Uptown Branch
🏢 Chicago Public Library — Chicago, Illinois
Uptown Branch
Steps from the landmark Aragon Ballroom and Chicago's Little Saigon on Argyle Street, Uptown Branch mirrors its hyperdiverse neighborhood with a Russian-language collection, Latinx family programming, and a Library of Things that includes fishing poles available for checkout.
🕑 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: 929 West Buena Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: 3127448400
Website: chipublib.org
📖 About Uptown Branch
Uptown is one of Chicago's most demographically varied neighborhoods, a North Side community once known as the city's entertainment capital outside the Loop, home to jazz clubs, grand theaters, and early film studios on Argyle Street. Today it draws residents from dozens of countries, with Vietnamese and Cambodian communities anchoring the Argyle Street corridor and Russian and Eastern European communities represented throughout the area. The branch at 929 West Buena Avenue reflects this richness: its collections include Russian-language materials, and its programming spans Latinx family music and movement storytimes, citizenship corner support, and digital literacy classes. Unique among CPL branches, Uptown also lends fishing poles through its Library of Things.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Library of Things includes fishing poles available for checkout — an unusual offering among CPL branches
- Russian-language materials collection serving the neighborhood's Eastern European community
- Citizenship Corner with resources for immigrants and naturalization applicants
- Teacher in the Library program provides certified homework help Monday–Thursday, 3:30–5:30 PM
- Study rooms available for individual and small-group use
📱 Free with a Chicago Public Library Card
Any Chicago resident can get a CPL card free and unlock:
📍 More Chicago Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I really borrow fishing poles from the Uptown Branch?
Yes. The Uptown Branch Library of Things includes fishing poles available for checkout to cardholders, making it easy to try fishing at nearby lakefront parks without having to buy equipment.
Does Uptown Branch have materials in languages other than English?
Yes. The branch maintains a Russian-language collection alongside its English holdings, reflecting the neighborhood's Eastern European community. Citizenship Corner resources are also available for non-native English speakers navigating immigration processes.
Are there study rooms at the Uptown Branch?
Yes. The branch has study rooms suitable for quiet individual study or small-group work. The branch also has a larger meeting room that can be reserved for community events.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.