Why Illinois’s Public Libraries Are So Much Better Than Your Local Bookstore

If you’re interested in finding a captivating read, be sure to explore these seven libraries in Illinois for a wide selection of books. From popular bestsellers to hidden gems just waiting to be discovered, each library offers an exciting range of literature options.

Ranking the 15 Best Public Libraries in Illinois

Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library

• Address: 400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (874)
• Phone: +1 312-747-4300
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  A massive, beautiful library with many floors of books, computers, and art. It’s a great place to duck into for a few minutes if it’s super cold outside. If you visit, be sure to check out the top floor, which is just gorgeous. There’s also plenty of seating and the top floor is very quiet, so it’s a great place to do some reading.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Neal (5 months ago)

  Winter Garden in Harold Washington Library is a hidden gem. If you’re looking for a study space or a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of the city, look no further than the Winter Garden on the ninth floor of the Library. The Winter Garden’s glass roof, the architectural highlight of the buildings interior offers gorgeous, abundant and natural light all year round. There are tables to open a book, study, work or relax and no reservations are required.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By East Charmer (11 months ago)

  This building looks amazing from the outside, free to come in and just walk around but I would say that coming in is not necessary. The top floor with natural light is thou big but a bit unrealised potential. There were 4 tables and no coffee shop 🙁 view from the top floor is also not interesting. I spent a while just walking around the building and trying to make out the all the details.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By _ (7 months ago)

  Never been to such a huge library anywhere before. Believed to be the biggest library in Chicago. The place is so well maintained. The building architecture including the interiors are so awesome. Every floor out of the nine floors have books related to various topics. The 9th floor normally hosts events or exhibitions. Every floor has super clean washrooms and an escalator. Entry is free. Would surely recommend this place.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Suxant (a year ago)

  Incredibly grand library in the heart of Chicago. 9 total floors with the Winter Garden and a museum featured on the 9th floor. The 8th floor boasts an extensive music library complete with free practice rooms for patrons – many of them have pianos and there is a chamber music room too! Gorgeous place to get away from the busy city and relax.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Dylan Ivanov (5 months ago)

Skokie Public Library

• Address: 5215 Oakton St, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (307)
• Phone: +1 847-673-7774
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Skokie Public Library is a very well organized library that I ever visited. More than a library, it is just a resort for moms 👍 Wide selection of books, play zones, water play area is our favorite. Great place to visit.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Vafa Guliyeva (4 months ago)

  Love Skokie Public Library!💕 Now that it’s been renovated it’s even more esthetically pleasing. The staff are welcoming and helpful. The teen section is awesome with study rooms, gaming area, and fun open spaces. The children’s area has a new aquarium and open play areas. It has a fabulous collection of reads and DVDs. Once the library opens further in accordance to CDC guidelines it will be nice to see everyone enjoying the new courtyards. Love this place! 💕

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Shabnam M (a month ago)

  Attended Backlot Bash yesterday and the library was open. So I went in to check it out (library pun)… My family and I are looking into moving in the next year or two and my thing is before considering a town, I visit their library.

  This is a very nice library. Multi leveled, tons of selections, very nicely arranged. Indoor and outdoor areas, computer lab, reading room, art space, kids area, teens area, and a little cafe. Couldn’t ask for a better library.

  My only negative is I saw a 50-something year old woman using her vape thing inside and people noticed, just no one said anything.

  Guess she was the owner or something. I don’t know what that business was all about, but it was kinda weird to see, like… Go outside if you’re gonna do that.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Shaun Reinert (4 months ago)

  If you think libraries are only about checking out books then you’ve never been to the Skokie Library. They have an amazing lab where you can come and work on craft projects (they even have sewing machines to use!). You can check out hotspots and DVD players, they have concerts and family friendly comedy performances, it’s so much more than checking out books (which BTW you can also do). They have a teen and children’s room. I do wish they had a 50+ room with materials and activities geared toward older folks.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Justine Case (a month ago)

  The books are always in order, the employees who work there are always respectful and smiling, it is modern and beautiful, it has a variety of classes to entertain different ages, they have variety in encouraging learning and reading. I thank the Skokie library team for all of this.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Soudabeh Bazargani (2 months ago)

Aurora Public Library, Illinois

• Address: 101 S River St, Aurora, IL 60506, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (199)
• Phone: +1 630-264-4117
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  The library’s a great place to check out any material you might need. Whenever I go there, I use the first floor to search for great movies when I don’t need to purchase one. The second floor has great books and I enjoy their manga section. For whatever reason you might go here ask one of the staff, and they’ll be happy to assist you.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Abe Rodriguez (5 months ago)

  this library is huge clean and has a great book selection. yes homeless people frequent here mostly to nap. i’ve never felt bothered or threatened. shame on whoever reviewed complaining like this is inconvenient for them somehow.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By e e (3 months ago)

