Americans have been celebrating Independence Day in some form or another since immediately after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  During the summer of 1776 some colonists celebrated the birth of independence by holding mock funerals for King George III, as a way of symbolizing the end of the monarchy’s hold on America and the triumph of liberty. Festivities including concerts, bonfires, parades along with the firing of cannons and muskets usually accompanied public readings of the Declaration of Independence. Read more about Independence Day

 
During the 5th century BC, ancient Greeks ate snow mixed with honey and fruit in the markets of Athens. The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, encouraged his Ancient Greek patients to eat ice "as it livens the life-juices and increases the well-being”. Read more about Ice Cream Dream

Ever wanted to use a metal detector? Want to check your home for radon? Check out the new additions to the productivity collection today!

  Read more about New Additions to the Productivity Collection!

Have you noticed that the lot across Green Street from the library has gotten greener? That’s due to two new developments: The partnership between Cunningham Township and The Urbana Free Library to create a community garden, and the reopening of the Urbana Free Library Bee and Butterfly garden. Read more about New Gardens at The Urbana Free Library and Cunningham Township Supervisors Office

The weather’s (finally) getting hotter, the sun’s coming out, and school is letting out for the summer. Soon, the streets will be full of the sounds of children playing outside and dogs barking. Families will be leaving town for a family vacation. And what better way to spend the time in the car than listen to an audiobook together? If you want something the whole family will enjoy, try one of these: Read more about Roadtripping? Try these audiobooks!

Happy 2018 National Library Week!

The first National Library Week was celebrated in 1958 with a theme of “Wake Up and Read!" As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of National Library Week it seems fitting that this year the theme is “Libraries Lead.” Read more about Happy National Library Week!

                       Read more about Magical Novellas

Do you have a passion for poetry?  The 14th Annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition is now open.  All contestants must be Illinois residents and 18 years of age or over. 

Winners receive the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award, and there is a cash prize for first, second, and third place.  Entry forms, eligibility requirements, and further information can be found at: http://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/center_for_the_book/.

Start writing!

Lauren C. Read more about Enter the 14th Annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition

To celebrate Jazz as an American art form, the Smithsonian Institute has designated April as Jazz Appreciation Month. The Urbana Free Library takes pride in holding a broad and deep collection of jazz, as well as rock, pop, blues, folk, country, classical, international, and soundtrack (music and show) genres. To help you dig deeper into this extensive collection, try these specific searches: Read more about Jazz Appreciation Month at The Urbana Free Library

I’ve seen a sharp increase in the sassiness of cookbooks coming through the Library. Read more about Eat Some Sass