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Applications are currently being accepted to fill a one-year vacancy on the Barrington Area Library’s Board of Trustees. The new trustee will serve the remainder of the current term through May 2021.
The seven-member Board of Trustees serves as liaison between the general public and the library. It establishes library policy and mission, adopts the annual library budget, authorizes library services, and ensures that the library operates in accordance with state law and its own policies. Trustees attend meetings, participate in discussion and decision making at the meetings, serve on committees, and stay continually informed on library issues and state of Illinois laws that govern public libraries. Regular Board meetings occur at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, with additional committee and special meetings taking place throughout the year. During this time, when the Library building is closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, board meetings continue to take place via conference call. More information about the Barrington Area Library Board of Trustees.
According to state law, the Board is authorized to fill the vacancy by appointment until the next regularly scheduled trustee election. Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in the District for at least one year, and meet other requirements as established by state law. Library trustee positions are nonpartisan and held by unpaid volunteers.
For consideration, individuals should send a one-page statement of interest detailing their qualifications for the position. The Board will review submitted materials, interview applicants, and then vote to appoint the new trustee.
Statements of interest, and general questions about the Board, its responsibilities, and the appointment process, may be sent to the Library’s Executive Director, Jesse Henning, via email: jhenning@balibrary.org or via postal service at: Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL, 60010. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
During these challenging times, we want you to know we're doing all we can to provide Library materials, services, and expertise to you and your household. While the Library remains closed until further notice, we're expanding and enhancing the ways we serve you digitally. Here's a list to help you get started - we will continue to update this page until we're able to welcome you back to the Library building again.
We'll get through this together.
Important news: due to the Shelter In Place order, all book returns have been shut down. Please do not return any Library materials while we are temporarily closed. No fines will accrue, all due dates have been extended. Thank you for your understanding!
Library services available right now:
Apply: https://webpac.balibrary.org/polaris/patronaccount/selfregister.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.7
Renew: https://www.balibrary.org/renew-your-card
Digital collections, including thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, digital magazines and newspapers, streaming movies and TV shows. Many of these providers have expanded their offerings to give you more choices, and more checkouts per month, at this time. Get started: https://www.balibrary.org/downloads
Use the Library’s email contact forms: https://www.balibrary.org/contact-us#email or online chat via our website or social media sites to send in your questions. Make sure you're on our e-mail newsletter list, too - that's the best way to stay informed about Library services.
https://www.balibrary.org/contact-us#email
https://www.balibrary.org/downloads
Online research and learning services. Great for students participating in e-learning, great for the whole family: explore your genealogy, learn a new language or a new computer skill.
Research services: https://www.balibrary.org/databases
Online courses/video tutorials: https://www.balibrary.org/online-learning
NEW: Ancestry.com is making its Library Edition available for free to at-home users at this time. Get started on our Genealogy page, have your BALibrary card number handy:
The Barrington Area Library will be temporarily closed to public entry as of 9 PM, Friday, March 13, 2020 and until further notice.
Why is the Library closing until further notice?
The Library has been closely monitoring information regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak for several weeks. We have taken this unprecedented precaution based on guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and local health authorities, which cite social distancing and event cancellations as effective means for preventing the spread of disease. We care deeply about the health and safety of the communities we serve, especially seniors, people with underlying conditions, and others who are at greater risk. We want to support the efforts of our school district, local government, and healthcare organizations, by making this well-informed, proactive decision for the public good.
Take care of yourself, take care of your loved ones, and we look forward to serving you when we are able to reopen the Library building to the public.
How can I stay informed about the Library closing?
We will keep you informed via our website (balibrary.org), social media channels (Facebook and Twitter), and e-mail newsletters. Our response to this situation will undoubtedly continue to evolve, so please stay in touch.
How and when do I return my Library materials?
There is no need to worry about returning Library materials during this temporary closure. Until further notice, due dates will be extended and customers will not accrue fines on any items borrowed from the Library.
Will there be any Library services available during the closure?
In addition to items you currently have checked out, Barrington Area Library cardholders will also have 24/7 access to our outstanding digital collections of e-books, e-audiobooks, e-magazines and newspapers, streaming movies and TV shows and music, and downloadable music. Students and anyone with research needs may make use of our online research databases and homework help. We hope these resources keep you and your household informed, entertained, and connected during the coming weeks.
