CPL branch staffed by AFSCME members opens at Obama Center
When President Barack Obama announced plans to build the Obama Presidential Center (OPC) in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood nearly a decade ago, he made a clear distinction between the project and previous presidential libraries.
The OPC would be a sprawling campus, with a museum, outdoor gathering spaces, and a basketball facility. And instead of a private library or a library operated by the National Archives, the OPC would house a brand-new branch of the Chicago Public Library.
The OPC finally opened on June 19. The Obama Presidential Center library branch, like all CPL branches, is staffed by the proud members of AFSCME Local 1215.
The opening was a full-circle moment for Council 31. Our union was one of Obama’s earliest supporters, stretching back to his first campaign for Illinois Senate in 1997, when he was still a relatively unknown organizer from Chicago. During his first run for president in 2008, Council 31 made a rare move, breaking from AFSCME International by endorsing him in the Democratic primary. The rest is history.
It’s also been a full circle experience for library employees, who transitioned to the OPC branch from other locations around the city.
“We’ve seen our teachers and our old neighbors all come in to the new location to check it out. There’s a lot of emotion there,” said Library Clerk Brianna Walker. “We also get to hear stories from patrons. People love to talk about how old they were when Obama became president.”
“Having lived in Chicago my whole life, in this neighborhood, life comes full circle in that way. I remember when this campus was a hole in the ground. Never once did I envision myself working here one day,” said Library Associate Pierre McCalister.
With the OPC estimated to receive more than 700,000 yearly visitors, one of the biggest challenges for branch employees has been making sure patrons know that the library is just that: a standard public library branch.
“A lot of people automatically assume that because we’re new, that this is a bookstore. No, this is a library! You can check out books with your regular library card,” said Walker.
But in addition to the YouMedia, children’s areas, and shelves of books available for checkout that are standard across many CPL branches, the OPC branch also holds the President’s Reading Room, where Barack and Michelle curated a collection of their favorite titles, and where the former president houses some of his most cherished books. The display in the reading room includes signed copies of books from the late Pope Francis and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as well as a 1934 copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Even with the branch teeming with patrons from all around the world, library staff have come to quickly embrace the challenges and enjoy their work. Employees were able to get familiar with the campus and the branch’s collection prior to the OPC opening to the public, which has helped them handle questions from patrons. And staff are always there for each other to help with any challenges that arise during their work.
“CPL is a family,” said Library Page Jose Rodriguez. “We know each other, and it’s such a friendly space that I always feel comfortable coming up to ask questions to anyone.”
Though the OPC is a new tourist destination for patrons from Chicago and beyond, branch employees have pride in knowing they are a part of a space that neighborhood residents can enjoy and appreciate as well.
“There’s a lack of public spaces for kids and teens. But here, there are activities for them, and they can spend time here. We have something in the South Side that’s iconic, that will become a staple of Chicago,” Rodriguez said.
“It’s a safe haven for the neighborhood,” Walker said. “That’s what libraries are. A safe haven for the wider public and for the people that live here.”