Best Kid-Friendly Libraries in Chicago and the Suburbs
Public libraries with open play areas and kids programming.
Libraries have become so much more than a collection of books & materials and a quiet place outside of the home. These days, a library also provides an area of imaginative play and exploration for little kids. It’s a great option for parents to get their kids out of the home and in an educational setting. The best part about it is it’s FREE!
From Cook County to Kane, to McHenry to Will County, read on to find our favorite kid-friendly libraries in the city and chicagoland areas.
Cook County- In the City
Photo of Thomas Hughes Children’s Library by Eric Rogers via openhousechicago.org
Thomas Hughes Children's Library
Harold Washington Library
400 S State St 2nd Floor
Chicago IL 60605
Located on the 2nd floor of the Harold Washington Library, the Thomas Hughes Children’s Library is separated into 3 different “neighborhoods” for preschoolers, elementary learners and tweens. Activities and resources include imaginative play, STEAM-based activities and a digital media space. Library events focus on storytime, open play, music and crafts.
Other kid-friendly libraries in the city with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Chicago Public Library:
Bucktown-Wicker Park Branch
1701 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago IL 60647'
Chicago Public Library:
Sulzer Regional Library
4455 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago IL 60625
Chicago Public Library:
Little Italy Branch
1336 W Taylor St
Chicago IL 60607
Chicago Public Library:
Chinatown Branch
2100 S Wentworth Ave
Chicago IL 60616
Chicago Public Library:
Richard J. Daley Branch
3400 S Halsted St
Chicago IL 60608
Chicago Public Library:
Back of the Yards Branch
2111 W 47th St
Chicago IL 60609
Chicago Public Library:
South Chicago Branch
9055 S Houston Ave
Chicago IL 60617
Cook County- North / Northwest Suburbs
Photo of Indian Trails Public Library District by Pioneer Press via chicagotribune.com
Indian Trails Public Library District
355 Schoenbeck Rd
Wheeling IL 60090
Newly renovated in 2017, the Indian Trails Public Library District has a large open area for kids imaginative play, as well as other educational features such as an art creation station and a makerspace for collaboration. The addition of the Launch Pad features hands-on technology resources, such as 3D printers, laser cutters and traditional arts & crafts. There is also a digital media lab with sound recording equipment and a green screen.
Other kid-friendly libraries in the North & Northwest suburbs with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Evanston Public Library
1703 Orrington Ave
Evanston IL 60201
Skokie Public Library
5215 Oakton St
Skokie IL 60077
Wilmette Public Library
1242 Wilmette Ave
Wilmette IL 60091
Glenview Public Library
1930 Glenview Rd
Glenview IL 60025
Des Plaines Public Library
1501 Ellinwood St
Des Plaines IL 60016
Mount Prospect Public Library
10 S Emerson St
Mt Prospect IL 60056
Elk Grove Village Public Library
1001 Wellington Ave
Elk Grove Village IL 60007
Arlington Heights Public Library
500 N Dunton Ave
Arlington Heights IL 60004
Palatine Library District
700 N North Ct
Palatine IL 60067
Schaumburg Township District Library
130 S Roselle Rd
Schaumburg IL 60193
Poplar Creek Public Library
1405 S Park Ave
Streamwood IL 60107
Cook County- West Suburbs
Photo of La Grange Public Library via mykidlist.com
La Grange Public Library
10 W Cossitt Ave
La Grange IL 60525
At La Grange Public Library, children ages 0-5 can visit the play space that has enriching and fun activities. For the older kids, they can gather in the Tween space and check out the Oculus Quest 2 Virtual Reality Headset or foster their STEAM skills with a variety of tabletop toys.
