February 2012
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WatchLast month, our Mabel Manning branch (6 S Hoyne) was pleased to host Chicago Blackhawks left winger Patrick Sharp, where he read his favorite kids book, The Magic Hockey Stick, to a group of neighborhood kids. Blackhawks TV was there to document the special afternoon (above).
Tonight, the Hawks are hosting us for Library Night and we’re hoping to add to the team’s recent string...
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“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” ― Anna Quindlen
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Chicago Public Library is closed today. As is the stock market. So are the banks. If you’re to believe the annual mattress sales, it’s all in honor of President’s Day. But that’s not quite the case. While several states do officially recognize it as President’s Day, our doors are closed to celebrate the life, legacy and birthday of just one US President — George...
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Ya know, McCormick Place isn’t the only Chicago institution with a captivating collection currently on display. We hate to toot our own horn, but Chicago Public Library is presently featuring some of the world’s most unique exhibitions of art, theater, history, music and more. Ten exhibits, to be exact. Better still? They’re all free.
A few weeks ago, we blogged about the...
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“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” ― Oscar Wilde
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Happy Valentine’s Day from your friends at Chicago Public Library!
From the romantic to the rapturous, our St. Valentine’s stockpile runs deep. Where else can you find Charlie Brown right next to the Massacre? Browse CPL’s selection of related books, movies & more!
And for our trivia hungry friends keen to uncover customs of Feb. 14th, we’ve found five fun morsels...
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“Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren’t very new after all.”
- Abraham Lincoln
Chicago Public Library is closed today in observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. All branches will open at their regularly scheduled times tomorrow, Tuesday, February 13.
...
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Because it doesn’t, we recommend learning a new one. Or two. Chicago Public Library can help.
Visit our official Language Learning Resources page for online lessons in 37 different languages. There’s Mango for adults. Little Pim for the kids.
The best part? They’re all free with a Chicago Public Library card.
有一个伟大的周末！
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“I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library.”
― Jorge Luis Borges
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Some interesting new on eBooks reported yesterday at Media Bistro.
Specifically, a look at the Hachette Book Group’s digital sales shows that eBooks soared to a 130% increase from the same period a year prior. eBooks and audiobooks account for 22% of Hachette’s overall 2011 revenue, compared to just 8% in 2010. A solid 62 Hachette titles made the New York Times eBook bestseller list last...
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Some great news for CPL came in the form of a press release from the Mayor’s Office this afternoon! We think the news speaks for itself.
LIBRARY BRANCHES OPEN FROM 2PM TO 6PM ON MONDAYS Afternoon Hours Offer Children Safe Place to Study CHICAGO – Less than two weeks after allocating $2 million in resources to open libraries six days a week, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that branch...
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With this week’s passing of Soul Train creator Don Cornelius, much has been said of the show’s cultural impact. Specifically, the wide pool of American entertainers who, in one way or another, can trace their careers right back to ‘the hippest trip in America.’
Without Soul Train, Michael Jackson wouldn’t have spotted Jeffery Daniels do ‘the backslide,’...
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“A house without books is like a room without windows. No man has a right to bring up children without surrounding them with books…. Children learn to read being in the presence of books.” — Horace Mann, 1796-1859
January 2012
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Beginning Saturday, February 4, CPL will be the proud host of the historic Teenie Harris exhibit, Photographer: An American Story. The collection, which will be on display at Harold Washington Library Center, is the first complete retrospective of the work of late Pittsburgh Courier photographer, Charles “Teenie” Harris.
Teenie’s extraordinary collection made its world...
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Does Facebook need a constitution?
Before answering, consider this: if it were a country, it would be the third largest nation on earth. With 850 million users, it actually eclipses the US population by 550 million! As any entity grows, so does the lack of privacy and protection.
These were the opening shots in last week’s national Fox & Friends interview (Facebook: Privacy and Your...
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“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” — Nelson Mandela
How about a little language trivia to engage the ol’ noodle on a gray and rainy Chicago Monday?
• There are roughly 6,900 living languages in the world, 90% of which are used by less than 100,000 people. Over a ...
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The internet appears to be settling back to normal today, showing minimal hangover symptoms following yesterday’s blackout in protest of SOPA / PIPA.
As you likely learned, Wikipedia led the charge, temporarily shutting down the English version of its site for 24 hours. Not surprisingly, there’s already a Wikipedia page about Wikipedia shutting down for the day.
Other sites like...
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We invited the Blackhawks’ Patrick Sharp to stop by our Mabel Manning location so that we could thank him for the support that Chicago Blackhawks Charities have shown the branch.
And wouldn’t ya know it — he showed up!
