Board of Directors Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2026

 January 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m.

Harold Washington Library Center/ Lower Level, Multi-Purpose Room

400 S. State Street

Agenda

  1. Approval of minutes for the November 18, 2025 meeting (action required)
  2. Election of Officers (action required)
  3. Administration and Finance Report (info only)
  4. 2026 Budget Update/Kelly Fund Budget Approval (action required)
  5. Strategy, Sustainability and Continuous Improvement Update (info only)
  6. Operations and Facilities Report (info only)
  7. Commissioner’s Report (info only)
  8. Civic Strategy: Libraries as Neighborhood Infrastructure
  9. Public Funding Landscape: State Momentum and Federal Signals
  10. Literacy and Neighborhood Impact: Coleman Branch
  11. Democracy, Practiced Locally: The Obama Branch Library
  12. Public Learning and the Civic Classroom
  13. Investing in Civic Leadership for Youth Opportunity
  14. Workforce Development and National Leadership: ASID and ALA 2026
  15. Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only)
  16. Other Business
  17. Public Comment

Next Board meeting: May 19, 2026, Humboldt Park Branch, 1605 N. Troy Street 

Open Session Minutes

Board Members in Attendance

Physically Present: Linda Johnson Rice, Christopher P. Valenti, Lynn Lockwood, Dominique Jordan Turner, Sandra Delgado, Jackie Rosa, J.D. Van Slyke

Present by Means of Video or Audio Conference: None

Absent: Jodi Block, Michelle Boone

Welcome New Directors (info only)

Commissioner Brown welcomed CPL’s new board directors, Jackie Rosa and J.D. Van Slyke. Directors Rosa and Van Slyke were confirmed by City Council as new CPL board members earlier this month.

Jackie Rosa is a civic and community engagement leader with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity through partnerships, place-based investments, and community-driven policy. She currently serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the United Way of Metro Chicago and previously was Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement, leading citywide engagement and participatory governance efforts. Recognized for her impact, she is a 2026 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow, a Hispanics in Philanthropy Next Generation Fellow, a 2024 Crain’s Notable Latino Leader, and an active board and advisory member across several community organizations.

J.D. Van Slyke has a diverse career across government, social impact, political campaigns, and the private sector, and currently serves as Director of Corporate Affairs at Ferrara, leading government relations, community engagement, and strategic communications. He has held key leadership roles in major political efforts, including as Nebraska State Political Director for the Harris for President campaign and as Deputy Director of Community and Civic Engagement for the 2024 Democratic National Convention Host Committee. His experience also includes serving under three Chicago mayors, advancing youth employment and community programs, and beginning his career in nonprofit work supporting diverse communities, supported by degrees from the University of Illinois Chicago and Western Kentucky University.

Approval of minutes for November 18, 2025 meeting (action required)

The Board voted (7-0) to approve the minutes for the November 18, 2025 meeting.

Election of Officers (action required)

Secretary Lynn Lockwood and Director Jodi Block were selected to represent this year’s nominating committee for the election of officers. Secretary Lockwood spoke on behalf of the nominating committee and proposed the following slate of officers for the 2026 Chicago Public Library board of directors:

  • Linda Johnson Rice, President
  • Christopher P. Valenti, Vice President
  • Lynn Lockwood, Secretary

The Board voted (7-0) to approve the 2026 slate of officers for the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors.

Administration and Finance Report (info only)

Our newly promoted Deputy Commissioner of Finance and Administration, Mary Robinson presented the Administration and Finance Report highlighting the following:

