Press Release

For Immediate Release
Maggie Killackey
Chicago Public Library
312-747-4051

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERS RESIDENTS GREAT WAYS TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS THIS SUMMER
May 24, 2007

The Chicago Public Library is chocked full of events, programs and things to do this summer. The following list will help Chicagoans take full advantage of summer at the Chicago Public Library and spark creativity to make the summer all it should be, absolutely free!

The Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program offers Chicago youth between the ages of 3 to 14 eight fun-filled weeks of free programs and activities. This year’s Summer Reading Program, City of Big Readers, focuses on the Chicago History. Programs will cover parts of Chicago’s rich history such as the Great Chicago Fire, the building of Chicago skyscrapers, the incorporation of the City of Chicago and much more. Children who participate in summer reading programs typically are better prepared for the coming school year. During the 2006 Chicago Public Library Summer Reading Program 45,000 children read more than 850,000 books. This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the annual children’s Summer Reading Program.

City of Big Readers: Summer Reads for Adults, is the first-ever summer reading program designed especially for adult readers, has been designed to compliment the children’s Summer Reading Program. The program runs from June through August, 2007 and celebrates Chicago from many historical and contemporary literary angles — with themes such as Prairies & Progress, Leaders & Legends; Triumphs & Tragedies, Sidewalks & Skyscrapers, Neighbors & Neighborhoods and Voices & Visions. To enhance the reading experience, the Library will present a series of informative and fun programs featuring Chicago authors, Chicago stories, Chicago voices and Chicago cultural institutions such as the Chicago History Museum.

The Great Kids Museum Passport program allows Chicagoans free admission to 13 of Chicago’s world-class cultural institutions. Children may discover the wonders of the aquatic world at the Shedd Aquarium, uncover the diversity of the ancient Americas at the Field Museum, travel to space at the Alder Planetarium and reach into the water and stroke a live sting ray at the Brookfield Zoo. Adult residents of the City of Chicago may check out a Museum Passport which provides general admission for up to four guests at all 79 Chicago Public Library locations with their valid Chicago Public Library card. The loan period for each Great Kids Museum Passport is one week. The Museum Passport covers general museum admission. It does not provide admittance to special ticketed museum exhibits.

The Chicago Public Library is excited to bring Teen Volume to dozens of Chicago Public Library locations. Teen Volume is a series of programs designed for teens by teens. Developed and created by a steering committee of librarians and teens, Teen Volume engages young adults in book discussions; selects new book titles for the collections citywide; creates online book discussions; and develops Readers’ Theater projects and presentations. This summer’s Teen Volume moderated book clubs will provide Chicago youths with a social outlet encouraging them to articulate their ideas, develop critical thoughts, build self-esteem and learn interpersonal skills, while improving their reading abilities.

The Chicago Public Library’s Words & Music program provides free lawn passes to a selected Ravinia summer classical concerts. A select number of Ravinia lawn passes will be available at every Chicago Public Library branch, along with Ravinia concert schedules. Tickets are being distributed in two allotments. The first distribution occurring on June 2, 2007, will offer tickets to concerts occurring between June 5, 2007 and July 17, 2007. The second distribution on July 14, 2007, will offer tickets to concerts occurring between July 21, 2007 and September 17, 2007. Any resident of the City of Chicago, 18 years or older, with a valid library card may request two Words & Music free lawn passes per concert, for a maximum of two concerts per day.

It is easy to get “hooked’ at the Chicago Public Library this summer. The Chicago Public Library offers fishing rods and reels for check out via the Rods & Reads program. Adults may check out fishing rods and reels at select library locations for a three week loan period. The following branches offer the Rods & Reads program: Albany Park, Blackstone, Douglass, Hegewisch, Humboldt Park, McKinley Park, Rogers Park, Sherman Park and Uptown. These specific branches were chosen due to their close proximity to several Chicago Park District fishing lagoons. The rods may be used by children and adults alike.

The Chicago Public Library provides access to a large selection of databases, most of which are also available for use at home or other remote location, with a Chicago Public Library card. Chicagoans may use the Chicago Public Library’s collection of databases to locate information on a broad range of subjects from magazines, newspapers, encyclopedias, journals, books and more.

The Chicago Public Library welcomes thousands of visitors every day, seven days a week and presents hundreds of free author events, informational lecture series and workshops each year. Visitors can hear from both nationally known and locally celebrated authors, learn from experts about financial literacy and legal issues, see dance performances, hear musical selections by Chicago blues legends and view fascinating exhibitions – all for free. For a complete listing of events please visit chicagopubliclibrary.org or visit your local branch.

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 all 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.