Background Basics
Hibbard Elementary School is in the diverse Albany Park Community of Chicago. Our poverty level is 88% and most of our students are English Learners. Nine years ago, our school librarian left for another district based on cuts to many Chicago Public School libraries. Our then-principal couldn’t afford to staff the position with an outside hire, so the space became a catch-all for after-school programs, testing, meetings, and storage. Seven years later, it was in shambles.