  • For the quarterly report on contracts and purchases made for magazines, books, databases, periodicals and articles of educational and instructional nature, purchases made between November 1 – December 31, 2025, totaled $1,493,476.81 for 3,543 invoices.
  • For the hiring update, CPL ended 2025 with 50 internal promotions, 103 transfers and 29 staff converted from part-time to full-time positions.
  • Congratulations to CPL staff that have recently retired:
    • Johnnie Trollinger, Librarian II at Legler Regional - 47 years of service 
    • Mitchell Smith, Librarian IV at Whitney Young - 45 years of service
    • Brenda Stewart, Library Clerk at South Chicago - 39 years of service
    • Chanese Smith, Head Library Clerk - 38 years of service
    • Nitin Shelke, Head Library Clerk at Bezazian - 38 years of service
    • Joanne Willis, Librarian IV at Canaryville - 20 years of Service
  • CPL continues its recruiting efforts by attending job fairs throughout the city. Currently, participation in three job fairs is planned in Q1, including:
    • February 27 - High School Career Day at Perspectives Charter School
    • February 27- Chicago Aldermanic Blac Caucus Career Fair at Olive Harvey College
    • March 10 - Spring Part-Time Job Fair at Northeastern University 
  • We are close to 100% of staff completing their online Equity training. Only 2% of staff remain that have not completed are three modules.

2026 Budget Update / Kelly Fund Budget Approval (action required)

Deputy Commissioner Mary Robinson shared an overview of the funding sources included in the 2026 CPL budget request that was approved by City Council. For 2026, the total budget request was $169,257,813, and includes:

  • CPL Operating budget - $103,966,346
  • Services of DoIT and 2FM – $26,691,969
  • Other City Support - $34,344,498 (includes interest payments, benefits, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, and HWLC property management)
  • Chicago Public Library Foundation’s budget - $4,200,000 (approved by the CPLF board, in support of in-person programming and initiatives.)
  • And, for Chicago Public Library Board approval, CPL requested $55,000 from the Kelly Fund to support professional development training for staff and planning for special programs and events, including the Library’s annual All Staff Institute Day (ASID).

The Board voted (7-0) to approve the 2026 Kelly fund budget.

Strategy, Sustainability and Continues Improvement (info only)

First Deputy Commissioner Mary Ellen Messner introduced a new process that will launch in 2026 to build a more sustainable future for Chicago Public Library. Spearheaded by the First Deputy Commissioner’s office, this process will be centered on continuous improvement to focus on system-wide organizational planning that aligns strategy, operations and resources with CPL’s mission and community priorities.

Initial work will focus on a comprehensive review of Chicago Public Library’s organizational structure, cross-departmental workflows, and fiscal sustainability to strengthen operational effectiveness, accountability, and long-term resilience. Guided by the Mayor’s 2025 Executive Order directing all City departments to evaluate organizational efficiency, CPL partnered with Ernst & Young to conduct an organizational and efficiency analysis benchmarking CPL against peer library systems, City departments, and leading public agencies. This work will support the implementation of CPL’s 2026–2030 strategic plan through the development of sustainable service models, operational improvement strategies, KPI and accountability frameworks, and ongoing assessments of collections and resource investments. Together, these efforts are intended to strengthen planning, collaboration, and continuous improvement so CPL remains a trusted, future-focused public institution prepared to meet the evolving needs of Chicagoans.

Operations and Facilities Report (info only)

Deputy Commissioner of Library Operations and Patron Experience, Maggie Clemons shared an update on CPL operations and facility projects.

Operation Warm: A Warm Welcome to the Library

Highlights from this year’s annual A Warm Welcome to the Library series in partnership with Operation Warm, which provides coats and books to children ages 3-13. The program kicked off at the Portage-Cragin branch with support from several CPL Executive staff and Board Directors. Six branch locations were selected to host the program this year. Special thanks to the Children Services and Family Engagement team for continuing to lead this program every year.

CPL During the Holidays

The Library was offered an opportunity to decorate a tree at O’Hare airport during the holidays. The Aviation department transformed one of the terminals at O’Hare into a winter wonderland with Christmas trees, decorations and other cultural displays throughout the terminal. City organizations across the City participated in decorating the terminal. All CPL branches and cultural committees were represented with an ornament on the tree. Special call out to CPL’s Central Administration team for coordinating these efforts and decorating the Library’s holiday tree.

Lincoln Park branch also hosted the City’s first re-entry toy drive in partnership with the Mayor’s office of Re-entry and Community Safety.  Hundreds of returning residents and justice impacted families participated in the event and received toys, gifts, photos with Santa and access to community resources. The Library plans to continue working with the office of Re-Entry to host additional programs throughout the year.

