Beautiful library with a great little coffee shop, gorgeous patio & lots of amenities. They have EQUIPMENT LOAN so you can check out items like binoculars, multimeters, etc. Their selection of new, hardcover best sellers is amazing. Their periodicals are current. Music & video libraries are extensive. There are box sets from popular musicians as well as the usual jazz & classical. Checkout limits are high, and they have online renewal. Their special events are cool & well thought out. For example, today they're having a food truck rally in the parking lot, with DJs spinning records from the library's music selection. I've spent most of my life in the land of low taxes (and non-existent public services because of it). The move to CU was jarring because our property tax bill went from $500 a year to $5000/a year. HOWEVER, this library, along with the transit & park systems, make us VERY HAPPY to pay the higher taxes. It is hard to overestimate the importance of reading, music & the arts (says the engineer). read more

The quiet zone is anything but quiet, and the primary offenders are employees of the library itself. The noisiest employee of all was the loudmouth manning the desk/counter at the edge of the quiet zone. He was too lazy to walk to where people were, so he'd just talk loud/almost shout across the room whenever he needed to communicate. I didn't expect anything else from a library in central Illinois. read more

A nice library. Friendly staff. Friend stopped in to pick up some info for school so I tagged along to explore tbe library. A nice travel section, better then my local library. Plenty of study tables and place to sit. Clean bathrooms. read more

The Urbana Free Library - Libraries Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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I love this library way too much! In my opinion, it's way better than the University library because it reminds me of the neighborhood library growing up. Things are really easy to find. I love the how to books but my favorite section has to be the documentaries upstairs. I must admit, I terribly miss the vhs section from back in the day. The dvds and cds tend to get scratched up easily. read more

The Urbana Free Library - Cup sizes. - Libraries Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Fairly good library. The parking lot has parking meters unfortunately though. read more

The Urbana Free Library - Libraries Near Me - Urbana, Illinois

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Despite the University's extensive library system, this is probably the nicest library in the area. The outside is beautiful, with blue striped verandas and ivy covered walls, and the inside has a nice coffee shop. The is an extensive selection of DVDs, which are popular enough that there are crowds perusing them during the weekend. Also, if you want a more recent popular book, often UFL will have it before the University because the latter is more focused on academic tomes. It's also a good place to study and most students are unaware of how nice it is, so it is less crowded compared to other nice study hubs. read more

I am in library school at U of I (but I live in Chicago), so I checked this place out during an on-campus class weekend. It was awesome--what I think a library should be! And it was busy! I had coffee and read a few magazines. Everyone was very friendly, and the atmosphere was very comfortable. Besides... it is called the "Urbana FREE Library." All public libraries are "free" but their title suggests something else... something that reflects Urbana itself. Very nice folks, A+. read more

Excellent library. Here's why: 1. There's a cafe. Other public libraries have Keurig machines where you pay $1 for a styrafoam cup of coffee. Urbana Free Library has an actual coffee shop where you can get espresso drinks, brewed coffee, pastries (including GIGANTIC brownies), and pre-made sandwiches. 2. Their DVD section is huge, and nicely organized. Includes a great selection of full seasons of various TV shows. Including Daria. Woo! 3. The really important part: they have great books. Something in the New Books area always catches my eye. Great selection of sci-fi novels (including an almost comprehensive collection of Philip K Dick novels) and general fiction. 4. Graphic novels. They have them. Lots of them. Honestly, more than I've seen at any other library. And they have an excellent, varied selection, ranging from mainstream Marvel to underground comix printed by Fantagraphics and other smaller presses. Seriously, amazing. 5. The staff are helpful...and plentiful! There are plenty of library staff and if you need help with something, you're sure to find someone who can help you without having to wait in line forever. 6. It's an overall lovely place. You will feel happier the moment you walk in the door. read more

This library saved me when I was down in Urbana getting my MSW. I went in there my first week with my mom (yes wonderful mom helped me move in when i went to grad school) and we both went "ooooooooo" and my mom even mentioned that this library put her fancy schmancy library in california to shame. it is huge, brightly lit and the people that work there? super helpful and nice. for the next two years, i was able to borrow FULL seasons of tv shows (i started with monk, the office, the entire run of gilmore girls...) and the waiting list was not that bad. it was wonderful! and uh...FREE! also they were really quick on requested books and cds as well. i got new cds pretty quickly. the new book section of the library provided me with great new (and librarian suggested) books that i may not have picked up. the magazine section was stellar. when i was there, there was a new little coffee shop owned by a very nice couple. they were always there with a smile and sometimes with their cute little baby. i miss you Urbana free library. read more

