Survivor Training!
SAM: Always on the hunt for interesting library programs, I was intrigued by “Survivor Training” at the Legler branch – how could we not check it out?
Our facilitator, children’s librarian Ms. Jenny, was fantastic! We learned how to tie knots, tested their strength, and finished by making paracord bracelets. I was especialy impressed by Ms. Jenny’s inclusivity in conducting the program simultaneously in English and Spanish so that all patrons could participate.
NATHAN: At the end of the Survivor Training event, we made bracelets with paracord. They were very cool and took many days to make. (BEN: This 7-year-old’s sense of time might be a little distorted…)
Some history…
BEN: This branch is named for Henry E. Legler (1861-1917), and though we obviously never met the guy, Project 81 wouldn’t exist without him. Let me explain.
Legler served as Chief Librarian of CPL from 1909 until his death in 1917. A year before he died, he proposed a daring, equity-driven vision: “putting a library facility within walking distance of every resident of the city of Chicago” (Henderson, 2019). You’ll recall from our Blackstone post that Chicago’s central library (now the Chicago Cultural Center) was only about 20 years old at the time, and Blackstone, the first permanent branch building, was finished in 1904. So, Legler’s plan for 70 local branches and 5 larger regional branches was revolutionary. His vision was realized, and then some! Naturally, CPL named this branch, the very first regional library in the system, after Legler when it opened in 1920.
The story doesn’t end there, though. Diminished circulation at Legler, driven by economic disinvestment in the neighorhood, resulted in the loss of Regional Library status in 1977. Thankfully, this outcome was reversed in 2019 following the granting of landmark status for the historic building in 1987 (Henderson, 2019).
We’re famous!
SAM: After Survivor Training, we headed up to the children’s wing. Librarian Esther, who recently transferred from the Near North branch to Legler, had heard about our project – her former manager had shared with staff about a family who was visiting all 81 branches of CPL. Turns out, that family was us!
BEN: Regional libraries are designed to offer deeper resources than a neighborhood branch, and Legler delivers in spades, with a YouMedia lab, maker spaces for both teens and adults, a seed library, a clothes closet supporting job interviews, and a dedicated studio for an Artist in Residence (the first of its kind in CPL). Esther described the branch as a critical resource for access to learning and opportunities in the neighborhood.
Meaningful local partnerships are also apparent. The second floor of the library atrium features artwork from students at nearby Nash Elementary, and a Library of Things includes fishing poles and sports equipment designed for use at Garfield Park, the landmark park just down the street. There’s even a food pantry program, presented in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Wait, they have a telescope?
NATHAN: One of the librarians, Esther, told us that there was a telescope upstairs – it was pointed at the moon! What was funny is that the moon kept moving, so it was basically impossible to see it. (BEN: We definitely saw the moon…) I saw lots of craters that looked like tick marks.
Time to eat!
BEN: Esther recommended a stop at Jerk Taco Man down the street from the library, so we grabbed a few tacos to go. Our first time having jerk, and it didn’t disappoint!
What about transit?
DANIEL: Alright everyone! Let’s start with the CTA. CTA Routes 53, 20, and 126 all stop near the library. The Green and Blue lines both have a stop named the same thing (but they are NOT the same station, just on the same street; something I call a “station coincidence”), Pulaski, and both stations are 0.4 miles from the library.
Kedzie Station on the Metra UP-West Line is 1.5 miles from the library.
What was surprising to me was that there was a Pace stop less than 1.5 miles from the library. Pace Route 392 stops at the intersection of Cicero & Adams, 1.1 miles from the library.
Parking is no problem, unlike our last visit…
CTA Bus: ✅
CTA Train: ✅
Metra: ✅
Pace: ✅
Parking: ✅
5/5! Nice job, Legler Regional!
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