Clearing Branch — Chicago Public Library
🏢 Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois
Clearing Branch — Chicago Public Library
Anchoring the far Southwest Side neighborhood whose name comes from its 19th-century role as a railroad clearing hub, the Clearing Branch serves a working-class community adjacent to Midway International Airport with a Library of Things, seed library, and Polish-language materials.
🕑 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: 6423 West 63rd Place, CHICAGO, IL 60638
Phone: (312) 747-5657
Website: chipublib.org
Plus Code: 86HJQ6G9+M3 (CHICAGO, IL)
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📖 About Clearing Branch — Chicago Public Library
The Clearing Branch serves the Clearing neighborhood, an industrial and residential community on Chicago's far Southwest Side named for its 19th-century railroad freight-clearing function. The area was incorporated as a town in 1912 within Stickney Township before being annexed by Chicago in 1915, and the Clearing Industrial District — founded in 1909 — established its manufacturing character early on. Chrysler Village, built in 1943 to house workers at the Chrysler Defense Plant (later Ford City), is among the neighborhood's distinct sub-areas. Today the branch reflects the community's heritage with Polish-language materials alongside its standard CPL collections. The Clearing Branch stands out for its Library of Things lending collection, a seed library for gardeners, digital literacy classes, and a parking lot with accessible spaces — convenient for residents across Clearing's three sub-communities of Chrysler Village, Clearing East, and Clearing West.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Library of Things — borrow equipment and tools beyond books with your free CPL card
- Seed library — take home vegetable, herb, and flower seeds at no charge
- Polish-language materials reflecting the neighborhood's historic European immigrant heritage
- Digital literacy classes by appointment — email, online safety, job searching
- Parking lot with accessible spaces (no street-parking-only limitation)
- Meeting room and after-hours book return for community convenience
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
CPL cardholders access thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and Illinois research databases free 24/7:
📚 Services
- Free public computers (close 10 min before building)
- Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Library of Things — equipment lending
- Seed library — free seeds with library card
- Polish-language materials
- Large-print books
- Homework help
- Meeting room reservation
- After-hours book return
- Scanner
- Parking lot with accessible spaces
- Two ADA computer workstations (oversized keyboard, trackball, wheelchair-accessible table)
🎸 Programs
- Digital literacy classes by appointment — email, online safety, job searching
- Homework help for students
- CyberNavigators technology tutoring by appointment
📍 Nearby Libraries in Chicago
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Library of Things at Clearing Branch?
The Library of Things is a CPL lending collection that lets cardholders borrow practical items — equipment and tools beyond traditional books and media. Pick up your free CPL card and ask staff which items are currently available for checkout at the Clearing Branch.
Does Clearing Branch have a seed library?
Yes. The Clearing Branch has a seed library where cardholders can borrow packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds at no charge. Returning seeds from your harvest helps restock the collection for other gardeners in the community.
Does Clearing Branch have Polish-language materials?
Yes. The branch maintains a collection of Polish-language books and materials, reflecting the neighborhood's historic Central European immigrant heritage.
Is there parking at the Clearing Branch?
Yes. The Clearing Branch has a parking lot with accessible spaces — a convenience that sets it apart from several other Chicago branches that offer street parking only.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things 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.
📅 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.
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