Woodson Regional 50

Woodson Regional Library marked its 50th anniversary as a place of learning, memory, and belonging, celebrated alongside South Side families, alumni staff, community partners, and civic leaders. For five decades, generations of Chicagoans have come through Woodson’s doors to study, seek opportunity, find support, and build community.

The anniversary reflected Woodson at its best: families gathered for storytime, neighbors moved together through music and dance, and residents contributed to the “Share Your Woodson Story” project—adding their voices to a living neighborhood record. The milestone coincided with Praise and Protest: Voices from the Chicago Black Renaissance in the Harsh galleries, underscoring Woodson’s role in preserving and expanding access to Black history through the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, part of CPL’s ongoing work with support from Mayor Brandon Johnson.

For fifty years, Woodson has strengthened Washington Heights and the South Side—one family, one student, one story at a time.

Cultural Leadership and Black History Month

CPL will mark Black History Month Chicago with systemwide programming centered on the legacy and future of Black librarianship, cultural leadership, and civic memory. On February 19, the Harold Washington Library Center will host Gloria J. Browne-Marshall in conversation on A Protest History of the United States. The event anchors a broader slate of programs connecting Black history, civic dissent, and public memory—work that libraries are uniquely positioned to steward.

Building on the Renaissance Project, CPL will continue activating its Blues archives while expanding pathways into librarianship for teens and adults of color. A program highlighting the work of Elizabeth Catlett, including her sculpture Floating Family at Legler Regional Library, is in development. Together, these efforts link preservation, representation, and future leadership within the profession.

Poet Laureate

In January, Mayda del Valle was announced as Chicago’s second Poet Laureate through a partnership among the Poetry Foundation, DCASE, and CPL. Building on the inaugural term of avery r. young, the appointment affirms poetry’s role in public life and neighborhood spaces.

CPL’s poetry lineage—from Gwendolyn Brooks and Langston Hughes to contemporary voices, underscores the library’s role as a steward of language, culture, and civic expression. Mayda’s appointment coincides with a broader moment for Puerto Rican and Latino literary voices in Chicago, including One Book, One Chicago with Xochitl Gonzalez.

 

Summer@CPL 2026: Chapters of Chicago

CPL will launch Summer@CPL 2026 under the theme Chapters of Chicago, inviting residents of all ages to read, learn, and explore the stories that shape the city’s identity. The theme connects summer learning and discovery to Chicago’s arts, theater, music, architecture, food, nature, sports, and neighborhood histories, creating opportunities for children, teens, and adults to build new interests, develop skills, and remain engaged throughout the summer months. Chapters of Chicago also aligns with several major milestones in 2026, including America 250, the American Library Association’s 150th anniversary, and the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, reinforcing CPL’s role as a civic institution where Chicagoans come to grow, create, and see their city in new ways.

Exploring the Stories that Make Our City Shine will include the following Chapters:

    • Chapter 1: Art of the City
    • Chapter 2: Chicago Takes the Stage
    • Chapter 3: Sound of the City
    • Chapter 4: Designed by Chicago
    • Chapter 5: Taste of the City
    • Chapter 6: Green Chicago
    • Chapter 7: Play Chicago
    • Chapter 8: Stories of Chicago

 

AI at CPL

With the support of CPL’s AI Ambassadors and a working group led by Director of Technology Nicole Steeves, the library has been providing staff with AI training courses designed to build a strong foundation in how AI can support both staff and patrons. These courses offer an overview of how staff can use AI in their daily work and how to effectively guide patrons in using AI tools. Staff leave the sessions with enhanced knowledge of generative AI, familiarity with a range of AI tools, a deeper understanding of ethical considerations, and the ability to articulate AI’s relevance to library services.

In partnership with Microsoft, staff have also received training on how to use Copilot. Additionally, we will be working closely with our CyberNavigator team to expand the support offered to patrons as they continue developing digital literacy skills related to AI.

CPL is also playing a leadership role in the national conversation on AI at the American Library Association conference, taking place in Chicago this June, and will conclude the year by hosting an AI convening in October.

