Tag: Chicago Public Library

"Once in a Blue Moon" Amnesty Event at Chicago Public Library

August 8, 2012

Good news for all patrons of the Chicago Public Library who are living with the guilt and shame of overdue books. From August 20th through September 7th, items may be returned fine free, no questions asked. In this Bloomberg Business Week article, reporter Keenan Mayo interviews CPL Commissioner Brian Bannon on the concept and practice of amnesty periods.

Due to regain $2 million worth in materials, CPL is willing to waive the $1.4 million in fine revenue. In addition, patrons who essentially gave up using the library because they could not pay fines, will be able to resume using it in good standing.

Dubbed “Once in a Blue Moon,” this event actually coincides with the astronomical phenomenon it is named for.

Barbara L.

CPL Closed on Mondays Despite Protests

January 12, 2012

The abruptness of the announcement that Chicago Public Libraries will close all day on Mondays seems to have caught people off guard. As reported in various media, after negotiations were heading toward closing Friday and Monday mornings and laying off close to three hundred staff, the mayor switched to less layoffs and the Monday closures. A dispute between the union and city hall has led to this decline in services.

This article explores the potential impact of the closings on the community. If it is true that the library is the heart of the community, as the article states, then what has Chicago just done to itself?

Shira S.

Chicago PL to Offer Books on Kindle by Year’s End

June 14, 2011

Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey announced that books that utilize the Kindle e-reader will be available at the end of the year. Currently, CPL users can employ the Sony e-reader, the Nook, and the iPad.

In addition she mentioned that 2 more branches will be opening this year, a very encouraging sign during these difficult economic times, when many cities are closing or consolidating library services.

Shira S.

“The Bridge” author, David Remnick, at Harold Washington Library

April 10, 2010

David Remnick will discuss aspects of his latest publication, The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama, at Chicago’s Harold Washington Public Library. Remnick is an editor at The New Yorker, and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for his book, Lenin’s Tomb: The Last Days of the Soviet Empire.

Random House – Authors | Author Events  David Remnick: CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY 400 S STATE ST … Chicago, IL 60611 312.799.5317 4/15/2010.

Susan M./RA

Colm Toibin’s, “Brooklyn” One Book, One Chicago

One Book, One Chicago

Brooklyn coverInaugurated in the fall of 2001, the One Book, One Chicago program is launched each spring and fall to cultivate a culture of reading and discussion in Chicago by bringing our diverse city together around one great book.

Reading great literature provokes us to think about ourselves, our environment and our relationships. Talking about great literature with friends, families and neighbors often adds richness and depth to the experience of reading. 
 Selected Spring 2010Brooklyn byColm Tóibín
Resource Guide (HTML)  

PDF Version (6.19 MB)

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