Email a librarian anytime or chat with a librarian Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Or give us a call at (312) 747-4300. Phone hours are:
Librarians are here to help with:
Homework help is available at our Virtual Teacher in the Library events.
Use Brainfuse for online, one-on-one homework help.
Find additional online resources for kids and teens.
Chicago Public Library offers in-person and online events for all ages at locations across the city. You can search for events by location, age range, topic, language and more. You can also view all online events.
View our full calendar of events- we look forward to seeing you at a CPL location.
Please check the description for an event in our events calendar to see if the event uses Zoom or YouTube. Each event listing includes a "How to Attend" section.
Register in advance using the instructions in the event listing. We’ll contact you by email or phone with the Zoom meeting ID and passcode. You’ll need this information—or the link in the email we send you—to join the meeting.
For events on YouTube, the event listing provides a link to the watch the event. No registration is required for these events.
Events on CPL's YouTube channel will be archived so you can watch them later.
No registration is required for Facebook events. Visit CPL’s Facebook page to find upcoming video events or to watch event recordings.
Occasionally we or our partners may host events using other services. If you have questions about how to participate, please contact the event organizer listed in the event description.
Yes, please see our events calendar.
Please call or email your preferred CPL location for information on any additional events.
You can join an event on Zoom using a:
To set up a Zoom account, visit Sign Up - Zoom.
The email invitation we’ll send you includes a clickable link; the meeting ID and passcode; iPhone one-tap mobile access; and a dial-in number.
If you register using your phone number rather than email, we’ll call you to give you the meeting ID and passcode, as well as the dial-in number.
Joining a Zoom meeting using the smartphone app is recommended only for use with unlimited data or a WiFi connection.
Joining a Zoom meeting by phone is recommended when you want to use a landline phone, or if you have a mobile phone with unlimited minutes.
Automatic transcription is included in all CPL events using Zoom. Need live captioning for an event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org. Requests for live captioning must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
Attending CPL Events on Zoom
By registering for a CPL event on Zoom, you agree to abide by the Library Use Guidelines. Zoom is a third-party website and events may be hosted by an organization CPL has partnered with. We recommend you review the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing them with any personal data. For more information, please see our Website Privacy Statement.
You do not need a webcam to attend an event on Zoom because video is optional.
Background noise makes it difficult to hear the speaker. Keep your microphone on mute, and unmute your microphone only when you are speaking. You can mute and unmute by clicking the microphone icon, or holding down the spacebar when you speak. If you joined the meeting by phone, use *6 to mute or unmute yourself.
Accessibility
Automatic transcription is included in all CPL events using Zoom. Need live captioning for an event? Please call (312) 747-8184 or email access@chipublib.org. Requests for live captioning must be made at least 14 business days before the event.
Attending CPL Events on Zoom
By registering for a CPL event on Zoom, you agree to abide by the Library Use Guidelines. Zoom is a third-party website and events may be hosted by an organization CPL has partnered with. We recommend you review the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing them with any personal data. For more information, please see our Website Privacy Statement.
When you are ready to leave an event, click the red Leave button, which is on the bottom right of the computer screen and the top right of the mobile app.
If you joined the meeting by phone, simply hang up to leave the event.
Want to test Zoom out before joining an event? Use Zoom Test Meeting to try it out.
Check the Zoom FAQ for detailed how-tos and videos.
You can hang out, mess around and geek out. All YOUmedia locations have laptops, cameras, music and gaming equipment, and some YOUmedia locations have 3D printers, vinyl cutters and more. It's an open environment where you choose what you want to do and skilled library staff provide coaching and assistance. And of course there are books, too!
YOUmedia is available at more than twenty CPL locations.
YOUmedia locations are designed for certain grades. View high school locations and locations for grades 6-8.
Check with each YOUmedia location for hours.
YOUmedia is free. It doesn't cost anything to use equipment or visit any YOUmedia space.
If you're in high school, bring your school ID and your library card if you have one.
If you're in sixth through eighth grade, just bring yourself.
If you don't have a library card, you can still visit YOUmedia, and we can also help you get a library card.
No, but you'll need to fill out a form with your name, address and what school you attend when you visit YOUmedia for the first time.
YOUmedia offers a variety of equipment and devices for use in the YOUmedia space. You can use these items regardless of any fees on your account.
At HWLC YOUmedia and Woodson Regional YOUmedia, you can book the studio once you're certified. To get certified, you must attend studio certification.
To learn more about using other YOUmedia studios, reach out to the teen staff at the appropriate CPL location.
YOUmedia recording studios are available for teens in high school only. Teens should reach out to teen staff at these branch locations about using the recording studio:
Visit chipublib.org/digitalpasses and log in with your library card number and PIN. Once logged in, you can view all attractions and offers available to you.
You can also search for offers by date, attraction name or location. Information about each attraction and offer is available before making a reservation.
Using the calendar, you can choose what date you want to make the reservation for and then choose the Reserve option under the attraction. A confirmation box will appear, and you will receive a confirmation email.
