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Chicago Public Library (CPL) will host its first Teen Lit Night: Unbound on Friday, September 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center’s Winter Garden. The event is designed for teens and young adults ages 13 to 22, aiming to introduce new ways of engaging with reading through music, art, and author conversations.
“Teen Lit Night: Unbound is part of The 81 Club, our landmark partnership with Chicago Public Schools that gives every student a library home,” said CPL Commissioner Chris Brown. “As Chicago’s safe out-of-school time space, CPL champions reading through book clubs and our Best of the Best lists, builds real-world readiness with internships and sparks creativity through YOUmedia. In every neighborhood, teens can count on their library as a safe, welcoming place to grow.”
The evening will feature award-winning authors K. Ancrum and Jamia Wilson. Attendees can also participate in activities such as a silent disco party with Mo MAMI, listen to lo-fi beats by Backpack Beatz, and receive custom event swag created by artist Clue Chicago. Free books will be available for attendees to build their own home libraries.
"Providing safe, positive and community-oriented opportunities for our young people is at the core of our vision for our city," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Events like Teen Lit Night are the spark that can ignite a lifelong love for reading and art. Through events like this, CPL continues to find new ways to support and enrich our city's young people."
Students from CPL’s School Year Internship program helped plan the event as part of the library’s approach to co-creating programs with youth. These paid internships allow teens to develop professional skills while working alongside library staff. Applications for the 2026 internship program open October 13 through November 2.
CPL offers additional teen resources such as YOUmedia—a digital learning space where teens can learn about digital media, STEM topics, and hands-on art making—which recorded nearly 40,000 visits across all locations in 2024.
Other programs include Real Ones Read—a literacy-focused book club funded by the Urban Libraries Council—and The 81 Club partnership with Chicago Public Schools which provides students access to library resources.
Teen Lit Night: Unbound is free for ages 13 to 22. More information about this event can be found at https://chipublib.org/unbound or about other teen resources at https://chipublib.org/teens.
The event is supported by BMO, Allstate Exelon, Peoples Gas, Norfolk Southern and donors through the Chicago Public Library Foundation (https://cplfoundation.org).