We encourage you to keep in touch with us via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where we’ll do our best to answer your questions and share helpful information and resources. You may also use the Contact Us email form on our website – we’ll respond to your messages as quickly as possible.
What about Library items that I have on hold?
If you received notification that your on hold items are now ready for pick up at our remote lockers, you have seven days from the notification date to pick them up.
If you currently have holds on items in our catalog, those holds will remain in the system and will reactivate when the building has reopened.
We encourage all community members to seek out reliable, factual information about coronavirus disease. The following websites are helpful resources for staying informed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Share Facts About COVID-19”
Illinois Department of Public Health, “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”
Lake County, IL, Health Department, “COVID-19”
Cook County Department of Public Health, “Novel coronavirus”
Village of Barrington, “Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19)”
World Health Organization, “Novel Coronavirus 2019” website
March 20, 2020:
Important News Regarding the Barrington Area Library’s Response to COVID-19 (coronavirus)
The Barrington Area Library places the highest value on providing a safe and healthy environment for all customers and staff. We care deeply about the residents of the communities we serve, especially seniors, people with underlying conditions, and others who are at greater risk. Keeping those priorities in mind, we ask you to please note the following service changes:
➠ Friday, March 13 - 31, 2020: all Library programs will be cancelled.
➠ Friday, March 13, 2020: all toys and high-touch interactives, including the iPads and blue blocks, will be removed from the Youth Services department until further notice. The Youth Services and Young Adult Game Rooms will be open as work/study space but no gaming equipment will be available.
These precautionary changes are based on guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health, which cite social distancing and event cancellations as effective means for preventing the spread of disease.
We advise all customers who are not feeling well to stay home and focus on their well-being. The BALibrary.org website is open 24/7, with tens of thousands of e-books, e-audiobooks, digital magazines, streaming movies and shows, and online research databases available with just a few clicks and a Barrington Area Library card. Now is an ideal time to explore our very popular digital resources.
Concerned about returning your Library materials while you’re at home? No worries. Just give us a call at 847-382-1300 or chat with us online – we’re here to help.
We will continue our rigorous and increased schedule of cleaning and disinfecting throughout the building. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes are available to all customers.
We will continue to closely monitor information on COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state/county health departments. Our response will undoubtedly continue to evolve based on that information, and we will keep you informed via our website (balibrary.org), social media channels (Facebook and Twitter), and e-mail newsletters.
We encourage all community members to seek out reliable, factual information about coronavirus disease. The following websites are helpful resources for staying informed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Share Facts About COVID-19”
Illinois Department of Public Health, “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”
Lake County, IL, Health Department, “COVID-19”
Cook County Department of Public Health, “Novel coronavirus”
Village of Barrington, “Information about the Coronavirus (COVID-19)”
World Health Organization, “Novel Coronavirus 2019” website
Our new Seed Library is open for business on the first floor, near the Customer Service desk. Drop by, browse the selection, and take home some seeds to try - free of charge. Seed packets include helpful planting and growing instructions, too. The selection will keep growing and changing, so check back often. Thank you, Barrington Area Conservation Trust and Seed Savers Exchange, for seed donations.
Looking for more details on the seeds you picked up from our new Seed Library? Use the following links to learn more about the care of your new plants. Look for the "Growing Information" section on each page.
Aura - Organic (F1) Pepper Seed
Cherokee Sunset Mix - Rudbeckia Seed
Cilantro, Monogerm - Organic Microgreen Seed
Double Click Bicolor Pink - Cosmos Seed
Echinacea purpurea - Echinacea Seed
Giant of Italy - Organic Parsley Seed
Glow - Organic (F1) Pepper Seed
Jester - (F1) Delicata Squash Seed
Lipstick - Organic Pepper Seed
H-19 Little Leaf - Organic Cucumber Seed
Moskvich - Organic Tomato Seed
Munstead-Type - Organic Lavender Seed
Pensacola - Organic Lettuce Seed
Red Flame - Organic (F1) Cayenne Pepper Seed
Ruby Red or Rhubarb Chard - Organic Swiss Chard Seed
Scarlet Runner Bean - Flower Seed
Speckled Roman - Organic Tomato Seed
Added 2/26/2020