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60-597: T. B. Blackstone Memorial Library is a building that is part of the Chicago Public Library System and is named after Timothy Blackstone . The building was designed by Chicago architect Solon S. Beman . It is now known as the Chicago Public Library – Blackstone Branch and commonly referred to as Blackstone Library , or Blackstone Branch and sometimes Blackstone for short. The Concord Granite building's two-year construction started in 1902, and it

120-569: A book sales club . Other terms include reading group , book group , and book discussion group . Book discussion clubs may meet in private homes, libraries , bookstores , online forums, pubs, and cafés, or restaurants, sometimes over meals or drinks. A practice also associated with book discussion, common reading program or common read , involves institutions encouraging their members to discuss select books in group settings; common reading programs are often organized by educational institutions. Though women had formed Bible study groups since

180-458: A "knowledge economy." Andrea Telli was appointed Library Commissioner effective June 2019. In 2019, CPL became the largest public library system in the United States to eliminate fines for borrowed overdue items. All existing fines were forgiven. There will still be due dates, and patrons are still required to return items or replace them to continue their borrowing privileges. Chris Brown

240-604: A Civil War General and U.S. Senator from Illinois. In return for the land, the Library was to maintain a Civil War collection and exhibit in a G.A.R. room until the last northern Civil War veteran died. The library would remain on this site for the next 96 years. The building is now the Chicago Cultural Center . Henry Eduard Legler assumed the leadership of the Chicago Public Library on October 11, 1909. Previously

300-533: A Free Library to Chicago, to remain there as a mark of sympathy now, and a keepsake and a token of true brotherly kindness forever   ..." After circulating requests for donations throughout English society, the project donated 8,000 books. Private donors included Queen Victoria , Benjamin Disraeli , Alfred Lord Tennyson , Robert Browning , John Stuart Mill , John Ruskin , and Matthew Arnold . In Chicago, town leaders petitioned Mayor Joseph Medill to hold

360-522: A Wisconsin Progressive, he was well known as an aggressive advocate of the expansion of library service. In 1916, Legler presented his "Library Plan for the Whole City", the first comprehensive branch library system in the nation. A landmark in library history, the plan called for an extensive network of neighborhood library locations throughout Chicago. The goal of the plan was to bring "library service within

420-479: A book not because they are interested in it from a literary point-of-view but because they think it will offer them an opportunity to make points of personal interest to them or fit an external agenda. Also, different expectations and education/skill levels may lead to conflicts and disappointments in clubs of this kind. The characteristics of a multi-title club are such that each member may be reading different titles from each other at any given time, and they may share

480-464: A club makes reading a shared experience and frees the busy members from the "homework" of having read the book before coming to the club. It also creates a lively environment for commenting on the specifics of the books as it is read and can lead to very enriching exchanges. A given book may continue for several sittings, depending on the pace of reading, frequency of meetings, and the extent of comments and discussion. Members can take turns reading to share

540-496: A copy of the book from the library over a given timeframe in order for a later discussion. There may be a few problems with these clubs. Some members may regard them as opportunities to meet people for social contact and general conversation, partially veering off onto a wide variety of non-literary topics, while others wish to engage in serious literary analysis focused on the book in question and related works, with little non-literary interaction. Additionally, some members may suggest

600-617: A meeting and establish the library. The meeting led to the Illinois Library Act of 1872 , which allowed Illinois cities to establish tax-supported libraries. In April 1872, the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance establishing the Chicago Public Library. In the rebuilding section of the city, on January 1, 1873, the Chicago Public Library officially opened its doors in an abandoned iron water tank at LaSalle and Adams Streets. The collection included 3,157 volumes. The water tank

660-688: A permanent home was his primary drive. Ten years later, the Central Library was opened. Designed by the Boston firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge in the same academic classical style as their building for the Art Institute of Chicago , it is located on Michigan Avenue between Washington Street and Randolph Street on land donated by the Grand Army of the Republic , a Civil War Veterans group led by John A. Logan ,

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720-428: A reading list for a period of time. What distinguishes this from any group of unrelated people reading different things from each other is that each title is expected to be read by the next member in a serial fashion. Open loans suggest that the books in question are free to be loaned among the population with the expectation of getting them back eventually. Instead of one member deciding what everyone will read, with all

780-405: A short time, three to five people may have read the same title, which is the perfect amount for a worthy conversation. Catch and release imply that actual ownership of the book transfers each iteration with no expectation of the book returning to the original owner. The mechanism of transfer may include a personal face to face hand off, sending the items through the mail, or most remarkably, leaving

