– Darrel Hackett, President & CEO, BMO Bank
– Darrel Hackett, President & CEO, BMO Bank
Walk into any of Chicago Public Library’s 81 branches, and you might hear enthusiastic preschoolers engaged in a sing-along or see teens painting a mural. You might see people learning to use a computer for the first time, or you might attend a talk by a world-renowned author. All these resources – and more – are freely available to Chicagoans citywide.
But thanks to our community of supporters, our Library is so much more than a place to check out the latest bestsellers or try your hand at a fun activity. Preschoolers are learning social skills that will prepare them to start kindergarten on the right foot. Artistic teens have a safe place to express themselves and explore opportunities. New computer skills will help someone secure a higher-paying job or start an online business. Author talks bring together Chicagoans and might even inspire the next great storyteller!
By supporting the Library Foundation, you ensure that our Library can offer opportunities like these and many more to every Chicagoan in every neighborhood. Each day, donor-powered programs at Chicago Public Library bridge divides, connect communities, and support a more informed and engaged city.
Read on and learn what your support made possible.
In 2019
“Without Teacher in the Library, I feel like I’d be lost, and my son wouldn’t thrive in the way he does at school.”
– Parent
The pandemic highlighted stark divides that persist in Chicago and hamper our city’s efforts to educate all children equally. While research suggests that some of the academic ground lost due to the pandemic has been regained, students of color and lower-income students are facing significant challenges to getting back on track. The donor-powered programs to the right will ensure that students citywide have the chance to not just catch up but flourish in school.
“A space like the Maker Lab gives people the freedom to learn new things with no judgement and no other requirement besides curiosity.”
– Daliah Silver, CPL Maker-in-Residence
Chicago is home to a world-renowned arts and culture scene. However, barriers like cost and distance can put opportunities for creativity and connection out of reach for many, and our whole city misses out as a result. With your support, the following programs aim to bring vibrant cultural activities to every neighborhood, opening the door for us all to hear different perspectives, meet new people, and strengthen our communities.
“It’s an honor to be doing this. When I found this job posting, it drew my attention because I know how welcoming a space like the Library is for people trying to learn. I wanted to be a part of it and utilize my skillset to help people and my community.”
– Michael, CyberNavigator
The know-how to access and navigate the digital world is fundamental to our city’s health, education, and economic resiliency. Yet research shows that as many as 15% of Chicago’s households are without even a home internet connection. The digital divide, which impacts everything from our students to the workforce to public health, disproportionately affects low-income families and people of color. Our Library has been a longtime leader in working to increase the number of digitally connected, information-literate, and civically engaged Chicagoans. Together with our donors, we’re working toward a healthier, more equitable, and more connected future.
Night in the Stacks
Night in the Stacks is back! The Library Foundation Associate Board’s annual “party with a purpose” returned to the Harold Washington Library’s Winter Garden for the first time since 2019, raising more than $130,000 for Library programs.
Get Carded Series
In 2023, the Associate Board also brought back their popular “Get Carded” event series to encourage Library support. Two sold-out 2023 events, Words & Whiskey and Trivia Night, raised critical awareness about the programs donors support at the Library, welcoming 125 attendees to learn more about the Library and Library Foundation.
Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards
This annual event celebrates the storytellers, artists, and civic leaders who invite us to see the world and imagine the future in ways we never knew possible. In 2023, more than 500 of Chicago’s civic leaders joined us in person to honor Rebecca Makkai, Richard Hunt, Bob Wislow, and Colson Whitehead. With legendary Chicago newscaster Bill Kurtis as our host, the event’s focal point was a powerful conversation between Carl Sandburg Literary Award honoree Colson Whitehead and NPR Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon.
Thanks to generous supporters, the Awards raised more than $1.2M for the Library’s lifelong learning programming. A free live broadcast has allowed 10,000 Library lovers (and counting!) from around the world to access the inspiring content this event is so known for.
See (or relive!) all the 2023 Library Foundation Awards action here.
150 Years and Counting
Chicago Public Library celebrated a big birthday in 2023 – 150 years of serving our city! From a collection of a few thousand books to the bustling 81-branch system we know and love today, our Library has supported generations of Chicagoans to become lifelong learners and is a point of civic pride. Donors played a key role in helping the Library commemorate this momentous milestone, from a citywide birthday party on June 10 to a stunning mural on the Kennedy Expressway to a new podcast, Library for the People, that shared just a few of our Library’s stories and topped international podcast charts. If you haven’t yet, listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Chicago Public Library thrives when the community invests in its success. We are profoundly grateful to the philanthropists, businesses, and foundations whose support makes the Library’s transformative work possible. Thank you.
Every gift begins with a story. Learn why Kahlil Crawford supports CPLF.
We believe that achieving change in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) requires us to invest thoughtfully in Library programs, engage collaboratively with our community and our Library partners, and develop a workplace culture that values and supports every employee. In 2021, we created an Equity Action Plan in partnership with experts at Ethos Talent. Four core principles now guide us both internally and in our ongoing efforts to support impact, equity, and connection across Chicago Public Library:
In 2023, we advanced our Equity Action Plan by building the following more equitable and transparent practices:
In 2024, our full staff team will be involved in developing the next short, mid, and long-term goals for the Equity Action Plan.