I've always been amazed when I come here. They have everything I could want in a library and more. That said, I am always a visitor, not a resident. So to me, as a child...this place was like the grand daddy of all libraries. Grandma and my parents would take us here, we'd grab a book or two, maybe a video to enjoy while we stayed with her. They had...EVERYTHING. I remember loving the children's area as a child. They had so many books! And you could sit there and read them in an area just for kids! Now, as an adult, they have so many books I'd love to read (I remember during one visit, making copies out a recipe book I couldn't find by me lol)! And more movies than I could ever watch during my lifetime! It's a great library! (And as mentioned in another review, I am spoiled when it comes to libraries...I'm kind of a library snob.) And the librarians are always super helpful, which is great. read more

I love this place. And the coffee shop (Latte Da) is my favorite coffee shop in the area as well. Some of the baristas could use a little training though... The library is so quaint and has several different rooms that will definitely allow you to get some peace and quiet! I have seen some SUPER WEIRD people lurking around here though, inside and out, so beware! It seems like a safe place though, generally. Also, you do have to pay for parking there Mon-Fri 8-4, but 25 cents will get you an entire hour. read more

Um, amazing? Beautiful grounds, free wireless, a little coffee shop inside as well as a friendly staff and great porch for just kickin' back? Nice job, Urbana. read more

We had a couple of hours between motel checkout and outdoor wedding arrival, and needed a place to get some work accomplished. We're glad we stopped by the UFL. The parking lot on the south side was almost full, but we managed to find a place. As we entered, a friendly staff member greeted us, asked if she could help, and gave us a mini-orientation to library services. The reading room wasn't exceptionally large, but had good seating, free wi-fi, and offered access to a wide variety of newspapers and magazines and a small café. The restroom was large and clean, not something that I usually find in an urban library. The architecture was lovely, inside and out. I can't disagree with the folks who posted five-star ratings: UFL looks like a gem in the crown of Urbana. read more

One very good little library hidden in downtown Urbana! It's a beautiful structure and probably looks amazing this time of year! With a cafe inside, you can grab yourself some coffee and enjoy the many little nooks to study or read in! They have small conference rooms, open tables to study and even a quiet room! You can enjoy the outdoor patio in front when the weather is nice and when you're ready to return your books, there are quick drop off stations in front. read more

My community library- love it! Board game second Saturdays, coffee shop, great selection and wonderful staff.

Very nice library. Especially with the new expansion a few years ago, the space has greatly improved. Great selection of books, music, dvds, etc. The one thing that I do NOT understand is why they still have paper cards for the media items. It seems like a waste of time and energy. You have to collect the cards then give them to someone who then has to find the items while you wait. Instead, they should just follow the example at the Champaign Library and have you pick out the actual dvds, cds, etc and then check them out. If the Urbana library is worried about people stealing the media items, that shouldn't be an issue because it would sound off alarms. I just don't understand why they still have this system. It seems absolutely pointless. read more

This is the kind of place that makes you feel good about the community you live in. It is a haven and a community center. We have two kids (1 and 4) so that shades this review. After visiting the main branches of the New York City and Boston public libraries while traveling in the last few months, the UFL comes out as the clear winner as far as children go. Those cities can't compete. If you have kids visiting from out of town, this is the first place to take them that is indoors. They have fine programs from little ones, great toys, a freakin toy train table, cozy booth tables, a massive, multi-lingual selection of books, internet stations, even a creative play area, parenting books. Great. read more

Hard to imagine a better library to grow up in! I used to think of it as a little castle with beautiful vines growing across its stone exterior. I still do. It's changed over the years, but has maintained a similar vibe. Much Love! read more

It's a beautiful building and has a wonderful children's library, reference librarians, sci-fi and fantasy selection, teen books, dvds, magazines, etc. And a small cafe, too. I almost never go to the bookstore anymore. I just look stuff up on their online catalog, get it put on hold for me at the front desk, and pick it up. Also, interlibrary loan has saved me tons of money by providing me with so many items. read more