840-436: A variety of Chicago's world-class institutions), and Words and Music Program (which provides patrons with free lawn tickets to selected Ravinia concerts). The library also offers a free homework help desk daily in order to serve struggling students after school. The Chicago Public Library offers free lecture series covering a variety of topics including: Law at the Library (a free monthly lecture series that offers participants

900-634: Is a summary of the building's features: Tiffany style dome; Marble column and walls in the rotunda and foyer ; 4 overhead rotunda murals painted by Oliver Dennett Grover , mural painter for the World Columbian Exposition ; 1 in (2.5 cm) square Italian marble mosaic flooring ; glass-floored mezzanine ; 2,800 pounds (1,300 kg) bronze plate, solid copper core outer front doors; 2 150 pounds (68 kg) lbs. bronze and glass inner doors; 12 inches (30 cm) thick granite walls; and ionic columns . The building's adult reading room

960-458: Is equipped with mahogany furniture specifically designed for the space. It also contains matching built-in shelving and custom-made bronze lamps. The circulation desk area has two-tiered bronze-trimmed book stacks. The mezzanine floor is composed of glass blocks. Although parts of South Blackstone Avenue south of 53rd Street accommodates two-way traffic, near the library it is a northbound street that accommodates one-way traffic running north along

1020-656: Is named for the late mayor Harold Washington . It was the world's largest municipal public library at the time of its opening. It is accessible from the Brown , Orange , Purple and new Pink Line trains at the " Library " stop, from the Blue Line at the "LaSalle" and "Jackson" stops, as well as from the Red Line at the "Jackson" stop. In January 1994, Mary A. Dempsey was appointed Library Commissioner by Mayor Richard M. Daley and served in that role until January 2012. Under her direction,

1080-431: Is one in which people discuss a particular title that every person in the group has read at the same time, often with each member buying a personal copy. Clearly, the club must somehow decide ahead of time what that title will be. Some groups may decide to choose new release titles, whilst others may choose older ones, or a mixture of the two. If it is a book discussion club that meets at a library, then each member may borrow

1140-688: The Chicago and Alton Railroad from 1864 to 1899, a period longer than any of his contemporaries. Blackstone, who had died on May 26, 1900, was also the founding president of the Union Stock Yards . He had owned the property on which the Blackstone Library now stands, and he donated this tract for the construction of the library after his death. The library was built on the tract through a codicil in his will, carried out by his wife, Isabella Norton Blackstone (1838–1928), after his death. Blackstone Library

1200-474: The Hyde Park , Kenwood, and Oakland community areas. The branch celebrated its 100th anniversary of service in 2004. Today, the library has bronze and mahogany furnishings and has themed paintings on the rotunda ceiling. The library is equipped with custom-designed furniture and makes public Wi-Fi access available to its patrons. The library was dedicated to the memory of Timothy Beach Blackstone , President of

1260-495: The Merle Reskin Theatre ) would also be named after Timothy Blackstone, whose mansion had stood on their site. 41°48′21″N 87°35′25″W  /  41.80583°N 87.59028°W  / 41.80583; -87.59028 Chicago Public Library The American Library Association reports that the library holds 5,721,334 volumes , making it the ninth largest public library in the United States by volumes held, and

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1320-593: The "Father of Modern Black Historiography," opened its doors in December 1975, to serve as the South Side. A decade later, Chicago Public Library replaced its north side regional library when the post-modernist Conrad Sulzer Regional Library opened to the public in late 1985. The Woodson regional branch library features the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, one of the largest repositories of African-American archival information in

1380-403: The 1436 east block and ending immediately to the west of (behind) the Blackstone Library at 4900 south (see Kenwood map in external links below and picture to the right). The street was also named after Timothy Blackstone well after the library was built. The Blackstone Library does not bear a Blackstone Avenue address, despite its proximity. Blackstone Hotel and adjacent Blackstone Theatre (now

1440-452: The 1600s, it wasn't until the late 1700s that secular reading circles emerged in both America and Europe. Reading circles were not limited to particular races or classes, with one of the first reading groups for black women being formed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1827. Throughout the 1800s, women’s reading circles expanded, with some becoming outspoken on social issues such as abolition—foreshadowing

