Independence Branch
🏢 Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois
Independence Branch
One of Chicago's pioneering library-plus-affordable-housing buildings, the Independence Branch at 4024 N. Elston Avenue was designed by John Ronan Architects and opened February 6, 2019, stacking a light-filled two-story library beneath 44 senior apartments — a YOUmedia recording studio, a graduated reading staircase and a rooftop garden for residents above.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–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: 4024 N. Elston Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: (312) 744-0900
Website: chipublib.org
Plus Code: 86HJX73H+MV (Chicago, IL)
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📖 About Independence Branch
The Independence Branch of the Chicago Public Library at 4024 North Elston Avenue opened for full service on February 6, 2019, as one of three pioneering co-location projects combining a Chicago Public Library branch with affordable housing in a single building. Designed by acclaimed Chicago architect John Ronan of John Ronan Architects — who also designed the Poetry Foundation headquarters nearby — the 16,000-square-foot, two-story library occupies the ground and second floors, while 44 senior apartments (30 Chicago Housing Authority public housing units and 14 additional affordable units) rise above, topped by a roof garden over the residents' parking area. The building was developed in partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority and Evergreen Real Estate Group. Inside, an open floor plan floods with natural light through large windows, features a distinctive graduated seating staircase connecting the floors, and places a large children's area on the ground floor visible from the open second-floor adult stacks. The branch also houses an Independence YOUmedia program with a teens-only recording studio — one of eight YOUmedia sites that expanded across CPL in 2019 — along with study rooms, a community meeting room, large-print materials and Spanish-language collections. The building received recognition in the 2020 Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards. It serves the Irving Park neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Designed by John Ronan Architects as a co-located library with 44 senior apartments (30 public housing, 14 affordable) above — one of CPL's first library-and-housing buildings
- Opened February 6, 2019 — recognized in the 2020 Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards
- Distinctive graduated seating staircase connecting a light-filled two-story open floor plan, with a residents' rooftop garden above
- Independence YOUmedia: teens-only recording studio plus study rooms and a community meeting room
- Ground-floor children's area visible from the open second-floor adult stacks
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Independence Branch cardholders can stream, download, research and learn for free through CPL's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Independence YOUmedia: teens-only recording studio
- Two study rooms available for reservation
- Community meeting room available for reservation
- Teacher in the Library homework help — Tuesday & Thursday 3–6pm
- Spanish-language and large-print circulating collections
- Digital literacy classes
- Covered parking behind the building (enter from Irving Park Rd westbound or from eastbound alley off Ridgeway)
- Public computers, printing, scanning & free Wi-Fi
- After-hours book return and bike rack
- ADA-accessible workstations with 24-inch monitors, oversize keyboards & trackball mice
- Kids Museum Passport — reserve free passes to 15+ Chicago-area museums and cultural institutions
🎸 Programs
- Independence YOUmedia recording studio and teen programming
- Teacher in the Library homework help (Tue & Thu 3–6pm)
- Digital literacy classes
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Community events and adult programs
- Summer Reading Program
📍 Nearby Libraries in Chicago
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true that the Independence Branch has apartments above the library — and who lives there?
Yes. The building's upper floors hold 44 apartments for seniors, split between 30 Chicago Housing Authority public housing units and 14 additional affordable units developed with Evergreen Real Estate Group. The library occupies the ground and second floors. It opened February 6, 2019, as one of CPL's first library-plus-housing co-location projects.
Who designed the Independence Branch and what makes it architecturally distinctive?
It was designed by John Ronan Architects — the firm also behind the Poetry Foundation headquarters in Chicago's River North neighborhood. The design is known for its open two-story floor plan bathed in natural light, a dramatic graduated seating staircase that connects the floors, and a rooftop garden for apartment residents above the covered parking area. The building was recognized in the 2020 Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards.
What is the YOUmedia Recording Studio at Independence Branch?
The Independence YOUmedia Recording Studio is a dedicated space for teen patrons equipped for digital media production. It is one of the eight YOUmedia sites that expanded across CPL in 2019, providing teens with access to recording equipment and programming beyond the branch's general study rooms and community meeting room.
Is there parking at the Independence Branch?
Yes. Covered parking spaces are available behind the building. Enter from Irving Park Road westbound or from the eastbound alley off Ridgeway Avenue. Street parking is also available on Elston Avenue.
🎨 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 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.