What do a new makerspace, life-size Candy Land, and starting a nonprofit have in common? Your library!

December 2024 | News

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What do a new makerspace, life-size Candy Land, and starting a nonprofit have in common? Your library!

girl reading a book on the floor in the library with book all around
“I love our library visits! Our daughter was so proud to finish her Fall Reading Challenge and couldn’t wait to select her book prize. We then picked out another 15 books to bring along home with us. 📚 💜 📚 💙 📚 💛 📚 I am so grateful for our library and for libraries around the world.” Thank you to this young fan’s family for sharing a wonderful photo and feedback from their recent visit.

architect sketch of new makerspace cabinets, 4 people inside
Construction Begins on New Douglass Branch Makerspace
WE ARE THRILLED to announce a new innovative space inside the Douglass Branch. We will be remodeling an underutilized area—transforming it into a new makerspace that provides access to technology and cultivates creativity in our community. Construction begins in early December with the new makerspace opening in Spring 2025.
The Douglass Branch Makerspace will offer tech tools and programming resources for community members to enjoy and learn about while visiting the Douglass Branch. Creative tools will include VR headsets, Cricut machines, a Glowforge Aura laser cutter, 3D printing,  sewing machines, and a recording booth. Similar to the The Studio, the new makerspace will offer a combination of workshops, drop-in hours, and Book-a-Librarian appointments.
 
Made possible with support from the Library Foundation and Library Friends.

pink illustrations of candy, donuts, ice cream, landscape
Life-size Candy Land!

Sunday, Dec. 8, from 12–3 pm | FOLLOW THE MAGICAL PATH through the library to discover a giant game board, a photo booth, and candy-themed activities! All ages are invited.

smiling woman, event information
So You Want to Start a Nonprofit
Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 7 pm | ARE YOU PASSIONATE about helping others? Is starting a nonprofit the best way to turn your vision into a reality? Genevieve Kirk, Director, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, will share the steps involved with starting a charitable nonprofit organization in Illinois. Join this session to learn the key ingredients you’ll need in order to define your purpose and programs, file articles of incorporation, develop a board of directors, and optimize your fundraising efforts. The workshop will include a Q&A for feedback from Genevieve and alums of the Community Solutions Incubator.
 
Presented in partnership with the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois.

Raina Telgemeier portrait, book covers, even info
The Magic of Raina Telgemeier
Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7 pm | ENJOY A VIRTUAL VISIT  with #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novel author, illustrator, and critically acclaimed comics artist Raina Telgemeier. Her work includes the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, as well as four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, which she adapted and illustrated. All ages are welcome. Sign up to get the Zoom link.
 
 
Presented in partnership with Illinois Libraries Present, a coalition of 200 public libraries.

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, innovative tech in The Studio and the new Douglass Branch makerspace, and digital books and magazines. You can show your Library Love with a donation to the Champaign Public Library Foundation.
Donate today

collaged images, patterns, faces
Crafty Adults: Bad Art Night
Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 6 pm | HAVE FUN and create something truly original at Bad Art Night, this month’s Crafty Adults workshop. Space is limited. Sign up starting December 1 »

WRITER’S WORKSHOPS

notebook, pen, glasses, and plant on yellow background
Open Mic Night

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 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  2025.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

group of teens, smiling, leaning against wall
Teens Can Win $5,000!
DO YOU KNOW a high school student who is interested in starting and growing a business? The Young Entrepreneur Program (YEP) runs from February through May, 2025. YEP participants can win up to $5,000 in seed money for their business. The program is free and open to all area high school students. Made possible with support from the Library Foundation. Sign up by January 2.

5 people sitting together, smiling and talking
Job Seekers & Entrepreneurs
LOOKING FOR A JOB or launching a business? We can help! Local experts presenting this month include Genevieve Kirk, Director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (12/3), and Scott Clanin, President of Clanin Creative (12/12).

12/3 · Business & Career Help, drop in 5–7 pm, Douglass Branch
12/3 · So You Want to Start a Nonprofit, 7 pm
12/4 · Career Help, drop in 11 am–1 pm
12/12 · Website Audit Checklist for 2025, 10 am
12/12 · Business Help, drop in 12–3 pm
12/19 · Career Lunch & Learn: Tech Tips for Your Job Search, 12 pm

Business Resources »
Career Resources »

stick snowman ornament craft
Stick Snowman Ornament

Thursday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 pm | BRRR! The weather has turned cold so it’s time to build a snowman—a snowman craft that is! Part of the Family Fun Night series featuring a new activity or craft each week.

Tech Workshops

TECH QUESTIONS? This month’s Getting Started with Tech series (Tuesdays at 2 pm) includes hands-on workshops on taking photos with smartphones or tablets (12/3), as well as introductions to E-Library resources—Ebooks, Audiobooks, & Magazines (12/10) and Movies, Music, & More (12/17). In case you aren’t able to attend the daytime workshop on taking photos, it is also being offered at 7 pm on 12/9. Sign up online or give us a call at 217/403-2000. We are happy to help!

person in front of computer showing a photo of plants, event information text plus instructor portrait

Already comfortable with a computer? We also offer Specialty Tech workshops. Professional photographer Mike Heiniger will teach you the basics of Adobe Lightroom, including how to edit images. Sign up online or by calling 217/403-2000. 

