In This Issue of This Month at
The Urbana Free Library

Children’s Summer Reading Program
Teen Summer Reading Program
The Urbana Free Library Challenges Teens to Get Caught Reading!
From the Friends of The Urbana Free Library: Book Donations 101
Urbana's Market at the Square
Thank You!
Local History Online

Children’s Summer Reading Program

Are you hungry for a good time? You’re invited to join us on a summer-long picnic, filled with delicious books, yummy programs, and tasty prizes when you sign up for Reading is a Picnic, the Children’s Summer Reading Program.

The Nibbler Read-To-Me Club is for children who have not yet learned to read. Complete the activities on your picnic reading log to earn a free book.

The Ravenous Readers Club is for children through fifth grade who want to “devour” their own books. Read 10 books, write the titles on your reading log, and you’ll be rewarded with a free book. But don’t stop reading—enter the X-Treme Readers Bonus. For each additional 5 books read, you can enter our end-of-summer prize raffle to win coupons and prizes from local businesses.

During the summer, the library will host a wide range of free programs and activities for children and their families that encourage and support a love of reading.

Have some Fun in the Sun with popular musician, David Howie.
Walk the plank at our Ahoy, Matey! pirate bash.
Bring your favorite teddy bear to a Teddy Bear’s Picnic.
Join us outside on Cherry Alley for a Bubble Blast and Snazzy Sidewalk Chalk.
Show your American spirit when you Gussy Up Your Bike for Independence Day.
Churn butter when the Museum of the Grand Prairie comes for a hands-on Cooking Up History program.
HISSSS! along with snakes and turtles when the Anita Purves Nature Center share their reptiles with us.

Teen Summer Reading Program

Find out why Reading is So Delicious @ The Urbana Free Library by signing up for the Teen Summer Reading Program: read great books of your choice (including graphic novels and Manga), watch recommended films, listen to audiobooks, read aloud to a younger sibling, write a short book review, or come to some of our teen programs. The more you participate, the better your chances of winning our weekly raffle! Winners get their choice of $10 gift cards to places like Art Mart, iTunes, Art Coop, Barnes & Noble, and more. And everyone who reads six books can choose a free book from our cart of popular teen titles. Teens who have completed grade 6 through seniors who have completed grade 12 can participate.

On Thursday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., join us at the kick off for the Teen Summer Reading Program and show off your artistic talent at our Chalk Walk. We’ll provide lunch and the chalk – just wear clothes to get dirty in and bring some friends!

Other activities and events during the summer include the Manga Mini-Con and Yoga for Teens. And don’t forget our monthly programs, like Second Saturday Video Gaming, Art Day @ Your Library, and Urbana Otaku Manga Club.

Registration for Reading is a Picnic and Reading is So Delicious begins on Monday, May 21. For more information about the library’s summer reading programs, call Children’s Services (367-4069) or Teen Services (367-4405). For dates and times of library programs and events, visit the library’s e-calendar at urbanafreelibrary.org. Book prizes for the summer reading program are funded by the Friends of The Urbana Free Library.

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The Urbana Free Library Challenges Teens to
Get Caught Reading!

To celebrate national Get Caught Reading month, The Urbana Free Library is challenging teens to get caught reading...in the library!

Every time teens get caught reading in May, they earn a raffle ticket for a weekly prize drawing—so get busy reading!

For more information about Get Caught Reading, call Teen Services at 367-4405.

