news
The Library recently received special recognition in the areas of financial reporting, community spirit, and community service, and we are proud to share all this good news with you!
Financial Reporting
For the second year in a row, BALibrary has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. During the fiscal year 2024 audit process, the Library transitioned from an Annual Financial Report to an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). This report shows our financial information alongside statistics and meaningful comparisons, Library background, and other important details. Completing the ACFR makes an organization eligible for the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
The report is the work of our Finance Manager, Lauren Rosenthal, with contributions from other key staff members, and we invite you to download and read a PDF version. Please note that the report is from the 2024-2025 fiscal year - reports must be audited before submission, and then the GFOA's review process takes approximately six months. We are proud to be one of three libraries in the state, and one of 23 libraries in the nation, recognized by the GFOA for excellence in financial reporting this year. The award program was established in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements in preparing annual comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure.
Community Spirit
This year's Village of Barrington 4th of July Parade was an extravaganza, with so many creative participants and lots of spirited spectators! We were honored to receive the 2026 Spirit of Barrington award from the Parade judges. The Library has played a role in the Parade many times over the years, and this was one of the biggest groups of walkers we've ever had, including employees and Board members, along their spouses, partners, children, siblings, and parents. Being recognized for our community spirit was the perfect culmination to our 100th anniversary celebration which began in 2025.
"Through her commitment to preserving our past and helping others discover it, she has enriched the Barrington area in countless ways. Thank you, Kate, for your remarkable service and for helping our community stay connected to its history."
Community Service
In June of 2026, we bid a fond and grateful farewell to Adult Services Librarian Kate Mills, who retired after more than 40 years of service. Earlier this summer, Kate was given a rare honor, the Barrington Area Development Council Community Service Award. This unique award is given to "individuals whose dedication strengthens the fabric of our community."
The Council remarked that Kate has guided thousands of residents in preserving their family histories, assisted countless local historians and organizations with research, and played a vital role in preserving Barrington's story by managing the Library's Local History collection and digital archives. Her expertise has supported everyone from local authors and historians to BADC members researching recipients of the Citizen of the Year award. She has shared her knowledge through presentations, conferences, and community organizations, and brought people together through BALibrary's annual Fandom Fest, which welcomes more than 1,500 attendees each year.
Many here at BALibrary thought of Kate as "the librarian's librarian," and her contributions to the Library and to our community will continue to make a positive impact for many generations to come.
The Barrington Area Library has been informed of a potential planned power outage in the area on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The Library intends to stay open all regular business hours and our website and online services should remain operational. The outage will last 90 minutes or longer, and will take place at a time between 9 AM and 3 PM.
What does this mean for Library customers?
- If you arrive when the building has power, all services should be available.
- If you arrive while the power outage is occurring:
- Only the first floor Atrium restrooms will be operational - all other restrooms will be closed;
- Public computers, MakerLab equipment, Digital Studio equipment, and Meeting Room audiovisual equipment will be out of service - public wifi should be available;
- The outdoor lockers at the Main Library will not work during the outage - we encourage you to wait and pick up your holds in the evening or on Thursday;
- Emergency lighting will be in use.
- Planning to attend a program on Wednesday?
- Toddler Time and Science Sprouts will be moved into Meeting Room Side B.
- Non-Profit Succession Planning and Cover To Cover Book Discussion will meet as planned.
Severe weather tonight or tomorrow could delay this power outage to a future date. We will keep you posted and we apologize for any inconvenience.
You are invited to embark on a journey and discover the libraries that serve McHenry County!
From Feb 1 - March 31, 2026, your mission is to visit and explore the 15 participating public libraries in the McHenry Co area. It's free, no library card is required, and it's fun for all ages!
Register at any of the participating libraries (including BALibrary - complete list below). You'll receive a guidebook, map, and prize brochure, plus a collectible brag tag. Earn brag tags at every library you visit - each library has a unique design!
Visit the libraries in any order that works for you (do check their operating hours before making the trip). Follow the fun and learn more about the participating libraries on the MCLLE Facebook page, too!
Check out books and materials and enjoy fun activities at the libraries (you may have to to register your hometown library card to do so. Check each library’s circulation policies).
To finish: visit at least 12 of the 15 libraries, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of 15 gift baskets, each valued at $50, filled with gift cards from area businesses. Gift baskets will be on display at many of the libraries, so check 'em out!
Grand Prize: Visit all 15 libraries, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win the grand prize basket valued at $150! Winners will be drawn and notified via phone or email after April 8.
NEW in 2026: can you solve the Case of the Missing Manuscript? If you can't resist a good mystery, get the details in the Library Lovers guidebook for 2026, and get on the trail! All correct entries will be submitted into a drawing for a surprise gift basket!
This Year's Participating Libraries:
Algonquin Area Public Library District
Barrington Area Library
Cary Area Public Library
Crystal Lake Public Library
Fox Lake District Library
Fox River Grove Memorial Library
Harvard Diggins Library
Huntley Area Public Library
Johnsburg Public Library
Marengo-Union Library District
McHenry Public Library District
Nippersink Public Library District
River East Public Library
Wauconda Area Public Library
Woodstock Public Library
An important change is coming to the reservation system for the Library's Meeting Rooms on Monday, December 1, 2025.
The Library makes a variety of rooms available to BALibrary cardholders for study, individual/collaborative work, meetings, and other types of events. Rooms are classified as Meeting Rooms or Study Rooms, depending on size. Rooms are free of charge (some additional services may require a fee) and available during regular Library hours. Requests must be made through the online reservation system.
Meeting Rooms are larger rooms that can accommodate 10-192 attendees, depending on the room and configuration. Beginning Dec 1, 2025, at 9 AM, BALibrary cardholders may reserve these rooms a minimum of twenty-four hours and up to THREE months in advance, rather than two months. The current month and the following two months will be available for Meeting Room bookings.
How this change will roll out over the next few months:
- Monday, Dec 1 at midnight: The month of January opens for booking.
- Monday, Dec 1 at 9 AM: The month of February opens for booking, as per the procedural change outlined above.
- Thursday, Jan 1 at midnight: The month of March opens for booking, following the new three month schedule.
Questions about reserving a room? Please ask at the Customer Service desk or by calling 847-382-1300. Learn more about our Meeting and Study Rooms by visiting our booking website.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
As of Friday, Oct 31, 2025, 3:30 PM, Route 14 is now reopened, in a temporary configuration. Thank you for your patience and understanding during the six-week road closure.
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Good news: this phase of the Route 14 project is nearing completion, and soon the road will be open again. The Library entrance driveway is now back to two lanes, and fully paved.
In order for work to be completed, Route 14 will be fully closed between Valencia Ave and Berry Rd from Wednesday, October 29, through Friday, October 31. The Library will remain open during this time, but visitors must enter and exit by crossing over Route 14 using Berry Road. Berry Road is the cross street that goes directly into the Library’s parking lot. Detour signs will mark the route from 14 to Washington, to North, then Berry (see the map below or click this link for a full sized PDF version).
These are residential streets, so please drive slowly and carefully to keep our neighborhood safe.
Questions? Need help finding us? We’re here to help!
Call us at 847-382-1300, or use one of our other contact options.