The Urbana Free Library — Restaurant in Urbana

Pros: -nice historic building -lots of free community events -elevator for those who need it -the decision to remove most late fees (unless losing items or not returning for a long time) reduces the pressure to speed up and try to finish materials before actually done with them -free puzzle exchange in front entrance is really nice idea -the battery recycling drop off is nice to have as a place for community to recycle batteries -the reading programs are nice and fun to earn free books -the hold shelf is nice to be able to request items ahead of time and have them ready when in a hurry -nice selection of books and DVDs -The Library of Things is a cool resource to be able to check out non-book items; I checked out a VCR to DVD converter machine and was able to convert a video of my grandparents onto DVD as the only film or video I have to be able to watch any memories -free seed exchange for seeds for plants on the 2nd floor of the library. Amazing community resource! -computers and printing services -beautiful historical archive on the 2nd floor -nice children’s area in the basement

Cons: -metered parking; this may be a deterrent for some people from being able to fully utilize the resources of the library -I’m wondering if you could add a recycling can by the front entrance to encourage water bottles etc to not be thrown in the trash by library patrons entering or leaving...

When I describe the virtues of the city in which I have lived for 31 years, I emphasize a few very important items that make living in Urbana especially blessed (in no particular order): the nearness of several 24-hour supermarkets, so that no matter where you live, if necessary you can walk to one of them within a half hour (usually much less); Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, one of the premier venues in the country; Peter B's Automotive (having an excellent, impeccably honest mechanic makes living here very easy); the delicious and healthy tap water, coming from the Mahomet Aquifer; the nearness of World Harvest and the Common Ground Co-op, where we can purchase virtually anything we want from all parts of the world as well as healthy, inexpensive organic foods; and the Urbana Free Library.

Our library is wonderful. The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly; there are resources for more needs than most of us can imagine; and it's physically charming. We rented before we purchased a home back in 1984, and one of the reasons we bought where we did was that the library was within walking distance for our kids. Our children are all grown and live all across the country--but we still value very much our nearness to the Urbana Free Library, whose services we...

I forget about how despicable this library's poor service truly is, until I accidentally try to use it again. You spend your change on parking, then spend large amounts of time trying to print off important documents, and then are told that you cannot get your printed documents because this library doesn't offer the most basic customer service. You can't use a card, you can't get change. You can't even get change from the private enterprise selling coffee! You are forced to go to some external location to try to muster up the smallest amount of cash so you can get your print jobs, AFTER spending your cash on parking. They justify selling products at this library, without even allowing you a means to hand over your money to them, simply wasting your time and leading to unwanted donations to the Urbana parking extortion system. NEVER AGAIN. Thank GOD Champaign actually serves its residents with a reasonable, sane library that is fair to the people who walk...