Most everyone has heard of "cringe humor"--the kind of awkward humor that makes you shudder and want to be somewhere else.  The best way I can describe "Horns" might therefore be "cringe horror".  You'll shudder and want to get away, but the horrific ideas and scenarios put forward will hold you captive even when you aren't reading... Read more about Horns - by Joe Hill

The National Park Service is celebrating its 100 birthday this summer, on August 25th, and there have been several books published recently to mark the occasion. I wish I could take part in the celebration by visiting one of our 59 National Parks this year, but it doesn't look like that will happen. I can, however, get a taste of the beauty and power of the diverse American landscapes our National Parks encompass with a little armchair travel!  Read more about Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of America's National Parks

Stories of immigrants come to life through the lenses of documentary and feature filmmakers. Read more about Immigration on Film

You are invited to come out to Carle Park at 2:00 on the first Saturday afternoon of every summer month (June 4, July 2 and August 6) for the library's Read in the Park! Read more about Read in the Park! with Urbana Free Library

This week a documentary film changed my perception of the banjo forever. The film? Béla Fleck’s How to Write a Banjo Concerto. I always thought of the banjo as an odd-looking, although fun to listen to, device esteemed by country musicians. Read more about Banjo!

Disrupted: My Mi Read more about Fake Steve Jobs Joins a Start-up

I recently read two excellent new graphic memoirs that combine text and striking artwork to depict the authors' lives as young girls.  Read more about New graphic memoirs

Celebrate the life of Prince Rogers Nelson with the Artist’s recordings on vinyl LP

Art Official Age Read more about Prince (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016)

This wee Read more about Harriet Tubman on the $20 Bill!

The Urbana Free Library offers an intriguing collection of books printed in larger font sizes. Enjoy recent bestsellers, old classic friends, selected teen titles, and a broad variety of fiction and non-fiction titles. Read more about Reading LARGE