If you have ever been to the Chicago Underground Library you would know what I mean when I say that the environment is eclectic. Since the Library also serves as the lobby for the Red Tape Theatre, there are a multitude of places to sit. When I first went there as a volunteer I constantly moved around because I wanted to find a decent and comfy place to sit, so I changed places at least three times. The different furniture ranges from a church pew to regular couches and loveseats, all with different ratings of comfyness. To spare people who visit the CUL the misfortune of sitting on uncomfortable seats, I have given ratings to a few of the seats. The Tushie Rating System, name suggested by one of our kind and noble editors, is rated out of five Cheeks with one being the lowest and five the highest.

Red Green and Blue Loveseat: 4 Cheeks of 5

I first sat in this seat after a long drive, during which I got into a car accident. It is safe to say that I was very irritated with the City of Chicago. This seat, which reminds me of Christmas because of the colors, was incredibly comfortable. The only reason why it did not get a full score was because the armrests were too high when I lay down and, being a little over six feet, my feet hung off the edge. The cushions are perfect, not too squishy and not to firm. It is safe to say that the positives overwhelm the negatives in this case.

More chair ratings…

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Chicago Underground Library Reader Interviews: Printer’s Row 2010 #4

Chicago Underground Library loves writers and publishers, but they (and we) wouldn’t exist without readers. Over the next few months, we’ll be posting interviews with Chicagoans about their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten publications, under-recognized writers, and what it takes to make a book quintessentially Chicago. (Hint: It’s not spilling deep dish pizza on it.)

We talked to lots of folks at our table at the recent Printer’s Row festival-o-books about their favorite Chicago writers, works, and literary places. And FYI, yes we do have Butt Rag!

Check out more CUL videos over at the Chicago Underground Library Channel.

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Chicago Underground Library Reader Interviews: Printer’s Row 2010 #3

Chicago Underground Library loves writers and publishers, but they (and we) wouldn’t exist without readers. Over the next few months, we’ll be posting interviews with Chicagoans about their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten publications, under-recognized writers, and what it takes to make a book quintessentially Chicago. (Hint: It’s not spilling deep dish pizza on it.)

We talked to lots of folks at our table at the recent Printer’s Row festival-o-books about their favorite Chicago writers, works, and literary places. A reader recalls former Chicago bookstore, The Stars Our Destination.

Check out more CUL videos over at the Chicago Underground Library Channel

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Chicago Underground Library Reader Interviews: Printer’s Row 2010 #2

Chicago Underground Library loves writers and publishers, but they (and we) wouldn’t exist without readers. Over the next few months, we’ll be posting interviews with Chicagoans about their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten publications, under-recognized writers, and what it takes to make a book quintessentially Chicago. (Hint: It’s not spilling deep dish pizza on it.)

We talked to lots of folks at our table at the recent Printer’s Row festival-o-books about their favorite Chicago writers, works, and literary places. In this episode are the favorite books and new finds of three readers, including one girl with a lollipop mic.

Check out more CUL videos over at the Chicago Underground Library Channel

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Chicago Underground Library Reader Interviews: Printer’s Row 2010 #1

Chicago Underground Library loves writers and publishers, but they (and we) wouldn’t exist without readers. Over the next few months, we’ll be posting interviews with Chicagoans about their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten publications, under-recognized writers, and what it takes to make a book quintessentially Chicago. (Hint: It’s not spilling deep dish pizza on it.)

We talked to lots of folks at our table at the recent Printer’s Row festival-o-books about their favorite Chicago writers, works, and literary places. Which are you - Team Royko or Team Terkel??

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Chicago Underground Library presents
Son of Science of Obscurity!
Chicago’s celebration of literary experiments returns for a second year!
Saturday, July 10, 7pm-10pm
Jupiter Outpost
1139 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

Free, all ages

The Chicago Underground Library celebrates the return of the “Science of Obscurity,” our annual lead up event to the Printers’ Ball featuring new, unpublished, and in-progress works presented as science fair experiments. The night will also feature a public “book launch” via catapult, scientist speed dating, and digital readings to warm your hardened techie heart. Left and right brains come together, print <3s digital, everyone wins when the laws of physics and literature collide.

More details about the event following…

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In preparation for the Chicago Underground Library’s grand opening in our new space, Mike Birnbaum and Dave Rader sit down with members of VAD, The Data and the Lore and Chicago Phonography. The members of Chicago Phonography also touched a bit on another audio collective that they are part of, the World Listening Project. More on the World Listening Project, later!

