#CPLStaffSpotlight | Chapter 6
Meet Jennifer Lizak, Coordinator of Special Projects at Harold Washington Library Center!
What did you study in college, and how did it shape your path to working at the Library?
I am a proud graduate of Chicago's own Loyola University! I was a double major in Theatre and Communication (Radio/TV/film concentration) and minored in Women's Studies. I never intended to work in libraries—even though my first job as a young teen was at my local library. I worked at an independent music venue and nightclub for a long time and also ran a literary festival, which led to a friend telling me about the job posting at CPL. My career has been about bringing people together in community to collectively experience arts and culture, so my education and early career experiences really gave me a strong foundation in being able to curate interesting experiences for an audience, run large scale events and be comfortable speaking to large crowds and high profile people.
How long have you worked at CPL and did you grow up in Chicago?
I've worked at CPL since 2014. I was born and raised on the Northwest Side and am the daughter of born and raised Chicagoans. Like many Chicagoans, my grandparents/great-grandparents on both sides came to Chicago for a better life and better opportunities for their children—Dad's side from Slovakia to the South Side, and Mom's side from Ireland via Canada and Iowa to the North Side. Needless to say, it made for some interesting "conversations" during baseball season! I truly believe Chicago is the best City and has the best people.
What is your favorite part about working at Harold Washington Library Center?
As an architecture fan, it’s very cool to work in an iconic Chicago building. I actually remember being a very young kid and getting to "vote" on which design we would choose and remembering the first time I came here, to research my history fair paper. One of my favorite things is how it is a living tribute to Mayor Harold Washington, who I greatly admire and the artwork, opens a new window around the building is a constant reminder of the values that he stood for. My favorite art is the Houston Conwill piece, DuSable's Journey, on the Lower Level, which has excerpts from Mayor Washington's second inauguration speech, including my favorite line "To every man, woman and child listening to me today, I ask you to consider the need and examine your skills, and find a way to contribute to the salvation of your city." I think that's a great call to action for all Chicagoans.
When did you know you wanted to work in event programming?
I've always enjoyed putting on productions for people. I would say that it began when I made my little sister put on plays and magic shows with me, often against her will, ha! I played piano and was a theatre kid growing up and in college I not only worked on our theater productions but I also was the promotions director for the college radio station which meant I put on concerts and festivals on campus and was also heavily involved in campus activism, which included bringing in speakers for events. This all led to working in the music industry at a concert venue, as well as my volunteer work which often includes me organizing various events! I have two strong personal beliefs that have guided a lot of what I've done in my career: human beings thrive when they are together in person in community and experiencing art, music, theatre, literature and culture is part of what makes us human. A researcher who was studying how we run the One Book, One Chicago, opens a new window program called me an "evangelist of culture" which I think is a good way to look at what I aspire to do!
What is your favorite programming series at the Library?
One Book, One Chicago is my favorite—and not just because I run it. I think there's so much that divides people, especially in today's political climate, that it is really important for the health of our democracy that people from people from all walks of life have opportunities to come together and have a collective experience and perhaps even get to know their neighbors in a new way. I think One Book creates those opportunities by asking people to have a collective experience of reading a book at the same time, while also being incredibly entertaining and engaging people in new and interesting topics. We do this in a way a lot of other libraries don't, by creating lots of related programming around themes from the chosen book, so there are lots of entry points for people—book clubs yes, but also film screenings, art workshops, walking tours, musical performances, etc. One of my favorite moments was during our food themed season (Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, opens a new window by Barbara Kingsolver) when a patron came up to me after a program on halal cooking and told me that they learned enough at the library that night that they now felt confident that they could go home and invite their new neighbors, refugees from Afghanistan, over for dinner that weekend. Making someone feel confident in building community—that's library programming at its best.
How long have you been leading the One Book, One Chicago series and how have you seen it grown over time?
I've managed the program since I started at CPL in 2014. One of the biggest growth spurts happened during the early days of the COVID pandemic, when myself and my colleagues on our A/V team quickly pivoted to make the 2020 season virtual. We had no idea what we were doing at the time, but we figured out livestreaming in a matter of weeks and were still able to have a successful season despite pivoting last minute. I think we got a lot of people participating who had some extra free time on their hands, and it has helped the program continue to grow today.
Do you have a favorite One Book, One Chicago season?
It's impossible to choose, I really do love all the books we've chosen in my time at CPL, in different ways. I loved Tom Dyja's The Third Coast, opens a new window because its my absolute favorite Chicago history book, I loved Exit West, opens a new window by Mohsin Hamid because its one of my all time favorite books that I've gifted everyone I know for one Christmas or another, I loved Art Spiegelman's Maus, opens a new window because I grew up with Holocaust survivors in our extended family and the book was very dear to my heart, I loved Bedrock Faith, opens a new window by Eric Charles May because he so wonderfully captures real Chicagoans in his writing. Maybe a better way is to say one of my favorite events during a OBOC season was the keynote finale for the wonderful Greg Kot's fantastic book I'll Take You There, opens a new window, where Mavis Staples herself joined him on stage to talk about his biography of her life. It was fascinating to hear from her point of view the experience of Greg having written a book about her. Plus, Mavis is a Chicago legend and has a seemingly magical way of uplifting a crowd of people!
Can you give us a hint about the 2025 One Book, One Chicago selection and what patrons can expect from the upcoming season?
I'm so excited about this season of OBOC—I think readers will love this book, especially the characters and the juicy story! I'll give a hint and say: it is fiction this year. It's a very entertaining choice, but it also has some things in it that I think will especially resonate with Chicagoans and while (here is another hint) it is not set in Chicago, it also ties in to some important figures in Chicago history... ones you probably don't know much about!
What is one thing you wish people knew about the Library that they might not know?
I think we often know about what public libraries have to offer children and families, but the Library has so much to offer for adults that people are not aware of, from eBooks and eAudiobooks, to adult summer reading programs, to help with resumes, to book clubs, to writing workshops. The best way to support your local library is to get a library card and use it—and tell your friends!
What are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?
In my free time I volunteer with CHIRP Radio, Chicago's low power FM community radio station, including DJing on the air on Sundays from 4-6pm at 107.1fm and chirpradio.org. I also have captained an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team since 2001, and I'm proud to say that our small team of family and friends have raised over $200,000 for ACS research in that time. When I actually relax, I enjoy reading (of course!), writing, gardening, live music, crafting and working on the never-ending list of projects related to the Chicago bungalow my husband and I recently bought.
What are you currently reading?
I just finished Emily St. James' Woodworking, opens a new window last night—it was incredible, and I'm still thinking about it. I don't think I've ever read another book like it. My friends and I have a tradition of gifting each other our favorite book we read that year for Christmas and I already know this is the book I'm giving them this year!
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