Reservation details:
If you are 18 years or older and have a physical CPL library card, you are eligible to use the digital pass program. Some attractions may require a photo ID for access to the attraction on the day of the reservation.
Bring your reservation pass. Your confirmation email will note if a printed pass is required or if a mobile pass is accepted. Bring the printed or mobile pass as directed. We encourage you to visit your local library location if you need assistance with printing.
Bring a photo ID to confirm identity and age. Some attractions may require a photo ID. Make sure the name on the ID matches the name on the reservation pass.
If you have not printed or downloaded your digital pass, you can log in to the reservation website and cancel up to the date of your reservation without counting against your limit for that attraction. After canceling, you would use the calendar to find another date to reserve your pass.
We recommend waiting to print or download your digital pass until you are sure you will be able to use it on the reservation date.
Visit chipublib.org/digitalpasses and log in with your library card number and PIN to see your current reservations.
Digital passes are available for a wide range of museums, historical societies, zoos and more across Illinois. Visit chipublib.org/digitalpasses to view all offers.
You can have three active reservations at one time. Once one of your reservation dates has passed, you can make another reservation.
Digital passes do not require holds. Visit chipublib.org/digitalpasses to reserve a pass.
Digital passes may not be renewed.
Digital passes do not need to be returned; they will expire after their reservation time period.
Harold Washington Library Center
Request a tour or field trip at HWLC.
Tours and field trips at Harold Washington Library Center serve all interests.
Tours and field trips generally last 30 to 120 minutes and are customized to meet each group's needs.
Other CPL Locations
Please call the location where you would like to set up a tour or field trip at least two weeks in advance. We are happy to create a customized experience for your group; advance notice helps us best meet your needs.
We can offer a research skills class as part of your tour or field trip at Harold Washington Library Center.
We offer an introduction to research skills, an advanced class for more experienced students and instruction on using our online resources. If your class is working on a specific project, we can help with that, too.
Please let us know your interests when you request a tour.
We can accommodate larger groups, but groups larger than 20 need to be split into smaller groups.
Please note: Instructors or adult staff members may need to accompany groups based on size and assistance needed.
Please provide a minimum of three weeks' notice when you request your tour.
We can accommodate groups with 6 to 35 people.
Yes, we can issue library cards.
Please arrange to drop off your completed application forms at least two weeks prior to your visit to Harold Washington Library Center.
Please let us know when you request a tour or field trip if you would like library cards. For more information, call (312) 747-4300.
A lunchroom (max capacity 35) is available for tours and field trips. If your group needs to use the lunchroom, please let us know when you request your tour.
At this time we don’t offer building tours for individuals or families. Please pick up our “Self-Guided Tour” brochure in the lobby of Harold Washington Library Center.
Check out our events calendar to see what's happening during your visit.
The library currently doesn't offer guided tours of the art in Harold Washington Library Center.
A checklist of the art in the building, organized by floor, is available in the lobby.
We may be able to borrow regular, specialized or out-of-print titles from another library via interlibrary loan. Request an interlibrary loan.
CPL cardholders in good standing who live in Chicago may request an interlibrary loan. Interlibrary loan is not available to reciprocal borrowers.
Request an interlibrary loan online. Or call our office at (312) 747-4344 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You may request books, audiobooks, articles, educational audiovisual materials and microfilm through interlibrary loan.
The following are not available to request through interlibrary loan:
Each interlibrary loan request counts as a hold on your account. You may have up to 12 holds "not ready" or "paused." This does not include hold requests that are "in transit" or "ready for pickup." If you have 12 holds that are "not ready," you won’t be able to place an interlibrary loan request.
For more information, see Your Account: Holds FAQs.
We make every effort to obtain materials at no cost. However, some libraries charge a lending fee, and we must pass on these fees.
All free sources will be exhausted before using locations that charge lending fees. If a fee is required, we will contact you before requesting the material.
Typically, fees start at $10. Most requests for copies from medical periodicals require a fee of at least $10.
Please be aware that if you don’t pick up an interlibrary loan for which an approved fee has been charged, you will still be responsible for paying the fee.
Pending requests will appear in your account as soon as they are processed. If you have not seen it appear within 7 business days, please contact us. However, these requests usually take two to six weeks to arrive. It may take up to 20 business days to learn that no library will supply the title.
If your deadline is urgent, please ask a librarian or use WorldCat via FirstSearch to find the title at a nearby library. You may be able to check out the title from another Illinois library through reciprocal borrowing.
Log in to your account and go to My Borrowing to track the status of your interlibrary loan request.
To check the status of requests for microfilm, photocopies or in-library use only items, please call Interlibrary Loan at (312) 747-4344 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You’ll receive an email notification when your interlibrary loan is ready for pickup. If you haven’t added your email address to your account, you’ll be notified by phone.
The loan period for interlibrary loans is three weeks.
Interlibrary loan materials cannot be renewed.
