New Champaign Public Library (and Idle 2 A.M. Ramblings)
June 13th, 2008 by erb
New building, that is (see the floor plans). Sorta new, that is. They had their Grand Opening in January, but they’re only just now finishing up the final details. It’s been open for awhile, and I’m checking it out this weekend. And hopefully getting some quiet, solitary, zen-like time to focus on the computer (work, personal Mathematica time, blogging updates, web research, etc). Oh! And perhaps I’ll pick up a book, while I’m there?!?
The new building is easy on the eyes, too — at least the exterior. I’ll venture inside tomorrow. It’s nothing like the eyesore that is the Seattle Public Library. The only building I’ve ever been in that actually gave me a headache from walking around inside it (probably from my mind trying to deal with its 5 dimensional folding in my normal 4 dimensional space-time continuum). At any rate, I always thought it an incredible waste of space (interior). Which is arguably fine for a museum… but not for a library.
Their web site is done quite nicely! I really like it. Well laid out, very easy to navigate (both in presentation of content, and in dynamically navigating around), generally responsive (lagging websites irritate the hell out of me). I’m a sucker for simple but effective flashy CSS usage, and I definitely like their layout and highlighting of per-page contents and links (the boxed highlighting method, with the subtle text color changes). In fact… I’m thinking of diving into my erblog CSS to see if I there’s anything I can’t tweak to mimic this effect — but I don’t think there is, not really.
Dude! They’ve even implemented a very simple “+ or –” toggle icon button to change the text size of the main contents. Very simple, very effective. No need to use the browser font size change feature, which actually affects the entire page — and can thereby affect the CSS design layout. I like it.
I’m officially giving props to their web site designers, Humaniz Interactive. (Only one gripe: The site map is less than functional, but I feel that way about most site maps. For me, a site map should be some wonderful idyllic simplified page that in one glance can help you get anywhere. A tall order, indeed. I don’t think I’ve ever been satisfied. But I had my fingers crossed when I clicked on this one … alas, disappointment. It’s WAY too long. Disjoint. It’s not even alphabetized for easy “site’ing” — and this is for a Library!)
They’ve done a good job targeting for kids and teens, too. There’s some useful community related links available. But I found this exceedingly ironic: On the Media & Technology links page, there’s a category: Computer classes. With one link. Computer classes in CU. But don’t bother clicking it, since there’s no server behind it.
Oh Snap! I just noticed they have a “Latte Da! Cafe“! I don’t know why, but I smiled on the inside when I saw that. Perhaps a sign I’ve been feeling homesick for Seattle this week… And Malaika, and the anipals. At least I’ve (finally) found a place that makes decent coffee: Espresso Royale. A chain I had not heard of, there’s a smallish storefront just a block from work (I Choose Not To Drink the coffee they have there). Seven states, mostly mid-western, although Massachusetts is on that list too. They’re even (apparently) crunchy granola, with recycled cups renewable resources etc. It’s still not Seattle Good, but it’s Pretty Good. Oh my, that sounds so snobbish!
In general, all this recent goodness — new house, available coffee, decent restaurants downtown, and a shiny new library with a cafe — makes me reflect and be thankful we ended up in Champaign, and not Urbana, where I was initially thinking we might be happier — due to general politics, only. Downtown Urbana is just not that happening, not compared to Champaign, that I’ve seen. And a recent web site I stumbled upon only confirms this, generally and specifically: Bozo Urbana. If you haven’t seen it, it’s actually worth checking out. I recommend it! Short and to the point, as well. Not like this current blog post of mine :-).
So the only thing I really don’t like about Champaign — or Urbana, or anywhere around here, for that matter — are the drivers. Obnoxious, too fast, tail-gating, horn honking shitheads. But I’m giving the benefit of the doubt that most of these idiots are probably just all the stupid college kids? I’ve got a nagging feeling it’s not just that, though … An awful lot of redneck gas guzzling American trucks with the gas pedal to the floor ROAAAAAAARRRRING from a stop sign ……. to the next stop sign, a block away. And NOONE stops for people in crosswalks, outside of the UIUC campus neighborhoods. Grumble. DEFINITELY worse drivers than the worst of the Boston bunch. At least Boston drivers are simply aggressive, and efficient. They weren’t, as a rule, Assholes.
I’m missing the Seattle drivers right now :-). Especially since I walk around so much, and pedestrians actually have rights (and respect) in Seattle.
Ok, the noise outside seems to be reaching a crescendo … it’s 2:22 A.M. I imagine only another 20 minutes before all the drunk college kids will have left the bars and made it home, or passed out in alley way somewhere, or been taken to the studio apartment of the guy they met at the bar tonight. And then it will be peaceful again … until 7:00 A.M. when the pickup trucks and motorcycles start ROAAAARRRRING by outside again :-p. Only another month, and I’ll be in the suburbs again … in the quiet.
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