Library Updates

 

This post has updates on the Urbana Free Library, the Champaign Public Library, and other area library news updates.

The Urbana Free Library's adaptation and services during the pandemic were highlighted in Smile Politely a couple weeks ago. Excerpt:

Staff first utilized existing assets to adjust to the new, remote operations and reach into the community as needed. The library’s 3-D printer and a sewing machine were lent out to help produce personal protective equipment for local healthcare workers. Drawing on a rapidly assembled system, the library began offering curbside pickup shortly after the building closed. Patrons could call staff members working from home to get reference help over the phone, and staff continued to provide email reference services. To accommodate increased pressures on patrons, it was decided that all fines and fees would be waived, patrons’ cards would no longer expire, and the number of digital items allowed to be checked out at one time was increased...

New initiatives emerged quickly. An eCard system was established. Software was purchased for the curbside pickup service to make that process more streamlined for patrons and staff. Eager to continue to offering programs, library staff prioritized learning how best to use platforms such as Facebook live and Zoom to begin offering online story times as soon as possible... 

The Books & More! Bundles Service also provides community members of all ages with a wide variety of librarian-curated resources upon request, with items available at Curbside Pickup. The library has also responded to the need of Urbana residents to have access to WiFi by making an increased number of mobile hotspots available for check-out. Purchased by the Urbana Free Library Foundation and a UC2B grant, these hotspots are an invaluable resource to community members.

Full article here. The News-Gazette had additional coverage on changes as both the Urbana and Champaign public libraries are opening up to a limited degree under loosening pandemic restrictions.

The Daily Illini had an overview of the Champaign Public Library's limited opening last week as well:

The Champaign Public Library has been offering curbside pickup of library materials, electronic resources and online webinars since it closed last March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with the decrease in the region’s COVID-19 positivity rate, the library opened for grab-and-go service on Feb. 1 and will continue to offer virtual educational programming.

Patrons can now browse and check out books at the library and use computers for an hour per day. People can still make use of the curbside pickup option or request a book bundle for children and teens, where librarians gather a personalized set of books for pickup...

Patrons can access ebooks, movies, music and other e-resources through the library’s website using apps such as Libby and Kanopy. The library also offers virtual programming nearly every day of the week for children, teens and adults.

Full article here.

Other Local Library News:

Smile Politely highlighted two upcoming public webinar events at the University's Grainger Engineering library on AI and quantum computing:

The research enterprise of The Grainger College of Engineering, driven by our faculty, staff, and students, has transformed the world. Join Dean Rashid Bashir and our expert faculty to learn how our AI and quantum research is being practically applied in our ever-changing world. These webinars will include faculty presentations and a live Q & A.

Full article here. More information on the events at the Grainger facebook event page here.

WICS noted that the Urbana Free Library was one of many libraries across the state to receive a bit of additional funding for COVID related expenses.

Libraries could apply for up to $500 each to address the proper handling of library materials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This money can also be used to purchase cleaning supplies and PPE, such as masks and acrylic barriers.

Full article here.

CU Books To Prisoners still has a couple days left of its current book drive. The Graduate Employees' Organization was in the news for teaming up with organization for that book drive. From the Daily Illini:

The Graduate Employee Organization’s mutual aid society is holding a book drive from Jan. 24 until Feb. 14 to support Urbana-Champaign Books 2 Prisoners, an organization dedicated to providing books to incarcerated individuals in Illinois.

Books 2 Prisoners is an Illinois based project which provides books to incarcerated individuals for free via mail and county jail libraries...

Drop off locations include the Orchard Downs main office, GEO Office, School of Information Sciences at Illinois, IMC and Common Ground Food Coop.

Full article here. Smile Politely had a list of other locations here as well. More information at the CU Books to Prisoners website, including an upcoming Virtual Auction and Raffle.