Join us on Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a multi-floor arts celebration, showcasing Chicago's creative pulse through film, storytelling, visual arts and music. Explore themed experiences across the building, each shaped by local voices and the vibrant communities of our city. The first 100 attendees who check in at the Welcome Station will receive a discount code for a visit to the Chicago Museum of Ice Cream.
Schedule of Events
State Street Sidewalk
Columbia College Chicago Mural Project
State Street Windows
Preview a special exhibition designed by Columbia College Chicago illustration students highlighting the arts at CPL through creative visual storytelling.
Ground Floor
Welcome Station
Grand Lobby, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Stop by the welcome table to learn all about day-of activities and chat with CPL staff. The first 100 attendees to stop by and say hello will receive a discount code to the Chicago Museum of Ice Cream.
Arts & Music Department Concert
Grand Lobby, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Listen to musical talent throughout the day:
- Jazzman Ray, 11 a.m. to noon
- Crossing Borders, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- DJ Closed Stacks, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Exhibit: Older is Bolder by Mather
Ida B. Wells Corridor
Check out an exhibition created by local nonprofit, Mather, which challenges stereotypes about aging by celebrating older adults who lead, create, advocate and inspire in their communities.
Open House Chicago Tours
Grand Lobby, 11:00 a.m.
Explore Harold Washington Library Center through an art tour offered in partnership with Chicago Architecture Center, with CAC and Harold Washington team members available for tabling and conversation throughout the day. Register at Open House Chicago.
Lower Level
Chicago International Film Festival Shorts
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, noon to 2 p.m.
Attend a curated screening of short films featuring Chicago talent, presented in partnership with the Chicago International Film Festival. The screening will be followed by a talkback with participating directors.
Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea Screening
Video Theater, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Attend a screening featuring the life story of H.C. Westermann, a decorated Marine Corps veteran, acrobat and artist, followed by a Q&A with Harrison Sherrod, Executive Director of Pentimenti Productions.
2nd Floor
Fall Family Music Concert
Thomas Hughes Children's Library, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A musical celebration featuring Little Miss Ann, Suzi Shelton, Benjamin of Princess Backpack and Benjamin and Symon Hajjar of Hot Toast Music Co.
Artful Afternoon
Thomas Hughes Children's Library, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids and their families are encouraged to drop in and get creative with fall crafts.
3rd Floor
Makers Market, noon to 4 p.m.
Discover craft goods by local makers at the Makers Market. Presented in collaboration with the Design Museum of Chicago.
Exhibit: What Is Progress?
3rd Floor Gallery
Explore different perspectives on how Chicagoans have tried to answer the question What Is Progress? over the past 189 years at this exhibit.
Collection Highlight: Altar for the Unbanned
View a permanent installation created by artist Theaster Gates which pays tribute to and displays the many voices and stories that have been challenged or silenced.
5th Floor
Exhibit: Pulitzer on the Road: Prize-Winning Works That Inform, Empower & Inspire
Experience a vivid, immersive and interactive exhibit featuring compelling stories highlighting the history and significance of the Pulitzer Prizes.
Pulitzer on the Road Exhibit: A Guided Tour, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us for a guided discussion and tour of our newest exhibit. Meet at the 5th floor Newspapers and Periodicals desk.
7th Floor
Author Q&A: Funnier: A New Theory for the Practice of Comedy by Anne Libera
Chicago Authors Room, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Take a trip through author Anne Libera's "roadmap" for understanding and creating comedy.
8th Floor
Your Story Matters: Storytelling Through Words and Art
Meeting Room 8S 14/15, 10:30 a.m. to noon
Explore the power of personal narratives through poetry inspired by Chilean arpilleras (story quilts), conducted by Dani Moon.
Exhibit: Visions in Glass by Julie Mars
See work by Julie Mars that explores the use light, reflection and reclaimed materials to create a sense of wonder and awareness.
Collection Highlight: Thin Volumes: In the Round
Experience the work of Iman Fayyad, a structure that explores how flat materials can transform into curved, spatial enclosures.
9th Floor
Exhibit: Stories That Click: Reimagining Chicago Brick-by-Brick
Special Collections
Explore this exhibit where LEGO models are paired with historic rarities and archival materials to create a dialogue between past and present.
Reading Room Open House, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors will also enjoy access to the Special Collections Reading Room on the 9th floor where they can see original archival material from the Design/Build Competition that resulted in the Harold Washington Library Center we know today.
In partnership with Open House Chicago, Chicago Loop Alliance and the Chicago Museum of Ice Cream.
