The Urbana Free Library

We love our library. Lately we cancelled many streaming services and get movies and documentaries from here. We also used their notary services and popped in for events. The remodel is awesome, loving the tall windows, the architecture, and all their offerings (puzzle swaps, magazines, and many other resources). Thank you! 🙏🙏🙏🥰

Urbana Free Library is an impressive public library as you might expect in a college town. As I have often said, you can tell a lot about a community by its "public" infrastructure (libraries, parks, public transportation, etc.) In this regard, Urbana comes up roses. The library is comfortable and has a modern interior and a good book collection for kids, as well Studious and Silent Sinay says: As this is a college town, finding free parking is a bit of an issue. It may be the free library but I could do with more free parking.

The library is fairly large and modern. It offers a good variety of books, especially in the mystery genre, including several authors that I personally enjoy. The facilities are well maintained. The restrooms are clean, and there are online catalog computers that make it easy to search for books. I also noticed a study room available. The staff is friendly and helpful, they helped my friend with her library account. Overall, the place is comfortable and suitable for both reading and studying.

Pros: -nice historic building -lots of free community events -elevator for those who need it -the decision to remove most late fees (unless losing items or not returning for a long time) reduces the pressure to speed up and try to finish materials before actually done with them -free puzzle exchange in front entrance is really nice idea -the battery recycling drop off is nice to have as a place for community to recycle batteries -the reading programs are nice and fun to earn free books -the hold shelf is nice to be able to request items ahead of time and have them ready when in a hurry -nice selection of books and DVDs -The Library of Things is a cool resource to be able to check out non-book items; I checked out a VCR to DVD converter machine and was able to convert a video of my grandparents onto DVD as the only film or video I have to be able to watch any memories -free seed exchange for seeds for plants on the 2nd floor of the library. Amazing community resource! -computers and printing services -beautiful historical archive on the 2nd floor -nice children’s area in the basement Cons: -metered parking; this may be a deterrent for some people from being able to fully utilize the resources of the library -I’m wondering if you could add a recycling can by the front entrance to encourage water bottles etc to not be thrown in the trash by library patrons entering or leaving the building

The idea of seed exchange is COOL! Nice place do reading something. Also provide many events for local communities.