Materials checked out via interlibrary loan are subject to the lending library's fees as well as CPL’s overdue fines and fees for replacement or repair of lost or damaged materials.
We charge overdue fines of 25 cents per day for interlibrary loan materials returned late.
Like all materials checked out from CPL, interlibrary loan items not returned within 7 days after the due date will incur a replacement fee, which will be added to your account. For interlibrary loan items, this replacement fee is a placeholder until we receive the actual replacement cost from the lending library. Your library card will be blocked until interlibrary loan items are returned or the replacement cost is paid.
If you need an item longer than the loan period, we suggest you submit another interlibrary loan request for the same title two weeks before the initial due date. That way we should have another copy of the title by the time you return the first copy.
Materials checked out via interlibrary loan are subject to the lending library's fees as well as CPL’s overdue fines and fees for replacement or repair of lost or damaged materials.
To ensure that ILL materials are properly returned, we suggest the following:
Interlibrary loan items are not owned by Chicago Public Library, therefore these requests cannot be paused.
To cancel an interlibrary loan request, please email ill@chipublib.org or call (312) 747-4344 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Yes, we will make every attempt to obtain the specific title through interlibrary loan. However, many universities and colleges may keep the most recent edition in their course reserves or reference collections, which means they might not lend out these items.
To contact the Interlibrary Loan Department, please email ill@chipublib.org or call (312) 747-4344 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you live outside Chicago and would like to borrow materials or request photocopies of articles, obituaries or death notices from newspapers at CPL, please submit an interlibrary loan request through your local library.
For obituary requests giving the date of death, we will search up to two newspapers for three days following that date. Other requests must include specific information:
If we locate an obituary or article, the minimum photocopy fee is $5.25 (25 cents a page plus $5 handling) per request. Please do not send money; a bill will accompany the photocopy sent to your local library.
We welcome your suggestions for purchase. Please complete the Suggest a Purchase form to let us know your request.
Chicago Public Library offers:
Please call (312) 747-4001 for more information about CPL’s services.
We offer assistive technology for people with disabilities at all CPL locations.
Each CPL location has two ADA computer workstations: one for adults and one for children. These workstations feature:
All CPL computers have Windows 10 Ease of Access accessibility resources for vision, hearing, dexterity, mobility, focus and other related needs.
The Assistive Resources and Talking Book Center on the 5th floor of the Harold Washington Library Center has assistive technology resources for individuals who are blind, have low vision or physical disabilities that prevent them from performing tasks such as using a computer mouse. Visit the ARTBC page or call (312) 747-4001 for more information.
Harold Washington Library Center has a videophone with video relay service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Deaf or hard of hearing individuals may use the videophone to place video relay calls to hearing people, who receive the calls on a standard phone. Calls are routed through an interpreting center, where an interpreter, fluent in ASL and spoken English or Spanish, appears on the device. The deaf and hard of hearing caller signs the message to the interpreter, and the interpreter relays the conversation between the two parties. Deaf or hard of hearing individuals can also use the videophone to call other deaf or hard of hearing individuals with a videophone.
Telesensory magnifiers, which magnify written materials up to 45 times their original size, are available at:
Woodson Regional Library has a videophone with video relay service for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Deaf or hard of hearing individuals may use the videophone to place video relay calls to hearing people, who receive the calls on a standard phone. Calls are routed through an interpreting center, where an interpreter, fluent in ASL and spoken English or Spanish, appears on the device. The deaf and hard of hearing caller signs the message to the interpreter, and the interpreter relays the conversation between the two parties. Deaf or hard of hearing individuals can also use the videophone to call other deaf or hard of hearing individuals with a videophone.
Chicago Public Library is committed to making information on this website accessible to all users, including people with disabilities.
If you cannot fully access the information on any page on our site, please contact Tiffany Breyne at (312) 745-3739 or by email at webmaster@chipublib.org. Please include the nature of the accessibility issue, the web address (URL) of the material with which you are having difficulty and your contact information.
We will try to provide the information to you in an alternate format and/or make the necessary improvements to make the information accessible.
In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the City of Chicago has established a formal grievance procedure. If you wish to file a complaint, please contact the City’s designated ADA coordinator, Rachel Arfa, commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, at (312) 744-7209 or by email at Rachel.Arfa@cityofchicago.org.
Adobe Digital Editions 2.0, which is an app used to read eBooks from OverDrive, is compatible with several screen readers for people with low vision or visual disabilities.
Individuals who are unable to read standard print material due to a permanent or temporary visual or physical disability are eligible for downloadable book service via the National Library Service Braille and Audio Reading Download Service. This service is available through the Assistive Resources and Talking Book Center.
The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities works to meet the needs of people with disabilities who live and work in Chicago. It offers services for accessible housing, employment, transportation and more.
Assistive Resources and Talking Book Center provides disability related referral and information for city, state and national services. It also provides access to books, equipment, technology and resources designed for individuals with disabilities. Please call (312) 747-4001 or email artbc@chipublib.org.
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