Brainerd Branch — Chicago Public Library
🏢 Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois
Brainerd Branch — Chicago Public Library
Serving Chicago's far South Side from 1350 W. 89th Street, the Brainerd Branch of the Chicago Public Library anchors a neighborhood named for E. L. Brainerd, who opened a rail station at 89th and Loomis in 1887 — offering extended evening hours, certified homework help, and digital literacy classes steps from the National Register-listed Brainerd Bungalow Historic District.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 12:00 PM – 8:00 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: 1350 W. 89th Street, CHICAGO, IL 60620
Phone: (312) 747-6291
Website: chipublib.org
Plus Code: 86HJP8JR+WW (CHICAGO, IL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Brainerd Branch — Chicago Public Library
The Brainerd Branch sits in one of Chicago's southernmost community areas, a neighborhood annexed by the city in 1890 that grew largely after the arrival of electric streetcars in the early 20th century. The surrounding streets are lined with brick bungalows built between 1915 and 1931 — a concentration recognized in 2016 as the Brainerd Bungalow Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The branch's single-story building offers an after-hours book return, a parking lot with an accessible space, and a community meeting room available for reservation. A Teacher in the Library program provides certified academic support for students on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 6 pm, while CyberNavigators offer one-on-one technology coaching by appointment. ADA computer workstations equipped with large monitors, oversized keyboards, and trackball mice ensure the branch is fully accessible to patrons with disabilities.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Evening hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8 pm for working residents and students
- Teacher in the Library — certified academic support for students, Tue & Thu 3–6 pm
- Located adjacent to the Brainerd Bungalow Historic District (National Register, 2016)
- Community meeting room available for reservation via the CPL calendar
- ADA workstations with oversized keyboards and trackball mice for accessible computing
- Parking lot with accessible space, after-hours book return, and bike rack
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Stream, download, research, and learn for free through CPL's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free public computers and WiFi
- Flatbed scanner for patron use
- Community meeting room (reservation at chipl.libcal.com)
- After-hours book return drop
- Free homework help (Teacher in the Library)
- CyberNavigators technology tutoring by appointment
- Parking lot with accessible space
- ADA workstations with assistive technology
🎸 Programs
- Teacher in the Library — certified homework and study-skills support, Tue & Thu 3–6 pm
- CyberNavigators — one-on-one technology tutoring by appointment
- Digital Literacy Classes — computers, internet, and job searching
- Story Time — early literacy sessions for children and caregivers
- Film screenings and community events
- Rock painting and afterschool craft activities for kids
📍 Nearby Libraries on Chicago's South Side
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Teacher in the Library program at Brainerd Branch?
Teacher in the Library pairs students with a certified teacher for free homework help and study-skills coaching. Sessions run Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6 pm at no cost. No appointment is required for most sessions; just bring your homework and your CPL card.
Is the Brainerd Bungalow Historic District near the branch?
Yes. The branch at 1350 W. 89th Street sits within the Brainerd neighborhood, whose surrounding streets are lined with brick bungalows built largely between 1915 and 1931. That concentration was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016 as the Brainerd Bungalow Historic District, recognizing approximately 42 documented architectural designs.
Does Brainerd Branch have extended evening hours?
Yes. The branch stays open until 8 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, making it accessible for students and working residents who cannot visit during daytime hours. Monday and Wednesday hours are 10 am–6 pm; Friday and Saturday 9 am–5 pm; Sunday 1–5 pm.
Can I use the meeting room at Brainerd Branch for community events?
Yes. Brainerd Branch has a community meeting room available for reservation by CPL cardholders. Reserve it online at chipl.libcal.com, where you can check availability and book your session in advance.
🖨 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.