1500-788: The 30th largest academic or public library in the United States by volumes held. The Chicago Public Library is the second largest library system in Chicago by volumes held (the largest is the University of Chicago Library ). The library is the second largest public library system in the Midwest , after the Detroit Public Library . Unlike many public libraries, CPL uses the Library of Congress cataloging classification system rather than Dewey Decimal. In

1560-536: The Chicago Public Library System had been renting reading room spaces around the city and had been seeking stand alone branches. On January 8, 1904, Isabella Blackstone handed the keys and deed to the Timothy B. Blackstone Library to the city's Library Board members. Blackstone Library became the first branch library in the Chicago Public Library System. The building retains a Lake Park Avenue address although

1620-819: The James Blackstone Library in Branford, there is a library named "Blackstone Library" in Blackstone, Massachusetts . The architect for both the Branford and Chicago libraries was Solon S. Beman . The Blackstone Library was designated as a Chicago Landmark by the City of Chicago on December 8, 2010. As one of the 79 Chicago Public Library branch libraries, Blackstone Library serves the Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Oakland community areas. These communities include 17 elementary schools and 4 high schools. The 2000 census service area population

1680-591: The Library Board, launched a grassroots campaign to build a new state-of-the-art central library. On July 29, 1987, Mayor Harold Washington and the Chicago City Council authorized a design and construction competition for a new, one-and-a-half block $ 144 million library at 400 South State Street. In 1991, the Harold Washington Library Center , became Chicago's new central library. It

1740-465: The Library launched the largest branch building program in its history, constructing or renovating 44 branch libraries; installed more than 2500 free public access computers and wifi throughout the library system; completed 2 strategic plans; established professional development and training programs for all library staff; and launched signature programs such as One Book, One Chicago; YOUmedia the museum and Ravinia free admission programs; Teen Volume; Law at

1800-650: The Library; and Money Smart financial literacy programs for adults and teens. The library's success in revitalizing communities through branch library development was analyzed by Robert Putnam in 2003. The "Charlotte Kim Scholar in Residence Program" took place from 1999–2008. Scholars included Camila Alire (1999); Leigh S. Estabrook (2002); Kathleen de la Peña McCook (2003); Joan C. Durrance (2004); Michael Stephens (2005); Maureen Sullivan (2006); George Needham (2007) and Patricia Martin (2008). The Engaged Library: Chicago Stories of Community Building published by

1860-460: The Midwest. It holds the papers of many notable Chicagoans, such as John H. Sengstacke , Robert S. Abbott , Doris E. Saunders , Timuel Black, Rev. Addie L. Wyatt , and numerous others. The class politics of urban public librarianship through "outreach" efforts during the federal War on Poverty uses the Chicago Public Library as a case study during the 1970s under director Alex Ladenson. In 1974,

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1920-771: The Monthly Adult Book Club Discussion as well as many annual events and activities. The branch also partners with neighborhood institutions such as the Hyde Park Art Center and the Smart Museum for programs and workshops. Like all branches, the library provides both free Wi-Fi access and free terminals with both internet access and printing facilities. Blackstone has 5 internet terminals requiring reservations for each session of up to one hour and 1 express terminal that does not require reservations for sessions of up to 15 minutes. Currently, patrons can use

1980-646: The Urban Library Council (2006) highlights several Chicago public libraries and their efforts in strengthening the community and effectively enhancing the well-being and capacities of urban neighborhood residents, associations, non-profits and public institutions. Brian Andrew Bannon was appointed Library Commissioner effective March 2012. Some of the free programming the Chicago Public Library offers include: The One Book One Chicago program, The Summer Learning Challenge, Bookamania (held every November), Kids Museum Passport Program (allows patrons free admission to

2040-605: The Wi-Fi on their own laptops, tablets and smartphones without a library card. In June 2013, the library announced a $ 1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation establishing a partnership between the Chicago Public Library and the public library system of Aarhus , Denmark. That same month, the Library opened its Innovation Lab, featuring a Maker Lab with 3D software, milling machine, laser cutters, and 3D printers. The space has proven highly successful in offering free access to

2100-489: The aftermath of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire , Londoner A.H. Burgess, with the aid of Thomas Hughes , drew up what would be called the "English Book Donation", which proposed that England should provide a free library to the burnt-out city. The Chicago Public Library was created directly from the ashes of the great Chicago Fire. Burgess wrote on December 7, 1871 in The Daily News that "I propose that England should present

