What do author Scott Turow, live music, and storytimes have in common? Your library!
May 2022 | News
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What do author Scott Turow, live music, and storytimes have in common? Your library.
animal characters juggling books and balls, smiling
SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME to celebrate a love for reading. Kids, teens, and adults can win with the library’s Read-a-palooza! Summer Reading Challenge (May 15–Aug 15). Prizes include books, rainbow walking springs, cool tumblers, coupons, and even themed gift baskets for adults, with swag from local businesses. Sign up online or download Beanstack to get started!  

portrait, author Scott Turow, smiling, The Last Trial, Presumed Innocent book covers
An Evening with Scott Turow
Thu., May 5, at 7 pm | WE ARE THRILLED to host Scott Turow, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Presumed Innocent and The Last Trial, as our next Great Authors at the Library speaker. He is considered by many to be the father of the modern legal thriller. Presumed Innocent was made into a blockbuster film starring Harrison Ford and Apple TV+ is developing a new series based on the acclaimed book. Turow’s books have been translated into 40+ languages and sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.

Both locations will close at 5 pm to prepare. The Main Library will reopen at 6:30 pm exclusively for this event.

>> Scott Turow books at the library

Made possible with support from the Library Foundation.

LIVE MUSIC * TAKE & MAKES * GIVEAWAYS
animal characters juggling books, riding on scooter and skateboard, Summer Reading Kickoff Party event info
Read-a-palooza! Extravaganza
Sun., May 22, from 12–3 pm | Main Library | YOU’RE INVITED to an all-ages community celebration to kick off Read-a-palooza! Summer Reading Challenge. Enjoy live music on the front porch—including the Chicago-based kindie music duo Wendy & DB (12–12:45 pm) and local favorites, the Hot Iron String Band (1–3 pm). You’ll get to take home craft kits and fun giveaways for all ages! Our special guest will be Pete the Cat.

children sitting on carpet, librarian holding up a book and reading to them, at the library
Storytimes Start at Both Locations in May

Weekly Storytimes at the Main Library:
• Monday, Babies Love Books – 9:45, 10:15, 10:45 am
• Tuesday, Toddler Tales – 9:45, 10:15, 10:45 am
• Wednesday, Ready, Set, Read! – 9:45, 10:30 am

Weekly Storytimes at the Douglass Branch:
• Thursday, Babies Love Books, 10:30 am
• Friday, Toddler Tales, 10:30 am

Which one is the right one for you and your child? We’ve designed Babies Love Books for children from birth through 18 months. Toddler Tales introduces pre-reading skills for children 18 to 36 months. Ready, Set, Read! emphasizes stories and movement designed to help children from 3 to 5 get ready to read. All sessions are fun and interactive for both the child and parent or caretaker. You’ll leave smiling!

>> Watch songs and rhymes from our storytimes

Grand Total of *18,000* Take & Make Kits for Kids

IN SEPTEMBER 2020, Children’s staff started creating Take & Make craft kits for families to enjoy together at home, with a new craft offered each week. Our kits were designed especially for preschoolers, school-age kids, and teens, and were available at both locations. By the end of May 2022, we will have given out 18,000 kits!

Brian Barnhart, portrait in WDWS radio studio

We were so glad to see this recent photo by Tooba Umar of her family enjoying Artsy Smartsy Kids crafts at home. “Thank you so much for these activity kits. All my three kids are having an amazing day today.”

notebook, glasses, pencil, succulent, on yellow table, Writer's Workshop title

ENJOY WRITING? Hone your skills and connect with other writers at hands-on workshops at the Main Library. 

