The Champaign Public Library

If you have not been to the new Champaign Public Library in Champaign, Illinois, I would highly suggest a quick trip to their new building at 200 W. Green St. (Champaign, IL 61820). They are open weekdays from 9am through 9 pm, Saturdays 9 am through 6pm, and Sundays 1 pm through 6 pm. Their website is: http://www.champaign.org/. Street parking and a parking lot are available. The new location opened January 6^th, 2008. The outside may not look brand new but once you step inside you know you are in a modern library.

Doors that open automatically at the entrance mean you do not have to balance that stack of books and videos that you are returning (or just checked out) while using your other hand, foot, or other body part to enter or exit. As you walk through the entrance a wide screen television is mounted on the wall and shows announcement for different activities. The glass wall, through which you can see new books and the video collection, and the wood floor give a sense of openness. No scary, stuffy feeling library of horror movies here. As you continue in you have a choice of going left or right. Turning right will take you past a little café called Latte Da! and into a seating/eating area. This area also has windows to let in a lot of light. This is part of the Robeson Pavilion. If you had gone left you would walk through detectors and into the library.

As soon as you enter the library, the book return is on your right. Like the rest of the library so far, this too is not the book return of old. It is a conveyor belt that activates when it senses motion. There is also a scrolling text screen above it with directions. If you do not want to go inside to return books, there is a pull up on the back side of the library where you can return your books. This return is also a conveyor belt type of book return with an opening and closing door. It will open and give verbal instructions when it senses movement. The pull up is off the street and has room for several cars to wait in line.

Past the book return, on your right, is the desk where you check out. There are several computers available for self check-out, but in case you need help there is always at least one librarian there to assist you. Library cards are available to anyone, whether you live in Champaign or not. The difference is that those who live outside Champaign must pay directly to the library, while those who live or own property inside Champaign have paid for their card through their taxes. For those who live in Champaign, bring along proof of address (letter, etc.) and identification. Kids can also get a card if they have an adult along. Those who live outside Champaign but would like a card to use at the Champaign Public Library should go to your public library in your school district. The Champaign Public Libraries webpage has more detailed information.

The self check-out machines are pretty simple to use. You drop your card into the indicated slot but unlike a credit card it does not matter which way it is facing. Next you place your material on the black rubber-like pad. This will sense what materials you are checking out. If you have several items you may need to do this in a few steps. When it has sensed the items on the pad, touch the screen for "check-out". The screen is touch sensitive. You have the option to check out more items or to finish. When you have checked out all your items a receipt will print telling you what your due dates are for each item. If you happen to have an overdue fee, you can also pay at these stations with a credit card.

There are limits to how many of each type of item you can check out. Their website gives the following information, "We have limits on how many items you can have checked out from our most popular collections, including CDs (20), audio books (20), videos and DVDs (a total of 20), and video games (2)." They also give the following numbers at to the available materials in the library. "Your library card lets you choose from our huge collection of close to 250,000 items, including: More than 180,000 books for children and adults; Over 10,000 DVDs, mostly popular movies; About 70,000 CDs, covering every musical style; Books and audiobooks to download directly to your computer; Hundreds of different magazines and newspapers" As you can see, you are able to get quite a variety and quantity of materials. This is one reason this is such a great library. You are bound to find something for everyone here.

Some of the materials with a higher demand have extra copies available for rent if you do not want to wait till they get to your name on the waiting list. These will have a tag on them that says "Rental". There is a $1 per item per week fee charged for the rental copies. If you are willing to wait though, the same items can be checked out for free.

Past the check-out counter is the juvenile section. In addition to books there are computers and also a counter where you can ask questions. There are programs for kids throughout the day and a summer reading program.

If you turn around and walk underneath the stairs you will find the section containing CDs, audio books, videos, and new books. This is the largest selection of audio books, CDs, and videos I have yet seen at a library. The Champaign Public Library has done a great job accumulating a collection with something for everyone.

Also on the first floor is a smaller room containing newspapers and a room that holds materials awaiting pick up from patrons who requested them. There is also a room for kids to hang out in.

If you walk up the stairs or take the elevator you will come out on the second floor. This floor is just as light and open as the first floor but is oriented more towards adults. On your right you will find reference materials, computers, study rooms, nonfiction, and a help desk. To your left you will find the fiction section, a quiet room (no cell phones or talking), and the magazine section. You are able to check out magazines that are not the most current issue.

The computers can be used for free (assuming you have a library card) for one hour. That time can be extended by an hour if there is no waiting. The maximum per day is two hours. If you wish, you can use their wireless service with your laptop. There are desks near outlets if you need to plug your computer in.

At the end of one row of computers is the printer. It is 10 cents per page for black and white copies and $1 per page for colored copies. When you have the material you want to print you send it to the printer, like you would at home. Then walk to the computer next to the printer. Insert your card and select which print jobs you want to print. It will tell you the amount, which you then insert into the coin/bill machine. Make sure to close out of your screen when you are done printing. There is a button on the top of the screen to do this.

There are chairs and tables around the exterior and on the interior where you can sit and read. There is also space for several people to gather to work together.

After having lived in several larger cities and on a college campus, I thought I had seen most libraries and knew what to expect. The Champaign Public Library has by far surpassed my expectations. There is no feeling of being limited to what you can find or check out. It would take at least a week of watching movies all day every day to make it through their video collection, and then I am not sure you would make it all the way through. They display the new books, videos, and audio books in a way that makes them all easy to find as soon as you walk into the library. The open atmosphere makes it a welcoming place to go and spend a couple of hours. The librarians and staff are helpful and polite. After checking out a rental item by accident, and realizing it immediately, they took it off my account with no hesitation and no charge to me.

Parking might be the only issue with the library that is a draw back, but they are currently working on fixing that. The streets on the East and West side of the building are one way streets. They are currently working on giving access to the parking lot from both streets rather than limiting it to access from the East side. Street parking is available and relatively close, but is limited and highly desired.

If you live in the area and have not made a trip here, I think you will find it well worth your while to do so. The Champaign Public Library has something for everyone.