Urbana Free Library

What Urbana Free Library does

The Urbana Free Library is a tax-supported public library founded in 1874 and located at 210 West Green Street in Urbana, Illinois. It serves approximately 38,000 residents with a free-access model, providing physical and digital collections, research databases, community programming, and local history services. The library employs around 70 staff (27 full-time) and circulates more than 650,000 items annually, hosts 450+ programs per year, and welcomes over 155,000 patron visits. Its operations are governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council, with funding derived primarily from property and personal property replacement taxes, state grants, and allocations from the City of Urbana and Champaign County.

The library's core technology stack is built on standard public-library infrastructure: the shared CU Catalog on the Polaris integrated library system (ILS), a proprietary TUFL mobile app for iOS and Android, and third-party digital lending platforms including Libby/Overdrive (eBooks, audiobooks, magazines), Kanopy (streaming video, 20 tickets/month as of October 2025), and Comics Plus (digital comics, launched November 2025). Self-built systems handle curbside pickup scheduling and meeting room reservations, while Omeka powers digital exhibits and Beanstack supports reading challenge tracking. The Champaign County Historical Archives, housed partly at an offsite Tepper Building storage location, maintains 6,130 linear feet of historical records and represents a significant differentiator.

Revenue is generated primarily through government funding (FY2025 general fund budget of $5,268,823), supplemented by donations through The Urbana Free Library Foundation (501(c)(3) since 1997), Friends of the Library book sales, Cherry Alley paver personalization ($150), late fines, and special-event fundraising such as the Giant Desk Concert. The library's go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer: in-person service at the main library, curbside pickup, mobile app access, school-based bundle delivery to USD 116 Schools, and joint programming with Champaign Public Library and MTD. Programming spans all ages, including Summer Reading, the What's Your Story? Artist-in-Residence program, weekly maker spaces, and signature events such as the Fairy Tale Ball and Book Madness.

Name

Urbana Free Library

Legal name

The Urbana Free Library

Website

https://urbanafreelibrary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1874

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Urbana Free Library is a tax-supported public library founded in 1874 in Urbana, Illinois, serving approximately 38,000 residents with physical and digital collections, 450+ annual programs, local history archives, and free community services including eBook lending, streaming media, and cultural programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Library Services

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (519210), Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Libraries & Information Services (BPAIACAO), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Public library services
• Digital lending platform
• Community programming
• Historical archives
• Educational resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Urbana

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (Property Taxes): Primary funding from property and personal property replacement taxes, state grants, and allocations from City of Urbana and Champaign County. Total budgeted revenue for FY 2025 in the general fund is $5,268,823.
2. Library Services Fees: Fees for various library services including late fines, replacement card fees, and service charges
3. Donations and Private Contributions: Donations through direct contributions, Friends of the Library book sales, and Foundation fundraising including Cherry Alley pavers ($150 per paver)
4. Book Sales and Special Events: Proceeds from book sales support purchase of library materials and programs; special events like Giant Desk Concert generate fundraising revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Urbana Free Library provides free public library services to Urbana, Illinois residents, including lending of physical collections (books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl, magazines) and digital media access via Libby, Kanopy, and Comics Plus. It also delivers community programming (Summer Reading, Artist-in-Residence, weekly programs, Fairy Tale Ball), research databases and learning platforms, archival research through the Champaign County Historical Archives, and reservable meeting and study spaces.

