Sulzer Regional Library
🏢 Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois
Sulzer Regional Library
The North Side's regional library in Lincoln Square, Sulzer holds the Northside Neighborhood History Collection and stays open until 8 pm Monday through Thursday — giving Lincoln Square and Ravenswood a deep-collection hub just off the heart of N. Lincoln Avenue.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625
Phone: (312) 744-7616
Website: chipublib.org
Plus Code: 86HJX878+37 (Chicago, IL)
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📖 About Sulzer Regional Library
Sulzer Regional Library at 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue is Chicago Public Library's North Side regional hub, serving the Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, and surrounding neighborhoods. It opened in 1985 originally as the Hild Regional Library — named for Frederick H. Hild, CPL's librarian from 1887 to 1909 — and was later renamed for Conrad Sulzer, an early settler who helped establish the Ravenswood community in the 1860s. As one of CPL's three regional libraries, it provides extended hours Monday through Thursday and holds deeper reference collections than a neighborhood branch. Its most distinctive holding is the Northside Neighborhood History Collection, which includes the Ravenswood-Lakeview Community Collection: local photographs, maps, documents and ephemera that document the history of Chicago's North Side neighborhoods, used by genealogists and local historians. The Maker Lab offers community access to creative tools, and the YOUmedia teen studio gives young adults a space for digital media and production.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One of Chicago Public Library's three regional libraries — extended hours Monday through Thursday
- Northside Neighborhood History Collection and Ravenswood-Lakeview Community Collection for genealogy and local history
- Opened 1985 as Hild Regional Library; later renamed for Ravenswood pioneer Conrad Sulzer
- Maker Lab with open shop hours and YOUmedia digital media studio for teens
- Collections in Polish, Russian and Spanish reflecting Lincoln Square's diverse neighborhood history
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Sulzer Regional cardholders can stream, download, research, and learn for free through CPL's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Northside Neighborhood History Collection (local history and genealogy)
- Maker Lab with open shop hours for community use
- YOUmedia digital media and production studio for teens
- Citizenship Corner naturalization resources
- Seed library for community gardeners
- CyberNavigator technology tutoring and job-search help
- Meeting and study rooms available for reservation
- Public computers, printing, scanner and free Wi-Fi
- Internet to Go — Wi-Fi hotspot lending
- ADA-accessible workstations with assistive technology
- Kids Museum Passport (Chicago Public Library) — reserve free passes to 15+ area museums and cultural institutions
🎸 Programs
- CyberNavigator computer and internet basics tutoring
- YOUmedia teen digital media programs
- Comic & Arts Festival (annual)
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Adult author events and community programs
- Summer Reading Program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Chicago
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What local-history resources does Sulzer Regional hold?
Sulzer houses the Northside Neighborhood History Collection, which includes the Ravenswood-Lakeview Community Collection — photographs, maps, documents, and ephemera tracing the history of Chicago's North Side neighborhoods. It is a primary resource for genealogists and local historians researching Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, and surrounding communities.
Was Sulzer always called Sulzer Regional?
No. It opened in 1985 as the Hild Regional Library, named for Frederick H. Hild, CPL's longtime librarian. It was later renamed for Conrad Sulzer, an early settler who helped found the Ravenswood community in the 1860s. It serves as Chicago Public Library's North Side regional branch.
What makes a 'regional' library different from a CPL neighborhood branch?
Chicago Public Library's three regional libraries — Sulzer, Woodson, and the central Harold Washington Library Center — are larger, hold deeper reference and special collections, and keep extended hours (Monday through Thursday until 8 pm at Sulzer) compared to smaller neighborhood branches.
Does Sulzer have a Maker Lab, and who can use it?
Yes. Sulzer's Maker Lab is open to the public during regular branch hours, giving community members access to tools and equipment for creative projects. Check the CPL website or call (312) 744-7616 for current open-shop hours and available equipment.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.