Living in the city can be expensive, but there are plenty of free activities to enjoy! You can explore the lakefront, visit the Lincoln Park Conservatory, or enter museums at no cost.
One thing that provides even greater access to the city is a Chicago Public Library card. Obtaining a library card is simple and free! All you need is a current, valid ID that includes your name, photo, and a Chicago address.
Here are some of the best free things you can do with a Chicago Public Library card.
Access to free audiobooks and e-books
It may not be surprising, but with a Chicago Public Library card, you can access free books. This includes a wide selection of e-books and audiobooks. Some titles may have a waitlist, but it’s still a great option—after all, free is free!
The library offers free audiobooks that you can easily download through apps or directly from the CPL website. Just download the OverDrive (Libby) app or log in on the website to get started.
If you have a Chicago Public Library Card, you will never need to pay for museum admission again. Rather than waiting for specific free admission days, you can obtain free tickets for museums like the Art Institute whenever you choose.
To get your free tickets, simply reserve a pass for a specific date online. Participating attractions include the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago History Museum, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
With a Chicago Public Library Card, you’ll get free access to Mango Languages! Want to learn Mandarin? Go for it! Looking to improve your Spanish? Now you can, thanks to your Chicago Public Library Card. With Mango, you can learn any language you desire, with over 70 languages available to choose from.
Are you finding that your monthly streaming subscriptions are taking a big chunk out of your budget? With a Chicago Library Card, you can eliminate costs for services like Netflix, Hulu, and Max and access a no-cost streaming option through Hoopla.
Hoopla offers movies and TV, including auteur classics, indie films, and foreign films. On Hoopla, click “Browse,” select movies or TV, search for what you want, and borrow or place a hold. It’s the perfect way to still stream your favorites without spending the money.
Full access to the Oxford English Dictionary
Are you stuck on a word or want more context in a sentence? Your Chicago Public Library Card will grant you remote access to the Oxford English Dictionary, which means you can access the Oxford English Dictionary online for free anywhere you have internet access.
Entry to newspaper archives
Whether you need to do in-depth research or are just curious about history, you’ll have free access to The Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times, along with a wide variety of other local and national newspapers.
This includes The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, with articles dating back to the 1980s. Websites such as JSTOR and EBSCO have extensive scholarly journals and magazines.
Sample CDs and vinyl
Vinyl and CDs can be pretty expensive. And we have a way to save costs on your favorite music—you’ll still get the crackle and soothing of your favorite artists, but with a Chicago Public Library Card, you get to listen for free.
Free Wi-Fi hotspots
Yes, wherever you go—you get free hotspots at the Chicago library with your Chicago Public Library Card!
Create in the Maker Lab
If you need a sewing machine, knitting machine, 3D printer, laser cutters, or design software—items that typically come with a hefty price tag—you’re in luck! Your library card gives you free access to all of that at Harold Washington Library Center.
On the third floor, you’ll find the Maker Lab, a public space that offers introductory workshops and an open area for personal projects. Here, you can access all of the equipment mentioned above.
Music practice rooms
You will have access to the chamber rehearsal room, which is equipped with a baby grand piano, music stands, chairs, and a rehearsal space suitable for small acoustic or vocal ensembles of 3 to 10 people.
