On May 11, 2024, patrons had the opportunity to meet live salamanders and a turtle while learning all about these wonderful animals.
Summer Reading 2024
Read, Renew, Repeat
May 13 - August 31
Our all-ages Summer Reading program is now in session! Children, teens, and adults can track their reading and summer activities online with Beanstack. Children and teens may also use a reading log available at the Library.
Meet reading and summer activity goals to earn prizes such as free books, items from our treasure chest, or a vinyl water bottle sticker!
Celebrate the Library's 150th Anniversary with this year-long reading challenge! Children, teens, and adults can track their reading online with Beanstack.
Children and teens can choose a special anniversary prize for reading 750 and 1500 minutes.
Adults can read 15 books to win a special 150th Anniversary tote bag, and read 50 books to win a special 150th Anniversary lapel pin.
Check out the great events and programs happening at the Library this month!
The Urbana Free Library Turns 150!
Come celebrate the Libary's 150th birthday with us! This all-ages event will feature historical games from the Museum of the Grand Prairie, crafts, music from 1874 to the present, and (of course) cake!
Date: Saturday, June 15 Time: 1:00pm - 3:00pm Address: 210 W. Green St. Urbana, Illinois 61801
"Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-reum Reviewed by Katherine Majewski, The Urbana Free Library
It might be a little bit meta, but many readers (myself included) have an appetite for stories about bookstores and the casts of characters that inhabit them. The South Korean bestseller Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, written by Hwang Bo-reum, has recently been translated into English and is a thoughtful slice-of-life story that also serves as a tribute to the power of books and community.
When the book opens, Yeongju has recently opened a bookshop in the neighborhood of...
Over the past four months, I have dedicated my time as an Archives Apprentice at the Champaign County Historical Archives to researching and creating a digital exhibit on LGBTQ+ spaces in Champaign County. I found that Champaign County has a long history as a place where LGBTQ+ people have gathered and fostered community, and it was a leading city in Illinois to establish anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation.
There are challenges to researching LGBTQ+ history due to discrimination and criminalization. Until 1971, it was illegal in Champaign and Urbana to...
With Novelist Plus, you can discover new books or authors that are similar to ones you already enjoy, or search for new books to read based on details like character, tone, storyline, and more. Young readers can discover new books on Novelist K-8 Plus.
For over 150 years, The Urbana Free Library has benefited from the generosity of the Urbana community and library-lovers across the country.
You can help sustain the success and longevity of the Library by donating to The Urbana Free Library Foundation, an independent nonprofit established to support The Urbana Free Library.
No gift is too small. Show your support with a one-time or recurring donation:
The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and donations are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent allowed by law. The Foundation is managed by a volunteer Board of Directors and is governed by the Bylaws of The Urbana Free Library Foundation.
