Press Release

For Immediate Release
Mayor’s Press Office
312-744-3334
Maggie Killackey Jurgensen
Chicago Public Library
312-747-4051

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES THE BEGINNING OF CHICAGO SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
June 11, 2007

Commissioner Mary Dempsey announced today that the Chicago Public Library will offer a Summer Reading Program for both adults and children.

“The Chicago Public Library’s Summer Reading Program for children has always provided young people a safe and enriching activity to engage in, throughout the summer months,” commented Mayor Richard M. Daley. “Now a new tradition of summer reading will begin as the Chicago Public Library presents the first summer reading program designed especially for adult readers.”

The new adult Summer Reading Program, City of Big Readers: Summer Reads for Adults, was designed to complement the children and young adult Summer Reading Program, City of Big Readers. Both programs were created in collaboration with the Chicago History Museum and showcase the City of Chicago as the theme.

“Last year, 45,000 children read more than 850,000 books,” commented Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey. “Introducing an adult summer reading program not only provides fantastic cultural programming for adults, it allows adults and children the opportunity to read about a common subject and then discuss what they’ve learned.”

Summer Reads for Adults

All Chicagoans are encouraged to participate in Summer Reads for Adults by reading books from the bibliography listed in the Summer Reads for Adults resource guide. Summer Reads for Adults showcases a variety of historical and contemporary subject categories that will ignite the interests of adult readers. Literary categories include: Prairies & Progress(how Chicago has grown through the centuries); Leaders & Legends (Chicago’s famous and infamous people and institutions); Triumphs & Tragedies (Chicago’s greatest feats and failures); Sidewalks & Skyscrapers (Chicago’s architectural history); Neighbors & Neighborhoods (Chicago neighborhoods); and Voices & Visions (Chicago’s literary luminaries); are sure to engage adult readers through the summer months.

To enhance the reading experience, the Chicago Public Library will present a series of programs featuring Chicago authors, Chicago stories, Chicago sounds and Chicago cultural institutions. Some of the innovative and informative programs will include a “Musical Tour on an Elevated (“El”) Train” hosted by the Chicago History Museum; a “Chicago Theater Walking Tour” led by noted theater critic Richard Christiansen; and a “Chicago Line Historical Sights and Stories Cruise” hosted by renowned Chicago authors Timuel Black and Rick Kogan.

After reading a minimum of two selections—and completing a special registration form—participants will be eligible to receive a special Chicago Public Library travel coffee mug.

Travel mugs will be available while supplies last. Participants can also enter a raffle for a chance to win a copy of The Encyclopedia of Chicago by James Grossman. Those who wish to participate in Summer Reads for Adults can join any of the 50 Chicago Public Library Adult Book Clubs offered at neighborhood branches, or can start their own book club with the Library’s innovative Book Club in a Bag, which contains enough books, author biographies and suggested discussion questions to accommodate a group of up to 10 individuals.

City of Big Readers

For 30 years, the Chicago Public Library’s Annual Summer Reading Program, has been encouraging the enjoyment of books and reading by providing children eight fun-filled weeks of free programs and activities. This year’s Summer Reading Program City of Big Readers celebrates Chicago History with storytelling, musicals and crafts in partnership with the Chicago History Museum. Each Chicago Public Library branch will have specially designed programs that revolve around the history of Chicago.

Children between the ages of ages of 3 and 14, will have the opportunity to win books, Summer Reading Program T-shirts and a variety of other prizes, including sports memorabilia. Summer Reading Program participants will also receive a certificate at the end of the program and will be invited with their families to attend a special Reader’s Night celebration at the Chicago History Museum in August.

Some of the City of Big Readers interactive performances will include: Creepy Chicago with Ursula Bielski; Chicago: Crossroads of Ideas with Steve Belliveau; A Taste of Chicago in Story and Song with Judith Heineman & Dan Marcotte and Chicago That Puppeting Town with Marilyn Price.

The Chicago Public Library is comprised of the Harold Washington Library Center, two regional libraries and 76 neighborhood branches. The Chicago Public Library offers a rich resource of books, DVDs, audio books and more, provides free access to the Internet and WiFi in all of its locations, as well as free public programs for children, teens and adults.

The Harold Washington Library Center, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library and Conrad Sulzer Regional Library are open 7 days a week, the remaining 76 branch libraries are open 6 days a week and patrons can access all of the libraries’ collections online 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit the website or call the Chicago Public Library Press Office at (312) 747-4050.