Kicking off with a party at every branch on June 10, Summer @ CPL brings Library programming to the whole family. We stopped by some of the branches to join in on the fun.
If you walked into any library branch this summer, you were probably greeted by the sounds of kids enjoying story times or live reptile shows. Or you might have seen the creativity of YOUmedia teens on display – from painting murals to learning audio storytelling with Vocalo radio.
You may have even participated in the many adult programs CPL offers, whether that was watching an author conversation or learning a new skill like crocheting, comic strip drawing, or photography.
Whatever the case, CPL’s Summer @ CPL had a wide breadth of programming for Chicagoans of all ages that helped encourage learning, creativity, and community. Check out some of the fun events that happened throughout the branches!
CPL’s 150th Birthday Party
Our Chicago Public Library is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. And what’s a birthday without a party, amirite? On June 10, all branches hosted a party with cake, performers, and fun activities for everyone to celebrate their local library and kickoff summer @ CPL programming.
The celebration continues for the rest of the year so check out what’s coming up here.
STEM IN Motion
CPL is putting the fun in STEM! The kids in grades K-8 at the McKinley Park branch got to tinker, build, and create structures and robots all while learning about STEM fields. Led by Project Syncere , children got to participate in play-based challenges using life-sized tinker sets, LEGO kits, electronics and so much more.
New Expressions Art Festival
We all knew the teens at CPL were creative. This summer they got to showcase their art at the New Expressions Art Festival, working artists in the Uptown neighborhood. Co-hosted by the Merlo, Uptown, and Edgewater branches and Chicago Comics , teen artists were given their first, free experience tabling at a festival. They got to see how working artists sell their work.
From charcuterie earrings to prints, the creativity was off the charts!
Knit and Crochet Circle
You’ve heard of book clubs – but what about crochet clubs? The Little Italy branch started up a crochet circle at the beginning of summer to foster community through creativity. Sarah, the adult librarian, leads the circle. She says the group has been steadily growing with new people joining each week.
These are just some of the many summer activities. Many more have been happening across our 81 branches, cultivating people’s interests and curiosities that make learning fun. Find more events here.
Thank you to Allstate, Helen M. Harrison Foundation, Comcast, Cubs Charities, Exelon, KPMG, The Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Peoples Gas, the Kathy and Grant Pick Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Family Foundation, and the Dr. Scholl Foundation for empowering Chicagoans of all ages to read, learn, and connect this summer.
To help make more summer learning activities possible next summer, make a gift today. For just $10 a month, you can help fund summer learning activities for 20 children.