Product overview

Urbana Free Library is a public library system offering a unified portfolio of physical and digital services. Core offerings include physical collections (books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl, large print, magazines), library cards providing access to all services, and meeting/study room facilities. Digital services center on the CU Catalog (Polaris ILS) and TUFL mobile app for 24/7 access, complemented by Libby for eBooks/audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, and Comics Plus for digital comics. Specialized collections include the Library of Things with board games and the Seed Exchange. Programming includes Summer Reading, the What's Your Story? Artist-in-Residence Program, weekly programs for all ages, and annual events like Fairy Tale Ball and Book Madness. The Champaign County Historical Archives provides local history and genealogy research. The library's Foundation supports operations through donations, paver programs, and the Gift Match Challenge. Key partnerships include Explore More Illinois for cultural passes, Read + Ride with MTD for free transit during National Library Week, and Beanstack for reading program tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Curbside Pickup Service Contactless pickup service allowing patrons to request materials online and collect them in a designated parking space without entering the library. Available Monday-Thursday 10am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sunday 1pm-4pm.
• Library Cards Free library cards providing access to physical and digital collections, computer labs, programs, and services. Available to Urbana residents and Champaign-Urbana community members.
• Physical Collections Physical library materials including books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, large print materials, magazines, and newspapers across Adult, Teen, and Children's collections.
• Meeting Room Reservations Reservable meeting and study spaces including The Lewis Auditorium (capacity 130), Satterthwaite Conference Room (capacity 12), and two study rooms (capacity 8 each), available up to 60 days in advance.
• Library of Things Specialized collection of non-traditional items available for checkout including board games, seed packets, and other items for patron use.
• Seed Exchange Free seed library on the second floor where patrons can take up to 10 seed packets and donate harvested or store-bought seeds, with gardening resources from Solidarity Gardens CU.
• Research and Learning Databases Online research resources including Consumer Reports, Gale Virtual Reference Desk, LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, and The New York Times. Accessible in-library and at-home with library card.
• eBooks and Digital Collections Digital lending services including Libby (eBooks, audiobooks, magazines), Kanopy (streaming video), and Comics Plus (comics, manga, graphic novels). Approximately 10 checkouts per month through Libby with unlimited magazine borrows.
• Libby App (Overdrive) Ebook and audiobook lending platform allowing 10 checkouts per month with 7, 14, or 21-day loan periods. Supports offline downloads and Kindle sending.
• Kanopy Streaming Service Streaming video service offering 30,000+ films including critically acclaimed movies, documentaries, foreign films, and Kanopy Kids collection. Uses monthly ticketing system (20 tickets as of October 2025).
• Comics Plus Digital comics, manga, and graphic novel platform with three collections (Full, Teen, Children's). Unlimited checkouts with no holds or waitlists. Available via web and mobile app.
• Summer Reading Program Annual reading incentive program encouraging patrons of all ages to read during summer months. Participants track reading through Beanstack and earn prizes including free books, supported by Friends of the Library and Busey Bank.
• What's Your Story? Artist-in-Residence Program Visual arts residency program placing three artists per year in month-long residencies to facilitate workshops on personal storytelling through visual arts for all ages. Sponsored by Urbana Arts and Culture Program.
• Fairy Tale Ball Annual community event held at the library. The 15th Annual Fairy Tale Ball in 2023 welcomed 900 community members across all three floors for activities, crafts, and entertainment.
• Book Madness Annual bracket-style reading competition where community members vote on their favorite books across multiple rounds.
• Weekly Programs Regularly scheduled programming including Young Artist's Studio (grades K-5), Makerspace Jr. (grades K-5), Teen Open Lab (grades 6-12), Craft Happy Hour (adults), and Senior Treats and Topics (seniors).
• Books and More! Bundles Curated book bundle service, particularly for teachers, allowing requests by topic and age level with delivery to USD #116 schools or pickup at library. Includes thematic bundles on various subjects.
• Explore More Illinois Cultural pass program providing Illinois public library cardholders access to discounts at museums, park districts, historical societies, zoos, arts centers, and recreational facilities. Up to three active reservations per library card.
• Champaign County Historical Archives Local history and genealogy research center housed at the library, containing 6,130 linear feet of historical records and collections. Includes physical archives, digital exhibits on Omeka, and the Local History Online Catalog with reference services.
• CU Catalog (Polaris ILS) Integrated library system providing online catalog access for physical and digital materials, patron account management, holds, renewals, and database access. Shared with Champaign Public Library.
• TUFL Mobile App Free mobile application for iOS and Android providing 24/7 access to catalog search, holds placement, item renewals, event calendar, digital collection access, and online resources including research databases.
• Cherry Alley Arch and Pavers Personalized paver program through the Foundation allowing supporters to engrave commemorative bricks ($150) in the Cherry Alley walkway, a historic alley transformed into a garden plaza from Race Street to Green Street entrance.
• Freedom of Information Act Services FOIA request processing for public records including board meeting schedules, minutes, policies, employee information, financial records, and annual reports. FOIA Officers: Taliah Abdullah and Tina Carrington.
• Suggest a Purchase Title suggestion service allowing patrons to recommend items for the library collection in various formats (Book, CD, DVD, Audiobook, Vinyl, Board Games) for different collections (Adult, Teen, Children, Archives, All Ages).

