Near North (#6)

A transit-related coffee shop!?

SAM: In the morning, I randomly searched for interesting library events and came across a Paint and Sip event that the Near North Branch offered. Initially, it was just going to be a mommy and boys excursion. Daniel found a coffee shop 9 minutes away from Near North Branch called Standing Passengers (in nearby Noble Square), which offers a wide selection of pastries and video games like Mario Kart and Pac Man (which immediately caught Daniel and Nathan’s attention).

To the Library!

We headed over to the library after our pitstop to the coffee shop. At first, I thought it was a casual free paint for kids, but upon arrival, we were immediately blown away by the sheer number of participants, and how the library managed to draw such a diverse crowd. One word that describes this library is how inclusive it is to all people. In the middle of painting, Sharon, the branch manager, called everyone’s attention to a community member’s birthday and everyone sang happy birthday to him. 

The boys sat close to a couple who lived in the neighborhood and we struck up a wonderful conversation that made time fly by. They were very intentional in asking great questions and took the time to get to know all three of us. Their daughter volunteered at this branch this summer and they had attended the event to show their support. 

What had started as a three person outing turned into a Project 81 visit when Ben, intrigued by the pictures I sent him in real time, couldn’t resist visiting the branch with us.

It was a pleasure to get to interview Sharon as well and learn about the neighborhood. She has had a wealth of experience prior to her time at Near North Branch. One thing from the interview that stood out to us was a very humble comment that she made: that CPL librarians should be willing to work at any branch to serve any residents of Chicago.

BEN: Sharon shared that the Old Town and greater Near North areas were historically an entry point for immigrants into the city, and was, in fact, the neighborhood where her family initially settled upon their arrival. Some of the oldest buildings in the City are in Old Town, including many that predate the Great Chicago Fire.

What about Transit?

DANIEL: This library has very reasonable transportation access. The Near North Branch is served by the CTA Bus Routes #70, #37, and #156. The Clark/Division Red line subway station is a 0.3 mile walk from the library. From there, you can also board CTA Bus Routes #22 and #36. 

Overall, the Near North Branch has some pretty good transit. My final review: 5/5.