ExperienceGuide2023 - 48

Book Lovers Haven
The Champaign-Urbana area, home to the second largest library system in the country, provides
a rich experience for book lovers. Our vibrant and walkable city is home to several independent
book shops. In downtown Champaign, Jane Addams Book Shop is three floors " booked-solid "
of used books. With cozy nooks on each floor, it's easy to get lost in the stacks of books, filled
with hidden treasures. On the same block, The Literary is a new space combining a bookstore
with a café and wine bar. With numerous book readings, signings, and inclusive events, the space
welcomes all. In Monticello, 20 miles west of Champaign, you can shop from the woman-owned
Hartfield Book Company, carefully curated with titles for the most voracious readers. Take your
books out to Allerton Park & Retreat Center and check out the historic library in the mansion,
complete with floor to ceiling books, or read in their formal gardens resplendent with art.
Our library system is second to none and is ideal for visitors looking for a quiet space. The
Champaign Public Library was awarded 4 stars by Library Journal and is in the top 3%
nationwide. This impressive space is state-of-the-art while also providing engaging opportunities
for all, hosting over 100 events each month. The Urbana Free Library is home to the Champaign
County Historical Archives containing a vast collection documenting life in the area back to
1830. With the vast library system on the University of Illinois campus, visitors are encouraged to
discover the many spaces. Of note is the Rare Book and Manuscript Library with the largest
collection of rare books and manuscripts in the United States with nearly 500,000 volumes
and just over two linear miles of manuscript material. The collection covers Medieval and
Renaissance manuscripts, early printed books, English Literature, American wit and humor, free
speech movements and so much more. They host a number of exhibits and events throughout the
year.
Several authors have called Champaign-Urbana home including David Foster Wallace, Richard
Powers, Rebecca Caudill, and dozens more.
Book lovers will find a haven in Champaign-Urbana, filled with thinkers and innovators, creativity
and passion for art and culture.
Champaign Public Library
The Literary
48 Official Champaign-Urbana Area Experience Guide

https://www.janeaddamsbooks.com/ https://www.literarybookbar.com/ https://www.hartfieldbookco.com/ https://allerton.illinois.edu/ https://champaign.org/ https://urbanafreelibrary.org/ https://www.champaigncountymuseums.org/champaign-co-historical-archives https://www.champaigncountymuseums.org/champaign-co-historical-archives https://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/ https://www.janeaddamsbooks.com/

ExperienceGuide2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ExperienceGuide2023