Take an Online Course with Your Peers at the Library

This fall, we're hosting Learning Circles at CPL locations across the city to give everyone the opportunity to learn online. Most courses start in September, with a few beginning in October and November.

What are Learning Circles? They're in-person study groups for learners who want to complete online courses together at the library. These are free courses for everyone. Circles meet once a week for 90 minutes and last between four and six weeks.

Fall Learning Circles Schedule

Register online for the following courses:

  • The Science of Happiness: Learn about positive psychology. At Bezazian, Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, Toman and West Town.
  • Introduction to Public Speaking: Practice your public speaking skills. At Walker.
  • Job Skills: Resume and Interview Skills: Focus on resume writing and interview preparation. At Back of the Yards, Greater Grand Crossing and, in October, Richard J. Daley-Bridgeport.
  • Beginner's Guide to Writing: Work on writing and grammar, and learn how to craft essays. At Coleman.
  • Social Entrepreneurship 101: Learn to apply entrepreneurial skills to social problems and design lasting solutions. At Harold Washington Library Center.
  • Finance for Everyone: Learn smart tools to understand finance in this introductory course. At Harold Washington Library Center, starting in October.
  • Make a Website: Learn about HTML and CSS, and make a website. At Blackstone and Mount Greenwood.
  • Start Writing Fiction: Learn how to get started with your own fiction writing. In October at Clearing and Douglass, and in November at Edgewater.

About Online Learning

Learning Circles were developed in partnership with Peer 2 Peer University to help make the concept of open, online learning a reality for more people by making open online courses accessible, social and informal.

  • You've never taken an online course? Don't worry! 65 percent of people who've completed our Learning Circles were brand new to online learning.
  • You've signed up for an online course before but didn't get very far before giving up completely? Again, don't worry! We've found that participating in a Learning Circle means you're five to 10 times more likely to complete the course.