City To Expand Library Facilities In Public Housing Developments
The Chicago Public Library system will soon expand its partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority to create more facilities at public housing complexes.
At a City Council budget hearing on Friday, Library Commissioner Brian Bannon said the new facilities would be built in the CHA's Roosevelt, Northtown, and Independence communities.
"That's an extension of the work that we already have active with them in the Altgeld community," he said.
A new library and community center opened in Altgeld Gardens earlier this year.
Aldermen and others at the budget hearing were curious to know what other plans were on the drawing board for the CHA and the Public Libraries.
"Three is a lot. So, as you know, we announced the partnership of CHA in the Altgeld community a few months ago. These three libraries, we think we're really excited about the opportunity to replace existing or leased sites to provide full-service libraries," Bannon said.
The commissioner said he currently is focused on getting the Roosevelt, Northtown, and Independence library facilities going, but he said he's willing to work with the CHA and other agencies to provide more library centers, provided the funding is available.