# Chicago Public Library — user reviews > 47 indexed App Store user reviews of Chicago Public Library by City of Chicago, rated 3.44/5 from 63 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-public-library/id742936884/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chicago-public-library/id742936884.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 22 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 9 ## Newest reviews (18 of 47) ### 3/5 — Not great *2026-02-11, version 2.21.0* App is CONSTANTLY having issues. At least twice a month it logs me out & then I can’t get back in despite entering in the correct login credentials. Please fix this!!! It’s so frustrating. ### 3/5 — Please add notifications! *2026-01-25, version 2.21.0* Love the library and this app is intuitive and super helpful, but often I miss the holds that I’ve placed when they’re available because the app has no notifications. I have to remember to keep checking the app to see if any of my books are available yet and half the time I miss them. I imagine this is annoying for the library when people ask for holds and don’t come pick them up. If that’s happening a lot throughout the system this app lacking a notification feature may be to blame. ### 3/5 — Add Library Card to Apple Wallet *2024-12-09, version 2.17.1* Please make the library cards compatible with Apple Wallet. I’d like a virtual card instead of plastic ones. ### 3/5 — Add Library Card to Apple Wallet *2024-09-23* Please make the library cards compatible with Apple Wallet. I’d like a virtual card instead of plastic ones. ### 2/5 — About What You Would Expect From the City of Chicago *2024-04-09, version 2.14.0* Works sometimes, doesn’t work at others. Pretty much what I expect from this city. No telling how much tax money they have spent on this unreliable app. ### 3/5 — Why?? *2024-03-04, version 2.13.0* Love the app. Super easy to use… EXCEPT it logs me out constantly! Sounds like other people have the same issue. Feels like this should be an easy fix, CPL. ### 3/5 — Just one improvement please *2023-05-09, version 2.10.0* I love love love that there is a library app and that I can listen to audiobooks for free. HOWEVER, whenever I listen to my audiobook for a long time or open another app, it takes me out of the browser and I have to go through all the steps to get back to the control panel(?) page. It still plays in the background but I can’t pause it or rewind. I have to: Open the app > Go to my borrowed books > Access the book > Open in browser and > find my place I left off. Very frustrating. ### 3/5 — Improving… *2023-03-07, version 2.9.1* I do like how easy it is to reserve books at my local location, as well as where I stand on the waitlist. I do find it confusing downloading a held ebook- if a direct link to the download was provided via app or email, that would be a huge help. Another thing that would make this app better is to display library alerts front and center (well, top) when you open the app, like “Library will be closed on Casmir Pulaski day, Monday, March….” I wouldn’t think to go searching in my location’s hours every time I’m about to go pick up my held book to find this information for such an odd off day, and it would be beneficial to see news like that immediately upon opening the app. ### 3/5 — Useful but frustrating *2023-01-14, version 2.9.1* I like being able to borrow books easily on my phone and see what libraries have the books to know how long the wait, how many copies there and how many people have them, all of that is very helpful and I appreciate it. On the other side I think the app needs a lot of work, it logs me out a lot and there doesn’t seem to be a method to the madness, it’s just random. For the past day I’ve had to login every time I’ve opened the app and even then it doesn’t load and I can’t search books or see the books I have in my ‘for later’ shelf. Hoping the issue with the server will be resolved soon. ### 3/5 — Why?? *2022-04-15, version 2.7* Love the app. Super easy to use… EXCEPT it logs me out constantly! Sounds like other people have the same issue. Feels like this should be an easy fix, CPL. ### 3/5 — App logs you out if you switch to another app *2022-03-19, version 2.7* You cannot have the app open in the background because it will log you out. Even pulling up the control panel on my iPhone caused me to be logged out. I can’t remember my library card number either, so I can’t log back in now either. ### 2/5 — The app doesn’t seem to have been updated to accommodate the iPhone 12 mini *2021-01-08, version 2.3* I got an iPhone 12 mini 8 days ago and I am still waiting for the app to update. I can see everything on my laptop, but not in my phone. ### 2/5 — Very confusing interface *2020-12-17, version 2.3* Borrowing ebooks or audiobooks requires multiple apps to synchronize, with little instruction on how to make that happen. This is especially opaque with audiobooks. Open the app, and try to guess where you go to download the audiobook you just checked out. 5 clicks to find, non-intuitive naming, and buttons below the fold. Finally! Click on it, it downloads a file in the browser app, but that file has no link to Libby nor syncs with Libby automatically. (That’s 7 clicks, 3 apps so far) ### 4/5 — Receive in-app notifications *2020-12-07, version 2.3* I ry like this app. But it could be even better if it provided notification alerts via badges, sound, etc. I missed the email regarding an item that I had placed on on hold and the hild expired. Now I will have to wait another 3 weeks. ### 2/5 — Missing availability of books *2020-01-09, version 2.1* I use to be able to see if book available at my library or other locations near me This app does not have this so I have to either check at my library first then if not there put a hold on it I rather have the availability back so I can see if other libraries near have it Bring the old app back ### 2/5 — Please restore title availability by branch location! *2019-12-31, version 2.1* It’s hard to imagine a good reason for rolling out a major redesign before designing and implementing all of the heavily used pre-existing features. If you need to show progress on a project to higher-ups, show them an in-house demo; don’t roll out an app that isn’t ready for prime time. I would have preferred to keep the old, functional app! ### 3/5 — Doesn’t Save User Name *2019-12-29, version 2.1* Nice app but I find myself having to always type my username when I log in unlike the login feature on the CPL website. ### 3/5 — ISO call numbers *2019-12-12, version 2.1* Love the upgrade but I wish I could see call numbers and locations of books. I have to go to the website to find that now. Please bring back location and call number info! Without this information the app is almost useless unless you are putting a hold on a book! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — App changed *2025-08-02, version 2.19.0* This app was once easy to access and use, but the format is different now. The cps system is wonderful, but using this app is frustrating. I’m repeatedly logged out, or can’t log in at all. So there goes the great system of requesting books or knowing when to pick up. But it did work, for years and years, so why the current mess?? ### 1/5 — Not opening since 4/2/2024 *2024-04-03, version 2.14.0* Deleted and reinstalled and still will not open ### 1/5 — Why is the app asking for a username and not accepting the card ID? *2022-11-13, version 2.8.0* Why is the app asking for a username and not accepting my card ID? Why did you make this change? I can log in on the desktop website using my library card number and I used to be able to login also on the mbile app with library card number. Now it is asking for a username. There is no username, only library card number. There is no info about creating a username. So now I can’t use the mobile app. Please correct this ### 1/5 — Cannot Create an Account *2022-11-07, version 2.8.0* I have been trouble shooting with Library staff but they don’t know how to fix it. I requested resets for a pin and never received an email. When I finally got my pin I tried to register with the suggested username and I kept getting an error message that the username was incorrect, even though it was what the system suggested and it was to create an account. Seems like a lot of bugs that they haven’t correct and staff doesn’t know how to navigate. ### 1/5 — Example of design without the user in mind *2019-12-08, version 2.1* The app still does not alert you when items are due, overdue or holds available. The new app removed one of the best features, the as ability to tell you which branch had an item. Now it tells you it's available and allows you to place a hold on it. They also do not respond to requests for assistance. Please fix this app. Thank you ### 1/5 — Downgrade in User Experience *2019-12-01, version 2.0.1* This app seems like it was designed without the user experience in mind. The previous version made it very easy to see what locations your book was available in. This version will show you that a book is available, but without a location. It is ok if you just want to put a book on hold and wait until you are told the hold is ready, but if you need to go to the library that day and get a book, the app is useless. ### 1/5 — Latest update, less than satisfactory. *2019-11-20, version 2.0.1* On order and new releases are no longer available on this app. Hopefully this is just a temporary oversight and Will be rectified soon. Having these futures are extremely helpful for the mobility deficient. ### 1/5 — Wishes *2019-10-24, version 1.8.4* It crashes every time I attempt to open “for later”. I love the library. I love the librarians. Fix the app so that it can serve those that love libraries. Places for people to learn. Essential to educate young people. I’m calling you out. So called app developers. Zero stars isn’t an option. Neither is a negative infinite a number. Thanks! Fix your app. You had one job. ### 1/5 — Needs work *2014-05-27, version 1.0.1* This app will not refine search. ### 1/5 — If 0 stars were available... *2014-04-29, version 1.0.1* Not sure where to start...the incoherent layout, limited functionality or the abysmal design. Even something as simple as a Passbook version of the library card is missing. Regardless, CPL, would suggest firing the current developers and starting from scratch, rather than trying to fix this app. Can't believe that after 5 years, we get this piece of junk. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Really excellent app *2021-05-26, version 2.5* Cannot recommend enough. This is the most seamless public library experience I’ve ever had. ### 5/5 — Best Update Ever *2019-11-24, version 2.0.1* I never write app reviews, but I wanted to shout out whoever designed the new update. So clean and organized and easier to put books on hold! ### 5/5 — LOVE the new app design!! *2019-11-21, version 2.0.1* I love the Chicago Public Library. Their app has always been functional and did everything you needed. Even though the previous app version was visually outdated, I was happy to see that there were never any issues with how the app worked. Now with this new redesign I’m in love all over again!! The only request I’d like to make is to have page counts displayed for the books, but that’s probably a big request. Either way thanks CPL! ### 5/5 — Great redesign *2019-11-20, version 2.0.1* Awesome redesign!! Easier to use! ### 5/5 — Super useful *2018-07-08, version 1.8.3* I love being able to keep track of everything I have checked out and renew all right from my phone. It also makes searching for books super easy, and tells you which library the book is at ### 5/5 — Right at your finger tips *2016-02-01, version 1.5* App has everything I need and look for at the library. No more signing into safari to renew books or search for library hours. ### 5/5 — A must have *2016-01-18, version 1.4.1* Fantastic app! A must have for any Chicago public library patron. Works fantastic . Not many people know it's available. ### 5/5 — App is awsome *2014-05-20, version 1.0.1* Best app ### 5/5 — Nice upgrade *2014-05-02, version 1.0.1* Love this app, so much better than the very simplistic app they had for non-iPhones. The 'My CPL' tab alone makes the app worth a download. ### 4/5 — pretty sweet! *2025-01-03, version 2.17.1* as someone who mainly just borrows physical books and doesn't use audiobooks through here, it's a pretty good app given that it's made by a government agency. it has a lot of sweet features and i personally think it at least goes beyond the bare minimum. i'm sure there's better library apps but from my experience i love it. visit your local public library! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-06.*