Writer’s Workshops · Wednesdays, 7 pm
5/4 · How to Go Really Big in Your Writing – Ekta Garg
5/18 · Intro to Illustration for Writers – Liza Wynette

ARTrepreneurship: Small Business 101 event info, purple tint over photo of gallery show
Mon., May 16, at 7 pm | AS PART of our new series on ARTrepreneurship, learn the ins and outs of business as an artist, maker, or creative at Small Business 101. Get your questions answered by local artists, business specialists, and marketing experts:

• Anna Gutsch, co-owner of NORDEN German Design Studio
• Lisa Kesler, painter and printmaker
• Marisa Peacock, founder of Strategic Peacock and lecturer in advertising at the U of I
• Oscar Irving-Thomas, entrepreneur, artist, and lecturer in advertising at the U of I
• Kelly White, executive director of 40 North and organizer of Boneyard Arts Festival.

Presented in partnership with 40 North.

Google logo G, Getting Started title
Getting Started with Google

CURIOUS ABOUT GOOGLE tools? This month’s Getting Started with Tech series includes in-person workshops at the Main Library on Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which are free, easy-to-access equivalents of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Our virtual Tech Workshop in May will introduce Google Calendar and Meet, a new video conferencing tool (May 24). Sign up online or give us call at (217) 403-2000.

professional woman carrying laptop, smiling at camera, people in modern office behind her
Job Seekers & Entrepreneurs
NEED HELP looking for a job or launching a business? Our career and business events meet in person at the Main Library. At this month’s Interview Basics (May 10), learn tips for reducing the stress of interviewing from Mike Firmand, Associate Director for Career and Professional Development at the U of I Graduate College. We also offer Book-a-Librarian appointments for one-on-one consultations. 

Get that Job! Workshops
5/3 · Career Open House, 10 am
5/10 · Interview Basics, 10 am
5/17 · Ask an Employer: Cunningham Children’s Home, 10 am
5/19 · Resume Drop-In, from 4–5 pm

Start + Grow Your Business
5/2 · Start & Grow Your Side Hustle, 7 pm
5/12 · Instagram for Business 101, 10 am
5/16 · ARTrepreneurship: Small Business 101, 7 pm

You can watch recordings of 80+ career and business webinars anytime on the library’s YouTube channel.

Thank You, Library Volunteers!
EACH SPRING, during our Volunteer Appreciation Week, we like to recognize our volunteers, celebrating their amazing dedication and commitment. This past year 86 community members and 9 groups generously helped the library. Their contributions total 3,025 hours!

We also thank our Library, Foundation, and Friends board members, and the dozens of helpers who work in our FriendShop Bookstore.

illustration, fox holding umbrella, bird, flowers, information about shop
FriendShop Bookstore Sales

DURING MAY, save 50% off nonfiction books at the FriendShop Bookstore. This friendly used bookstore is open to everyone and includes more than 20,000 books, movies, and audiobooks. Most items are $2 or less. And the best part? All the money you spend goes right back to the library since the items sold are donations and the store is staffed by volunteers. Located on the lower level at the Main Library, the FriendShop is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, from 12–3 pm.

• May 11, 13, 14 – Half-Price Sale for Members 
• May 25, 27, 28 – Tag Bag Sale, take home a bag of books for just $1

Not a Library Friend yet? Joining is easy and memberships start at $10. Want to support the library a little more? Choose any of the six membership tiers. We also need volunteers during shop hours. Volunteer »

Watch Webinars Anytime
YOU’LL FIND 300+ webinars and storytime songs on the library’s YouTube channel.
YouTube logo

May 2022
Great Authors at the Library blue circle
BOTH LOCATIONS will close early Thursday, May 5, at 5 pm. The Main Library will reopen at 6:30 pm for Scott Turow’s talk.
Event Calendar
In-Person Events for Kids & Families
STARTING IN MAY, we are excited to get back to in-person events for kids and families—including storytimes at both locations and the all-ages Read-a-palooza! Summer Reading Kickoff Party at the Main Library (May 22, from 12–3 pm).

