Chicago Public Library

Since first opening their doors in 1873, the Chicago Public Library has served all Chicagoans with free and open places to gather, learn, connect, read and be transformed.

We partner with the Chicago Public Library on a wide range of initiatives.

First, they are a key partner in the Smart Chicago Challenge, an effort to make Chicago the most dynamic digital city in the country. Commissioner Brian Bannon serves on the Challenge Steering Committee.

Library leadership and branch staff are participants in our Connect Chicago website and meetups. More than 20 librarians and Cyber Navigators actively manage location pages on Connect Chicago and many attend our regular meetings.

We are also partners with the Library on Time to Tech, a Hive-funded program to design comprehensive training that will increase organizational technology aptitude.

Smart Chicago assisted the Library in setting up its Internet to Go program. This unique pilot, funded by the Knight Foundation, will "offer Chicago residents Wi-Fi hotspots for up to three weeks at a time, in addition to one-on-one digital literacy and skills coaching and access to online tutorials".

Smart Chicago also provides a seat at 1871 through our Developer Resources program to allow for library leadership and staff to exchange ideas at this important digital hub.