In 2025, the Barrington Area Library will celebrate the 100th anniversary of a significant milestone: when Barrington residents approved a library tax (1925) and a tax-supported library became a reality. In some respects the Library's history begins in 1914, continuing on an occasionally bumpy and challenging (but always worthwhile!) path of more than 100 years. From a volunteer-staffed library of donated books in a local drug store, to the innovative, welcoming, and beautiful 60,000 square foot building we know and love today, the story of the Barrington Area Library centers around a passionate, supportive community of readers who want the very best in public library service all across the 72 square miles of our district. We're very proud of our history, and very excited about our future.
Want to learn more about the history of the Barrington Area Library? Check out this interactive timeline. Click the titles to enlarge the images and read more details.
While the military campaigns of World War I were being organized, an educational campaign was being launched in the small town of Barrington, Illinois. The campaign started when widow Caroline Ela...
1914 Referendum Unexpectedly Fails
Despite the enthusiasm for a library, the tax referendum to create it failed by a vote of 324 to 131.
The Barrington Woman's Club decided to establish a library with donated books and a volunteer staff. Space was provided at Cameron's Drug Store and this library opened in early 1915.
The Barrington Woman's Club was the driving force behind this first library, and members boosted for books until a room on Cook Street over George Wagner's market -- formerly the Hank Abbott Drug...
1921 Referendum Passes...and Then is Reversed
The election of January 25, 1921 saw the passage of the referendum making the library a tax-supported institution. It passed by two votes and was later recalled by petition and another vote. The...
The Barrington Woman's Club receives permission to use the second floor of the Village Hall for the library, rent-free.
1925 Referendum Passes!
Another referendum was held on April 21, 1925, and it passed by a vote of 341 to 285. The Barrington Woman's Club organized a parade that night, "carrying flares, ringing bells, and sounding horns...
The first library board was elected on April 20, 1926. Gertrude Schwemm is elected board president at the May meeting.
At the June 22, 1926, board meeting, Jennie Lines is retained as librarian at a salary of $20 per month. The library is open three days a week in the afternoon and evening.
In August of 1934, Olive Dobson is appointed Head Librarian, a position she held for twenty-five years.
These are photos of the Library as it looked in 1935 on the second floor of the Village Hall. Photo challenge: how sharp is your vision? Are you able to read the words on the posters on the ends of...
On July 8, 1935, Librarian Olive Dobson announced the opening of the Vacation Reading Club for grade-school children. There was a party at the end of the program, and those reading the highest...
Lots Obtained for New Library Building
After World War II, the library board set its sights on building a new library. In November of 1953, working again with the Barrington Woman's Club and the Lions Club, the board was able to purchase two lots...
On December 12, 1955, the library board proceeded with plans to build a new library. Architect Ralph Stoetzel designed a colonial-style building and estimated the cost at a minimum of $32,000. The...
The new library building was completed in June, 1957. It was of the Williamsburg style, one story on Hough and two stories on the west side, with two large picture windows in the spacious basement...
A District Library is Created
In the years that followed the building of the new library, interest grew in forming a library district, which could serve additional communities. In 1969 and 1970, referenda were passed which made...
In 1970, the Barrington Area Library joined with 13 other libraries to allow reciprocal borrowing - cardholders from the 13 libraries were able to borrow books from any of the other participating...
With the expansion of the area and population served, the Library Board began negotiating for a new building site. The Jewel and Kendall Companies in Barrington donated seven acres of land on...
Designed by the architectural firm of Coder Taylor Associates, the new Barrington Area Library opened its doors in 1978. A year later, March 4, 1979, in collaboration with the Barrington Area Arts...
Designed by the architectural firm of Coder Taylor Associates, the library opened its doors in 1978. In 1989, the architectural firm of Ross Barney & Jankowski was hired to design an addition to the...
Barrington Area Library is awarded Library of the Year by the North Suburban Library System for its extraordinary support of the system and its membership and its participation in the NorthStarNet...
The Library officially opens its Sculpture Garden with seven pieces on the Library grounds.
Heading into a new millennium, the Library began to investigate innovative ways to reach every part of its 72 square mile district. In late 2003, early 2004, automated pick-up lockers were installed at the...
The John Cotton Dana Award is given to a library for outstanding public relations. The Library receives this award for its program series, "Simple Living," consisting of several lifestyle programs...
In cooperation with South Barrington Club, the Library opens its Activity Center, featuring books, magazines, music, children's materials and internet access. The space is awarded a Gold Design...
In 2009, Library Journal began publishing its annual Star Libraries report. American public libraries were ranked with three, four, or five stars, based on a variety of major service measures – physical...
In 2013-2014, the library underwent a complete redesign and renovation, working with the firm of Engberg Anderson. The building was not expanded, but redesigned to make the most efficient use of the...
When the Seed Library made its debut in February 2020, it sparked a joyful gardening boom, an unforeseen source of delight during the difficult times of the pandemic. Each year the Library buys (or...
Library Goes Fines-Free
Library staff spends more than a year researching the borrowing process, discovering that Barrington Area Library customers are conscientious stewards of library materials, and children and their...
In 2024, the Library welcomed a new, bigger, and better MakerLab to support the creative community in Barrington. It features 3D printing, laser cutting, a sublimation printer, heat press, cameo...
On December 12, 2024, the Library welcomed three community members to its tenth annual TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary. The topic for 2024 was Nature Connection. Guest speakers were Stephen Barten, DVM;...
Second Fridays, the Library's free, monthly, live music series, has been going strong for thirty years! Guitarist Fareed Haque, who performed in year one of the Second Fridays series, returned to...
You're invited to the Barrington Area Library's 100th Birthday Party! Where: Barrington Area LibraryWhen: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PMWho: Library lovers of all ages - this...