It’s a hassle to own a car in the city. Parking, gas, insurance, repairs, and traffic—five great reasons not to! But what if you need to get to Target once a month, or want to take a trip to IKEA? What if you need to pick up a futon you scored on Craigslist, or visit a friend in the 'burbs?

You should consider I-Go!
http://www.igocars.org/

DePaul students, faculty, and staff can join I-Go for only $25.
http://discounts.depaul.edu/travel/carsharing.html

I’ve lived car-free in Chicago for eight years, and was thrilled to discover I-Go a few years back.  Now anytime I need car, I go online and reserve one for as few or as many hours as I need.  Some trips—the grocery store, the laundromat—take only a few hours, and cost relatively little; visiting family in the suburbs is more costly, but I generally reserve an “all-day” vehicle, which is billed at a lower flat rate instead of  by the hour. Best of all, the cost of an I-Go rental includes insurance, gas, maintenance, and 24 hour emergency assistance.

There are three cars within easy walking distance of DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, and many more on the north side of the city. You can find dozens of cars near the Loop Campus, too. The I-Go web site lists all car locations (http://www.igocars.org/locations), and information about which kinds of cars they offer.

Looking for a new novel to read for fun? Need a good movie to watch this weekend? Want to check out a local museum?

You can satisfy all these cravings for free with a Chicago Public Library card.
 
The Chicago Public Library (http://www.chipublib.org/) has a huge collection of books, films, and music held across the city at dozens of different locations. Luckily, you can go online and use the Chicago Public Library catalog to request items be held for you at the location of your choice. The closest branch to the Lincoln Park Campus is only two blocks west of the Fullerton el stop; if you live elsewhere, the web site has a map that lets you find a nearby outpost.

On the Chicago Public Library web site, you can access some databases we don’t offer at DePaul. Looking for a good book to read? Try Novelist. Practicing for a test like the MCAT or GRE? Check out the LearningExpress Library.  Need an introduction to life in another country? CultureGrams may be for you. The Chicago Public Library also has full-text articles from a wide range of Chicago newspapers—although don’t forget the DePaul Library does, too!

The Chicago Public Library also has some unique and often overlooked cultural programs. You can get passes to local museums, or lawn tickets to Ravinia, although both are subject to availability. They also have hundreds of book groups, readings, and other events over the course of the year.

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to love the Chicago Public Library. Don’t miss out on the chance to take advantage of this free and fabulous resource!

If you live in Chicago, all you need to get a library card is proof that you are a resident. If you don’t have an ID with your Chicago address on it (such as a current driver’s license), you can combine a picture ID with a recent letter or bill addressed to your residence. Living in the dorms? Student Housing can issue you a document proving your Chicago residency. If you’re a commuter, the Chicago Public Library also has agreements with dozens of Illinois libraries that let members of those libraries also get a card in the city.