2160-452: The author of the current book as part of the discussion; it often concludes the discussion with a live conference call or webinar . A broadcast club is one in which a television, radio, or podcast show features a regular segment that presents a discussion of a book. The segment is announced in advance so that viewers or listeners may read the book prior to the broadcast discussion. Some notable broadcast book discussion clubs include: Given

2220-529: The board of directors authorized an $ 11 million renovation of the Central Library. While the restoration of the original central library proved a great success, the collections remained warehoused outside the old library while the City debated the status of the future of the central library. One plan was to move the library to the former Rothchild/Goldblatts Department Store which stood empty on Chicago's State Street and had reverted to City ownership. From 1982 to 1985, Amanda Sullivan Randle Rudd rose to become

2280-406: The book in a public place with the expectation that unknown future readers will find it there. All three methods are utilized with BookCrossing . Participants use a website and a system of unique identification numbers to track released items as they migrate through a worldwide community. The interaction is largely web-centric, but it does not exclude face-to-face gatherings, each of which can take on

2340-446: The busy lifestyles of today, another variation on the traditional 'book club' is the book reading club. In such a club, the group agrees on a specific book, and each week (or whatever frequency), one person in the group reads the book out loud while the rest of the group listens. The group can either allow interruptions for comments and questions from the members at any time, or agree to allow such input at chapter or section endings. Such

2400-428: The category of social networks , these online clubs are made up of members of a variety of reading interests and often approach book discussion in different ways, e.g. academic discussion, pleasure-reading discussion, personal connection, and reaction to books members read. In 2012, a new book club format referred to as author-led book clubs was introduced by Business Book Club " 12 Books ." Author led book clubs include

2460-428: The circulation. In 1874, circulation services began with 13,000 out of 17,533 available for lending. The library moved from place to place during its first 24 years. Eleven years it spent on the fourth floor of city hall. In 1887, Poole resigned to organize the private, research Newberry Library of Chicago. On October 15, 1887, Frederick H. Hild was elected the second Librarian of the Chicago Public Library and securing

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2520-617: The club movement of the end of that century. Well into the 1900s, book clubs continued to serve as both an intellectual outlet and a radical political tool. In the first half of the 20th century, women continued to be barred from many top universities. This time period was the heyday of the Book of the Month Club and the Great Books movement, both of which encouraged average Americans to take on hefty literary novels. Women’s chief role in founding

2580-424: The cost implications of acquiring that title, these clubs usually involve circulating books they already own. Each book is introduced with a short precis. This offers members the advantage of previewing a work before committing to read. It has the effect of narrowing the focus of the dialogue so that book and reader are more quickly and more accurately matched up. The sequential nature of the process implies that within

2640-551: The facility, some libraries offer book discussion kits where several titles of a book are able to be loaned to a single patron, with a lending period typically longer than normal. The kits also contain suggested reading guides with discussion questions. Librarians can aid in the procurement of items needed for private book club meetings. They are able to reserve multiple copies of a publication and extend loan periods. They are also able to facilitate club meetings digitally, through discussion boards or video meetings. Librarians have noted

2700-474: The first African-American to head of the Chicago Public Library system. Rudd had experienced segregated libraries during her childhood in South Carolina. Her stewardship in Chicago saw a particular focus on literacy services, and she strongly mentored younger colleagues, including a future Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden . The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board and Cindy Pritzker, then President of

2760-700: The latest in advanced manufacturing technology and was awarded the Chicago Innovation Awards Social Innovator Award in October 2013. In late 2013, a study released by the Information Science Department of Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, Germany ranked Chicago Public Library first in the United States and third in the world, when comparing 31 major urban libraries taking leadership roles in supporting "smart cities" in

2820-905: The modern book club—a consequence of being marginalized from other intellectual spaces—has gone on to influence the book industry, with women accounting for 80 percent of fiction sales. Author Toni Morrison called the 1996 launch of the Oprah's Book Club the beginning of a "reading revolution"; in its first three years, books Oprah chose averaged sales of 1.4 million copies each. Sociologist Christy Craig said that women have turned to book clubs to construct social networks and important partnerships, especially in times of upheaval. A 2018 BookBrowse survey found that 88% of private book clubs are all-women groups, but almost half of public groups—such as those hosted by libraries—include men. The survey found that 70% of book clubs primarily read fiction, though 93% read nonfiction at least occasionally. A single-title club

2880-406: The neighboring section of Lake Park was moved about a half a block east several decades ago. At least three renovations have occurred, which have expanded, renovated and updated the library. From 1938 to 1939 the new children's room annex, a Works Progress Administration project, was added at a cost of $ 68,400 ($ 1,498,255). During this annexation, one of a set of Howard Van Doren Shaw townhouses

