Teacher in the Library

Chicago Public Library Foundation has funded the Teacher in the Library (TIL) program since 2000, when the program began in six branch libraries. Teachers in the Library, accredited teachers recruited from schools within the libraries’ respective neighborhoods, now serve in nearly all branch libraries, Monday through Thursday from 3:00 pm-6:00 p.m.

Teachers in the Library help kids and teens understand and complete homework assignments; become more focused on their studies; improve their classroom performance; and provide support to the parents/caregivers of participating students.

Teachers in the Library are bi-lingual where required. For parents, Teachers in the Library give them the tools to be effective advocates for their children's educational needs by helping them understand the school system, report cards and to access available educational resources for their children. Teachers in the Library are increasingly serving as champions for the literacy and educational goals of entire families, including parents and older siblings.

Teachers in the Library, along with the Library’s online and volunteer homework helpers, provided 85,296 homework help sessions during the 2014-15 school year.