The group rented space for its library in a number of locations over the years and expanded into sponsoring a lecture series with such important speakers as Horace Mann, Horace Greeley and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

At that time, it took over the association's rented quarters and the group's collection of 10,000 volumes, many in German.

On June 16, 1910, the South Division branch opened in its own building at what is now 931 W. Madison Street.

[4] In 1929, when it still shared the space with the museum, the Library was home to a lion named Simba, who lived in the taxidermy department on the fourth floor.

[5] In 1957, an addition to the Central Library building was opened on the Wells Street side.