Quantifiable outcome

• 650,000+ items circulated annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Looking for Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Presented Journey to Freedom: Illinois' Underground Railroad exhibit from January 15 through March 31, 2026
• Champaign County African American Heritage TrailmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026Collaborated on companion exhibits highlighting Underground Railroad stories with ties to east central Illinois history
• Engberg AndersonmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 June 2025Design firm partnered for partial first floor renovation project including redesigned Welcome Desk area, new carpet, paint, and furniture
• Barber & DeAtley, Inc.majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 June 2025Construction firm for partial first floor renovation project and Megan's Room remodel on ground floor
• Country Arbors NurserymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2024Local Urbana nursery designing and installing England Gardens landscaping with low-maintenance and native plants; Title Sponsor for Giant Desk Concert
• Country Arbors Nursery (Title Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 August 2024Title sponsor for Giant Desk Concert fundraising event
• Champaign Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming partner for National Library Week celebrations, Read + Ride with MTD, and Library Card Sign-Up Month promotions
• Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Read + Ride program offering free transit rides during National Library Week with library card
• Solidarity Gardens CUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gardening resources and food garden support; created resources page for home gardeners
• Champaign County Master GardenersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral partnership for gardening questions; provides webform for Master Gardener assistance
• The Atkins GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChapter sponsor for Giant Desk Concert
• Dr. G's BrainWorksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChapter sponsor for Giant Desk Concert
• MeijerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBookmark sponsor for Giant Desk Concert
• Friends of The Urbana Free LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit organization supporting library programs, materials purchases, and book sale donations
• USD 116 SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partnership for Books and More! Bundles delivery service and educational programming

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Champaign Public Library: The neighboring public library serving Champaign, IL. Shares the CU Catalog (Polaris ILS) and jointly runs programs such as Read + Ride and National Library Week; the most directly comparable peer given the overlapping service geography and shared ILS.
• Indianapolis Public Library: Midwestern public library system of similar size and scope, with comparable community programming, digital lending, and special collections. Useful operational peer for a Midwestern city of Urbana's size.
• Madison Public Library: Mid-sized public library serving Madison, WI, with strong programming, digital services, and a similar mix of historic and modern service offerings. Comparable in scale, community focus, and digital/physical hybrid model.
• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Mid-sized urban public library system with strong community programming, a 19th-century founding history, and significant local-history/archives holdings. Directly comparable in mission, mix of physical/digital services, and historic-nonprofit governance model.
• St. Louis Public Library: Historic public library in St. Louis, Missouri, operating with comparable municipal funding structures, broad community programming, and special/local history collections. Comparable governance and funding model.

Regional players

• Illinois State Library: State-level library agency coordinating Illinois public libraries, administering state grants, and supporting interlibrary loan. Operates in the same regulatory/funding ecosystem that supports Urbana Free Library.

Broad incumbents

• New York Public Library: One of the largest public library systems in the U.S., with extensive programming, research branches, and digital services. A broad incumbent reference for scaled library service models and foundation-supported fundraising.
• Chicago Public Library: Large Illinois public library system with broad programming, deep digital lending, and substantial special collections. A broader incumbent in the same state — useful for service-mix benchmarking but orders of magnitude larger.
• Boston Public Library: Historic, large-scale public library combining municipal funding with a private trust, running research and lending branches. Comparable funding-mix governance (public appropriations + private donations) to TUFL.

Others

• Reach Across Illinois Library System (RAILS): Regional library consortium providing shared services, continuing education, and resource sharing to Illinois public libraries including TUFL. Adjacent ecosystem participant that shapes service delivery and cost structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=urbanafree
• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanaFreeLibrary
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanafreelibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-urbana-free-library

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urbana Free Library