The View from the Ground archive is a searchable collection of Jamie Kalven’s original reporting and a robust collection of black and white film photographs by Patricia Evans from the final chapter of high-rise public housing in Chicago.

Man, the world is scary, so why not go down the rabbit hole of Chicago Stadium research with a coworker

We're here for whatever Dominic Pacyga writes!

Chilling. Let's remember that in Chicago, we don't censor history.

The vibe we needed this morning! Hellhole, amirite?

The Museum of Broadcast Communications is a member of ours! We're thrilled for a new physical home for them!

We know there is A LOT going on but access to history is important too. If you were a fan of the late Dennis McClendon, his Sanborn site is now only available via the Wayback Machine: web.archive.org/web/20241227...

So grateful for Wintrust support in highlighting us this August on their billboard! See it live just east of 90/94 at North Ave. Thank you, Wintrust!

Don't miss the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's induction ceremony -- for Timuel Black, Oscar Brown, Jr., & Harriet Gillem Robinet --this Saturday, July 12th at 1:00 pm at the Woodson Regional Library! chicagoliteraryhof.org/events_entry...

When the world is going to hell, it helps to look at Brubaker images from UIC with a coworker

We’re loving this in-person gathering of CCC members! Thank you to member DePaul University and their art museum for the hospitality!

At our annual meeting today, Patti Swanson, founder and ED of Chicago for Chicagoans, extolled the online photos in the portal. Old Town Art Fair this weekend is a great time to look back in our digital exhibit! exhibits.chicagocollections.org/a-snapshot-o...

“Libraries are a cornerstone of democracy—where information is free and equally available to everyone. People tend to take that for granted, and they don’t realize what is at stake when that is put at risk.”—Dr. Carla Hayden #Libraries #WisdomWednesday #ILA

One of our favorite people in conversation with us on 5/21! Register now to visit with @rmartincole.bsky.social! chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

We do like to share good news. Member Puerto Rican Arts Alliance is hosting the program Diasporic Creators: Puerto Rican Identity on the Move from 6-7:30 pm tomorrow, 5/15, at 3000 N Elbridge Ave, 60618

No one under 16 can get a Library of Congress reader card. If you are 16 or 17, you need a permission signed by a parent or guardian.

Trump fired the Librarian of Congress without cause! Send an email to your representative to stop Trump's attack on the Library of Congress. action.everylibrary.org/emailhayden via @everylibrary.bsky.social

She is Dr. Hayden, you asshats. www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g...

So many atrocities competing for our attention. Today, feeling despair at the absolute gutting of IMLS and NEH--the resources they provided, the talented staff they employed.

It's May Day! Thanks member UIC! explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uic/29...

When a National Endowment for the Humanities grant was cancelled last week, so was a project to make historical Wyoming newspapers more accessible. Note: some comments show a profound lack of understanding of history and librarianship

It's not just #NationalLibraryWeek, today is #NationalLibraryWorkersDay! A huge shout out to library workers everywhere and especially those at our member institutions. They make discoverable incredible collections that don't whitewash history. 1/2

ALA is deeply concerned by reports that IMLS is sending notices to libraries claiming to cancel grants that are required by law. This harmful action will disrupt libraries' ability to serve their communities. Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries #ForOurLibraries

Calling all high school poets because poetry, art, and history are STILL IMPORTANT! Deadline of 4/30 for submission to our poetry competition, Making History Come Alive through Words: chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

What does the IMLS mean to us and to our members? Here's one example--in 2017 member @chicagomuseum.bsky.social got an IMLS grant to hire a project cataloger to get small archival collections into the online catalog and also into the Explore Chicago Collections portal. 1/2

Seriously, the darkest timeline

Chilling: “After departing the office, Sonderling sent an email to staff emphasizing the importance of libraries and museums in cultivating the next generation’s perception of American exceptionalism and patriotism."

Where’s the coverage of the threat to the IMLS in the Chicago Tribune?

Jesus

The library and the post office are the only two systems we have that circulate things widely and to everyone, no matter who they are or what they believe. The library is the only one that, for now, is not forced to pay for itself at point of sale. Attacks on IMLS are attacks on every one of us.

Well, democracy dies in daylight but we'll always have the giant Jewel(s) cart in the St. Patrick's Day parade from member UIC ☘️ explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uic/29...

Remember history? It's important and our members are preserving it. Join member Evanston History Center on 3/16 at 1 pm for their program on Finding Meaning in Historic Photographs evanstonhistorycenter.org/event/talkse...

Returning to this icon for #InternationalWomensDay

In June 2022, we held a conversation with our member the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago. Feels like a good time to share this again chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

Member @chicagomuseum.bsky.social has the Olivet Baptist Church records. Rev. J.H. Jackson was a contemporary of Dr. King. explore.chicagocollections.org/ead/chicagoh...

The end of February is the last day of #BlackHistoryMonth not the end of Black history. We'll see this month out in style with our glorious late Mayor Harold Washington. Chicago is a union town and here he is, courtesy of member UIC, in a union parade! explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uic/99...

Every day is a fresh hell of awfulness so here’s the coworker next to photos of Circle Campus in honor of UIC’s 60th anniversary at this location. Brutalism, in architecture only, FTW

Listen: When Vivian Harsh became a Chicago librarian, she began, “the special negro collection,” an archive housing Black history and literature. Harsh knew writers like Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston personally. More on Reset. www.wbez.org/reset-with-s...

Awesome news! And @chicagomuseum.bsky.social has Thing Magazine records: explore.chicagocollections.org/ead/chicagoh...

Also encourage people to email LC to oppose this proposed revision, which was announced a few hours ago (with comments deadline of today 😡). Your email can be short (1-3 sentences) and can focus on impact to your patrons. #critcat #LCSH #cataloging 📚

I mean the world is going to hell but we'll always be a sucker for a library themed Valentine! "#HappyValentinesDay

Kudos to the Chicago Covenants Project for your compelling mission that draws in volunteers!

A special #BlackHistoryMonth shout out to our sister consortium, the Black Metropolis Research Center. "The BMRC’s mission is to connect all who seek to document, share, understand and preserve Black experiences." bmrc.lib.uchicago.edu

Another #BlackHistoryMonth post, dive into the rich history of the Abbott-Sengstacke family papers, founders of the Chicago Defender, which promoted the Great Migration. They're in the Harsh collection at member CPL explore.chicagocollections.org/marcxml/chip...

Starting #BlackHistoryMonth with the unparalleled Ida B. Wells. Journalist and crusader, here's her candidacy as a delegate to the Republican Nat'l Convention (hey, remember when they were the party of Lincoln?) courtesy of member University of Chicago explore.chicagocollections.org/image/uchica...

In this darkest timeline, we're sharing images from the curated set Stories of Im/Migration Chicago explore.chicagocollections.org/records/?f1-...

Want to pretend it's summer and art fairs are in full force? And to remember that art is still important? Join us next Wednesday, 1/29 from 12-1 on Zoom for a discussion with Chicago artists relating to our recent digital exhibit: chicagocollections.org/news-events/...

In Chicago, organizers and community builders are providing plenty of alternatives to watching today’s inauguration: from protests to family-friendly activities. Here are a few events taking place in Chicago on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today. thetriibe.com/2025/01/here...

José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, a human rights activist who served as chair of the Young Lords Organization, died Friday. He was 76. chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...