Guide to the Chicago Public Library
by JessicaJoy - November 06, 2008
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Chicago has a fantastic library system, and if you aren't already, you should definately take advantage. Hardly anything is free these days, but the library is! And the CPL doesn't just offer books anymore... now you can also check out dvds, audio books for your Ipod, and museum passes!
Get a Library Card
Library cards for the CPL are free as long as you can show proof that you live in Chicago. Adults (14 and up) just need to present a valid photo ID with their Chicago address. If you don’t have an ID with a Chicago address, then you will need two forms of identification and one must have your Chicago address on it. (Examples include utility bills, a personal check, or a letter/mail that you have recieved at your Chicago address within 30 days.)
Children 13 and under must have their application signed by a parent or guardian with a valid ID.
Once you have your library card (you should get it within twenty minutes of applying) you will be allowed to check out up to 5 items at a time for the first 30 days. After that, as long as your account is in good standing, you will be able to check out up to 30 items at once.
CPL Online
Chicago Public Library has a fantastic website that allows you to search for any book, movie, publication, audio book, etc. that they have in their system. If they don’t have what you are looking for available at your local branch, you can easily put a hold on that item and it will be shipped to your branch as soon as it becomes available.
To login, go to www.chipublip.org and click on ‘My CPL’ on the far right near the top. Now you must login by entering your library card number and zip code.
Place an Item on Hold
Once logged in you can see your checked out items, due dates, status of holds, and personal information. Use the search at the top to look for books, movies, and downloadable items. Let’s say you want to search for the book Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. (A book that everyone living in Chicago should read!) Your search will probably come up with several results. Find the book you are looking for and look to the far right to see what form of media the book is in. (Book, Audio Book on CD or Casette Tape, or eAudiobook.) Click on the one you want to see which branches have it available. If your local branch doesn’t have it, click ‘Place on Hold’ at the top and then select your branch from the dropdown menu to have it sent there. The library will notify you via email once it is available for you to pick-up.
Check-out Museum Passes!
The Kraft Great Kids Museum Passports program is pretty cool. It allows you to check out a pass for 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) for one week to any of the 13 participating Chicago museums. Keep in mind that museum passports cannot be reserved or put on hold. You must check them out at the main desk of any CPL branch, and there are a limited number of passes for each museum. Once you get a pass, use it that week! Passes cannot be renewed and there is an overdue fine of $1.00 per day. You may only check out one museum passport at a time.
Here is a list of participating museums:
Adler Planetarium
1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Offering more than simply a night sky show, the Adler Planetarium has interactive exhibits and displays that serve to...
Offering more than simply a night sky show, the Adler Planetarium has interactive exhibits and displays that serve to educate visitors about the history and future of astronomy and travel into space. The StarRider theater shows exciting virtual reality programs on astronomical phenomena while the Sky Theater presents more traditional renderings of the night sky and fun historical programming. Special classes and workshops for children are offered throughout the year, where hands-on activities serve to excite a love of science and education. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the planetarium is part of Chicago's Museum Campus, which also includes the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History.
Brookfield Zoo
3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL 60513
This 216-acre zoo is great for children, and includes a butterly museum and lots of interactive activies. A nice change from the crowded (but lovely) Lincoln Park Zoo.
This 216-acre zoo is great for children, and includes a butterly museum and lots of interactive activies. A nice change from the crowded (but lovely) Lincoln Park Zoo.
Chicago Children's Museum
700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Packed with innovative areas designed to encourage thought and inspiration, the Chicago Children's Museum also offers...
Packed with innovative areas designed to encourage thought and inspiration, the Chicago Children's Museum also offers daily art projects and short programs for kids and families. Designed for children 10 and younger, visitors can dig up dinosaur bones or explore life at sea on a three-story ship, learn about safety around the house or explore the world of Kids Town. Located right in downtown, the museum is part of the Navy Pier family entertainment area, which also has traditional carnival-style rides, an IMAX theater and daily performances tailored to a young audience.
Chicago History Museum
1601 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
An ever-changing variety of items speaking to the history of America's third largest city are displayed at the Chicag...
An ever-changing variety of items speaking to the history of America's third largest city are displayed at the Chicago History Museum. With a collection of over 22 million pieces, exhibits open to the public are constantly changing and feature everything from past clothing fashions to antique books to works of art. The Sensing Chicago area is dedicated to providing children with a fun way to experience Chicago's past and present, and other areas throughout the museum have exhibits specifically tailored for kids. Conveniently located on the southwestern corner of Lincoln Park, it is less than a mile from the Lincoln Park Zoo.
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637
The oldest museum dedicated to exploring the cultural and social history of African Americans, the DuSable Museum of ...