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From the Friends of The Urbana Free Library:
Book Donations 101

Are you ready to re-purpose some of your books? The Friends hold three used book sales every year and stock the book sale shelves at the library cafe year-round. But what kind of books do the Friends want? As we approach the end of the university semester and spring cleaning commences, here are some guidelines:

Donations are accepted throughout the year, during the hours the library is open. They are especially well received soon after the tri-annual book sales when there’s still “breathing room” in their work space.
Please bring your donations to the library in non-returnable boxes or bags— unfortunately, library staff cannot unpack your boxes and return them to you.
We love receiving donations of gently used books that are in good condition. We also accept commercially produced CDs and DVDs, encyclopedias published before 1930 or after 1990, and text books if they are newer than five years, or old enough to be considered vintage.
It’s a sad tale but true that some materials simply do not sell, including outdated computer manuals, magazines, catalogs, professional journals, condensed books, books involving statutes, regulations, or taxes, travel guides older than two years, and items without their covers. We also cannot accept cards, calendars, games, or puzzles.
We ask that you recycle the following—items that are damaged, moldy, damp, or infested, computer software, VHS and audiocassette tapes, homemade CDs or DVDs, or leftovers from another organization’s sale.

The Friends next book sale will be in August during the Urbana Sweet Corn Festival. We hope to see you there! If you’re not yet a member of the Friends, pick up an application next time you’re at the library. Your $10 annual membership gives you admission to the members’ presale for all book sales and you’ll receive the satisfaction of supporting an organization that has helped to support the library for over 25 years.

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Every Saturday • 7:00 a.m. - Noon
May 5 - November 3
Corner of Illinois & Vine Streets

As one of the City’s long-standing institutions, the Market at the Square is the place to select locally-raised foods, browse through the art and craft vendor booths, and meet-up with your neighbors. In 2011, the Market showcased over 150 registered vendors, with patron attendance reaching into the thousands each weekend.

Continuing a long-standing summer tradition, library staff will meet and greet with the community at the Market at the Square on the first Saturday of each month through October. Stop by our table from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. for information about library services and programs or listen to a story on our Magic Reading Carpet. And don’t forget to pick up a free library balloon—we think you’ll find them fashion-friendly and fun!

After you visit the Market at the Square, stop by the library and indulge in a specialty drink at The Urbana Free Library Cafe and Friends Book Shop. Remember—when you support the cafe, you support the library.

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Thank You!

With the library’s concert series coming to a close for the season, we’d like to send a sincere thank- you to those who generously sponsored these and other special events.

With an impressive line-up of local talent, UFLive! concerts take place on the third Sunday of most months and are sponsored by The Urbana Free Library Foundation. Past performers have included New Orleans Jazz Machine, Don’t Ask, and the Traditional Jazz Orchestra.
Prairie Breezes concerts take place on the second Friday of most months and are sponsored by Peggy and Bob Podlasek in memory of Greg Bliss. The concerts are family-friendly and have featured the talents of the Mean Lids, the Arcadia Chamber Players, and the Viper.
The 2012 Fairy Tale Ball was generously sponsored by
Fred Schlipf and Diane Hillard. This year, the event drew
over 1,400 fairy tale fans celebrating the magic that can be
found in stories based on classic literature and folktales.
The Friends of The Urbana Free Library sponsored the Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion concert in April 2012. Folk royalty aside, this internationally favorite musical duo has a patented country-rock sound that is appealing to the music lovers of Champaign-Urbana.

The library touches everyone. From toddlers to teens, job seekers to retirees, leisure readers to avid media buffs—the library’s books, movies, technology, programming, local history, and community outreach have made a difference. But the library’s worthwhile projects always exceed its available funds.

If you would like to help the library continue to make a difference, fill in the donation form on the back page of this issue of the library newsletter. If you prefer to support a specific project or have questions, please call the library administration office at 367-4058 or email Associate Director, Kathy Wicks at kwicks@tufl.info.

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Welcome to Local History Online, a new catalog that provides single-search access to local history and genealogy resources at the Champaign County Historical Archives of The Urbana Free Library. The catalog holdings include books and journals, images, Champaign County records (including birth, marriage, naturalization, death, and circuit court case files), City of Urbana records, newspapers/obituaries, directories and yearbooks, maps, oral histories, records of local organizations and businesses, and personal collections.

Want to know more? You can visit the Champaign County Historical Archives on the second floor of the library, or online at urbanafreelibrary.org/archives/. You also can contact us by phone at 217-367-4025, or email at archives@tufl.info.