Lodging & Transportation

The Library History Seminar XI Site

The Seminar activities will be held at Robert Allerton Park & Conference Center. The Center is located near Monticello, Illinois, about 30-35 minutes from Champaign-Urbana. It includes approximately 1,500 acres of woodland property, Allerton House, a 20-room Georgian mansion, and other accommodations buildings, and a visitor's center. The area surrounding Allerton House provides Seminar participants with an opportunity to enjoy natural settings that include formal gardens and sculpture. There are no telephones in sleeping rooms; messages for conference participants may be left at the voice number for Allerton Conference Center: 217-333-3287. A message board will be found near the main staircase in Allerton House on which messages and announcements will be posted.

Accommodations

Accommodations at The Conference Center are limited. Participation in the conference is by pre-registration only. Participants will stay in the mansion, or in Evergreen Lodge, Gate House, or House in the Woods, all a short walk to the mansion. All accommodations are non-smoking and are multiple occupancy (single-gender), holding between two and six people [but usually not more than three or four]. Room assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Meals will be served in the dining hall at Allerton House. Please note any special dietary or lodging requirements on the "Registration Form." Dress is casual and bring your walking shoes to explore the grounds.

Nonresidential Lodging Information

There are also a limited number of rooms available at the Best Western in Monticello. These are being held until September 15, 2005 under the name "Library History Seminar." Call 217-762-9436 to make a reservation. A van service will bring conference registrants to and from the Monticello Best Western each day of the Seminar.

Champaign-Urbana area accommodations (C-U is approximately 25 miles east of Monticello on I-72):
http://www.cucvb.org/accom/index.html

Decatur area accommodations (Decatur is approximately 30 minutes miles of Monticello on I-72)
http://www.decaturcvb.com/hotelsmotels.html

Please note: registrants who opt for the non-residential rate and find accommodation in area hotels other than the Monticello Best Western will be responsible for their transportation to and from the Robert Allerton Park & Conference Center, which is approximately 3 miles from Monticello and 25 miles from Champaign-Urbana.

Transportation

Champaign-Urbana is located approximately 140 miles south of Chicago, 107 miles west of Indianapolis, 180 miles northeast of St. Louis, and 50 miles east of Bloomington, IL, at the intersection of Interstates 57, 72 and 74.

The University of Illinois Willard Airport is located approximately 5 miles south of Champaign-Urbana. Willard Airport currently has three carriers: American Airlines, Delta Connection, and Northwest Airlines.

Amtrak provides daily rail passenger service to and from Chicago and points south through Memphis to New Orleans.

Ground transportation will be provided at the start and end of the conference from the Champaign-Urbana airport, train station or hotels. See "Transportation Form" for details.

LEX Lincolnland Express Airport Shuttle

LEX shuttles leave every 3 hours to and from Chicago O'Hare, Chicago Midway and downtown (Union Station), and Indianapolis International airports and to and from Champaign to the airports.  See their website at http://www.lincolnlandexpress.com/ for more details and reservation information.

Arriving Early or Extending Your Stay

Accommodations are not available at Allerton Park for participants arriving before Thursday, October 27 or needing lodging for Sunday, October 30 and thereafter. You must make other lodging arrangements if arriving early or extending your stay in the Champaign-Urbana area. See "Visitor's Guide to Champaign County" for information on accommodations in the C-U area.