What if Champaign doesn’t own the item I need?

If what you need is listed in the catalog but belongs to another library in the Lincoln Trail Libraries System, you can request it. It will be delivered here, or to whichever library location you prefer.

If you need a relatively recent item that isn‘t listed in the catalog, complete a purchase request PDF form and we‘ll consider buying it.

If you need an older item that isn‘t listed in our catalog, we‘ll see if we can get it from another library. Call 217/403–2070 or e-mail librarian@champaign.org. We call this an interlibrary loan. Most items from other libraries arrive within one week.

How many DVDs can I have? How many CDs?

We like to let you check out a lot, but still leave plenty for everyone else.

You can have a total of 20 DVDs and videos checked out at a time. That means if you already have 15 DVDs at home, you can get 5 more today. Please note that it’s 20 DVDs and videos total, not 20 DVDs plus 20 videos.

Our limit for CDs is also 20.

A DVD I checked out wouldn’t work. Can you check them when they’re returned?

Unfortunately, we don’t have the staff time it would take to look over every DVD as it is returned. We rely on patrons to tell us they’ve had a problem with a specific DVD; that gives us a chance to inspect it and see if it can be cleaned and repaired. Please return troublesome DVDs at the Checkout Desk and let our staff know.

Why do you have so many abridged audiobooks?

About 90 percent of the audiobooks we bought last year are unabridged. The abridged versions may be left on the shelves more often, giving the impression that we own a greater proportion of them than we do. However, some patrons do prefer the abridged versions. We like to serve all kinds of tastes.

If you want to know whether a particular audiobook is abridged, please check with our staff.

What is the Rental Collection?

The Main Library has additional copies of the most popular new books, movies, and audiobooks in a Rental Collection. They can be checked out for $1 per week.

Rental items are extra copies we couldn’t afford otherwise; we also have free copies of everything that’s in the Rental Collection. Rental fees are used only to buy new rental items. Income from our quarterly sales of rental items also helps buy new items and keep the selection fresh.

The Rental Collection is good for everyone who likes bestsellers. Each time someone checks out a rental item, it helps make the free copies more available to everyone else.

Why do you place labels so it’s hard to see parts of the book covers?

It’s a challenge to find the best places for barcodes and labels, especially on our smaller items. We do try to avoid hiding information that we think patrons might like to read. If information you want is covered up, please ask a staff member for assistance.