What do teddy bears, Open Mic Night, and flowers have in common? Your library!

December 2023 | News

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What do teddy bears, Open Mic Night, and flowers have in common? Your library!

smiling little girl holding a teddy bear

Teddy Bear Hospital

Sat., Dec. 2, from 2–4 pm | BRING YOUR FAVORITE stuffed animal in for a check-up! Veterinarians-in-training from the U of I will check their weight, temperature, and more, plus address any additional troubles your stuffed friend might be having. Kids will have a chance to get their questions answered and get inspired by college students. Presented in partnership with the UIUC Veterinary Student Outreach Program.

WRITER’S WORKSHOPS

notebook, glasses, succulent, on table top, event info

Open Mic Night

Wed., Dec. 6, at 7 pm | LIKE TO WRITE? Come to this month’s Open Mic Night to share your poetry, spoken word, or flash fiction with fellow writers and community members. Sign up to participate or just stop by to be part of the audience. You can also mark your calendar for Writer’s Workshops in Spring  2024.

Upcoming Local Author Fair

LOOKING AHEAD to the new year, we will be hosting a Local Author Fair on Saturday, January 6, from 2–5 pm. Interested in participating? Get details and sign up » 

flower arrangements

Crafty Adults | Floral Arranging

Wed., Dec. 13, at 6 pm | LOVE FLOWERS? So do we! Join artists from the CU Flower House at this month’s Crafty Adults workshop and create your own beautiful flower arrangement. These workshops are very popular and “sell out” quickly. Registration opens December 1 at 9 am. (40 participants)

2 harps being played in library lobby

Harps at the Library

Fri., Dec. 8, at 5 pm | ENJOY HOT CHOCOLATE and listen to harp music in the Library Café. Performers from the Roslyn Rensch Central Illinois Chapter of the American Harp Society will entertain you with wintry tunes.

portrait of Lori Gottlieb, plus book covers

Virtual Visits with Bestselling Authors

Wed., Dec. 6, at 7 pm | ENJOY A VIRTUAL VISIT  with New York Times bestselling author and co-host of the “Dear Therapists” podcast Lori Gottlieb, as part of the Illinois Libraries Present series. She will share tools to help in everyday life, especially as you prepare for the holidays. Sign up to get the Zoom link. Last month’s talk by chef Maya-Camille Broussard included 600 people tuning in live. Next up? Bestselling science fiction authors Cory Doctorow, Ken Liu, and Martha Wells will weigh in on Speculating Our AI Future (1/11, 7 pm).

LIBRARY LOVE

Thank You for Your Support!

WE APPRECIATE your support! Support from community members allows us to enrich our resources and services, providing more mobile wifi hotspots, books for kids to keep, career help, storytimes, and digital books and magazines.

You can show your Library Love with a donation to the Champaign Public Library Foundation.

Donate today

reading log with illustration of happy cacti

Pick Up Your Prize Books

DECEMBER 15 marks the end of the Stick Together and Read! Challenge. A record number of 1,162 infants, kids, and teens are currently participating—and it’s not too late to sign up! Already finished? Stop by to pick up your prize.

Tech Workshops

TECH QUESTIONS? This month’s Getting Started with Tech series (Tuesdays at 2 pm) includes hands-on workshops where you can learn how to use iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, and how to take photos with a smartphone or tablet. Our evening Tech Workshop (12/18) is designed to help you get started with streaming services.

 

If you’re already comfortable using a computer, try something new at a Specialty Tech Workshop. This month, you can learn how to create a festive winter-themed greeting card using Adobe Illustrator (12/11). 

portrait of instructor, computer

Sign up online or give us a call at 217/403-2000. We are happy to help!

Mark Pelmore portrait, event info

For Job Seekers & Entrepreneurs

NEED HELP looking for a job or launching a business? Local experts presenting this month include Scott Clanin, owner of Clanin Marketing (12/13), Mark Pelmore, co-founder of Business Elevator (12/19), and Kevin Martlage, president of Nextier Advisors (12/21).

Career Workshops »

12/4 · Tech Tips for Your Job Search, 7 pm
12/5 · Career & Job Help, drop in 11 am–1 pm

12/21 · Career Lunch & Learn: How to Have Difficult Conversations, 12 pm

Business Workshops »
12/13 · VIRTUAL: Website Audit Checklist for 2024, 10 am · Sign up to get the Zoom link »
12/19 · Write Your Business Plan, 7 pm

illustration of smiling fox with bird in winter scene

FriendShop Gift Certificates

SHOP LOCAL for the holidays! Gift certificates are available at the FriendShop Bookstore, plus great gift ideas for everyone on your list. Most items are $2 or less. Children’s and teen items are only 50¢. 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. The shop includes more than 20,000 used books, movies, and audiobooks, and is located on the lower level of the Main Library.