Open Wednesday–Sunday from 1–4 pm

illustration of fox walking on hillside with hearts bursting over the horizon
FriendShop Bookstore Sales

DURING DECEMBER, buy five gift certificates and get one free at the FriendShop Bookstore! Open to everyone, the shop includes more than 20,000 used books, movies, and audiobooks, and is located on the lower level of the Main Library. Most items are $2 or less. And the best part? All the money you spend goes right back to the library!

 

12/11–15 · Members’ Half-Price Sale
12/26–29 · Tag Bag Sale

 

Want to help? Joining the Library Friends is easy. We are also looking for volunteers to join our team of cashiers. We appreciate your support!

December 2024

Event Calendar
HOLIDAY HOURS
illustration of snowflakes, town at night
THE LIBRARY will be closed December 24 and 25. Both locations will stay open until 6 pm on December 31, and will be closed on New Year’s Day. Book returns and the E-Library are always open!

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
FOR ALL AGES

colorful tables, lights in Studio
Studio Drop-in Hours
• Saturdays, 9 am–6 pm
• Sundays, 12–6 pm
• Plus Thursdays, 5–7 pm, this month! (Dec. 5, 12, & 19)
 
DROP IN during open hours to explore the 8,000 sq. ft. Studio at the Main Library—and create something new! The Studio »

FOR ADULTS

colorful balls of yarn and flowers

Yarn & Shenanigans

Mon., Dec. 2, 16, & 30, at 6 pm
Douglass Branch

couple on couch at home, looking at laptop computer

Medicare Help

Tue., Dec. 3, 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 | Rice Hand Warmers

Thu., Dec. 12, at 2 pm
Douglass Branch

Project READ Tutoring
Drop in Fridays from 9:30–11:30 am*
*No meeting  Dec. 27

Project READ Introduction to Tutor Training
Fri., Dec. 13, at 10 am
Sign up »

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 how to use QuickBooks, explore a career in nursing, or take a math refresher—there’s something for everyone. Sessions run six weeks and are taught by college instructors. Dec. 18, Jan. 15, & Feb. 12 »

FOR TEENS

orange pattern, Teen Lounge title
Teen Lounge
Every day after school, 3–4:30 pm
Teen Lounge | Early Edition
• 12/2 & 16, from 1–4:30 pm
• 12/19 & 20, from 1:30–4:30 pm
LOOKING FOR something exciting to do after school? Teens are invited to stop by for activities and fun.
 
We follow the Champagin Unit 4 School District schedule. Teen Lounge ends 12/20 and starts again next year on 1/8/2025. 
teen girl smiling with books, scarf
Sign up to win! The Fall Reading Challenge runs through December 15. It’s time to pick up your prize books!

BOOK DISCUSSIONS

Black Candle Women book cover

Table Talk Book Club: Black Candle Women by Diane Marie Brown
Tue., Dec. 10, at 6:30 pm

Meets at Main Library in The Studio during construction of the Douglass Branch Makerspace.

Tom Lake book cover

Cover-to-Cover Book ClubTom Lake  by Ann Patchett
Thu., Dec. 12, at 1:30 pm

What Should My Book Club Read Next? We offer 22 suggested books available for your next get-together.

FOR KIDS & FAMILIES

reading log, Nuts about Reading

DECEMBER 15 marks the end of the Nuts about Reading! Fall Reading Challenge for kids. Be sure to stop by the library to pick up your prize book!

Slavic stringed instrument

Slavic Instrument Petting Zoo
Thu., Dec. 12, at 6:30 pm

Presented in partnership with the U of I Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center.

DIY Kids
Wednesdays at 4 pm*
Douglass Branch
>> Snowy Day Crafts, Stop Motion Movies, Slime Time
*No meeting Dec. 25

Family Fun Night
Thursdays at 6:30 pm*
>> Stick Snowman Ornament Craft, Slavic Instrument Petting Zoo, Snow Globes
*No meeting Dec. 26

FOR PRESCHOOLERS

baby smiling, parent nearby, circle of families on carpet behind
10 Storytimes Every Week!
For infants to age 5
 
Make & Take for Preschoolers
Thursdays at 10 am
two kids walking on a sensory toy
Sensory-Friendly Storytime
Tue., Dec. 17, at 6:30 pm
Youth Social Story » 
Mother Goose on the Loose Storytime
Mon., Dec. 30, at 11:15 am
Douglass Branch

New Releases button

WHAT’S NEW? New Releases hit the shelves every week on Tuesday mornings. 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!

3 magazine covers
Thousands of Free Magazines
READY TO SAVE? What if I told you thousands of popular magazines are available for free via Libby and PressReader library apps? Cardholders can save on subscription fees and access beautiful digital copies that match the newsstand issues. The New Yorker, US Weekly, Magnolia, Dwell, Bon Appetit, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and 5,000 other magazines are available on Libby. The Economist, Smithsonian, Newsweek, Gourmet, National Geographic, Billboard,  Parents, and 7,000 other international publications are available on PressReader. You’ll also get to read magazines in 25+ languages including Spanish, French, and Chinese. 
 
Getting started is easy—tap on a magazine to open and start reading. It’s also simple to resize the text. For favorite magazines, you can subscribe, so new issues automatically appear each month.
 
Questions? We can help! Speak with a staff member or Book-a-Librarian for one-on-one assistance.

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–Sun 1–4

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

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