 

Honoring Civic Leadership

Alejandra Santana, Branch Manager of the Mabel Manning Branch was recognized by the Chicago Bulls as a 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Honoree. Alejandra has served at Manning as the lead library there for several years. She is very committed to advancing literacy, education and community service on Chicago’s near West Side. This was the Chicago Bulls sixth class of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Honorees, celebrating four Chicago community leaders for outstanding activism in equity and social justice.

Commissioner’s Report (info only)

Commissioner Brown provided a level summary of Library initiatives, highlighting the following:

  • Chicago Public Library convened more than 55 civic leaders, institutional partners, and philanthropic organizations in December to explore the evolving role of libraries as neighborhood infrastructure and civic literacy hubs. The discussion highlighted strong support for expanding CPL’s leadership in citywide literacy, civic engagement, and community connection initiatives, with these priorities continuing to inform the library’s strategic and capital planning efforts.
  • First Deputy Commissioner Mary Ellen Messner and Assistant Commissioner of Library Operations and Patron Experience Julie Obrochta also provided more details on the status of Chicago Public Library’s strategic planning process. Between January and February 2026, the library will advance its engagement and planning work through a series of coordinated activities, including six Staff and Leadership Group Workshops scheduled between January and June 2026, three Regional Community Workshops at regional libraries from February 5–7, 2026, and five Strategy Focus Groups with approximately 8–9 community partners held between January and March 2026. Additional efforts include a teen- and youth-centered focus group at the Capital branch, a Mission, Vision, and Values review with the Executive Team scheduled for February 9, 2026, and nine branch tours taking place from January 14–23, 2026.
  • The strategic planning development process moving forward will proceed in phases beginning in January through mid-March, during which additional community and stakeholder input will be gathered through event tabling, regional workshops, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups. In mid-April, the strategic framework will be refined and deepened through staff and leadership workshops, followed by late April through May, when the mission, vision, and values will be finalized and strategies and outcomes aligned with strategic priorities will be defined. The process will conclude in late May with validation and finalization of the strategic plan through staff and leadership workshops.

Emerging strategic priorities identified to date include:

    • Community Building and Connection– Foster connection, friendship, and belonging across generations, neighborhoods, and diverse communities
    • Learning and Broad Literacy Development– Cultivate a wide range of literacies that encourage deeper engagement with and understanding of the world
    • Passion Exploration and Skill Building– Encourage curiosity and creativity by empowering individuals to explore interests, develop skills, and share talents
    • Local Culture and Identity Celebration– Preserve, celebrate, and elevate neighborhood heritage, culture, and identity to strengthen community understanding and connection
    • Collective Care and Resilience– Connect Chicago residents to trusted community resources and compassionate support systems that foster resilience and hope
  • Recent state and federal developments indicate renewed momentum for public library funding and support. In Illinois, proposed legislation to increase grant funding for libraries could strengthen operating support statewide, while a federal court ruling restoring all Institute of Museum and Library Services grants reinforces continued national investment in literacy, digital access, and community services delivered through public libraries, including Chicago Public Library.
  • A December visit to Coleman Branch Library highlighted Chicago Public Library’s neighborhood-based literacy work through partnerships supporting students across Woodlawn, Washington Park, and South Shore. The visit also underscored CPL’s continued investment in youth literacy and community engagement as the system prepares to open its 82nd location at the Obama Presidential Center next summer.
  • The Obama Branch Library at the Obama Presidential Center reflects Chicago Public Library’s vision of democracy as a local, participatory practice grounded in neighborhood access to learning, culture, and civic space. Through partnerships, public art, and collections that center storytelling, creativity, and shared community experience, the branch is designed to make civic engagement tangible and accessible in everyday life.
  • Chicago Public Library continues to advance libraries as spaces for civic learning through public programs exploring emerging issues such as artificial intelligence and quantum science. Upcoming events featuring Bruce Schneier and the interactive Quantum Playground initiative reinforce CPL’s role in fostering curiosity, public understanding, and informed civic participation.
  • Julie Koslowsky was selected for the 2026 cohort of the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy, recognizing her leadership in advancing youth access and learning opportunities through Chicago Public Library initiatives such as the 81 Club program. Her selection reflects CPL’s broader commitment to cultivating civic leadership and expanding equitable opportunities for young people across Chicago.
  • Chicago Public Library’s ASID 2026 and preparations for the ALA 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition reflect CPL’s continued investment in staff development, organizational culture, and national leadership within the library field. Through professional learning, civic engagement programming, and partnerships highlighting Chicago’s cultural and architectural history, CPL is positioning itself as a key contributor to conversations around literacy, community connection, and the evolving role of public libraries.

