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One a recent July 4th holiday visit to Chicago, Michelle McKinney, UCBA Reference and Web Services librarian, made a brief stop at the Harold Washington Library Center (HWLC) of the Chicago Pubic Library (CPL). The main branch of CPL is located on 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 in the South Loop. The building is a site to behold. It is 10 stories high, 756,000 square feet, and takes up a full city block. Here are just a few photos from Michelle’s all-too-brief visit. Follow the links at the end of the post to learn more about the Chicago Public Library and the Harold Washington Library Center.
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- Outside of the Howard Washington Library Center’s main entrance. – Michelle
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- The view of Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center from across the street. – Michelle
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- The view of the Harold Washington Library Center near the subway entrance/exit.
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- The main entrance of the Harold Washington Library Center.
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- A plaque highlighting the building’s namesake, Harold Washington. He was the first African American mayor of Chicago (1983-1987).
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- An owl clutching a book in its’ talons sits atop the building’s pediment.
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- Ornate light fixtures
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- The great hall of the main entrance.
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- “She Wears Many Crowns’ art exhibit by Dr. Yemonja Smalls.
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- Quotes can be found on walls throughout the building.
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- HWLC’s Popular Library
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- The Reliance Printing Press
Additional reading:
- Chicago Pubic Library
- About HWLC
- Mayor Harold Washington Biography
- Harold Washingon Library, Chicago Architecture Foundation
- Loved and Hated, Old and New, Chicago’s Main Library Still Exudes Controversy
- Harold Washington Library, Zahner Portfolio
- She Wears Many Crowns: Multi-Media Paintings by Dr. Yemonja Smalls Exhibit at HWLC