Reserve a Computer

The Chicago Public Library provides access to online information and services in its more than 70 library locations. Read the Guidelines for Computer and Internet Use.

A valid library card (in good standing) from the Chicago Public Library is required to use computers in the Library. If you live in Chicago and do not have a valid library card, apply at the Circulation Desk. Proper identification is required. If you live in a library district with a reciprocal borrowing agreement with the Chicago Public Library and you are in good standing with your home library district, then you are eligible for a reciprocal Chicago Public Library card, which you will need in order to reserve a computer. A current list of reciprocal libraries may be found in the Reciprocal Borrowing Policy.

Visitors to Chicago may obtain a temporary “Guest” pass for the day by presenting proper photo identification verifying residence outside of a reciprocal library district. Residents of communities with reciprocal borrowing privileges are not eligible for a Guest pass.

Internet Access Computers

All Chicago Public Library locations offer computers with free Internet access.

Reservations for a one-hour session may be made using the Library’s online reservation system.

All CPL locations have Express Internet computers. The use of Express Internet computers is limited to 15 minutes and requires entering your library card number.

Reservations: To reserve time on a Chicago Public Library one-hour Internet computer, patrons may sign up online or visit any Chicago Public Library location and use the designated PC Reservation Station. Library card rights and responsibilities are not transferable. Unauthorized use of another person’s library card number without that person’s permission is expressly forbidden and will be subject to prosecution. Reservations may be made for the same day and/or in advance for the following two days. Please note the start time and computer number of your reservation.

Sessions: To ensure access to as many users as possible, patrons are allowed a maximum of two sessions per person per day. Sessions include one-hour Internet computers, Express Internet computers and the Library’s word processing computers (located at Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries only). All Internet sessions time out automatically at the end of a session.

Be on Time: Please be aware that the reservation system gives you only a 10-minute grace period for your assigned session. If you are more than 10 minutes late, or do not show up at all, your reservation will be canceled and you will forfeit that reservation. If you are not able to keep your reservation, you should cancel it online or by contacting the branch, so that you don’t lose one of your two sessions for the day.

Using a Designated PC Reservation Station

1. Press any key on the keyboard.
2. Select “Next Available PC” or “Future Reservation” by clicking the appropriate button.
3. Enter your library card number (located below the bar code on your library card). Be sure to enter the capital “D” followed by the nine numbers of your library card.
4. Select either an Adult Computer (age 14 and older) or a Juvenile Computer (under age 14) and desired start time. In the Computer Commons at the Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries, patrons may choose to reserve computers equipped with Internet access or computers with Internet and word processing.
5. You will receive a confirmation and a unique PIN. Click either “Accept” or “Cancel.”
6. Please note the start time and computer number of your reservation.
7. When it’s time for your reserved session, log in to your assigned computer using your library card number (see item #3). Be sure to look for the computer with the same number as your reservation.

Printing from Computers

Computer users will be charged 15 cents per page for each page printed. This applies to patrons using Find It! dedicated computers; the Library’s Internet computers; and the Library’s word processing computers (located at Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries only).

Alternatives to Printing

1. Take notes. It saves you money and conserves paper.
2. Email an article or website to yourself at your home, school or office computer.
3. At Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries, you can save your word processing document on a flash drive.

Printing

If you wish to print, select “Print” from the file menu. The Microsoft Windows print information window will appear, allowing you to choose the pages you would like to print. Select the pages you would like to print and click “OK.” Use the “Print Preview” option to be sure you actually want to print all the pages included in the document. A small window will appear to explain the number of pages being sent to the Print Release Station and the associated cost. If you do not want to incur the cost, simply click on “Cancel.” You can send as many documents as you would like to the Print Release Station, but you will not be charged until you actually release a document to the printer at the station. For your convenience, all documents sent to the Print Release Station will remain there for up to two hours.

At the conclusion of your computer session, log off and go to the Print Release Station. Enter your valid library card number at the welcome screen marked “LPT:One.” A list of the items you sent to print will appear. Select those items you wish to print and click “Print.” If you decide against printing something, click on “Delete” to remove the item from the screen. After you have selected all the documents you would like to print, click on “Done” and proceed to the nearby printer to pick up your documents. Refunds cannot be given for unwanted or blank pages.

Researching Beyond the Internet

Search the Library’s online catalog and research resources. Every library has Find It! dedicated computers set aside for searching the online catalog and research resources. No reservations are needed. The online catalog tells you what materials the Library owns and how to locate them.

The Library also provides access to a variety of online research resources in English and Spanish, including encyclopedias, magazine and newspaper articles, medical and health information, business resources, photographs, and reference information on science, literature, math, the arts and education.

These online research resources contain information not available through search engines like Google or Yahoo. The information in the online research resources has been written and reviewed by professionals, editors and fact checkers before being published.

Using the Library’s online research resources, you can access articles from newspapers, journals, reference tools and magazines for free. Online research resources provide a wealth of information on thousands of topics, for a variety of age levels. Many online research resources are also available from home, office or school if you have a valid library card (in good standing) from the Chicago Public Library and access to the web.

WiFi

All locations of the Chicago Public Library offer free wireless access to the Internet. Getting online is quick and simple. All you need is a wireless-enabled laptop computer, tablet PC, PDA or smartphone. The Library’s network is open to all visitors free of charge and without filters. No special encryption settings, usernames or passwords are required. The SSID is CPLWIFI.

Use the handy WiFi information card, or visit WiFi FAQ for troubleshooting and settings information.

Word Processing

Word processing computers are only available at the Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries.

The Chicago Public Library is not responsible for personal computer equipment plugged into electrical outlets at CPL locations.

Only computer equipment and software owned and previously installed by the Chicago Public Library may be used on Chicago Public Library computers, with the exception of patron-owned flash drives, which may be used on word processing computers at the Harold Washington Library Center, Woodson and Sulzer Regional Libraries. Adding, deleting or modifying the installed software or hardware is not permitted. No personal files will be saved on the hard drive.