January 2021
The Library building is temporarily closed for general use. Click here to learn more about services available.
The Library will close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, be closed all day Friday, January 1, and be closed all day Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Corner Bookmark
Take-Home Kit
January 1 and January 15
All Day

Make your own corner bookmark with this take-home craft kit! Already made one? After the 1st and 15th of every month, you can get a new and different corner bookmark. Collect them all! (First come, first serve. Available while supplies last.)

Call 217-367-4057 to schedule a Curbside Pickup. Just ask for the Corner Bookmark Kit.
Family Craft Kit
Saturday, January 2
All Month

Need a craft or something fun to make? Schedule Curbside Pickup to get this kit!

Come to the Library to take home an activity kit. Call 217-367-4057 to schedule a Curbside Pickup. Just ask for the Family Activity Kit. (Available while supplies last).
Online Chess Club for Kids
Saturdays
January 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Zoom

Come play chess online!

Join TUFL staff and volunteers for Virtual Chess Club on Saturdays from 3:30-5 p.m. 
We will use the free website lichess.org to play together. Lichess.org 
requires an account to be created by someone who is 18+ years old. Please have a parent or guardian create the account before we meet.

Register here:
Books and Bounces!
Tuesdays
January 5, 12, 19, & 26
10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Zoom

Join us for Books and Bounces!, a special Zoom edition of Babies’ Lap Time for babies and their caregivers.

As with our in-person baby programs, we’ll practice early literacy skills in a playful, supportive environment filled
with bounces, music, rhymes, and of course, books! We can’t wait to see
you there!  

Register here:
Teen Book Club
Tuesdays
January 5, 12, 19, & 26
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Zoom

Join our teen book club where members get to choose the books that we read!

Have a book you want to discuss? Let us know and we'll add it to the list! And if you don't have a copy of the book already, we'll provide one for you.
Each week, we discuss a section of the book we're currently reading. Discussions are casual and fun, so come by to hang out and talk about great books! During January we'll be reading The School for Good and Evil book one by Chainani Soman and then Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick.

If you’d like to know what book we’re on or need a copy, please email jkahle@urbanafree.org.

Register here:
Crafty Story Time
Wednesdays
January 6, 13, 20, & 27 • 10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Zoom

Join us for the Zoom edition of Crafty Story Time for young children from ages 2-5! As with our in-person story time programs, we'll practice early literacy skills in a playful, supportive environment filled with music, rhymes, active learning, and of course, books! We'll also have a fun craft. All you'll need are scissors, paper, glue, and crayons. We can’t wait to see you there!

Register here:
PreK Tales
Thursdays
January 7, 14, 21, & 28
10:00 - 10:20 a.m.
Zoom

Join us for the Zoom edition of Preschool Story Time! As with our in-person preschool programs, we'll practice pre-reading skills in a playful, supportive environment filled with music, rhymes, active learning, and of course, books! We can’t wait to see you there!

Register here:
Teen Online Lab
Thursdays
January 7, 14, 21, & 28
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Zoom

Join Teen Librarians for fun projects and activities! Staff from the CU Fab Lab will join us most weeks. Make sure to register in advance, because some projects will require picking up a pre-made kit from the Library before the program begins. 

To join Teen Online Lab you must register online. We'll send you the Zoom information using the email you use to register.

Click here to register and to read more about the weekly activities:
Sock Puppets with Sal!
Saturday, January 16
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Zoom

Join Sal the Sock Puppet to learn how to make your own sock puppet!

Zoom makes a perfect "stage" for puppet fun - join the Library's resident sock puppet to find out how! Registration is required to receive the Zoom link, and sock puppet packets for pre-registered participants will be available for a Curbside Pickup appointment beginning Saturday, January 9th. 

Call 217-367-4057 to schedule an appointment.

Young Artist's Studio:
Kids Learn to DJ!
Sunday, January 17
3:00 - 3:45 p.m.
Zoom
For children ages 5 to 11 and their families.

Join us for the next VIRTUAL installment of our Young Artist’s Studio with local artist Ja'Naea Modest AKA DJ Silkee, who will introduce our young participants to the world of DJing! We'll explore how to create beats, record, and spin! Each young participant will have a chance to test their DJ skills!

The Young Artist's Studio is a series of art workshops sponsored by The Urbana Free Library and The Urbana Arts & Culture Program designed to offer youth an opportunity to explore the arts. All events in the series are free and open to the public. 

We can’t wait to see you there! Please register here. We’ll email a link and a phone number to the email you provide in your registration so that you can join us online with Zoom.
Melting Snowman Dough
Saturday, January 23
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Zoom

Need a fun indoor activity? Create some snowman dough!

Make a mushy snowman in the comfort of your own home at this online Zoom program. Register for this event and pick up your snowman dough kit (available after January 1st). Then join the Zoom meeting to make the melting snowman dough together with a librarian! (Max 20 registrants) You will receive your Zoom link on the day of the program.

Note to Parents: This program is messy, so please be aware to have your child participate in an area that is easy to clean up! Also, you will need the following, which are not included in the kit: a bowl (preferably ceramic or glass) and a spoon.

Call 217-367-4057 to schedule a Curbside Pickup appointment and ask for The Melting Snowman Kit.

Wonder what else is happening at
The Urbana Free Library?
Follow us on social media: