The Gwendolyn Brooks Illinois State Library is located adjacent to the Illinois State Capitol. The library has security and a magnetometer, which can be inconvenient for visitors. Inside, the library is a large open space, and finding a comfortable study carrel can be a challenge. The library also has limited power outlets, making it difficult to charge electronic devices. Overall, the library has been described as a disappointment compared to other libraries. However, the library is named after the renowned poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1950, was named the United States Poet Laureate for 1985 to 1986, and was the first African American woman inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1976. Brooks was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and lived there for most of her life.
