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September is Library Card Sign-up Month. And at CALS, we have long proclaimed the library card to be the most valuable card in your wallet. We’re looking for local businesses who can help us make this card even more valuable, (even if just for a month). We invite you to support public libraries and their vital community role by participating in the “Bookworm Bargains” program.

Recently CALS hosted a one-page teen writing contest with the prompt of “Adventure begins at your library,” (pulled from this year’s Summer @ CALS theme). While there were many wonderful entries, these three were the best of the best! Congratulations to the winner, Siyona – who is only 11!

It is getting hot, hot, HOT outside but CALS has all the ways to keep you cool (both in spirit and in temperature). Jump into the activities around Summer @ CALS at any of our branches, or check out the variety of programs (free and ticketed) at the state-of-the-art Ron Robinson Theater. Meet some authors and check out all the fun with food available this month.

On Thursday, May 30, the air was electric in the historic Cox Building, the home of the Rock It! Lab; not just from the lively tunes being played by DJ Swift 720, nor the food from Afrobites (although it was delicious), but from the excitement of listening to five soon-to-graduate individuals taking part in the pitch competition.

The Rock It! Lab is helping launch businesses all over town. The newest, Chicago Flamin’ Grill Express opened on April 30 to a welcoming crowd. For those not familiar, the Rock It! Lab (RIL) is a partnership between CALS and Advancing Black Entrepreneurship (ABE) that helps potential entrepreneurs who have previously been underserved, including minorities,

April 21-27 is Volunteer Appreciation Week and CALS wants to express a huge THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers. Close to 800 volunteers donate their time to the library regularly throughout the year. We currently have 1,296 volunteers on file at CALS. This past year, we had 668 volunteers donate 12,697.25 hours, for a cost savings of $403,772.55 to the library system.

On Tuesday, February 6, CALS held a “Wall Breaking” ceremony to kick off the interior demolition of the library. It included a huge turnout of patrons, CALS staff, and members from CDI Contractors as well as the architects from Polk Stanley Wilcox. After a bit of conversation, we discovered how ecstatic they were to be working on the Library,

For ten years, readers have been coming together for our ebook club, Big Library Read. Now, Kanopy users at libraries in the United States and Canada can share their love for film with Big Movie Watch! Kanopy’s new film club is now available to CALS through our existing program.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day,