One Day, Two Storefronts

Theodore Roosevelt Branch
I was surprised to find this one on Taylor Street, on the near west side. I had just had breakfast at Sweet Maple Cafe- a wonderful spot on a Monday morning, and was heading to visit a library in Bronzeville. I decided to drive East on Taylor Street to check out the area on my way, when my eyes saw the familiar cpl logo and I pulled over in front of Al's #1 Beef. It's a small storefront with 2 floors, a building owned by UIC that was supposed to be a bank. In 1993 the library opened after a long history in the neighborhood.
Small, but friendly staff, with a collection of chinese books as well as spanish speaking clerks. I've been reading some books in the City of Big Readers Adult book club, and turned in my documentation of 2 books read, and got a travel mug with that logo.
The librarian congratulated me as well!



Chicago Bee Branch
Heading through the near west and south sides to this small outpost on the edge of the IIT neighborhood on South State Street, I passed the Motor Row Historic District full of construction but still sparsely populated with businesses and restaurants. This branch is the former home of the Chicago Bee, an African American owned newspaper published from Bronzeville. The building is an art deco smash with all the details preserved. You really have to give kudos to the preservationists, the library folks, and the bronzeville neighorhood for working together to repurpose this into a community center. The library interior seems all new, but the storefront windows look out onto a State Street that has an open vista past the el tracks to Cellular Field. Many of the surrounding buildings are gone, leaving empty prairie lots to the south and west.
It's a small collection of books and a few computers, but quiet and welcoming. A photo installation by Carrie Mae Weems would be easy to miss, but is a beautiful series of 5 indigo photographs with etched comments- another gem of national significance.