We are very lucky to be surrounded by an abundance of free local libraries that include not only endless amounts of stories to read, but incredibly creative, fun play spaces that will ignite children's imaginations! The best part? You don't need a resident library card to visit for the day! We rounded up all the libraries in our area so you have a list you can save and come back to when your kids are in need of a quick and easy escape from your house!
For this guide, we have collaborated with Little Library Explorers, run by a local mom who is on a mission to explore every library in Illinois with her little ones. You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram for even more photos, and libraries farther away, perfect for meeting a friend halfway, or stopping for a break on a road trip out of town.
Glenside Public Library District
25 E Fullerton Ave, Glendale Heights, IL 60139, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday: 9 AM–7 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Glenside youth service area is located on the main floor. They have plenty of activities that kept my son and daughter entertained, even my husband and I. A pretty cool feature that I personally liked was the talk tube, which my husband and I played with while our son ran back and forth between us. Underneath the talk tube they have a HUGE busy board that kept my one year old daughter very occupied! In that same area they have a whiteboard filled with spinning magnetic gears. Right next to that, is a Velcro wall with shapes. They also have a big table for kids to play with the library’s toys and puzzles. My son enjoyed playing with the kitchen and their kids' computers in a room that has tall windows, which filled the room with lots of natural light. That room also has a light bright table and a Lego table. This library does offer drop in programs, for drop in programs you don’t need to register or have a library card, everyone is welcomed to these events.
Wheaton Public Library
225 N. Cross Street Wheaton, IL 60187, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday: 9 AM–7 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Wheaton Public library has a big youth service area! It is located on the lower level, and secluded from the adult area on the main floor. As a parent, that makes me less worried if my kids decide to be a little noisy and I don’t worry as much about it bothering an adult. They have so many activities spread out the entire lower level, from road rugs with toy cars to the cutest little wooden toy market. They also have big soft Legos, tables filled with a selection of puzzles, light bright table, touch screen kids computers, coloring table, Lego table and more! And they have a room that has lovely nature wallpaper, which was my son's favorite place to hang out. I was even happy to see a charging station, especially when my phone seems to never be fully charged.
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: Altiro Latin Fusion has a cafe located on the main level of the library, so you can grab a delicious coffee or a snack to enjoy while your little ones play! Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:00-3:00 PM
Glen Ellyn Public Library
400 Duane St Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday: 9 AM–6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Glen Ellyn youth service area is located on the main floor. This area was a bit busy when we visited on a Sunday and I can see why, since it is such a cool kids space! The hot spot in the play area was the ExerGame, it’s an interactive game that will have the kids moving a lot! A really great way to get the kids to exercise while having fun! Parents probably love it too, because I sure did. If you see the ExerGame being used they do have a couple of tables close by that your kids can play on while they wait, which are their Lego table, train table, and light up table. This library also does a great job with using the ends of their book shelves to add different interactive activities, from a huge wooden xylophone to a busy board. They also have this cute little activity set up area for babies and they have a table by the windows that is designated for puzzles. My son really liked that the kids area had a 3D printer and the day we visited my son got to see it printing something. On top of the 3D printer they have a sensory box and you don’t need to ask to use the items inside the box, just make sure to return the items in the box when you’re done. If coloring is something your little one enjoys they do have a coloring table that you will see right when you walk in the youth service area. The added bonus for me was the café that is right next to the youth service area, things that just make sense to have in a library to me as a parent.
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: The Glen Ellyn Library cafe serves grab and go snacks, sandwiches, made to order coffee drinks, and more! Closes 30 minutes before library closing time.
Carol Stream Public Library
616 Hiawatha Dr Carol Stream, IL 60188, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday: 9 AM–6 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Carol Stream Public Library kids area has to be one of the very few libraries on my list of making it easy as a parent to keep an eye on both kids. Their youth service area is located on the main floor. All their activities and toys there are all in one area, not super spread out like some libraries. When entering the kids area they have a table filled with coloring supplies and lots of coloring pages. They have a big wooden busy board perfect for toddlers to play with. There is a cool light wall, kids can turn the circles on the light wall for different colors to appear or make a design on the wall. Next to the light wall they have three tables, one is a light up table, the second one is a Lego table, and the third is a train table. I really liked that they had this cute wooden box with a padded mat inside of it, which makes it great for babies to sit and play with the activity box they have there. The library also has a Peek-A-Book, which allows kids to see the library’s book collection and provides an audio-visual of the books. Their kid section also includes a shelf filled with lots of games and puzzles. Right across from that shelf they have sensory toys to play with. And as a parent I liked that they had a table with a regular outlet and a USB outlet in the kids play area.
