Legler Regional Library
🏢 Chicago Public Library — Chicago, Illinois
Legler Regional Library
Housed in a landmark 1920 Beaux Arts building that was Chicago's very first regional library, Legler pairs a century of West Garfield Park history with a modern Maker Lab, teen YOUmedia studio, and a working food pantry.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM – 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: 115 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60624
Phone: (312) 746-7730
Website: chipublib.org
📖 About Legler Regional Library
Legler Regional opened on October 11, 1920 as the first regional branch of the Chicago Public Library, the physical fulfillment of chief librarian Henry E. Legler's 1916 "Library Plan for the Whole City," the nation's first comprehensive branch-library blueprint aimed at putting a library within walking distance of every Chicagoan. The Beaux Arts building was designed by architect Alfred S. Alschuler, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, and locally landmarked soon after. Its regional designation was dropped in 1977 as circulation declined, but the branch was rededicated in 1993 after renovation and had its full regional status restored in 2019 following a major rehabilitation. The library's walls hold notable art, including R. Fayerweather Babcock's restored 1934 Depression-era mural "Wilderness, Winter River Scene" depicting Father Jacques Marquette, plus a carved wood sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett and a painting by Kerry James Marshall acquired through Chicago's Percent for Art program. Today it serves the West and East Garfield Park communities with a Maker Lab, a Legler Regional YOUmedia teen space, computer help, and an on-site food pantry.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Chicago's first-ever regional library, opened in 1920 and restored to full regional status in 2019
- 1920 Beaux Arts building by architect Alfred S. Alschuler, on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986
- Original art on view, including a restored 1934 WPA-era Marquette mural and works by Elizabeth Catlett and Kerry James Marshall
- Maker Lab, YOUmedia teen studio, computer help, and an on-site food pantry
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Legler the first "regional" library in Chicago, and what does that mean?
Legler opened in 1920 as the flagship of chief librarian Henry E. Legler's 1916 "Library Plan for the Whole City," which proposed five regional libraries and 70 local branches. Regional branches were larger hubs meant to hold deeper collections and serve surrounding neighborhood branches. Legler lost the designation in 1977 amid falling circulation but regained full regional status in 2019 after a major renovation.
Who was Henry E. Legler, whom the library is named after?
Henry Eduard Legler (1861–1917) was a Sicilian-born journalist and librarian who served as the Chicago Public Library's chief librarian from 1909 until his death in 1917. A past president of the American Library Association, he authored the landmark 1916 "Library Plan for the Whole City," the first comprehensive branch-library system proposed in the United States.
What historic artwork can I see inside the Legler building?
The branch displays R. Fayerweather Babcock's 1934 mural "Wilderness, Winter River Scene," a Depression-era federally funded work depicting Father Jacques Marquette and 17th-century Native Americans, which has since been restored. The building also holds a carved wood sculpture by Elizabeth Catlett and a painting by Kerry James Marshall, both acquired through Chicago's Percent for Art program.