West Town's read on Chicago literacy

By -
Stephanie Flinchbaugh, manager of the West Town branch library, tells EVA members how to access media subscriptions throough the Chicago Public Library website.

The Chicago Public Library's branch manager met with EVA members on Sept. 1 to promote the library's newest services and advocate for better funding.

The meeting opened with a recommendation on zoning for the 1600 W. Chicago Ave. building of Hiro Bar & Izakaya. EVA has long opposed commercial rezoning on Chicago Avenue, at the March 30 meeting board members had recommended that Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) work within the zoning code's B3 community shopping district designation to meet the bar's licensing requirements. Christina Slaton moved and Stephen Rynkiewicz seconded a motion not to oppose a change to B3 zoning but to oppose C zoning. The resolution passed unaniously; Marjorie Isaacson asked for a show of hands and the vote count was 14-0.

CPL Branch Manager Stephanie Flinchbaugh revealed the New York Times as the latest in an inclusive list of publications that Chicagoans can read free through the chipublib.org website. Library cardholders also can access media through the Libby and Flipsters apps. Graphic novels, movies and TV shows are available through the Hoopla app. Digital offerings include Ancestry.com access through the branch library's computers at 1625 W. Chicago Ave. The branch is a popular afterschool destination, Flinchbaugh noted, with Chicago Public Schools students issued library cards.

The popular service for reserving books has been working through delays. Flinchbaugh traced them to illness among the six drivers citywide who deliver holds from other branches. The branch has just resumed hiring, and the system staffing issues led to a wider discussion of library finances ahead of fall 2026 budget hearings.

In August, Mayor Brandon Johnson said Chicago faced an $85.1 million 2026 budget gap. Last year, the City Council rejected library funding cuts Johnson proposed, raising the library's dedicated property-tax levy by $9.1 million. Flinchbaugh noted that La Spata supported the higher levy; proposed state legislation would limit what publishers can charge libraries for e-books.

The library system represents less than 1% of the city budget, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation cites an estimated $3 return to the community for every $1 invested. In August, EVA contributed $500 to the foundation. Flinchbaugh said West Town, opened in 2010, only recently was given a branch budget to replace and buy books. Economy moves have centralized most buying and cataloging, though the branch still accepts some best-seller and children's book doantions.

West Town sponsors events outside its Goldblatt's Building location, including a book group at Tuman's Tap & Grill and a journaling club at Passages Wine and Books. Currently, adults who read five books can go across Chicago Avenue and claim a slice of Hoosier Mama pie. Flinchbaugh would like to see the program expand to other small businesses and branches.

EVA's standing commitees has no reports. The next membership meeting is set for 6:30pm Oct. 6 at the Goldblatt's Building meeting room, 1625 W. Chicago Ave.

Ask Nagel business card.

Popular posts from this blog

Commercial Handbill Distribution Law On The Books

By -
City Council recently passed a law that regulates the distribution of commercial handbills - specifically, the menus, coupons, newspapers, and directories that seem to appear with ever-increasing regularity on our porches, doors, and fences. Ald. Manny Flores introduced the ordinance after an East Village resident showed him how much of the area’s trash consisted of these materials. The ordinance prohibits hanging items on door knobs or gates, stuffing papers in or under doors and gates, dropping off on property premises, attaching materials to unoccupied vehicles, and posting materials on public property (such as an ad on a lamppost). For handbills to be legally distributed, they need to have a business license number visible on the material, and placed “in an alternative receiving bin as provided by the property owner”. This law does not apply to hand-to-hand distributed items. The ordinance also requires newspapers to be bagged or bound. In addition, newspapers, magazines and dire...
Read more

Crime puts La Spata on the spot

By -
Image
Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st Ward) speaks to East Village Association members June 13, 2022. Weekend gunfire turned a scheduled meeting with Ald. Daniel LaSpata into an hourlong discussion of public safety. Residents pressed the alderman on police response to calls and his own response to violent crime. The June 13 meeting was streamed on EVA's Facebook page . La Spata stated that the number of aggravated batteries and carjackings had fallen in East Village's two beats but a rise of robberies had been "frustrating." In weekly calls with 12th District Cmdr. Beth Giltmier, La Spata said he pushed for Chicago Avenue foot patrols. Residents asked if more street cameras would be installed in the ward, noting that early morning shots fired on their block two days before had no police response for more than an hour. La Spata said cameras were funded from the ward's discretionary "menu money" but he would not commit to funding cameras without consulting Giltmi...
Read more