Other kid-friendly libraries in the West suburbs with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Oak Park Public Library
834 Lake St
Oak Park IL 60301
River Forest Public Library
735 Lathrop Ave
River Forest IL 60305
Northlake Public Library
231 N Wolf Rd
Northlake IL 60164
Hillside Public Library
405 N Hillside Ave
Hillside IL 60162
Berwyn Public Library
2701 S Harlem Ave
Berwyn IL 60402
Stickney-Forest View Public Library District
6800 43rd St
Stickney IL 60402
North Riverside Public Library
2400 Des Plaines Ave
North Riverside IL 60546
Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library
3541 Park Ave
Brookfield IL 60513
Thomas Ford Memorial Library
800 Chestnut St
Western Springs IL 60558
Cook County- South Suburbs
Photo of Orland Park Public Library via Orland Park Public Library Facebook page
Orland Park Public Library
14921 S Ravinia Ave
Orland Park IL 60462
Kids of all ages can enjoy the Orland Park Public Library. Little kids can visit “The Backyard” nature center, or take a break in the “Sensory Space” where they can play with handheld manipulatives or the tactile wall tiles. For the tweens, there’s “The In-Between” area, and for teens, the “Teen Loft”. The Tech Center is filled with digital media technology, including 3D printers, a VHS-to-DVD convertor, a cricut maker and so much more.
Other kid-friendly libraries in the South suburbs with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Evergreen Park Public Library
9400 S Troy Ave
Evergreen Park IL 60805
Alsip-Merrionette Park Library
11960 S Pulaski Rd
Alsip IL 60803
Oak Lawn Public Library
9427 Raymond Ave
Oak Lawn IL 60453
Green Hills Public Library District
10331 Interlochen Dr
Palos Hills IL 60465
Lemont Public Library
50 E Wend St
Lemont IL 60439
Tinley Park Public Library
7851 Timber Dr
Tinley Park IL 60477
Homewood Public Library
17917 Dixie Hwy
Homewood IL 60430
Park Forest Public Library
400 Lakewood Blvd
Park Forest IL 60466
DuPage County
Photo of Downers Grove Public Library via Downers Grove Public Library Yelp page
Downers Grove Public Library
1050 Curtiss St
Downers Grove IL 60515
In addition to the kids area, Downers Grove Public Library has a Kids Room where there are children’s librarians, books related to specific homework assignments and local tutors. Different digital media technologies can be checked out, such as a VHS to DVD converter, a GoPro camera, laptops and more!
Other kid-friendly libraries in DuPage County with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Elmhurst Public Library
125 S Prospect Ave
Elmhurst IL 60126
Addison Public Library
4 Friendship Plaza
Addison IL 60101
Roselle Public Library
40 Park St
Roselle IL 60172
Glenside Library
25 E Fullerton Ave
Glendale Heights IL 60139
Oak Brook Public Library
600 Oak Brook Rd
Oak Brook IL 60523
Glen Ellyn Public Library
400 Duane St
Glen Ellyn IL 60137
Wheaton Public Library
225 N Cross St
Wheaton IL 60187
Hinsdale Public Library
20 E Maple St
Hinsdale IL 60521
Clarendon Hills Public Library
7 N Prospect Ave
Clarendon Hills IL 60514
Indian Prairie Public Library
401 Plainfield Rd
Darien IL 60561
Woodridge Public Library
3 Plaza Dr
Woodridge IL 60517
Lisle Library District
777 Front St
Lisle IL 60532
Nichols Library
200 W Jefferson Ave
Naperville IL 60540
Warrenville Public Library District
28W751 Stafford Pl
Warrenville IL 60555
Lake County
Wauconda Public Library
801 N Main St
Wauconda IL 60084
Wauconda Public Library has a whole floor dedicated to kids ranging from birth to 8th grade. In addition to the plethora of kids events & programming, take-home arts & crafts and hands on educational materials available, the Kids City play area at the Wauconda Public Library is astounding. Newly renovated in 2019, Kid City stands out from others of its kind, with a large spaceship play structure and slide, different play zones for activities like STEM kits and arts & crafts, and other play based fun such as the train table, kitchen area and giant light up wall.
