Branching Out to Chicago’s Libraries
Journey with us as we visit all of the Chicago Public Library’s 81 branches and visit all of Chicago’s neighborhoods along the way!
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Blackstone (#8)
Get ready for some history! BEN: If you read about our visit to Harold Washington Library, you’ll recall learning that the Chicago Public Library’s initial collection consisted of about 8,000 books donated by British citizens in the aftermath of the…
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West Loop (#7)
BEN: This accidental library visit was brought to us by: summer reading challenge coupons! SAM: We began our family outing by filling our stomachs with Lou Malnati’s pizza in the West Loop, courtesy of this year’s CPL Summer Reading Challenge…
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Near North (#6)
A transit-related coffee shop!? SAM: In the morning, I randomly searched for interesting library events and came across a Paint and Sip event that the Near North Branch offered. Initially, it was just going to be a mommy and boys…
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Logan Square (#5)
To the Library! BEN: Sam’s quest to borrow a particular book led us up to Logan Square, a neighborhood bearing the name of an actual square, the Illinois Centennial Memorial (which we didn’t know existed until after visiting – whoops!),…
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Back of the Yards (#4)
To the Library! BEN: Back of the Yards is one of our frequent library haunts. For the “official” Project 81 visit, we headed over for a program called The Sound of Science, where the kids each made a “Sound Sandwich”…
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Clearing (#3)
To the library! SAM: Curiosity caught our attention this weekend. The Branch Manager at CPL’s Clearing Branch set up his collection of retro video games, which was quite popular among patrons, ourselves included. I felt like I was thrown back to…
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Harold Washington Library Center (#2)
BEN: What pairs well with public libraries? Free museums! I’ve been trying to visit the Money Museum at the Chicago Federal Reserve building for literal years. It’s only open Monday through Friday, ruling it out for weekend excursions, and was…
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Budlong Woods (#1)
BEN: Welcome to our very first blog entry!Our journey begins with the Budlong Woods branch on the North side, selected by random via spinner wheel (special thanks to Daniel). But first…lunch. SAM: Our day kicked off to a later start…
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