The Urbana Free Library

The Urbana Free Library The Urbana Free Library nurtures growth by sparking curiosity and fostering a sense of belonging. Have a question? Call us at 217-367-4057.
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Back to school season is upon us! 🎒 The Champaign County Historical Archives holds a large collection of material relate...
08/14/2026

Back to school season is upon us! 🎒 The Champaign County Historical Archives holds a large collection of material related to local schools. Some of these items come in the form of oral histories. Archives staff make these recordings accessible through their catalog, Local History Online. Topics range from one-room schools, to recollections from students and teachers! archivescatalog.urbanafreelibrary.org/polaris/

📸: Interior of Dobson School, East Bend Township, 1938

Black and white photograph, 7.5” x 9.5”

Clara Springer, teacher.

Dobson School (East Bend Township) Photographs Envelope, Champaign County Historical Archives Photograph Collection.

All Archives images are provided for personal and educational use. Users planning to reproduce/publish images in books, articles, exhibits, videos, electronic transmission or other media must request permission. For more information please contact the Champaign County Historical Archives at The Urbana Free Library: [email protected]

Need a place for a small or large group to meet? Host your next meeting or study session at The Urbana Free Library! Res...
08/13/2026

Need a place for a small or large group to meet? Host your next meeting or study session at The Urbana Free Library! Reserve the Lewis Auditorium, the Satterthwaite Conference Room, or one of our study rooms on the second floor. Make a reservation on our website at urbanafreelibrary.org/using-library/services/meeting-rooms or call 217-367-4057 to reserve a room.

This week at the Library... 🌳🌙Monday, August 10• Project READ - Drop-In Tutoring for Adults | 10:00 am | For adults• Sen...
08/12/2026

This week at the Library... 🌳🌙

Monday, August 10
• Project READ - Drop-In Tutoring for Adults | 10:00 am | For adults
• Senior Movies & Sharing | 1:00 pm | For adults

Tuesday, August 11
• Books and Bounces! | 10:15 am | For children
• Champaign County Health Care Consumers | 11:00 am | For adults
• Stitching Circle | 5:00 pm | For adults
• The Family History Guide (Virtual) | 7:00 pm | For adults

Wednesday, August 12
• The Big Grove Then and Now - A Presentation by Professor Emeritus Stewart Berlocher | 6:00 pm | For adults and teens

Thursday, August 13
• Crafty Tales | 10:15 am | For children

Saturday, August 15
• Saturday Story Time - Moon and Stars | 11:00 am | For children
• Personalize Your School Supplies | 2:00 pm | For all ages

Browse the full event calendar on the Library's website at https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/events?d=2026-08-06&v=grid&r=thismonth

The Urbana Free Library extends its deepest sympathies on the passing of Elaine T. Hershbarger, who dedicated 41 years t...
08/06/2026

The Urbana Free Library extends its deepest sympathies on the passing of Elaine T. Hershbarger, who dedicated 41 years to serving our community as an adult services librarian at TUFL. After retirement, Elaine continued to give her time through the Friends of The Urbana Free Library, assisting with book donations. Her legacy of service will be fondly remembered.

08/06/2026

40 North 88 West and Urbana Arts and Culture Program are delivering a Saturday of fun before summer break comes to an end!

Celebrate back-to-school at PostMark Urbana- August 2026 on Saturday, August 8 from 2-4pm on the front lawn at The Urbana Free Library. The first 50 school-aged youth who attend will get a free bag of assorted school supplies courtesy of Busey Bank (2-4pm) and free Kona Ice courtesy of 40 North 88 West and Urbana Arts and Culture Program (2:30-3:30pm)!

Stop by the 40 North 88 West table to pick up your map and scavenger hunt sheet. Find all of the GIANT school supplies for your chance to win $100 in prizes for the back-to-school scavenger hunt inside downtown businesses! At the library, listen to music from DJ mingram, experience bubble fun, and participate in games and crafts with Urbana Park District’s Urvana Mobile Recreation Unit!

08/06/2026

Haven’t you heard? You can do that in that app! We have a BRAND NEW app with more features available to use when you can’t visit us in-person! 📱 Download The Urbana Free Library App in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store today and explore the new layout!

August brings back to school and the last days of summer! ☀️🌽 Browse our new book displays for this month on every floor...
08/05/2026

August brings back to school and the last days of summer! ☀️🌽 Browse our new book displays for this month on every floor of the Library with themes for all different ages!

Can you believe Summer Reading is officially over? 😮 Thank you to everyone who signed up and joined us for the End of Su...
08/04/2026

Can you believe Summer Reading is officially over? 😮 Thank you to everyone who signed up and joined us for the End of Summer Reading Party last week! Make sure to pick up your prizes if you completed your challenges! 📚 Pick up your reading prize at the Library or call 217-367-4057 to schedule a curbside pickup.

The 2026 Summer Reading program was generously supported by the Friends of The Urbana Free Library and Busey Bank.

This week at The Urbana Free Library 📚🐢Monday, August 3• Project READ - Drop-In Tutoring for Adults | 10:00 am | For adu...
08/03/2026

This week at The Urbana Free Library 📚🐢

Monday, August 3
• Project READ - Drop-In Tutoring for Adults | 10:00 am | For adults
• Quiet Book Club | 6:00 pm | For all ages

Tuesday, August 4
• Books and Bounces! | 10:15 am | For children
• Craft Happy Hour: Pipe Cleaner Turtles | 6:00 pm | For adults

Thursday, August 6
• Crafty Tales | 10:15 am | For children
• Conversation Café @ Health and Wellness Center | 5:30 pm | For all ages

Saturday, August 8
• Conversation Café | 11:00 am | For all ages
• August PostMark Urbana | 2:00 pm | For all ages

Teen Open Lab is this week, Tuesday - Thursday, at 3:00 pm.

Check out the full event calendar on our website at https://urbanafreelibrary.libnet.info/events?d=2026-08-01&v=grid&r=range

Address

Urbana, IL

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 8pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 10am - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 1pm - 6pm

Telephone

+12173674057

Website

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