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
F
OR ADULTS

geometric shaped jewelry crafts
Free Comic Book Day
Saturday, May 7
9–1 at Main Library
10–1 at Douglass Branch
Read-a-palooza! Summer Reading Kickoff Party
Sun., May 22, from 12–3 pm
* Live music
* Take & Make crafts
* Fun giveaways
Main Library
FOR KIDS & FAMILIES
IN MAY, join us for in-person storytimes at both locations! We offer 10 sessions each week—plus monthly Mother Goose storytimes. Check the calendar for event details »
illustration of Mother Goose character profile, blue bonnet, big smile
VIRTUAL: Mother Goose on the Loose Storytime 
Fri., May 6, at 10 am
Facebook Live

Mother Goose on the Loose Storytime 
Wed., May 25, at 11:15 am
Main Library

Take & Make Kits
PICK UP a Take & Make kit each week in May:
DIY Kids Take & Make
Mondays 
Pick up at Douglass Branch

Take & Make for Preschoolers
Thursdays
Pick up at Main Library
paper hot air balloon
Artsy Smartsy Kids
For grades 1–5
Thursdays
Pick up at Main Library

5/5 · Bobblehead Animals
5/12 · 3D Paper Hot Air Balloon
5/19 · Sticker Collage
5/26 · Beaded Dragonflies
FOR TEENS
Teen Lounge title, pattern background

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS are invited to enjoy activities and fun every day after school at Teen Lounge, from 3–4:30 pm, in the Main Library’s Robeson Pavilion. 

Teen boy lying in grass, smiling, reading, balloon artwork, Read-a-palooza title
FOR ADULTS
patterned fabric flower pins
Coffee and a Craft: Flower Pins
Wed., May 11, at 10:30 am
Douglass Branch
stack of handmade journals
Crafty Adults: Handmade Scrapbook Journals
Wed., May 11, at 7 pm
Reserve your spot. Reservations open May 2. (30 participants) 
Main Library
blue sky, clouds, top of model house peeking into frame
Legal Help | Tenant Toolbox: Rights & Duties
Tue., May 17, at 7 pm
Main Library
progressively taller stacks of coins with sprouts growing out of them, plus one large jar filled with coins

Money Matter$ | Energy Efficiency
Thu., May 19, at 7 pm
Main Library

Project READ Tutoring 
Fridays, drop in 9:30–11:30 am
Main Library
man teaching in classroom, screenshot of start screen for video training
Gale Courses Start Monthly
NEW SESSIONS start each month for 375 online Gale Courses. Learn sign language, digital photography, or Speed Spanish—there’s something for everyone. Sessions run six weeks and are taught by college instructors. 

>> Gale Courses start May 18, June  15, and July 13
BOOK DISCUSSIONS
Table Talk Book Club
Tue., May 10, at 6:30 pm
Meet to select the books for next season.
Douglass Branch
The Only Woman in the Room book cover

Cover-to-Cover Book Club: The Only Woman in the Room by M. Benedict
Thu., May 12, at 1:30 pm
Main Library

What Should My Book Club Read Next? We have 23 recommended reads available for your next get-together.

New Releases button
WHAT’S NEW? Reserve New Releases online or give us a call at 217/403-2000. We’ll let you know when your hold items are ready for pickup!

LIBRARY CLOSED

Both locations will be closed on Monday, May 30. Book returns are always open.

Facebook Page Reaches 7M
DURING National Library Week, a few posts on our Facebook page went viral. Amazingly, we’ve reached 7 million people in April!
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book quote with cut-paper leaf illustration
Donate

Main Library
217/403-2000
200 W. Green St.
Champaign, Illinois
Mon–Thu 9–9
Fri–Sat 9–6 | Sun 12–6

Douglass Branch
217/403-2090
504 E. Grove St.
Champaign, Illinois
Mon–Thu 10–8
Fri 10–6 |
Sat 10–4

FriendShop Bookstore
Elevator to lower level, Main Library
Wed, Fri, Sat 12–3

Champaign Public Library logo

Champaign Public Library
200 W. Green St.
Champaign, IL 61820
217/403-2000

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