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report (info only)

Brenda Bui, President and CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, shared an update on behalf of the staff and Board of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, highlighting the important work the Foundation is currently undertaking.  

The Library Foundation recognized strong donor support in 2025, which enabled a $4 million investment in library programming and a 120% increase in individual giving. It continued its partnership with Chicago Public Library to support neighborhood-based programming through the Community Connections Fund, while also hosting fundraising events that raised awareness and resources for library initiatives. Highlights included the widely viewed 2025 Awards broadcast, the launch of a new Associate Board Leadership Council and its upcoming Night in the Stacks fundraiser, and ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations encouraging continued public engagement.

Other Business

In accordance with state recommendations, the library will issue library‑specific email accounts to all board trustees to ensure proper management of official library business.

Public Comment

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Commissioner Brown addressed the following comments from patrons and staff:

  • Patrons expressed safety concerns regarding the Gage Park Branch’s ongoing issues with flooding and recurring mold. They recommended that CPL identify an alternative facility or new location to better support the community.
  • A representative from Rebels for Peace, a vendor serving nearly 300 students across five CPS schools that currently do not have on‑site library services, encouraged expanded partnerships with CPS to integrate library resources into schools and improve access for children who cannot easily reach a library branch.
  • The Library and Board were commended for continuing to provide accessible, high‑quality programming for individuals with disabilities.
  • A CPL staff member requested additional information be shared about CPL management’s plans and proposed actions to address system‑wide staffing shortages, given current City budget constraints.
  • A reminder for the Library to be prepared to address ICE agents if necessary, and to consider partnerships with the Greater Chicago Food Depository or local restaurants that could provide food support for youth when school is not in session.

Commissioner’s Report 

Civic Strategy: Libraries as Neighborhood Infrastructure 

In December, CPL convened a civic strategy discussion bringing together leadership from more than 55 civic institutions, including board members, city agencies, design partners, and philanthropic organizations. The conversation surfaced a set of bold ideas reflecting a shared ambition for Chicago and a strong vote of confidence in CPL’s role within it. 

Civic leaders expressed a belief that Chicago should continue its tradition of national firsts by expanding the public library’s role as the city’s civic literacy engine, rooted in neighborhoods and responsive to today's civic life. Ideas raised included positioning CPL at the center of a coordinated, citywide literacy strategy spanning early childhood, youth, and adult learning; strengthening alignment across public institutions; and exploring models such as a citywide literacy department and a department of community engagement anchored in neighborhood libraries. Together, these ideas reflect an understanding that CPL’s trust and neighborhood presence make it uniquely positioned to advance literacy, civic participation, and community connection at scale. 

This work will continue through CPL’s strategic plan, capital planning, and regional engagement, with early literacy and youth outcomes remaining foundational. 

Public Funding Landscape: State Momentum and Federal Signals 

At the state level, new legislation introduced in Springfield signals renewed interest in reinvesting in libraries. House Bill 4261, sponsored by Rep. Martha Deuter, would amend the Illinois Library System Act to increase State grant funding for library systems, public libraries, and school libraries by raising statutory per-capita, per-student, and area-based grant amounts administered by the State Librarian. The bill was filed on January 5, received its first reading on January 14, and has been referred to the House Rules Committee. While early in the legislative process, the proposal is a meaningful indicator of momentum toward strengthening baseline operating support across Illinois’s library landscape, with potential implications for CPL and our system partners. CPL’s Government Affairs and Budget teams are reviewing the legislation together to assess potential funding, policy, and operational impacts, and we will keep the Board updated as the bill advances. 

