Taliah Abdullah

Board of Trustees Announces Appointment of New Library Executive Director

The Urbana Free Library Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Taliah Abdullah as the next Executive Director of The Urbana Free Library. Taliah, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library in Flint, MI, is a native of Champaign-Urbana.  

Library Board President Dan Urban told the News-Gazette that Taliah “has a wealth of experience in a number of positions across the country" and he expects she will be “a very good fit” with the Library.

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Giant Desk Concert

Join The Urbana Free Library Foundation for an unforgettable evening dedicated to supporting The Urbana Free Library. We'll say goodbye to our current circulation area and celebrate the upgrades coming to our space this fall. Plus, we'll honor long-time donor and Foundation partner Ann Harden for her many contributions to the Library, including the highly-anticipated new Welcome Desk in honor of Ann & Kermit Harden.

The Urbana Free Library Foundation 2024 Annual Impact Report

The Urbana Free Library Foundation is pleased to announce the publication of its 2024 Annual Impact Report. The report highlights the many ways in which donor support has strengthened the Library’s services, expanded programs, refreshed spaces, and enriched our community over the past year.

We invite you to explore the report and see the impact of the Urbana community’s generosity. Your contributions have made a meaningful difference, and the Foundation and the Library are grateful for your continued support.

Read & Ride

National Library Week 2025 Celebration

Celebrate National Library Week with us! Enjoy multiple exciting events during the week of April 6–12, 2025. Library events are free and open to everyone.

During National Library Week (April 6–12), you can ride MTD for free when you show your Champaign Public Library or Urbana Free Library card. Enjoy relaxing on your next trip around town when you “Read + Ride with MTD.”

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Lost in Time: 150th Anniversary Escape Room

Calling all C-U Residents: Escape the past and get back to the present before time runs out!  

The Urbana Free Library is happy to announce that it will host “LOST IN TIME: 150th Anniversary Escape Room” in support of the Library’s 150th Anniversary celebrations.  

The Urbana Free Library

Share Your Library Story!

Has the Library positively impacted your life? Tell us about it!

The Urbana Free Library's mission is to encourage learning and enrich lives by providing access to diverse resources and programs. By sharing your Library experience, you have the power to inspire others and change lives. We want to hear from you!

Need some inspiration? Consider these questions:

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The Urbana Free Library Celebrates 150 Years of Serving the Community With a Birthday Party, Reading Programs, and More

The Urbana Free Library will celebrate its 150th anniversary for a full year, starting with a 150th Birthday Party on June 15, 2024 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. All members of the Champaign-Urbana community are welcome and encouraged to attend this free all-ages event. The Library will continue celebrating with programs through June 30, 2025, including historical talks, crafts for all ages, a scavenger hunt, and more.

Archives Assistant – Hourly

Do you want to work where you can enrich the lives of the people in your community? The Urbana Free Library seeks a service-oriented, self-motivated individual to join the Champaign County Historical Archives team. Provide general and specialized reference, retrieve archival records for patrons, and perform other duties at the CCHA reference desk. Participate in programming and outreach. Assist in processing archival and other Library materials. Must have training or experience in reference. Experience in archives and special collections or in library public service preferred.

Holiday Book Sale

The Friends of the Library Holiday Book Sale

Thursday • 5:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Preview night is for members only. Check your mailing label for your renewal date. You may join or renew online at urbanafreelibrary.org/about-us/friends or pay for a $10 annual membership at the door. Your membership fee allows you to attend three sale preview nights (spring, summer, and fall book sales). (No electronic devices for scanning will be permitted)

Friday • 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Regular prices. Most books priced at $1.00 or less. No admission fee.

Saturday • 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Early Voting for the 2022 General Election

The Urbana Free Library's MacFarlane-Hood Reading Room will serve as an early voting location for the 2022 General Election. Stop by from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, November 1-7 to cast your vote!

 

Circulation Clerk/Information Assistant – Full-time

Do you want to work where you can enrich the lives of the people in your community? The Urbana Free Library seeks a service-oriented, self-motivated individual to join the Library’s team. Issue library cards, check materials in and out, and perform other duties at the Circulation Desk. Provide routine reference and reader's advisory service to patrons and assist them with catalog, Internet, computer software, fax, and copier questions at other public service desks. Participate in outreach and programming.