The Champaign Public Library’s website has won “Best of Show,” the top award, among libraries in its budget category in the American Library Association’s 2007 national public relations competition. The animated children’s homepage on our site is shown above.

A fundraising mailer designed by Spinlight Studio for the library also earned an honorable mention in its category. Earlier this year, that same design earned a top award in the public service division at the American Advertising Federation ADDY Awards in Springfield. more

Home delivery volunteer Mary Gabb was honored with a Hero and Helping Hand Award from the City of Champaign, presented at the City Council meeting on May 15. While making a book delivery this past January, Gabb found customer Sarah Henkel in distress and immediately called 911. Henkel credited Gabb’s quick thinking for saving her life. Library Director Marsha Grove, pictured at left, helped present the award to Gabb.

Do you know someone who can’t get to the library because of illness, age, or disability? They can have books delivered to their doorstep! Whether the need is temporary or more long-term, we can send deliveries as often as once a week, absolutely free. We’ll deliver books, audiobooks, DVDs, and more anywhere in Champaign. For more information, talk to our Home Delivery Coordinator, Marie Bleus-Francois, at 217/403–2070.

While experts have loudly proclaimed that the Internet would bring the end of libraries, it seems that people haven’t been listening. They’ve been too busy rushing off to the library!

Numbers released by the American Library Association earlier this year show that the number of visits to public libraries in the U.S. was up 61 percent between 1994 and 2004. That significantly outpaces national population growth of around 13 percent (based on the nearest available figures, 1990 to 2000). The number of items checked out in public libraries rose by 28 percent over those ten years. Children have especially benefited, as parents checked out 44 percent more children’s materials and attendance at kids’ events increased 42 percent.

Our community continues to break records in its use of the Champaign Public Library. In the fiscal year ending June 30, the number of items checked out is expected to top 1.8 million — more than 26 for each person in Champaign, and up nearly 9 percent over last year. Watch for more details in our annual report, coming later this year.

New library computers offer flexibility and features our customers have been asking for. Now it’s easy to bring files with you and save your work onto CDs, DVDs, USB drives, and floppy disks. Color printing is available for $1 per page.

Self-service “Reservation Stations” will let you reserve the next free computer or sign up for future times up to a week in advance. Computer time is limited to one hour per person per day.

Computer users will need to enter their library card number (cards from any nearby public library are okay) when they sign up or log in. Anyone who doesn’t live in Champaign and doesn’t have a card can show a photo ID and get a “computer guest card.” Stand-up Internet stations will continue to give 15 minutes of access on a walk-up basis, with no need to log in.