Harold Washington Library Center

Category: Attraction

The Harold Washington Library is located at State Street and Congress Parkway. The building is neo-classical, with its design using elements of ancient Greek and Roman structures. The 756,640 square foot library opened October 7, 1991, and appeared in The Guinness Book of Records as the largest public library building in the world.

From the center of the lobby, both the lower level complex lobby and the second floor are visible. On the north wall of the main lobby is a mosaic mural by Jacob Lawrence entitled Events in the Life of Harold Washington. This mural depicts many of the former Chicago mayor's accomplishments as a Civilian Conservation Corps worker, a soldier, a lawyer, a U.S. Congressman, and Mayor of Chicago.

Located at the State Street entrance is the Popular Library. This department features current general titles from bestselling thrillers to biographies. It is also the Harold Washington Library Center’s location for audiovisual materials including thousands of non-fiction audio books on both cassette and compact disc, educational and entertainment videos, DVDs, and music CDs. The walkway above the main lobby is a gallery of artworks by both emerging and established Chicago painters.

On the second floor you'll find the Thomas Hughes Children's Library, which houses the largest collection of children's books in the city. The third floor contains the General Information Services Division, newspapers from every U.S. state and from foreign countries, telephone directories from the U.S. and abroad, periodicals and encyclopedias. On the fourth floor you'll find the Business/Science/Technology Division, the Business Information Center, the Science/Technology Information Center, the Electronic Resource Center and the Copy Center. The fifth floor contains social sciences periodicals and microforms, the Computer Connection (offering free computer use, access to the Internet and laser printers), the Talking Book Center for patrons with visual or physical disability affecting ability to read standard print, the Government Publications Department and the Municipal Reference Collection. The sixth floor is home to the Social Sciences Division book collection and the seventh floor houses the Literature and Language Division. The eighth floor contains the Visual and Performing Arts Division, including the Art Information Center and the Music Information Center. Finally, the ninth floor of the Harold Washing Library features the Winter Garden. The Library also features a 385-seat auditorium, and exhibit hall, a video theater and meeting rooms within its lower level.

For information on free tours, call 747-4136