While Chicagoans are staying at home, Chicago Public Library employees are serving the community in a variety of ways, from providing traditional library services like eBooks and story times to creating PPE for essential workers and connecting those in need with food.
Live from the Library: Watch story time with Chicagoans you know and love. See a new reader at 10 a.m. each weekday or check out past story times, all on Facebook Live. Guests have include Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Obamas and Jeff Tweedy, as well as CPL children's librarians.
CPL Staff Making PPE: 75 library employees are 3D printing face shield visors and sewing masks at home using resources from CPL's Maker Lab; this personal protective equipment is donated to essential workers.
Emergency Food Coordination Center: CPL leads a food assistance call center where about 50 CPL staff members answer phones to ensure Chicagoans who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been asked to quarantine have access to food.
eBooks and Magazines: CPL has increased spending on eBooks and downloadable audiobooks to meet patron demand, including buying titles that are always available. We added more than 20 new titles to Flipster, one of two digital magazine resources we offer. Each week, we're offering a different eBook title for unlimited checkouts; see the latest title at chipublib.org/ReadItNow.
Ask a Librarian: Our librarians continue to answer patron reference questions.
Staff Recommendations: CPL staff are creating blog posts and lists to recommend resources for patrons of all ages on topics that are especially of interest right now, including COVID-19-specific topics such as discerning fact from fiction in the news; timely topics like job seeking, personal finance, activities to keep toddlers and preschoolers engaged and even pet care. Plus we have the Staff Picks and quizzes you already know and love.
Harold Washington: A Living Legacy: Every April 15, we celebrate the birth anniversary of Mayor Harold Washington, Chicago's first African-American mayor. While we weren't able to meet in person this year, we made the video and audio portions of the event available online.
Chicago Census 2020: CPL continues to support Census 2020 efforts in our community.
Stay Home. Hit Play.: CPL is supporting Mayor Lightfoot's initiative to provide fun, educational experiences for Chicago students while they learn from home. CPL recommends eBooks related to each of the featured museums.
