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Events & Activities

Senior Treats and Topics

Date: 
December 15, 2022 - 10:00am

Join The Urbana Free Library for this laid-back gathering together to discuss issues facing seniors — from veterans' benefits, to insurance, to how to navigate self-care.

Details:

-Treats provided.

-No registration required. This program is free and open to the public.

-Cosponsored by Brookdale Senior Living and The Urbana Free Library.

Young Artist's Studio: Puppet Show! The Dragon Who Lived Downstairs

Date: 
December 4, 2022 - 2:00pm

Join us for a fun-filled musical puppet show for all ages!

"Once upon a time, in a kingdom far away..."

So begins the story of The Dragon Who Lived Downstairs. This magical children's tale will be told by Anne Newman of Puppetfolk Productions. This event will include a puppet-show and a create-your-own-puppet workshop. Come early — just before the show begins — to meet Anne's variety marionettes.

About the Show:

The Dragon Who Lived Downstairs was presented as a live puppet show only once in 1984 by puppeteer, Burr Tillstrom of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie fame. He wrote the script and performed the show himself.

Sadly, Burr Tillstrom passed away before the show could be filmed. His puppets, The Kuklapolitan Players, are housed at the Chicago History Museum. In accordance with the puppeteer's wishes, his puppets cannot be copied, however, Anne has created her own unique puppets to play the characters in the show, and the Burr Tillstrom Foundation has granted her permission to perform with the original recording of The Dragon Who Lived Downstairs.

Songs Are Like Tattoos with Poet Elizabeth Majerus

Date: 
December 3, 2022 - 4:00pm

Come enjoy a poetry reading and book release at The Urbana Free Library!

Elizabeth Majerus’ newly released poetry book, Songs Are Like Tattoos, draws on Joni Mitchell’s classic 1971 album Blue. Follow the sounds of Joni’s album in the Library’s front reading rooms and join us for an evening of moving and innovative poetry. About the Author: Elizabeth Majerus is a poet, musician, and educator and she lives in Urbana, Illinois with her family. Her poems have been published most recently in Another Chicago Magazine, The Madison Review, and Rhino Poetry. She is one-third of the band Motes.

Notable Reviews:

“If you enjoy music, or have ears and a pulse, you will love this book inspired by Joni Mitchell’s oeuvre, with poems that ‘put the needle in the groove’ and allow the reader to experience the way human relationships can ‘wreck [us] in the best way.’” — Author, Rebecca Fous

U-Cycle Thanksgiving Holiday Schedule 2022

Date: 
November 24, 2022 - 7:00am to November 26, 2022 - 5:00pm

Thanksgiving 2022 holiday U-Cycle reminder:

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 24, the Thursday U-Cycle route will be collected on Friday, November 25, and the Friday U-Cycle route will be collected on Saturday, November 26.

 

Please place recycling curbside prior to 7:00 a.m. to ensure collection. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Questions may be directed to U-Cycle at (217) 384-2302

TUFL Online Chess Club for Kids

Date: 
November 19, 2022 - 3:30pm

Join TUFL staff and volunteers for Virtual Chess Club on Saturdays from 3:30-5pm.  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. To join the event you must register here through the Library's event calendar.  We'll email you information about how to join the event (a link and phone number) to the email you provide in your registration. The Library is committed to making programs accessible for all. If you need an accommodation to attend a program, please let the Library know at least two weeks in advance. To request an accommodation, contact the Programming and Outreach Manager via email at programming@urbanafree.org or via phone at 217-367-4057.