  The APL is wonderful. It has all the book, audio books, etc. that one would ever need. The staff is knowledgeable and eager to assist one with giving directions to any information that one might want. APL is a great resource for our community.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By rick aurora (a month ago)

  I haven’t actually been there, since I live in Rhode Island, but I have spoken to a librarian there about a CD I had purchased online which appeared to have belonged to this library. The one lady I spoke to was incredibly nice, and helped me figure out that the CD I’d purchased was no longer in their system. A wonderful experience, all in all.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By TheRossionFan (9 months ago)

  Great book selection, a large and interesting events and class selection, and very pleasant and helpful staff. Everything I want in a library.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Davee Danner (3 months ago)

Bloomington Public Library

• Address: 205 E Olive St, Bloomington, IL 61701, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (164)
• Phone: +1 309-828-6091
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  I know that they are going through renovations, but this place is great. They will bend over backwards to get you books you need. As a teacher, they will pull books for me. They don’t ban books…as no library should…so I can find everything I need. I just moved here and was worried. I’m so pleasantly surprised with the amazing staff.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By J. Hook (3 months ago)

  Had to update my library card. Still baffles me why democrats are against identification for voting, but are all in on identification for a basic library card.

  ✭✭✭ By Kent K (4 months ago)

  The have construction going on to expand the library. That said, the library is still a great place to grab a book, movie, or other items. The staff is very helpful!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Albert Ringler (2 months ago)

  Excellent, spacious kids section! It’s a shame we can’t get a library card since we aren’t McLean county residents. Still love it here. Plenty of open hours and programs to keep busy all summer.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Miranda Kissling (5 years ago)

  Under construction but still open. Can’t wait to see what happens. It will even have 2 Recording studios, wow.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Lori Meriweather (2 months ago)

Glenview Public Library

• Address: 1930 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL 60025, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (117)
• Phone: +1 847-729-7500
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
• Reviews:
  This place is great. When you enter this library, can see a large number of books, DVDs, Blu-ray, audiobooks, and also Xbox and PS games. In addition, there is a big room where you can make something with the 3D printer and the laser machine.
  This library has many group teaching room for reservation.
  Also there is a large area for kids and teenagers to study and play games.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Amin (5 months ago)

  Staff are so engaging and caring when I visit with my son. The facility itself is absolutely amazing. We park in the basement parking garage so we can say “echo, echo” over and over. Then up to the kids wing with tablets, games and an amazing selection. Such a great resource for the community.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Ryan Skaggs (3 months ago)

  Very nicely remodeled and staff are friendly and helpful most of time. There is always an odd ball, that made each visits to the library fun and adventurous. Library is stocked with lots of materials useful for everyone. Again, there are certain materials are not available, but interlibrary loan is possible, with help of staff. Library even offered auxillary services such as licence renewal, notorized document at market and minimal fee.

  ✭✭✭✭ By BARNETT FUNG (a month ago)

  This place is perfect for getting books. They have a huge library of books, a station with computers, meeting rooms, and homework help. They also do great events for the kids and adults. I go here a lot for concentration. 🙂

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Mitchell Pritsker (7 months ago)

  The Glenview Public Library is an amazing resource for local residence! And did you know you can renew your license plate sticker at the library? Did you know you can get documents notarized at the library? Did you know about the new innovation center where there is a 3-D printer where you can can print really cool items?!!

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Vittoria Logli Real Estate Agent Glenview, IL (2 months ago)

Woodridge Public Library

• Address: 3 Plaza Dr, Woodridge, IL 60517, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (108)

Geneva Public Library District

• Address: 227 S 7th St, Geneva, IL 60134, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (96)

Niles-Maine District Library

• Address: 6960 W Oakton St, Niles, IL 60714, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.4 (83)

Normal Public Library

• Address: 206 W College Ave, Normal, IL 61761, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (81)

Lansing Public Library (IL)

• Address: 2750 Indiana Ave, Lansing, IL 60438, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (76)

Northbrook Public Library

• Address: 1201 Cedar Ln, Northbrook, IL 60062, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (75)

Bloomingdale Public Library

• Address: 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale, IL 60108, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (63)

Lozano Branch, Chicago Public Library

• Address: 1805 S Loomis St, Chicago, IL 60608, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.3 (63)

La Grange Public Library

• Address: 10 W Cossitt Ave, La Grange, IL 60525, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.2 (58)

Bridgeview Public Library

• Address: 7840 W 79th St, Bridgeview, IL 60455, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (55)

Thank you for reading! If you have any additional information on the best public libraries in Illinois, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you!