 87.6801000°W |
| Branches | 2 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 979,000 |
| Website | www.epl.org |
The Evanston Public Library is a super cool place in Evanston, Illinois, USA, where you can find tons of books, movies, and fun activities! It's not just a building; it's also a part of the city government that helps everyone in Evanston learn and explore.
Contents
The Library's Story
The idea for the Evanston Public Library started way back in 1870. The library itself officially opened in 1873. Thomas J. Kellan became the library's first librarian in 1874.
In 1893, the library moved to a new spot inside the Village Hall. A few years later, in 1896, all the books were organized using the new Dewey Decimal Classification system. This system helps libraries keep books neatly arranged by topic. In 1908, the library moved to its main location at 1703 Orrington Avenue.
Growing with the City
Over the years, the library added more locations to serve different parts of Evanston. The South Branch opened in 1917, and the North Branch opened in 1952.
In 1980, the library started offering online access to its catalog. This meant people could look up books using computers! They also began renting out videocassette tapes and extra copies of popular books.
The library moved into its brand new main building in 1994. In 2023, the Evanston Public Library celebrated its 150th birthday!
Library Locations
The Evanston Public Library has two main locations where you can visit and borrow items.
Main Library
The Main Library is located at 1703 Orrington Avenue. This is the biggest library building and has many different sections for all ages.
Robert Crown Branch Library
The Robert Crown Branch Library opened in 2020. It is located inside the Robert Crown Community Center at 1801 Main Street. This branch was opened to help make library services easier to reach for everyone in Evanston, especially in neighborhoods that didn't have a library nearby before. Sharing a building with the community center also helps save money.
Past Branches
Evanston used to have other branches, including the North, South, and West branches.
- The South Branch closed in 2011 but reopened in 2013 after people asked for it to come back. It closed again in late 2020.
- The North Branch served the community from 1952 until 2020.
- A West Branch Library helped people in Evanston's Fifth Ward from 1971 to 1981.
Awesome Library Features
The Evanston Public Library has many special areas and programs designed for different age groups and interests.
Children's Room
The children's section of the library is a super fun and interactive place for kids of all ages. It has lots of books, toys, and comfy spots to read. The library also offers many kid-friendly programs every day, like storytime and art projects.
The Loft for Teens
In 2007, the Evanston Public Library opened The Loft. This is a special space just for teenage library users! The Loft is a great place for teens to study, read, or just chill out after school. It has computers, WiFi, and even 3D printers. There are also comfy couches and private study rooms if you need a quiet spot.
The Loft also offers many programs just for teens. These often focus on STEM activities, which means Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The design of The Loft even won an award from the American Library Association for its creative and cool look!
Peregrine Falcons
Guess what? Peregrine falcons have chosen to build their nests on a column at the library since 2004! These amazing birds sometimes have babies there. When baby falcons hatch, scientists from the Field Museum come to put special bands on their legs. This helps them track the birds. As of 2023, the falcons nesting at the library are named Coach Kevin and Teca. You can even watch the falcons' adventures on the FalconCam during the spring nesting season!
Classes and Programs
The Evanston Public Library offers more than 1,000 programs every year! These programs are for people of all ages and cover many different interests. You can get one-on-one help with technology, or join a book club that reads all the books by a famous author.
The library tries to offer programs that reflect everyone in the community. This includes storytimes in different languages, programs to help adults learn to read, and challenges to get young people interested in STEM fields. They also have book clubs, health programs, and even mini-courses taught by professors from Northwestern University!
The Library's Collection
The library's collection has over a million items! This includes books, DVDs, CDs, and even digital items like eBooks and audiobooks you can download. They also have a small "Library of Things," where you can borrow items that aren't books, like tools or games.
The library works hard to make sure its collection has books and stories from many different authors and backgrounds. If you want to donate books, you can use the green Better World Books bin outside the library. A part of the money from those donations helps the library.
Art on Display
You'll find different kinds of art all over the library building. A very cool piece is called "Ghostwriter." It's a sculpture made of wire that hangs down through several floors of the building. You can see it from almost anywhere inside the library!