Yesterday afternoon, #10 graciously visited with the staff and signed autographs for some local families.
Another big thanks to Patrick, the Hawks & their...
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In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, all 79 Chicago Public Library locations are closed today. We will re-open tomorrow, Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
In the meantime, we recommend browsing CPL’s vast digital media catalog — including these 21 downloadable selections about Dr. King!
To celebrate Dr. King’s legacy (whose birthday was actually yesterday), enjoy...
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In all of the holiday hysteria and back-to-work blues, it’s easy to forget that a new year means new laws for Illinois. 200 new laws to be exact. And, at the risk of burning your brain with a tedious tally of 200, here’s a handful of “shareworthy” state statutes taking effect for 2012:
Seat belts: Adult passengers in the back seats of vehicles must now wear seat belts....
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Have you noticed that, as of the Winter solstice on December 22nd, the days are getting longer in Chicago? It could be that we’re just really hopeful for Spring, but we actually do seem to pick up on that extra minute of sunshine each day.
Beginning today, students at a number of Chicago schools — public and charter — will most certainly notice longer days. 105 minutes longer,...
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We found a fascinating preview, from PC World, of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) happening next week in Las Vegas. The annual technology trade show has become the world’s largest and one of the most regarded forecasts for tech trends of the coming year and beyond. Closed to the general public, CES regularly showcases cutting-edge product previews and major announcements...
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How’s that New Year’s resolution coming? Considering that we’re only five days deep into 2012, hopefully it’s still intact. According to the New York Times, four out of five people eventually break their resolution. More disheartening, a third of them don’t even make it to the end of January.
Topping most folks’ annual list of volition: lose weight....
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How well do you understand eBooks? Like reeeally understand them?
In a saturated and ever-changing eReader marketplace, it’s easy to be confused.
It could take a month to decipher the differences between the Nook Reader, Nook Color, Nook 1st Edition, Kindle, Kindle Fire, Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Kobo, Sony Reader Touch Edition, Sony Reader Daily Edition, BeBook Neo, Apple iPad and the...
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What is the price of sex? It’s shocking. It’s shadowy. And almost certainly not what you think.
You’re invited to join us in Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at Harold Washington Library Center next Thursday, January 12, for our first free movie screening and discussion of the new year — Human Rights Watch: The Price of Sex.
Intimate and revealing, this feature-length...
December 2011
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Don’t get caught without something to read (or watch or listen to) this holiday weekend! CPL locations close at 1 PM on Saturday, December 31 & reopen on Tuesday, January 3.
Check out our official Library Locator to find the branch nearest you.
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CPL is pleased to recognize Psalm One, Englewood HQ’ed hip-hop artist on Rhymesayers Entertainment, for her recent inclusion in The Chicago Reader’s People Issue. In the December publication, she was (rightfully) named one of the 29 most fascinating Chicagoans.
We’re particularly proud of Psalm’s recognition because of her ties to Chicago Public Library. You may recall...
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The holidays are traditionally a time of togetherness. A time when work worries wane, giving way to cheer in the company of friends and family. A time of joy. Of giving. Of peace.
But, for many, they’re also a time of stress. Whether it’s shopping or decorating, wrapping or returning, old memories or the hectic pace of making new ones, the holidays really do amp up anxiety. We often...
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We hope everyone had a very happy holiday! We’re back in full swing at CPL. A few pounds heavier, but nothing that a new year’s resolution can’t cure.
We’d love to have you at this Thursday’s free POV film showing - the final of 2011 - Biblioburro: A Donkey Library. Director Carlos Rendon Zipagauta’s opening scene rolls at 12 PM at our Portage-Cragin Branch.
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Happy holidays from all of us at Chicago Public Library!
However you celebrate, know that we’re celebrating you! Best wishes to you and yours. Thanks for a wonderful 2011!
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“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
— Groucho Marx
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We posted on this CPL program last month - an open invite punctuated by the prospect that employment was growing harder to find across the Illinois.
This month, with recent word that the state’s unemployment rate has actually fallen, we find it only fitting to call a new round of attention to our Especially for Job Searchers series.
If you’re having a rough go at gig-hunting or...
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What’s your favorite bar in Chicago? Whether it’s a pub in Pilsen, a dive near DePaul or a tavern in Tri-Taylor, we’re one of the best bar towns on earth. So, what is your spot? The one you’d take visiting friends to. The place where you and the bartender are on a first name basis. Everyone has one. But not everyone knows the real story behind their beloved bar.
Enter...
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“TV. If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they’ll have with twenty-six. Open your child’s imagination. Open a book.” ~ Author Unknown
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This Wednesday at CPL: Dancing in the Library!