The oldest museum dedicated to exploring the cultural and social history of African Americans, the DuSable Museum of African American History speaks to the art, music, rituals and people that have been significant in creating a sense of cultural identity. Exhibitions of art and antiques, photographs and documents are complimented by a diverse selection of programs, including documentaries, guest lecturers, concerts and programs for children. It is in the Washington Park neighborhood in south Chicago, set within the park just west of the University of Chicago.
The Field Museum
1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Areas of scientific study including zoology, paleontology, geology, botany and anthropology are unified at The Field ...
Areas of scientific study including zoology, paleontology, geology, botany and anthropology are unified at The Field Museum, where exhibits are divided by field, location or period of time. Innovative and interactive areas serve as a draw to all ages, with typical museum-style exhibits providing a stable grounding to the many galleries. Play Lab offers children a fun place to explore and learn, and visitors of all ages are fascinated by Sue, the most intact Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in existence. The museum is part of the Museum Campus of Chicago, near the John G. Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium.
McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum
445 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611
The McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum is the nation’s first museum dedicated to freedom and the First Amendment.
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Celebrating Mexican culture and history through a collection of more than 5,500 works of art spanning two millennia, ...
Celebrating Mexican culture and history through a collection of more than 5,500 works of art spanning two millennia, the National Museum of Mexican Art is the only museum of Latino art accredited by the American Association of Museums. Hand-made textiles, propaganda posters and figurines from lost civilizations fill the display areas of the museum, with special temporary exhibits highlighting select artists and styles. It sponsors a range of cultural events in its own performance space, including theatrical performances, traditional music concerts and book readings. The museum is located at Harrison Park, about a mile south of the University of Illinois at Chicago's West Campus.
Museum of Science and Industry
57th St & Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637
Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry presents important scientific and technological achievements of the past and...
Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry presents important scientific and technological achievements of the past and present through fun and interactive exhibits. Some of the museum's most popular areas are ToyMaker 3000, where a series of robots construct toys in a demonstration of automated manufacturing processes, and IMAGING: Tools of Science, with a number of areas that show the uses of imaging in modern life and the technology behind various imaging methods. Other special shows and display areas at the museum, including fascinating educational videos in the Omnimax theater and tours of the authentic German U-505 submarine, are available for an additional charge. The lakeside museum is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the southern side of Chicago, just east of the University of Chicago and its fascinating Oriental Institute Museum.
The Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N Cannon Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
The Notebaert Nature Museum celebrates critters, creatures and people's connections with nature through interactive e...
The Notebaert Nature Museum celebrates critters, creatures and people's connections with nature through interactive exhibits. Museum exhibits include a butterfly habitat with over 250 types of butterflies and "Mysteries of the Marsh," which explores Illinois creatures that live in the wetlands. It is located in Lincoln Park, part of Chicago's hip neighborhood of the same name, among many restaurants and attractions including the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Chicago History Museum.
John G. Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
My personal favorite out of the 13 museums that you can go to with the pass. Beautiful fish, great exhibits, and if you pay a little extra you can see the dolphins and whales.
My personal favorite out of the 13 museums that you can go to with the pass. Beautiful fish, great exhibits, and if you pay a little extra you can see the dolphins and whales.
Even with the museum pass, you have to pay an additional fee to get into the Oceanarium part of the Shedd Aquarium, but it is totally worth it.
Downloadable Media
If you’re going on a long trip, want something to listen to while working out, or you just don’t like to read, now you can download audiobooks, music, and videos from the CPL website FOR FREE and put them right on your Ipod, Iphone, or other mp3 player of choice. Cool, right? (Although, a lot of the collection is in WMA format, so you’ll need to check for that before you download a book so that it is compatible with your system or player.)
You can also download video files! Watch them on your computer or transfer them to your portable media player. (Most videos are only compatible with PC and WMV.)
It works similarly to put a hold on an item. Search for a title, find a version that says ‘eAudiobook’ next to it, and add to cart. When you’re done, proceed to checkout and you’ll probably have to re-enter your library card number and zipcode. Then there will be a button to download your media. Keep in mind that it will expire 3 weeks from the day you download it.
You can also go to http://overdrive.chipublib.org browse the whole collection of downloadable media, and choose only the formats that are compatible with your computer. You can also browse by new releases, most popular, recently returned, or genre.
The Chicago Public Library has made a great FAQ for first-time users. If you have any problems, go here; for answers.
Rent DVDs for free!
The Chicago Public Library is no Blockbuster, but they do have a pretty good selection of movies to rent. You can go right to your local branch and rent a title that they have available, or do a search on the website and place a movie on hold to pick-up later. Either way, you’re watching movies for free and that’s definately better than paying for them.
Yep, it’s true. Every CPL branch has free wireless internet for your web surfing pleasure.
You can also reserve one of their computers with Internet if you don’t have a laptop.
Library Events
Okay, I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never been to a library even in Chicago, but I know they have them. They get authors to come in for readings, story times for children, free tutoring sessions, art workshops, lectures, book discussions, and a lot more. Check out the website for information on upcoming events and programs near you.
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