Other kid-friendly libraries in Lake County with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Deerfield Public Library
920 Waukegan Rd
Deerfield IL 60015
Highland Park Public Library
494 Laurel Ave
Highland Park IL 60035
Highwood Library & Community Center
102 Highwood Ave
Highwood IL 60040
Vernon Area Public Library
300 Olde Half Day Rd
Lincolnshire IL 60069
Aspen Drive Library
701 Aspen Dr
Vernon Hills IL 60061
Fremont Public Library
1170 N Midlothian Rd
Mundelein IL 60060
Lake Bluff Public Library
123 E Scranton Ave
Lake Bluff IL 60044
Warren-Newport Public Library
224 O'Plaine Rd
Gurnee IL 60031
Lake Villa District Library
140 N Munn Rd
Lindenhurst IL 60046
Antioch Public Library District
757 N Main St
Antioch IL 60002
Round Lake Area Public Library
906 Hart Rd
Round Lake IL 60073
Grayslake Area Public Library
100 Library Lane
Grayslake IL 60030
Ela Area Public Library
275 Mohawk Trail
Lake Zurich IL 60047
Barrington Area Library
505 N Northwest Hwy
Barrington IL 60010
Kane & McHenry Counties
Photo of Gail Borden Public Library District via downtownelgin.com
Gail Borden Public Library District
270 N Grove Ave
Elgin IL 60120
The inviting KidSpace area at the Gail Borden Public Library, is a large open play space where kids will enjoy playing on the wooden structure & tunnel, the toy kitchen and other activities like puzzles and games.
Other kid-friendly libraries in Kane & McHenry Counties with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Kane County Libraries
Gail Borden Public Library District: South Elgin Branch
127 S McLean Blvd
South Elgin IL 60177
St. Charles Public Library
1 S 6th Ave
St. Charles IL 60174
Town & Country Public Library
320 E North St
Elburn IL 60119
Geneva Public Library District
227 S 7th St
Geneva IL 60134
Batavia Public Library
10 S Batavia Ave
Batavia IL 60510
Santori Library
101 S River St
Aurora IL 60506
McHenry County Libraries
Algonquin Area Public Library: Main Library
2600 Harnish Dr
Algonquin IL 60102
Algonquin Area Public Library: Branch Library
115 Eastgate Dr
Algonquin IL 60102
Fox River Grove Memorial Library
407 Lincoln Ave
Fox River Grove IL 60021
Crystal Lake Public Library
126 W Paddock St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
Will, Kendall & Grundy Counties
Photo of Homer Township Public Library via engberganderson.com
Homer Township Public Library
14320 W 151st St
Homer Glen IL 60491
Between storytime, music & movement classes, and clubs designed specifically for kids, the Homer Township Public Library has educational activities for all ages. The Children’s room is a large family activity area with arts & crafts, Wonderbooks and STEM kits to go.
Other kid-friendly libraries in Will, Kendall & Grundy Counties with play spaces or kids events & programs.
Will County Libraries
Fountaindale Public Library District
300 W Briarcliff Rd
Bolingbrook IL 60440
Plainfield Area Public Library
15025 S Illinois St
Plainfield IL 60544
White Oak Library District: Romeoville Branch
201 W Normantown Rd
Romeoville IL 60446
White Oak Library District: Lockport Branch
121 E 8th St
Lockport IL 60441
White Oak Library District: Crest Hill Branch
20670 City Center Blvd
Crest Hill IL 60403
New Lenox Public Library District
120 Veterans Pkwy
New Lenox IL 60451
Mokena Community Public Library District
11327 195th St
Mokena IL 60448
Frankfort Public Library District
21119 S Pfeiffer Rd
Frankfort IL 60423
Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District
240 Whitson St
Manhattan IL 60442
Three Rivers Public Library District:
Channahon Library
25207 W Channon Dr
Channahon IL 60410
Grundy County Libraries
Three Rivers Public Library District
Minooka Branch
109 N Wabena Ave
Minooka IL 60447
Coal City Public Library District
85 N Garfield St
Coal City IL 60416
Kendall County Library
Yorkville Public Library
902 Game Farm Rd
Yorkville IL 60560
Where is your favorite library hangout with your kids? Let me know in the comments!
![10+ Malls with [Free] Play Areas for Kids](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/655440429907322d2217d091/0e9c1911-328e-477d-b7f8-cd5b93f186f4/51856701_10157130539222188_1977911239572979712_n.jpg)
For those with older kids, sometimes they want more than a small aquatic center and swimming pool, and that’s ok! Good thing is, we have some very thrilling water amusement parks near us, that can feed those adventure-seekers of yours!