“The Champaign Public Library is my BEST friend!”

by Kimberly T., October 2007

To be honest, I hadn’t darkened the door of a library since my college days, over 10 years ago! I had become burned out by the many years of being forced to read books I didn’t choose. The truth is, I hadn’t been to the library for the sole purpose of recreational reading since I was a kid!

But in October of 2005, I found myself here in Champaign, newly relocated from the South with not a friend in sight and our family in financial duress. When money is tight, moms have to get creative in coming up with new, fun activities for their kids. So, one day, it occurred to me that maybe it would be fun to see what the library had for toddlers. What I found was more than just books and it was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and a welcome escape for a weary, lonely mom!

The first day I visited the Champaign Public Library was an eye-opener for me! To think that I could obtain a library card FREE of charge, was beyond belief. (When I was a kid, we had always had to pay for our cards.) FREE access to any book under the sun? This was too good to be true.

The next hour or so passed quickly as I found myself lost in the rows and rows of books. It was intoxicating. I realized there was a treasure trove of adventure, information and inspiration in those shelves, just waiting to be uncovered. I also realized what a wonderful gift it was to be able to borrow anything and everything I wished to, with the swipe of my new library card! I hurried to checkout, where more wonderful surprises awaited me.

The library assistant that checked me out informed me of so many other services that were available, including online book requests and renewal, catalogue search and even email reminders of soon-to-be-due books! How wonderful! As the assistant handed me a print out receipt of all the books I’d checked out, I just about fell over! The last time I was at the library, they were still using the date stamps on the cards inside! This was indeed a completely NEW library experience.

I walked away invigorated, enthused, inspired and excited! It was like Christmas morning.

Since that first visit, I have been back numerous times and each time I have found new gems to read, browse and enjoy and I have revived my love of reading, which is a real treat. My family has been through a lot of hardship over the past two years we’ve lived here in Central Illinois, but the books I’ve been able to borrow and the music and videos too, have greatly enhanced my life and my toddler son’s as well. Going to the library is now one of our special things we do together.

We have enjoyed the many resources of the Champaign Public Library and the opportunity to have access to them. I can only hope, when we relocate, that the local public library will be just as wonderful a friend as the Champaign Public Library has been to me. Thank you!