Warrenville Public Library District
28W751 Stafford Pl Warrenville, IL 60555, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9:30 AM–9 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM–7 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Warrenville library is another library that makes it into my list of places that makes it easy to keep an eye on more than one kiddo! You will find their youth service department on the main floor. The kids play area is all the way in the back left corner. The walls in the kids' space have a beautiful painted nature theme, from sunflowers to animal scenes like a bunny underground. The activities offered in this space are a whiteboard with spinning magnetic gears, Lego table, light up table with magnetic tiles, puzzles, and in the corner they have an area that changes each month (in February it was a sweets and candy shop). The library also has two iPads with preloaded kid friendly educational games. While visiting we got to speak with the librarian Miss Kyrie who is such a sweet librarian who answered a lot of questions I had. When I asked Miss Kyrie for children book recommendations she went above and beyond and gave us seven book recommendations (Another, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, If You’re Happy and You Know It!, Bedtime for Sweet Creatures, Mother Bruce, Goodnight Veggies, and From Heat to Toe.)
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: Coffee is available for purchase at the checkout desk, but they also have a snack area with a vending machine for cold drinks and a machine for hot coffee.
Bloomingdale Public Library
101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale, IL 60108, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
Bloomindale’s Library’s whole lower level is the youth service department. A major plus for us parents and caretakers since it’s separated from the adult service department. When you enter the kids department you will notice some cool liquid tile mats and not far from the mats are tables located on the right side with lots of puzzles to choose from. If you keep walking all the way to the end of the youth service department you will find the library’s play area. They have so many things that will keep the kids entertained there. You can find a play kitchen, Lego table, funny mirror, wooden doll house, foam builders, animals, a huge wooden activity box, and so much more! The day we visited two very kind boys (they told me their names but mom brain wins once again) held a puppet show for my youngest daughter! They used the animal puppets to give us a very educational puppet show, the library also has a big selection of other puppets for your story telling needs.
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: There is a sitting area with tables and chairs on the same lower level, but separate from the Children’s area with two vending machines for pop, water, and snacks.
Winfield Public Library
0S291 Winfield Rd Winfield, IL 60190, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: Closed
Winfield library is a little smaller, the kids department is in the lower level of the library. The area that was a bit entertaining for my oldest. They have a space that was all the way in the corner with some foam kids seats, all different in color. They have a big hungry caterpillar hanging over the little kids area that looks super cool! The library typically has an all-day grab and go craft kits for kids.
West Chicago Public Library District
118 W Washington St West Chicago, IL 60185, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM–9 PM
Friday-Saturday: 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday: 1–5 PM
West Chicago Public Library youth service department is located on the main floor. Added bonus: this library is also sectioned off from the adult service department, which is on the second floor. Walking into the youth service department you can find the play area on the right side. They have a play kitchen, a baby busy box, lots of puzzles, wooden doll house, Lego table, fire trucks, cool busy boards, barn with animals, coloring supplies with coloring sheets, and more! A neat feature about this library is that they tend to have a lot of drop in programs that don’t require registration, nor do you need a library card to join.
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: There is an independent coffee shop just a few steps away, Kindred Coffee Roasters, who has a lot of collaboration and support for the library, so it's a great option to grab something to go before heading over to the library!
Helen Plum Library
411 South Main Street Lombard, IL 60148, United States
Library Hours:
Sunday: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-9:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
This brand new library is not only shiny, clean and new, but full of thoughtful considerations for kids, families, and even teens. For the full tour, check out our exclusive tour HERE.
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: There is a brightly lit cafe area on the main level with tables, vending machines and a bean-to-cup coffee machine.
Lisle Library District
777 Front St, Lisle, IL 60532, United States
Library Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9:30 am–9 pm
Saturday: 9:30 am–5 pm
Sunday: 1–5 pm
The children's area has been recently renovated, and some amazing features have been included. They have closed doors to access the children's area to insure little ones don't escape. They have multiple little kid sized computers equipped with safe and educational games, a giant Litezilla on the wall, and a mini version on a small table for toddlers. There is a separate area for rock wall climbing, Imagination Playground Big Blue Blocks, and a sectioned off soft play area for crawlers. Each of the two family bathrooms feature a changing table, a regular toilet and a toddler size potty; and include a touchless entry system to minimize germs!
Caffeine & Snacks Situation: There is a separate area across the library from the children's area with two vending machines - one for drinks and one for snacks. There are a few tables and chairs there. But when the weather is nicer, the best feature is an enclosed patio area with lots of tables and chairs for outdoor snack time!
Which one is your favorite? We hope you have fun exploring all the different libraries around Wheaton, IL and the surrounding areas. Share your adventures and tag us on Instagram to be featured!
And be sure to follow along with @LittleLibraryExplorers for even more cool libraries!
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