At the federal level, a December court ruling restored all Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grants nationwide, reinforcing the importance of federal investment in literacy, digital access, workforce development, and community services delivered through public libraries, including CPL. The decision provides welcome stability and a strong signal of continued federal support. As national advocacy continues through the American Library Association, CPL will monitor developments as part of routine financial planning and coordination with partners, ensuring we remain well positioned to sustain services and advance strategic priorities. 

Literacy and Neighborhood Impact: Coleman Branch 

A December visit to the Coleman Branch Library offered a grounded example of CPL’s core work. In partnership with the Obama Foundation, P44, and community organizations, CPL hosted students participating in My Brother’s Keeper and Springboard Collaborative efforts serving eight elementary schools across Woodlawn, Washington Park, and South Shore. 

The visit reinforces our belief that literacy advances when young people are consistently connected to books, librarians, and safe, supportive spaces. Board and Foundation partners joined the visit as CPL looks ahead to opening a new branch at the Obama Presidential Center next summer, our 82nd location. That investment is rooted in the same daily literacy work happening across the system. 

Democracy, Practiced Locally: The Obama Branch Library 

The Obama Branch Library at the Obama Presidential Center reflects a distinctly Chicago approach to democracy: local, participatory, and grounded in civic institutions. Like all CPL locations, the branch is neighborhood-based, reinforcing the idea that democracy is practiced through everyday access to learning, culture, and shared space. 

Programming and art are integral to how the branch functions as a civic space. Partnerships with the Art Institute of Chicago, StoryStudio Chicago, Young Chicago Authors, and ALT Space Chicago center youth voice, authorship, and creative learning. In the Main Reading Room, visitors are welcomed by Aliza Nisenbaum’s sweeping mural Reading Circles / Weaving Dreams / Seeding Futures, selected by President Obama and his team. The mural depicts moments of civic life unfolding inside a public library—readers, learners, and neighbors engaged in acts of storytelling and reflection—rendering the library as a living portrait of community in action. Adjacent to the branch, the Library Reading Garden will feature Richard Hunt’s Book Bird, anchoring reading and reflection in Chicago’s Black artistic legacy. 

The surrounding campus further extends this civic dialogue. In the Harriet Tubman Courtyard, Nekisha Durrett’s freestanding sculpture Hem of Heaven reimagines Harriet Tubman’s shawl through thousands of intricately interwoven, perforated ceramic tiles, an emblem of collective strength, care, and movement. Inside the library, a place-based eCollection developed with OverDrive expands access for residents, students, and visitors, culminating in the Presidential Reading Room of 12,000 volumes that shaped the Obamas’ lives and leadership. Together, these elements make democracy tangible, accessible, and practiced daily through art, learning, and shared civic space. 

Public Learning and the Civic Classroom 

CPL continues to position its libraries as spaces for public learning around the forces reshaping civic life. 

  • February 5:Bruce Schneier at Harold Washington Library Center, discussing Rewiring Democracy and the choices communities face as artificial intelligence reshapes participation and power. 
  • March:Quantum Playground, transforming the library into a hands-on learning environment where families, teens, and adults explore quantum science through games, art-making, and short talks led by researchers from the University of Chicago, Duke University, and Illinois partners. 

These programs reflect CPL’s role as a civic classroom, welcoming curiosity, demystifying complex ideas, and supporting informed public engagement. 

Investing in Civic Leadership for Youth Opportunity 

Libraries are civic institutions, and expanding opportunities for young people is central to CPL’s work. We are thrilled to have Julie Koslowsky, Director of Teen Services, representing Chicago Public Library in the 2026 cohort of the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy at the Harris School of Public Policy. Julie has played a key role in advancing CPL’s 81 Club initiative—aligning CPL and CPS systems to expand library access for more than 320,000 students—and in strengthening youth services by embedding inclusive, out-of-school learning across our 81 neighborhood libraries. Julie’s selection reflects both her leadership and CPL’s ongoing commitment to developing civic leaders who expand access, learning, and opportunity for young people across Chicago. 

