2006–2007 was an exceptional year for the library, perhaps the most successful in our 130-year history. See our website for our complete annual report with more highlights, facts, and figures and a thank-you to everyone who supported the Library Foundation this year.
Here are some things we’re proud of:

• Circulation was up 7% over last year with nearly 1.8 million items checked out — our highest ever.
• We had more than 650,000 visitors, a record average of 1,800 people per day.
• Our new website was given a Best of Show Award by the American Library Association.
• The Library Foundation concluded a successful $3 million fundraising effort to help build the new library.
• The Friends of the Library provided more financial support for the library than at any time in their 41-year history.
• A record 3,000 children participated in the summer reading program and read nearly 50,000 books.
• Our customer approval rating was extremely high: 98 percent of our users rated their library experience as “Excellent” or “Good.”

Do you have a short anecdote about what our library has done for you? Share it with us and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card from Target. If chosen, your story (or a part of it) could go on our website or be used in other promotional or fundraising materials. Submit your story online or deliver it to Elizabeth Otto, our promotions manager, by Nov. 30, 2007. You can drop it off at the library, mail it in, or e-mail it to eotto@champaign.org. Take a look at the wonderful stories we’ve already received.

For a one-time gift of $5,000, your name, or that of your designee, will be forever displayed on a shelf in our beautiful new library. Your shelf sponsorship gift can support collections, programs, or the library endowment. Make your gift by Nov.30, 2007, and your shelf plaque will be in place when the new library opens. You can give online with our secure form or pick up a newsletter at the library and use the form inside. To charge your gift by phone, or if you prefer to make a gift of stock, contact Donna Pittman, development director, at 403–2048 or dpittman@champaign.org.

Your name may be engraved on the glass donor wall in the new library for a gift of $10,000. For that gift, two shelves will also be dedicated to you or a designee. Please contact Donna Pittman or visit our website at champaign.org.

Meet your library leaders through this new series of question-and-answer profiles. Michael Smeltzer joined the Library Board of Trustees this past summer.

Describe the importance of public libraries in 20 words or fewer.

Public libraries are gateways to the world. By encouraging reading and providing free materials to read, they inspire everyone’s dreams.

Describe your background and what you bring to the board.

I have lived and worked here since 1968, when I started classes at the U of I. I have had five tours of duty with the U of I that included teaching in the department of journalism and at University High School. I am currently the Director of Network Communications for the University, where I supervise the groups that design and maintain the data networks in hundreds of campus buildings.

Tell us a little about your family.

My wife, Kathy, is a nurse practitioner at Carle Clinic, where she has worked for 28 years. Our oldest daughter, Amanda Palla, returned to Champaign after graduating from the University of Chicago to earn a master’s degree from UIUC and is now a web developer at Defense Training and Technologies — and the varsity volleyball coach for Uni High. Our youngest daughter, Sarah, is a sophomore at Eastern studying psychology. As best I know, she has cleared up her old library fines.

What have you read, watched, or listened to lately?

Just finished reading Play Dirty by Sandra Brown, enjoyed The Bourne Ultimatum in the theater, have become addicted to Damages on the FX TV network, and recently discovered the music of KT Tunstall.