Chicago Public Library﻿

Chicago Public Library

4/8/2016

Welcome to the 14th installment of ChicagoFreeForAll.com Each week I’m sure you will find lots of events that meet your interests and are Free For All! If you haven’t read all my posts, I suggest you start at the beginning (1/1/2016). The posts are organized is a manner that will help you plan your time in Chicago starting downtown (the city center).

This week I want to introduce you to some of the thousands of programs offered by the Chicago Public Library.

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the main library building downtown, (the Harold Washington Library), 2 regional libraries and more than 70 neighborhood branches. All locations provide free access to the collections of books, newspapers and magazines, DVDs, audio books and music. They are also great places for internet access and WiFi connections as well as internet research databases for FREE.

But the Chicago Public Library is not your grandmother’s library. Beyond the books all of the libraries are cultural centers offer a wide variety of programs and exhibits for babies, preschoolers, school-aged children, teens and adults for FREE. Currently there are almost free 3,000 events listed on the website. These activities are great any time, but especially good to attend when the weather is not the best for being outside.

To make it easy to find free events you can search events on the website by several categories.

Time

            Today
            Tomorrow
            Next weekend
            Next 7 days or
            Enter any time span

Location
By zip code
or select a specific library location

Event Type

            Art, Movies & Performances
            Author Events
            Book Clubs
            Book Sales
            Business, Law & Money
            Celebrations
            Computer & Technology
Continuing Education
            Crafts, Games and Play
            DIY
            Health & Science
            History & Genealogy
            Jobs & Careers
            Lectures
            Story Time
            Tours
            Workshops
            Writing & Poetry.

Programs

Affordable Care Act
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Chicago Cities for Citizenship
CyberNavigator
Hispanic Heritage Month
Law at the Library
Maker Lab
Money Smart
Native American Heritage Month
One Book, One Chicago
Poetry Fest
Pride Month
Rahm’s Readers Summer Learning Challenge
ScienceConnections
Smart investing @ your library
Women’s History Month
YOUmedia

or Audience
            Babies
            Kids
            Preschoolers
            Toddlers
            Teens
            Adults
            Seniors
            All Ages

KIDS MUSEUM PASSPORT

One of my favorite offerings administered by the Chicago Public Library is the Kids Museum Passport. This program offers FREE admission to a number of Chicago area museums and attractions including: Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science Industry, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Children’s Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago History Museum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Museum of Contemporary Art, DuSable Museum of African-American History, National Museum of Mexican Art, National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture.

A limited number of passports are available at each location and are given out on a first come, first served basis. You can keep and use the Museum Passport for 1 week.
You must be a current CPL cardholder and a resident of Chicago. Unless otherwise noted, a group must include at least one child under 18 and no more than two adults per pass.

For more information about any of the services, programs and exhibits, check out the Chicago Public Library website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter @chipublib Instagram @chicaopubliclibrary.

Note Most events and exhibits are FREE and open to the public, Some require advanced registration and/or are open to those holding a current Chicago Public Library Card.

But if you don’t have a library card and/or you are coming from out of the city, state or country you can apply for a FREE temporary library card. All you will need is a government issued photo ID and you’re in!

ART IN THE LIBRARIES
Most of the libraries are adorned with art. Wander around any of the libraries and see if you can find mosaics, textiles, sculptures, busts, architectural artifacts, photographs, antiques, portraits, temporary and permanent exhibits and inspirational and humorous quotes. All the pictures in today’s blog were taken at the Harold Washington Library downtown.

So, don’t forget to check out what is going on at any of the Chicago Public Libraries and enjoy all there they offer that is Free For All! I hope you see it’s not your grandmother’s library!

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the website to get the most up-to-date information.

Thanks, as always to Chicago Greeter Bill Feldman for his support and advice.

Want to receive announcements of new posts? Send your email address to chicagofreeforall@gmail.com and I will notify you of new posts on ChicagoFreeForAll.com.

If you know of a free event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at chicagofreeforall@gmail.com

Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

Next week I'll have some updates for you. Until then, I hope to see you in Chicago!

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CHICAGO FREE FOR ALL!