Workforce Development and National Leadership: ASID and ALA 2026 

All Staff Institute Day (ASID) 2026 will take place on April 29 at the Harold Washington Library Center, bringing together staff from across CPL for a full day of professional development, collaboration, and shared learning. Guided by a cross-system planning committee, this year’s ASID is centered on three goals: celebrating CPL’s mission and impact, strengthening team culture, and advancing professional development. As CPL develops its five-year strategic plan, the committee selected the theme “Guided by the Stars,” reflecting this moment of vision, reflection, and direction—emphasizing navigation, purpose, and leadership as CPL continues to evolve as a learning organization and civic institution. 

Planning for the ALA 2026 Annual Conference & Exhibition (Chicago, June 25–29, 2026)—which marks the American Library Association’s 150th anniversary—is focused on collaboration, cultural engagement, and positioning Chicago Public Library as a contributor to the national conversation. In partnership with ALA leadership, CPL is shaping several leadership convenings that elevate the role of public libraries in literacy, civic engagement, and community connection. Highlights also include an architecture tour organized with ALA’s CORE group, led by Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, connecting library spaces to Chicago’s architectural and cultural history through visits to multiple CPL branches and civic sites, including the Public Housing Museum, Stony Island Arts Bank, Land School, and the Obama Presidential Center and branch library. CPL staff are also developing a series of zines spotlighting branches, neighborhoods, and local culture, amplifying grassroots storytelling throughout the conference and across the city. 

Chicago Public Library Foundation Report

Brenda Bui, President & CEO of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, provided an update on behalf of the staff and Board of the Chicago Public Library Foundation and highlighted the following: 

Fundraising Celebrations

  • We want to thank all our individual and organizational donors for their exceptional support during 2025. Thanks to this giving community, the Library Foundation was able to contribute $4M to make more “above and beyond” Library programming possible. We are especially proud to share that individual giving was up more than 120%—testament to how important our Library is for people wishing to invest in both access to information and community.
  • We continue to work with Chicago Public Library to empower branches across the city to design programming that responds to and celebrates their own neighborhood’s distinctive needs. Learn more about our NEW Community Connections Fund here: cplfoundation.org/community-connections/

Event Updates

  • Recent social fundraisers at Jeni’s Ice Cream, Promethean Theatre, Kendra Scott, Brunello Cucinelli, and Love, Charlie raised over $3,000 in support while spreading awareness of our work with the Library. We are excited for a new year full of more giveback events, including a dine-for-a-cause event with Blaze Pizza on February 17. Library lovers can present this flyer at any Chicago Blaze Pizza location (or visit us online) to have 25% of their purchase be donated back to CPLF.
  • Our 2025 Library Foundation Awards broadcast was released on November 5 and can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere. The video features stories from our branches, highlights from the event, and insights from honorees Pulitzer Prize-winning author Percival Everett, poet and cultural champion José Olivarez, and library visionary Mary Dempsey. To watch and share the free broadcast—as well as enjoy broadcast content from past years—visit cplfoundation.org/awards/. To date, the broadcast has been viewed more than 75,000 times worldwide. This is nearly double the number of views from our 2024 event and an exciting spotlight on both our mission and the generosity of our event sponsors, who help make so much possible at the Library.

Important News

  • Please join us in welcoming our new Associate Board Leadership Council: Adoley Jordan, President; Audrey (Leech) Tapling, Vice President; Amy Malin, Membership Chair; Jennifer Assai, Development Chair; and Jillian Craig, Events Chair. Our Associate Board raises crucial funds and awareness for our mission and will host our annual Night in the Stacks fundraiser on Friday, April 10, 2026, in the Winter Garden. Learn more about our Associate Board here: cplfoundation.org/associate-board/.
  • This year, the Chicago Public Library Foundation celebrates our 40th Anniversary! With much more to come, we invite the public to sign up for our e-newsletter at www.cplfoundation.org and follow us on social media to learn more about the impact donors help make possible at our Library and be among the first to know about upcoming Foundation-hosted events.