Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago, Illinois

The ALA Annual Conference was wrapping up, and Rachael wanted to squeeze in a visit or two before heading back to Boston. She had seen some people post about their visits to the Harold Washington Library Center and wanted to see it for herself. 

The Harold Washington Library Center is the central branch of the Chicago Public Library system. It’s a postmodern building that opened in 1991 and was named after Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington. 

It’s a really large building! There are nine floors in total. The main floor houses a room where the popular materials are kept. There is a service desk in this room as well. Just outside of the room, on the main floor, is another service desk. This main floor is where one could access circulation services. 

The children’s department occupies the entire second floor. It’s incredibly cheery. There were lots of toys and interactive displays for younger patrons. The puppet stage and the murals especially caught Rachael’s eye. There were also workspaces and hang-out spots for tweens and teens. This area of the library felt especially welcoming. 

This is where Rachael realized she had not given herself enough time to fully explore the entire building. According to the floor map, the third floor had a Maker Lab and an exhibits gallery; floors four to eight housed nonfiction items; the seventh floor also had group study rooms, the eighth floor had individual study rooms and music practice rooms, and the ninth floor had a winter garden. The winter garden was something Rachael HAD to see, so a visit to that floor was prioritized. 

It was well worth going there first. The floor was stunning. The high glass-and-steel ceiling floods the space with natural light. The marble floor and the intricate detailing made the space feel quite elegant. The plant life and soft seating that dotted along the floor invite visitors to stay a while. It goes without saying that this aspect of the library was Rachael’s favorite. 

There was enough time for some exploration. The Maker Lab on the third floor was unfortunately closed that day. But the music practice rooms were in full use, and Rachael could hear lovely music coming from them. Another element that was noted was the amount of public art on display. There were interesting art and historical pieces on display for patrons to enjoy. And there was plenty of advertising to indicate what programs were happening within the building. As Rachael left, she understood that this library strived to be (and was successful in being) a community hub. 

The Harold Washington Library Center left a lasting impression. The building was impressive not only for its size and architecture, but also for the many ways it welcomed people into the space. From the cheerful children’s department to the music practice rooms, public art, study spaces, and the beautiful Winter Garden, there seemed to be something for everyone. The Harold Washington Library Center is a vibrant, welcoming space that brings together learning, creativity, and community.