“What can be found at 9525 South Halsted Street?” you might ask. It’s the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library a cornerstone of Chicago’s Washington Heights neighborhood.
The Carter G. Woodson Regional Library is more than just a building. It is a hub for knowledge and community. Named after Carter Woodson it honors the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The library serves as the South District’s main branch. It supports about 24 other libraries in the area.
Opened in December 1975 the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library quickly became a vital resource. It offers a wide range of services including free Wi-Fi. It is fully ADA compliant making it accessible to all.
But there is even more to the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library. It houses the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature. This collection started with Vivian Harsh. She was the director of the George Cleveland Hall branch. The collection grew so much that the library expanded in 1988 to provide updated facilities for it.
The Vivian G. Harsh Collection is the oldest and largest African American studies repository in the Midwest. Vivian Harsh established it in 1932. She was the first Black librarian to head a Chicago Public Library branch. The collection became a focal point. It was an engine of the Chicago Renaissance of the 1930s and 1940s.
Harsh gained support from prominent figures. Richard Wright Margaret Walker and Langston Hughes assisted her. Charlemae Hill Rollins a pioneering children’s librarian also helped. The collection became a meeting place. It fostered the work of many Black thinkers.
In 1975 the Special Negro Collection moved to the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library. It was renamed in honor of Vivian G. Harsh. Today it holds more than 200 archival and manuscript collections. These collections total nearly 4000 linear feet.
The Carter G. Woodson Regional Library faced challenges. There were serious issues with the building’s masonry. A major renovation of the 1975 building began. The project included replacing the building envelope windows and roof.
The library remained open during renovations. Patrons were redirected to other libraries. Digital portions of the Harsh Collection remained available. The city made significant improvements. A Computer Commons was built in 2010. A YOUmedia digital lab for teens was added in 2015. The fire alarm system was upgraded.
Today the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library remains a vital community resource. It averages 26000 visitors per month. It offers programs for all ages. Preschool story times homework help and teen DIY projects are available. The Harsh Readers Circle Book Discussion meets monthly.
The Carter G. Woodson Regional Library is more than books. It preserves history fosters community and provides access to knowledge.