Austin Branch — Chicago Public Library

🏢 Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois

Austin Branch — Chicago Public Library

Serving the Austin neighborhood on Chicago's West Side, this branch offers an Internet to Go WiFi hotspot lending program — letting residents take broadband connectivity home — alongside a reservable community meeting room and free homework help for students.

📞 (312) 746-5038🌐 chipublib.org🧭 Get directions
🕑 Hours & visit📖 About⭐ Highlights📚 Services📍 Nearby❓ FAQ

🕑 Library Hours

Monday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.

📍 Location, Contact & Directions

Address: 5615 W. Race Avenue, CHICAGO, IL 60644

Phone: (312) 746-5038

Website: chipublib.org

Plus Code: 86HJV6QM+MM (CHICAGO, IL)

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&🔍Search the CPL Catalog →&🏛Get a CPL Library Card →&📅Reserve the Meeting Room →

📖 About Austin Branch — Chicago Public Library

The Austin Branch of the Chicago Public Library at 5615 W. Race Avenue serves one of Chicago's largest and most historically significant West Side neighborhoods. Austin's branch is notable within the CPL system for offering Internet to Go hotspot lending, a program that lets cardholders borrow portable WiFi devices and bring broadband internet access into their homes — a meaningful resource in a community where household connectivity gaps remain a real barrier. The branch provides extended evening hours on Mondays and Wednesdays to accommodate working residents and after-school students. A community meeting room is available by reservation for local organizations, and free homework help is offered in-branch. The branch is accessible by bike rack and street parking, and an after-hours book return allows materials to be dropped off at any time.

⭐ What makes this library special

  • Internet to Go hotspot lending — borrow portable WiFi devices to take home
  • Extended evening hours until 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays for working residents
  • Community meeting room available for reservation via the CPL calendar
  • Free homework help for students of all ages
  • Free public computers, WiFi, and a flatbed scanner on site
  • After-hours book return and bike rack for convenient access

📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card

Stream, download, research, and learn for free through CPL's digital collections:

&📚 Libby / OverDriveeBooks and audiobooks for all ages, free with a CPL card.
&🎬 hooplaMovies, music, comics, audiobooks and TV — no waitlists, no limits.
&🎓 LinkedIn LearningProfessional and creative skills courses, free with your library card.
&🏛 Digital Museum PassesFree passes to Chicago-area museums, zoos and cultural institutions for CPL cardholders.

📚 Services

  • Free public computers and WiFi
  • Internet to Go WiFi hotspot lending (take home portable broadband)
  • Flatbed scanner for patron use
  • Community meeting room (reservation at chipl.libcal.com)
  • After-hours book return drop
  • Free homework help
  • Bike rack
  • Street parking available

🎸 Programs

  • Free Homework Help — in-person academic support for students
  • Story Time — early literacy programs for children and caregivers
  • Digital Literacy Classes — computers, email, internet, job searching (by request)
  • Community meetings and events via the reservable meeting room

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Internet to Go program at Austin Branch?

Internet to Go lets CPL cardholders borrow portable WiFi hotspot devices to take home, providing broadband internet access for households without reliable connectivity. Check availability and loan terms at chipublib.org.

Does Austin Branch have a community meeting room?

Yes. The branch has a reservable community meeting room available for local organizations and community groups. Book it through the CPL reservation calendar at chipl.libcal.com/reserve/austin_meeting/.

Is there parking near Austin Branch?

Street parking is available on W. Race Avenue and nearby side streets. There is no dedicated branch parking lot, so arrive by bike (there is a rack) or allow time to find street parking.

What hours is Austin Branch open in the evenings?

Austin Branch is open until 8:00 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays it closes at 6:00 PM, and Friday through Sunday at 5:00 PM (Sunday opens at 1:00 PM).

🖨 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.

📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.

✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.

✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.

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