Champaign Public Library
🏢 Champaign Public Library · Champaign, Illinois
Champaign Public Library
Champaign Public Library, housed in a 2008 Ross Barney Architects building at the heart of the University of Illinois college town, pairs a world-class academic community with a fully public makerspace, recording studios, and laser cutters in its 8,000-square-foot Studio — open to anyone with a free library card.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM – 9 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | 12 PM – 6 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 200 West Green Street, CHAMPAIGN, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 403-2070
Website: champaign.org
Plus Code: 86GH4Q63+3J (CHAMPAIGN, IL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Champaign Public Library
Champaign Public Library traces its origins to 1868, when the private Champaign Library Association opened a small reading room with roughly 300 books. The City of Champaign formally established the public library on July 21, 1876, after the Association donated its collection, and the institution grew steadily through the philanthropic Burnham Athenaeum era into a modern two-branch system. The current Main Library at 200 W. Green Street opened in 2008, designed by Chicago firm Ross Barney Architects, offering three times the floor space of its predecessor. In 2023, the library opened The Studio, an 8,000-square-foot creative technology space on the lower level featuring 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutters, Cricut machines, sewing machines, two sound-dampening recording booths with professional-grade equipment, and Mac workstations with Adobe Creative Cloud — all free with a library card. The Douglass Branch at 504 E. Grove Street serves the east side of Champaign, and in 2025 a Makerspace also opened there.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Current Main Library designed by Ross Barney Architects (2008), with three times the space of its predecessor at 200 W. Green St.
- The Studio (opened 2023): 8,000-sq-ft makerspace with 3D printers, Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut, sewing machines & recording booths
- Open five days a week until 9 PM — the only public library in Champaign County with regular evening hours through Friday
- Founded 1876 — one of Illinois' oldest continuously operating public libraries, with roots to an 1868 reading room
- Two branches: Main Library (200 W. Green St.) & Douglass Branch (504 E. Grove St., with its own Makerspace since 2025)
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free Champaign Public Library card connects you to Illinois statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- The Studio: 3D printing, Glowforge laser cutter, Cricut machines, sewing machines, recording booths (Main Library)
- Makerspace (Douglass Branch, opened 2025)
- Book-a-Librarian consultations (30–60 min, free)
- Meeting rooms including 120-seat auditorium
- FriendShop Bookstore (lower level, Wed–Sun 1–4 PM)
- Library Café
- Print from Anywhere (remote printing)
- Public computers & Wi-Fi
- Curbside & home delivery services
- Interlibrary loan (ILL)
🎸 Programs
- Writer's Workshop
- Book clubs & Reading Challenges
- Author events & literary talks
- Tech workshops & LinkedIn Learning sessions
- Early childhood story times & family programs
- Career and business services
📍 Nearby Libraries in East-Central Illinois
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in CHAMPAIGN · Browse all Illinois libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do in The Studio at Champaign Public Library?
The Studio is an 8,000-square-foot creative technology space on the lower level of the Main Library, open to anyone with a free Champaign Public Library card. Equipment includes 3D printers (submit files online, $0.15/gram for filament), a Glowforge Pro laser cutter, Cricut cutting machines with heat press and mug press, Bernina sewing machines, two private recording booths with Mac Studios, professional microphones, MIDI keyboards, and audio interfaces. The Studio also has Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 gaming stations, Canon mirrorless camera kits, and large-format printing. Select equipment requires a reservation of up to 2 hours; others are first-come, first-served. The Studio is open Saturdays 9 AM–6 PM, Sundays 12–6 PM, and Thursdays & Fridays 5–8 PM.
What is the history of the Champaign Public Library building at 200 W. Green Street?
The current Main Library opened in 2008, designed by Chicago firm Ross Barney Architects. It provides three times the floor space of the previous building on Randolph Street, which had served the community since 1977. The library's roots stretch back to 1868, when a private reading room opened on Main Street; the City of Champaign officially established the public library on July 21, 1876. The Burnham Athenaeum, a gift from banker A.C. Burnham, opened in 1896 and housed the collection for decades before the modern buildings were built.
Does Champaign Public Library have a branch? Can I use both locations?
Yes. The Champaign Public Library operates two branches: the Main Library at 200 W. Green Street (the full-service flagship with The Studio) and the Douglass Branch at 504 E. Grove Street on the east side of the city (opened 1972 at its current address, updated 1997; Makerspace added 2025). Both locations share the same catalog and borrowing system — one card works at both branches. Douglass Branch hours are Monday–Thursday 10 AM–8 PM, Friday 10 AM–6 PM, and Saturday 10 AM–4 PM.
Does Champaign Public Library offer recording studio access? What equipment is available?
Yes. The Studio at the Main Library has two private, sound-dampened recording booths equipped with Mac Studios, Adobe Audition and Premiere, professional microphones, MIDI keyboards, and audio interfaces — suitable for podcasting, voiceover work, music recording, and video production. Booths can be reserved for up to 2–3 hours and are free with a library card. Camera kits with Canon mirrorless cameras, green screens, LED lights, and tripods are also available. Visit champaign.org or call (217) 403-2070 to reserve.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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