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We're proud to announce that the Barrington Area Library has received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
During the fiscal year 2024 audit process, the Library made the transition from an Annual Financial Report to an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). This report not only shows our financial information but also statistics and meaningful comparisons, Library background, and other important details. Completing the ACFR makes an organization eligible for the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Due to the hard work of our Finance Manager, Lauren Rosenthal, and contributions from other key staff members, we have received this prestigious award, only the third library in the state to be recognized in this manner. Lauren (center) is pictured here with Executive Director Jason Pinshower (right) and Deputy Director Jason Katsion (left).
The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practice research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve. The GFOA established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945 to encourage and assist state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare annual comprehensive financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure. While many larger government agencies like school districts, villages, and park districts achieve this award each year, libraries often do not due to the time and effort required to switch to modified accrual accounting and compile the in-depth financial information required.
Want to read this award-winning document for yourself? You'll find it online on our Library Board of Trustees page: Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit
You're invited to the Barrington Area Library's 100th Birthday Party!
Where: Barrington Area Library
When: Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM
Who: Library lovers of all ages - this celebration is free and open to everyone!
Drop in or register for a reminder email
Want to learn more about the Library's history? Visit our interactive timeline!
Schedule of Activities
Photo Booth:
10 AM - 2 PM
Get a photo in our glitzy photo booth! Meeting Room.
Crafts (While Supplies Last):
10 AM - 2 PM
Color your very own birthday crown.
Make a birthday button.
Create a pretty paper flower.
Visit the MakerLab to create a sublimation magnetic bookmark with our 100th anniversary logo.
Fun and Games:
10 AM - 2 PM
Enjoy a variety of carnival games. Meeting Room.
10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Dunk the Director: Step up to the dunk tank and take aim at the Library Director and other staff! Outside on the Plaza.
Airbrush Tattoos:
11 AM - 1 PM
Face Paint Pizzazz will be providing FREE airbrush tattoos in our Youth Services Game Room.
Free Seedlings
10 AM - 2 PM
Take home a free seedling, while supplies last. Courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts. Swamp White Oaks will be available.
Live Music and Entertainment:
10-10:20 AM
Join with the Barrington Children's Choir in singing Happy Birthday to the Library! Atrium.
11:30 AM - 2 PM
Listen to the music of the Dixieland Jazz Cats roving throughout the Library and even outside, weather permitting.
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Don't miss amazing roving juggler Andy Head throughout the Library (and outdoors, weather permitting).
Sweet Treats:
Enjoy a birthday cupcake, an ice pop, and a cold drink while supplies last.
We invite you to read our latest annual report, for fiscal year July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and discover the many ways in which the Barrington Area Library creates community.
Explore our fruitful partnerships with local non-profit organizations like the Barrington Township Food Pantry, Bacoa, BStrong Together, and the Barrington Area Volunteer Connection.
Check out the results of our recent renovation projects, like the new MakerLab and improved Youth Services department.
Celebrate a year's worth of successful programming for all ages, and see which Library services are most popular amongst BALibrary customers.
Then get ready to celebrate our 100th anniversary with us on Saturday, June 21, 2025!
Read this year's annual report.
September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month! There is only one week left in the month, so we're going to stretch out our Library Card Sign-Up Month event just a little bit longer, to make sure everyone has a chance to sign up for a card, renew their card, or just get a raffle ticket!
Do you already have a Barrington Area Library card? Show it at the main Customer Service desk to receive a raffle ticket: you might win a t-shirt, tote bag, or notebook/pen set!
Need a Barrington Area Library card? Sign up or renew your card this month and you'll also get a raffle ticket and a special sign-up gift.
It's our way of saying "thank you" to our wonderful, supportive community, and encouraging everyone to sign up for the most valuable card you'll ever own: your BALibrary card!
Our full annual report will be published later this year, but as we wrap up fiscal year 2023-2024, we want to let you know how much we appreciate your support and enthusiasm for all that the Library has to offer. It was truly an extraordinary year here at BALibrary! Take a look at these numbers.
| FISCAL YEAR SERVICE | FY 22-23 | FY 23-24 | INCREASE |
| Library Visits | 208,915 | 268,722 | +29% |
| One-On-One Appointments | 496 | 891 | +80% |
| MakerLab Visits | 8,676 | 12,907 | +49% |
| Study Room Usage | 9,199 | 11,091 | +21% |
| Meeting Room Usage | 667 | 724 | +9% |
| Circulation | 788,394 | 824,100 | +5% |
| Program Attendance | 78,249 | 79,980 | +2% |
And that's only part of the story. We're also meeting or exceeding pre-pandemic numbers in some instances.
Program attendance has more than doubled since FY 2018-2019 (33,864 ⇨ 79,980).
MakerLab visits have more than doubled since FY 2018-2019 (5,968 ⇨ 12,907).
Overall circulation of materials has increased by almost 7% since 2019.
On your recent visits to the Library, you've seen signs of renovation work taking place. New this year or coming soon:
- A brand new, much larger MakerSpace, to accommodate demand.
- Improvements to the Youth Services department, including a Baby Garden, train table, and storage cubbies, as a result of your feedback.
- Water bottle filling stations, also from your feedback.
- Adult computing on the second floor, also from your suggestions.
- Improvements to the audiovisual presentation equipment in the Zimmerman Room.
We're continuously striving to raise the standard and offer you the very best in library service, experiences, and stewardship. Thank you for putting your trust in us and for making the Library a vibrant and vital place in the heart of the community.