But it’s probably not what you think.
Dennis Wise directs Dancing in the Library: Rights, Radicals and Revolutions, a collection of short movement pieces performed by Columbia College Chicago students. The interdisciplinary show is thought-provoking, visually appealing and full of physical action.
Join us for this free show at 12:15 PM...
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We apologize, in advance, if this post makes you hungry. You’re invited to our most mouth-watering book discussion yet!
Join husband & wife duo - Chef Tony Mantuano and Wine Expert Cathy Mantuano on Monday, December 12 at 6 PM in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at Harold Washington Library Center.
Tony Mantuano, the award-winning and celebrated chef/partner of the world renowned...
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Did you know: CPL has 11 upcoming holiday concerts!
Beginning on Monday, December 5th with the shhh…OUT! Holiday Concert at Sulzer Regional and running through Saturday, December 17th with the Students of Lane Tech Holiday Concert at Albany Park, we’ve got a wide range of free and festive shows!
Check out our official holiday concert events page and make plans to make merry with...
November 2011
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“My alma mater is the Chicago Public Library.” - David Mamet, December 20, 2007
Happy 64th birthday to David Mamet - playwright, screenwriter, director, poet, essayist, novelist and lover of CPL - from your “alma mater!”
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The good news: More jobs are being created in Chicagoland. The bad: It’s not getting any easier to land one.
According to last week’s IDES report, 15,700 jobs have been added since October 2010. But you wouldn’t know it based on the area’s unemployment rate; the figure jumped to 9.7% last month from 8.8% a year earlier. It’s not all doom and gloom for job seekers,...
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Miss today’s “Intellectual Property” installment of our ongoing Law at the Library program? No problem; we’re scheduled through June!
Visit our Law at the Library page to view a complete list of dates and times for upcoming events:
January | Cleaning Up Your Credit February | Changes in Tax Law March | Buying and Selling a Home April | Employment Law May | Estate...
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If your ideal Thanksgiving table features contents instead of turkey, we’d just like to remind you to plan accordingly…
Fret not, our cornucopia of card catalogs and bounty of books will be back in full swing on Friday, November 25.
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On Saturday, we welcomed 7,000 children and families at Bookamania, CPL’s annual celebration of children’s books and authors. Bookamania is presented each November to enhance a child’s joy of reading and love of books by bringing to life their beloved storybook characters with stories, magic, music and puppets during a festive family occasion. The event, held at Harold Washington Library...
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Jeanne Gang is a visionary architect, 2011 MacArthur Fellow and leader of Studio Gang Architects. Henry Henderson is the Midwest Program Director of The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Tomorrow, November 17 at 6 PM, they both join us in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorum at Harold Washington Library Center, for an engaging discussion about the importance of the Chicago River and the...
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“It turns out that any book, no matter how worthy and somber, becomes pleasingly ludicrous when compressed into 90 seconds.” - James Kennedy, Author
We’re really looking forward to Wednesday’s 90-second Newbery Film Festival - and you’re invited! Join Kennedy in the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium at Harold Washington Library Center from 6-8 PM as he hosts an energetic...
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Happy Veteran’s Day! And happy 11.11.11! CPL is open today and we tracked down a few fun facts about this fascinating date:
— It would have been Kurt Vonnegut’s 89th birthday.
— It’s both National Metal Day and Nigel Tufnel Day (ya know, since it goes to eleven).
— It’s the Eleventh Doctor Day, so look for Dr. Who fans in their coolest bow tie and fez.
— It’s the last Binary Day of...
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TONIGHT: Join us at the Humboldt Park branch for our POV Movie Night showing of ¡Palante Siempre Palante!: The Young Lords. Movie starts at 6. This film by Iris Morales provides a fascinating look back to 1969, when a group of young Puerto Rican activists in New York took inspiration from the Black Panthers and the Chicago Young Lords to fight for socio-economic justice and political power. A...
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We’re 2-2 this week. Or 0-2 depending on which side of the coin you’re on.
Like yesterday’s event with Tom Brokaw, tonight’s free conversation with Harry Belafonte is SOLD OUT! We aren’t accepting any further registration. Our apologies for any inconvenience.
But much like yesterday’s event, we’re hosting a stand-by line for those without registration....
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We’ve received a number of inquiries about tonight’s discussion with award-winning journalist Tom Brokaw. The 6 PM event at Harold Washington Library Center has SOLD OUT and registrations are no longer being accepted. We apologize for any inconvenience.
However, it’s worth noting that we’ll have a stand-by line tonight for those without registration. Registrations not...
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