To listen to the interview:

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Many thanks to everyone who took part in the interviews. We’re looking forward to the sounds you all will be sculpting out in our new audio space.

Hope to see everyone at the Loud Library event and be sure to check out the websites below for future shows if you like what you hear.

VAD Synths, scathing guitar riffs, and a cello, erupting in a fury of vocal feats and posturing, not heard of since the days of yore. They are loud, purposefully obnoxious (in a good way) and totally charming.

The Data and the Lore Thundering disco beats in tandem with a subversive approach to song writing makes TDATL unique, if not only for their idiosyncratic approach to “post-punk” music. A mixture of electro-clash sensibilities and raw, and sometime recondite, emotion, fastidiously rolfed and repeatedly molested by dubious improvisational tactics.

Chicago Phonography broadcast unprocessed local Chicago field recordings as an ensemble in a context of live improvisation

-  Mike Birnbaum and Margaret Heller (the Castmaster and his AV girl assistant)

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Who: You and the Chicago Underground Library
What: Loud Library Grand Opening
Where: 621 West Belmont Avenue, 2nd floor
When: Thursday, February 25^th, 7-10 pm
How: Loudly
Why: Because it’s the winter time and you need to shake those bones out

Did you hear about our blurb in the New York Times? What about our mention in TimeOut Chicago? We’re famous. You should check them both out: The Pulse: Looks Like a Library, but No Best Sellers and Moving on Up.

Yes, we are establishing our toehold in the world of renown and infamy (never know what ruckus those librarians will bring on with their free-thinking ways). And to continue on our trajectory of world domination and introduce you to the acoustics of our new location, we are having our Loud Library Grand Opening party on Thursday, February the 25^th, 7-10 pm at 621 W Belmont, 2^nd floor.

Loud Library, because not only do we not care for best sellers, we’ll toss aside those pesky rules forbidding you to speak above a whisper. It’s the celebration of self and uniqueness, so we say let your loud and proud, colorfully assembled self shine. You might even win the prize for our Loud Outfit contest; to be decided by dB (decibel) meter, so bring your friends and get them to shout, stomp their feet, shake their music maker and cheer you on to your grand prize.

And did we mention that we plan to be loud. We have The Data and the Lore and VAD performing for us that evening. And less loud but with just as much impact, Chicago Phonography bring their soundscapes, making you more aware of the tingly environment about you. Charlie Universe is MCing and Rachel Shine, Kaitlin Kruse and Ted Tremper will keep you pumped up throughout the event with their soaring Simul-Reads.

The Chicago Underground Library is a new model for open, location-specific archiving of independent and small press media and this is just the first of many creative collaborations that we have planned for the year. Stay tuned in for more and do join us on February the 25^th and help us to ring in a new year of innovative programming - bridging various artistic disciplines - with a clash, a bang, and a kazoo or two.

-  Thùy

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The weekend of December 12th and 13th was the big moving day for the Chicago Underground Library. Volunteers showed up on Saturday to help pack books, zines and magazines into boxes. By mid-day the custom-made shelves were clear and everything was ready to go.

Orientation Center - the shared home of CUL and various other organizations - disbanded at the beginning of December with its organizers off to pursue individual projects. Nell, CUL’s founder, had decided it was best to find a new home for the library. Stephanie Acosta, CUL’s programming director, scouted out a spot through the Red Tape Theatre group. The theater generously offered to share a room with the library.

The following day saw even more library volunteers, and the move was on. It wasn’t long before several vehicles were packed, and everyone drove to the new location in Lakeview. The building where the theater is housed is the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, constructed in 1895. The library boxes were brought to the gymnasium for temporary storage until the front room is remodeled.

The most noticeable difference about the CUL’s soon-to-be new home is the size. There is space enough to stretch out, find a comfortable chair under the chandeliers, and relax with a good read from the collection. This new home is full of promise, and it’s a great way for the Chicago Underground Library to ring in the New Year.

Chicago Underground Library packing day, Saturday, December 12

Library moving Day, Sunday December 12th

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Raizel Liebler and Nell Taylor gave a presentation at MIT’s Media in Transition 6 conference on April 26th. We discussed the need to update the rules of access and use that govern most public collections now that the Internet has provided a more democratic and inclusive model, and how those updated rules are applied at the Chicago Underground Library. This is what we tried to squeeze into 15 minutes.

Click here for more details!

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