Urbana Free Library reports rising use, begins renovation work

Talia Abdullah, executive director of the Urbana Free Library, presented the library’s fiscal 2025 annual report to the Urbana City Council on Aug. 25, highlighting increased visits and circulation, deferred-maintenance work and expanded archival access. Abdullah told the council the library recorded more than 234,000 visits during fiscal 2025 and total circulation — combining physical and electronic materials — of 653,354 items. She said the library loaned more than 600,000 physical items and nearly 170,000 electronic items, and that more than 2,700 teens used library programs during the year. The report matters because it documents how the library is serving residents and details ongoing facility needs, Abdullah said. She pointed to recent facilities work — replacement of an aging east air handler unit, conversion of the landline phone system to VoIP, low‑maintenance landscaping and the selection of Barber and Diatley as general contractor for a renovation that began Aug. 18 — as steps to preserve the building that houses those services. Abdullah also highlighted work in the Champaign County Historical Archives, noting staff and volunteers processed the News Gazette archives (more than 300 boxes of clippings), added over 7,000 items to the local history online catalog and received digital collections such as “Queer Nightlife in Champaign–Urbana, Illinois (1973–February).” She credited partnerships with University of Illinois groups, local arts organizations and two supporting 501(c)(3) groups, the Friends of the Urbana Free Library and the Friends of the Library Foundation, for broadening programs and outreach. Council members did not take formal action on the report; comments from council were brief expressions of welcome and thanks to Abdullah for presenting. Abdullah closed by saying the library will align programming and planning with the Imagine Urbana comprehensive plan and will continue to pursue inclusivity and visibility for the library and its archives. For fiscal 2026 planning, the library director stressed tracking both circulation and how people use library spaces in person and online, and asked the council for continued support as renovation work proceeds.