2940-449: The opportunity to speak with a legal professional about a variety of legal topics), Money Smart (a series of financial literacy programs), and Author Series. The Chicago Public Library provides access to a large selection of databases, most of which are also available for use at home or other remote location with a Chicago Public Library card. Internet computers are available for anyone with a Chicago Public Library card. Also, anyone can use

3000-426: The positive influence of Google+ hangouts and Skype to host meetings for long-distance club members and for times in which not all members can attend the club. Librarians have also helped non-traditional book clubs find footing within their communities. Online book clubs exist in the shape of Internet forums , Yahoo Groups , e-mail mailing lists , dedicated websites, and even telephone conference calls. Also, in

3060-624: The terminals for up to two free internet sessions per day and print for a small charge per page anywhere in the Chicago Public Library system. The building was designed by the architect Solon S. Beman and modeled after Beman's Merchant Tailors Building , the domed temple facing the lagoon in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition , and the Erechtheum at the Athenian Acropolis . The library's rotunda murals have thematic titles: "Labor", "Literature", "Art" and "Science". The following

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3120-401: The traits of other book discussion clubs. Many public libraries lead book clubs as a library program on a regular basis. A librarian usually leads a discussion after participants read the book. Copies of the book are available to be checked out for the group meeting. Some libraries at secondary schools and tertiary education institutions form book clubs. For book discussion groups outside of

3180-510: The walking distance of home for every person in Chicago who can read or wants to use books." Legler was succeeded by his assistant Carl B. Roden in 1918. Roden served as Chief Librarian until 1950. The South Chicago Branch library history from 1937-1947 has been explored by Latham who focused on its service to an industrial community and adult education. She has also examined the role of the John Toman Branch library from 1927-1940. Roden

3240-585: Was 50,084. In 2003, the "Friends of Blackstone Branch Library" was formed, making the Blackstone Branch one of approximately 34 branches to have such a support group. The volunteer support group attempts to "serve as an advisory council for Chicago's first branch library, promote use and improvement of the library, and provide volunteer and fundraising services for Blackstone". The Blackstone Library participates in most Chicago Public Library programs and partnerships, including Great Kids Museum Passport Program,

3300-419: Was 58 feet (18 m) in diameter, 21 feet (6.4 m) high and with a 30-foot (9.1 m) foundation. A two-story office building was soon built around it to hold city offices, and a third floor reading room was built for the library. On October 24, 1873, William Frederick Poole was elected the first head librarian by the library's board of directors. Poole was mainly concerned during his tenure on building

3360-453: Was appointed Library Commissioner effective February 2021. In 2023, the CPL celebrated its 150th anniversary with an exhibit exploring the history of its branches. Harold Washington Library Center Book discussion club A book discussion club is a group of people who meet to discuss books they have read . It is often simply called a book club , a term that may cause confusion with

3420-595: Was dedicated on January 8, 1904. Blackstone Library marks the beginning of the Chicago Branch Library System as the first dedicated branch in the system. Blackstone is also the only branch of the 79-branch Chicago Public Library branch system that was constructed using private funding. The Blackstone Library is designated as a Chicago Landmark. The building is located in Chicago 's Kenwood community area in Cook County , Illinois , United States and serves

3480-459: Was his contribution to the city where he had made his fortune and stands as a monument to his generosity. Blackstone is 13,794 sq ft (1,281.5 m) and its original cost was $ 250,000 ($ 8,803,846 today). Although the Blackstones lived downtown, they maintained numerous close friendships in the affluent Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods. Prior to the donation of the Blackstone Library,

3540-406: Was razed. From 1977 to 1980 a major restorative renovation occurred. Blackstone was rededicated on November 18, 1980, in recognition of completion of the three years of work. There was also a 2004 renovation for the centennial. Blackstone donated a larger James Blackstone Memorial Library (1891, opened 1893), in his father's memory to Branford, Connecticut , Blackstone's birthplace. In addition to

3600-425: Was succeeded in 1951 by Chief Librarian Gertrude E. Gscheidle. During her tenure the Library expanded its service to Chicago's neighborhoods by modernizing its bookmobile services. In the 1960s several new neighborhood branch libraries were constructed or were established in leased storefronts or reading rooms. The two-story, 62,000-square-foot (5,800 m ) modernist Carter G. Woodson Regional Library , named after

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