 

Open Wednesday–Saturday, 12–3 pm

• December 13–16, Members’ Half-Price Sale

• December 27–30, Tag Bag Sale
• During December, purchase 5 gift certificates and get one free!

 

Joining the Library Friends is easy—plus your membership includes 2 free books when you sign up.

New Releases button

DID YOU KNOW? New Releases hit the shelves every week on Tuesday morning. Reserve your copy now or give us a call at 217/403-2000. We’ll let you know when your hold items are ready for pickup!

December 2023

Event Calendar

HOLIDAY HOURS

illustration of snowflakes filling night sky above small village

THE LIBRARY will be closed December 24 and 25, and on New Year’s Day. Book returns and the E-Library are always open!

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR ADULTS

The Studio logo

Studio Workshop | Create Your Own Mug: Intro to Cricut

Wed., Dec. 20, at 6:30 pm
(10 participants) Registration opens December 14 »

senior couple looking at laptop, sitting on sofa at home

Medicare Help

Tue., Dec. 5, from 1–5 pm

 

Open enrollment for Medicare ends December 7. Call 217/403-2000 to sign up for help with your application. Sign up »

Coffee and a Craft | Macramé Tree

Thu., Dec. 14, at 2 pm
@ Douglass Branch

prow of Viking boat with lake and mountains in the background

Tuesdays at Ten | 150 Years of Art at the University of Illinois
with Dr. Ian Wang

Tuesdays, Dec. 5 & 12
10 am

Project READ Tutoring
Fridays, Dec. 1, 8, and 15

Drop in 9:30–11:30 am

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 about real estate investing, chemistry, or writing your life story—there’s something for everyone. Sessions run six weeks and are taught by college instructors. Gale Courses start Dec. 13, Jan. 17, and Feb. 14. »

Reading Suggestions

SIGN UP to get reading recommendations twice a month. Select up to 24 categories—including New York Times bestsellers, cookbooks, audiobooks, mysteries, and sci-fi. Sign up »

BOOK DISCUSSIONS

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store book cover

Table Talk Book Club: The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Tue., Dec. 12, at 6:30 pm
@ Douglass Branch

A Fever in the Heartland book cover

Cover-to-Cover Book Club: A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them by Timothy Egan
Thu., Dec. 14, at 1:30 pm

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

STAFF FAVORITES

text: What's your favorite read of 2023?, laughing heart-eye emojis

LIBRARY STAFF shared favorite reads from 2023 at a recent Staff Training Day. Curious what we’ve been reading? 50 Staff Favorites from 2023 »


What’s *your* favorite read? Join the conversation with 100+ community members on Facebook  »

FOR TEENS

orange pattern, Teen Lounge title

LOOKING for something exciting to do after school? Meets in The Studio!

 

Teen Lounge
Every day after school
3–4:30 pm

 

Teen Lounge | Early Edition
Mon., Dec. 4 & 18, from 1–4:30 pm

 

Champaign Unit 4 schools are closed from Dec. 25–Jan. 9.

FOR KIDS & FAMILIES

illustration of a movie clapper

X-treme STEAM | Stop-motion Movies
Sat., Dec. 9, at 2 pm
@ Douglass Branch
For school-age kids

LEGO Club!
Sat., Dec. 9, at 3 pm
For ages 5 and up

beluga whale kids' craft

DIY Kids
Wednesdays at 4 pm
@ Douglass Branch

• Marble Run Mazes
• Tech Toys
• Snowflake Suncatcher
• Arctic Animals

gingerbread houses, event info

Family Fun Night
Thursdays at 6:30 pm
For school-age kids

 

Activities include Paper Bag Gingerbread Houses, Read to the Dogs, Celebrating Winter Holidays, and Family Bingo Night.

FOR PRESCHOOLERS

babies and parents at storytime at the library

10 Storytimes Every Week!
For infants to age 5

Make & Take for Preschoolers
Thursdays at 10 am

The Studio logo

The Studio at the Library
• Saturdays (9–6)
• Sundays (12–6)

Open weekends or by appointment.

COOL TOOLS | CREATIVEBUG

group of packages wrapped colorfully with patterns and bows

1,001 Craft Classes & Gift Ideas

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION or instructions for homemade gifts? Sign in with your library card to get started with Creativebug and explore 1,000+ art and crafting classes taught by experts. Try book-making, knitting, furniture refinishing, or even baking. You can start anytime:

Intro to Cricut
How to Fold a Paper Box

Knitted Mug Cozy

Make Shibori-Inspired Paper Snowflakes

Get started with Creativebug »

P.S. DIY Painted Gift Wrap (pictured above) is taught by Creativebug instructor and author Courtney Cerruti. Her work has been featured on Oh Happy Day, Design Sponge, the San Francisco Chronicle, Instagram, and BuzzFeed. 

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
Lower level, Main Library
Wed–Sat 12–3

 

The Studio at the Library
Lower level, Main Library
Sat 9–6 | Sun 12–6

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

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