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Tag Bag Sale

February Sale Events This month, the "buy 1, get 1" sale for Friends Members, on Feb. 11 and 12, includes specially priced books for half price. On Feb. 25 and 26, just $1 lets you fill a bag with items tagged with a certain color (to be announced at the sale). Bring your own grocery-sized bags.  Read more about our used book store, and membership in the Library Friends.

Front of Main Library

See our glowing children’s desk, colorful TeenSpace, quiet rooms, Latte Da! Cafe, FriendShop used book store, and light-filled open spaces. The library, at 200 W. Green St., is open weekdays 9-9; Saturdays 9-6; Sundays 1-6. read more

Douglass Branch Library

Our Douglass Branch Library, on the edge of Douglass Park, is open Monday to Thursday 10 am to 8 pm; Fridays 10 am to 6 pm; and Saturdays 10 am to 4 pm. Stop in for a great selection of books, DVDs, and CDs, plus friendly service, free Internet access, and public meeting space.

Library News

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New CU Catalog Is Here

The new CU Catalog is where you access your library account and find items from our library and The Urbana Free Library.  Read more about its new features.

Middle School Mentoring Program

Project Next Generation is a free afterschool mentoring program for middle school students at the Douglass Branch Library. Participants improve their problem-solving and communication skills through creative projects using current technologies. The spring session meets from 3:30 to 5:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 14 to Apr. 19. To register or learn more, call 403-2090. This program is sponsored by the Illinois State Library.

Book a Librarian: One-on-One Help

Let us give you our undivided attention! Champaign cardholders can reserve up to 30 minutes of personalized help from our staff. We’ll show you how to use the new CU Catalog, Microsoft Word, e-mail, or Facebook; download eBooks; use online tools such as Mango Languages; do a job search; or use a scanner. Sign up at the “Ask Here” desk on the second floor, or call 403-2070.

Free Tax Assistance

The AARP is offering tax assistance Feb. 6 to Apr. 14 at the Stevick Senior Center, 48 E. Main St., Champaign. The services are free to taxpayers with low and moderate incomes, with special attention to those 60 and older. The hours are 9-4, M-F, and 9-1 on Saturdays. No appointment necessary. Read more

High Cross Road Band

High Cross Road Band

The High Cross Road Band’s tight vocal harmonies and outstanding instrumentals have earned awards at bluegrass festivals from Missouri to Ohio. This local quartet includes Randy and Ken McCabe on guitar and bass, Walter Vispoel on mandolin, and Doug Covington on banjo. Hear them at the next In Concert at CPL event on Sun., Feb. 12, at 2 pm. This series is sponsored by the Library Friends.

More Than a Month, movie still

Black History: “More Than a Month”

February’s Community Cinema documentary follows filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman on a tongue-in-cheek campaign to end Black History Month, exploring the complexity and contradictions of relegating a group’s entire history to a single month. Join us on Tue., Feb. 7, at 6 pm. A locally focused discussion will follow. Read more.

Scene from the Broadway show FELA!

FELA! The Man Who Inspired the Broadway Show

Lifelong Learners @ the Library offers free talks on a variety of topics. Join us on Wed., Feb. 8, to learn about Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and activist whose life became a Tony Award-winning musical. Our speaker will be Jessica Hammie, an art history instructor who coordinates the College for Kids program at Parkland College. Come for coffee at 9:30 am; the program starts at 10 am.