A fantastic community library in the heart of downtown Urbana. It's in a great, older, traditional stone building; appropriate considering they were founded in 1874. These crack librarians can help you find information quickly, sometimes without even consulting the computer. They house a wide collection of subjects in books, and the CD and movie choices are extensive. You truly do not need a Blockbuster membership if you live in Urbana! It's also quite comfortable. They offer many classes and kids' programs. So many reasons to check it out. read more

This is a beautiful library with a wide selection of books, movies and CDs along with a coffeeshop. It is also located conveniently near Urbana's downtown. My complaint however is that this library is always noisy. Urban kids and people who seem unemployed hang out here and many of them are totally loud and at times obnoxious. There is a very tiny room that is silent but the rest of the library is fair game for people to essentially be as loud as they want and the staff don't assert any type of intervention. A beautiful library that is unfortunately LOUD. read more

Fantastic, local, neighbourhood library! There are of course so many books, videos, music, etc. But did you know you can check out ebooks too? There are games, periodicals, friendly staff, a café, nooks & crannies for reading. Bike parking is ample & not cramped (both are important to me). There's a book drop for those late-night returns. A bus stop is just steps away & so is downtown. As if all that isn't enough, you can check out materials from other areas libraries as well via interlibrary loan. Especially if you're a resident, don't miss out on this gem! read more

This library and the two Champaign Public libraries are awesome. But whereas the main Champaign library is modern, Urbana is in a historical building with lots of charm. There is always plenty of staff to help. The reference librarian is always helpful. But, by far, this place has the best children's library I've ever been too. It is isolated from the rest of the library, has lots of games. puzzles and educational toys for kids and the staff for the children are very well selected for the department. They put on so many great programs. They also except donated books. I find the "quiet room" on the main floor to be exactly that. I have never gone there to study, though, so can't rate it on how it fairs for distractions in that realm. Has a coffee shop. Participates in e-book lending. read more

I love you so much, little library. I love your cafe and your wifi and your quiet reading room and your eReader loans and how well your librarians hide their contempt when I check out Lisa Kudrow movies. Never change. read more

The Urbana "Fee" Library does have a vast selection of dvds but there is a problem: everything you actually want to check out has already been checked out, and while you can wait list anything you will most likely wait a month. But since this is a free community service that is not my real complaint. My real complaint is that the library has no real quiet place, as every good library should and does have. One piddly study room, which is not sound proof, is not enough for any modern library. The building was just recently renovated, how could they forget to add study rooms? On the plus side, it is a nice place to browse and check out what they do have on the shelves and the staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

OMG I LOVE THIS PLACE! Over the years, "The" Urbana Free Library has undergone several face lifts but I just love coming here. Growing up, I cannot count the number of times I went to the Urbana Free Library to do homework, to browse through isles after isles of books, to pick up a movie to watch... read more

A great place for teens to hangout after school in the open lab - they have a 3D printer, sticker cutters, recording equipment, art drawing tablets and games! read more

I love this library. It is directly on a bus line and close to downtown Urbana. This library not only has a great selection of books, they also have internet and tons of corners to study in. The staff is also excellent. I was trying to find a specific magazine a few weeks ago and it turned out that they had gone out of business. No matter though, the lady at the help desk went in the back and pulled me a huge stack that they had taken from the shelves. Great service and always friendly and helpful. read more

This library has every book you could ever dream of. Growing up there were never libraries as nice as this so it is always exciting to walk in and see all of the options available. There is a place to get coffee here that my husband will read the news at while I find a book. The staff is always very pleasant. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. I could hang out here all day.

Worst lib ever...I got woken up bc apparently sleeping in this godforsaken place is prohibited! What on earth?! How am I supposed to be a productive member of society without a f*cking nap? Not to mention, napping is the one of the few things that brings me (and many other people) joy in life. SO not cool. 0/10 would not recommend! read more

Great library. It has a solid selection of movies. They also stock mutliple hardcovers of new books so there's a greater chance you can get the book you want. The coffee shop is also pretty good. read more

The librarians there are about as rude as ever but other than that it is a pretty decent place to hang out with friends.