Kelly Branch
🏢 Chicago Public Library — Chicago, Illinois
Kelly Branch
Named for Edward J. Kelly — the 46th Mayor of Chicago and a South Side native who ranked among the city's ten best mayors in a 1994 expert survey — the Kelly Branch anchors the Englewood community with a dedicated YOUmedia Recording Studio that gives teens a professional space to produce music and audio projects.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | 1 PM – 5 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 6151 S. Normal Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60621
Phone: (312) 747-8418
Website: chipublib.org
📖 About Kelly Branch
The Kelly Branch serves the Englewood neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, one of the city's 77 community areas bounded by Garfield Boulevard and 75th Street, where the branch at 6151 S. Normal Boulevard has long been a gathering point for residents. The branch carries the name of Edward Joseph Kelly (1876–1950), a South Side Chicagoan who served as the 46th Mayor of Chicago from 1933 to 1947 and steered the city through the Great Depression by securing WPA funding for Chicago's first subway. Inside, the branch features an accessible, fully equipped facility including a meeting room, public computers, a scanner, and a specialized YOUmedia Recording Studio reserved for teen patrons — one of the program's neighborhood outposts that grew out of the original 2009 Harold Washington Library Center launch.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- YOUmedia Recording Studio exclusively for teen patrons, supporting music production and audio projects
- Teacher in the Library program: certified educators available Monday–Thursday, 4–6 PM for in-person homework help
- Digital Navigators offer one-on-one technology tutoring covering job searching, résumé writing, and CPL digital resources
- Fully accessible facility with south-side elevator, ADA computer workstations (24-inch monitors, oversize keyboards, trackball mice), and wheelchair-accessible restrooms
- Named for Mayor Edward J. Kelly, a South Side Chicagoan ranked among Chicago's ten best mayors of all time
📱 Free with a Chicago Public Library Card
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kelly Branch have a recording studio teens can use?
Yes. Kelly Branch has a YOUmedia Recording Studio reserved for teen patrons. It is part of Chicago Public Library's YOUmedia initiative, which supports digital media creation — including music, audio, and other projects — at neighborhood branches across the city.
Is homework help available at Kelly Branch, and when?
Yes. Kelly Branch hosts Teacher in the Library, where certified educators provide in-person homework help Monday through Thursday from 4 PM to 6 PM. Digital Navigators are also available on select weekdays for one-on-one technology and job-search assistance.
Who was the Kelly Branch named after?
The branch is named for Edward Joseph Kelly (1876–1950), the 46th Mayor of Chicago. A South Side native, Kelly served from 1933 to 1947 and is known for securing New Deal funding that built Chicago's first subway. He ranked among the city's ten best mayors in a 1994 expert survey.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.