Chicago Public School Libraries

CPS libraries have much to celebrate, not the least of which is the reopening of 38 new school libraries this year! Our new librarians gathered together at the Art Institute of Chicago for the New Librarians' Retreat and met other members of the vibrant CPS school librarian community while learning essential ideas to get started on their library journeys.
This event was made possible by a Continuing Education Grant and without it, we couldn't have brought in the fantastic as our wonderful keynote speaker!
Thank you to our partners at the for working with the CPS Libraries Team and our Library Revitalization Team to plan the event and also to the rest of the Art Institute staff for keeping us safe while we sheltered in place during this morning's wild weather.
Thank you to for showing up and connecting with our librarians during the lunchtime exhibit hall and for donating fantastic raffle prizes.
Thank you to for co-presenting one of our sessions.
Special thanks to for sponsoring our breakfast, lunch, AND afternoon snacks!

Do you want to reopen your school library, but aren't sure of how to staff it? Join an upcoming CPS School Librarian Cohort Information Session in September to learn more about the program.
Sept 1 | 3-4PM
Sept 2 | 4-5PM
Sept 3 | 3:30-4:30PM

Click on the CPS Libraries calendar to access the session links: https://tinyurl.com/474z3mrw

More information about Libraries can be found on the Intranet:
https://intranet.cps.edu/academics/libraries/

Interested in reopening your school library but aren't sure of where to start? Join the CPS School Librarian Cohort Information Session in September to learn more about the program.

Click on the CPS Libraries calendar to access the session links: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0?cid=bGlicmFyeUBjcHMuZWR1

More information about Libraries can be found on the Intranet:
https://intranet.cps.edu/academics/libraries/

We processed almost 5,000 books in two days! So very thankful to our CPS librarians who stepped up to help set their new colleagues up for success in the new school year. Shout out to the principals who recognize the importance of school librarians and are choosing to invest in them by reopening their library spaces! Chicago Public Schools

Wrapping up another great conference! We love seeing CPS librarians meeting great authors, accessing fantastic resources, taking advantage of amazing programming, and, of course, getting as many books as they can carry. Chicago Public Schools American Library Association

CPS librarians representing the district as attendees and presenters at ALA Annual! Chicago Public Schools American Library Association

From librarian, Deirdre Kean: My students and I are incredibly grateful for the generous $2,323.42 grant that has officially brought our Stories on the Go program to life! These funds have enabled me to integrate Playaways and matching books into our curriculum, and the results are already moving—literally! Our students have been hitting the new walking trail on the playground, lost in their favorite stories while staying active. The engagement has been so high that students are already asking to take these stories home to keep the adventure going. Thank you for helping us foster a deep love for reading and improved comprehension through this innovative, multi-sensory experience.

The Sound of Stories is a collaborative program that combines culturally diverse literature with the exploration of music. McCormick Elementary School is fortunate to have a Global Music teacher as the result of a Creative Schools Fund grant. Library and Music work together to present PK-2nd graders with weekly library and music lessons that connect multi-cultural stories and global music traditions.

These assignments were created with biographies purchased with the Innovative Programming Grant from CPS Libraries.

K-2 students at Lloyd Elementary read The Earth Book by Todd Parr and celebrated Earth Day by soaking old markers in water to create watercolor pop art a la Andy Warhol. They also created badges to commit to one thing they will do to take care of the Earth. 4th and 5th graders celebrated Earth Day and National Poetry Month by creating Blackout Poems using old weeded books.