– Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, urban historian and 2022 Library Foundation Awards honoree
– Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, urban historian and 2022 Library Foundation Awards honoree
In 2024, Chicago Public Library was awarded Chicago Reader’s Best City Institution, an honor chosen by Chicagoans themselves.
What makes our Library so valued and beloved across the city?
At the Library, a student struggling to keep up in school gains confidence. A teen lights up when they discover a passion for podcasting. An adult masters technologies they thought they were too old to learn. A family new to our city visits their home branch over the weekend for essential information and connection.
Our 81 branches are community hubs that welcome everyone to learn—with no fees, no barriers, just possibilities.
By supporting the Library Foundation, you turn daily moments of learning and discovery into meaningful, lifelong impact. Our donors allow CPL to develop and expand programs and resources across Chicago to reach communities that need them most. Thank you for being a part of this vital work.
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
Too many of our city’s students don’t have the extra support they need to thrive in school. Thanks to donors, our Library can offer programs that advance students’ literacy, improve confidence in school, keep young people reading and learning over the summer, and much more.
“Because of the Community Connections Fund, our librarians provided programs that brought joy and merriment to hundreds of patrons of all ages. We were able to design and conduct activities that encourage exploration, nurture learning, and connect community residents in a spirit of fun.”
– Branch Manager, Archer Heights
Chicago is home to world-class arts and culture, but barriers like cost and distance mean we don’t all have the chance to engage in creative explorations. Our donors help enrich Chicago with diverse voices and perspectives by bringing cultural and creative programming into all 81 neighborhood Library branches–from community movie nights and exhibits built from the Library’s archival collections to coding and craft workshops and discussions with renowned authors.
“‘I’m not tech savvy,’ ‘I’m computer illiterate,’ ‘I don’t know a thing about computers,’ are the most common phrases I hear when talking to patrons, and I always reply, ‘You’ve come to the right place.’ The relief on their faces when I’ve helped them, and they’ve learned how to do something on the computer never gets old. As a CyberNavigator, I love that I am able to share what I know with people.”
– Calvin, CyberNavigator at Greater Grand Crossing Branch
With 15% of Chicago households lacking a home internet connection, our 81-branch Library is indispensable for Chicagoans looking to engage with our digital world. From opening an email account, applying for jobs online, accessing health resources, identifying misinformation, and more, donors ensure that our Library is a go-to spot for unlocking online resources and learning digital skills, with customized, accessible resources that meet learners where they are.
Does our Library make you feel like dancing? Well, you can with the Library Foundation Associate Board’s annual Night in the Stacks event! This “party with a purpose” in Harold Washington Library’s Winter Garden brought in $120,000 in 2024.
In 2024, our Associate Board hosted two special events to raise awareness and support for our Library. Together with our partners at Pilot Project Brewing and Replay Lincoln Park, 175 attendees joined us at Books and Brews and Trivia Night to learn more about the Library and Library Foundation.
Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards
In 2024, we honored novelist Cristina Henríquez, Chicago’s own Grammy-award-winning Chance the Rapper, and prolific writer Ann Patchett. Thanks to our generous supporters, the Awards raised more than $1.4M for the full scope of our partnership with the Library. A free recorded broadcast of event highlights also reached 18,000 Library lovers (and counting!) from around the world.
Cindy Pritzker’s visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to lifelong learning have left an indelible mark on our city. As the founder of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, Cindy played an instrumental role in transforming our Library into a world-class institution, ensuring that all Chicagoans have access to the resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Her fearless approach, her ability to bring people together around bold ideas, and her deep dedication to expanding access to opportunities for all have inspired our donors to follow in her footsteps.
Today, as we work to carry forward Cindy’s legacy, we are filled with a profound sense of gratitude for her many contributions and share that gratitude with every donor who helps to ensure that Chicagoans continue to have access to life-changing resources at our Library.