Get Started:
Register for your BALibrary card.
We are a fines-free Library. See a chart of loan periods and other limitations.
We are an auto-renew Library. Learn how auto-renewal works at BALibrary.
Visit the Library Cards page to learn about using your card at other libraries, getting a business/non-profit card, dealing with lost items/lost cards, and more.
Hold Pick-Up Options:
Place holds on items in the catalog with your BALibrary card, and receive them via:
- Parking Lot Pick-Up;
- Borrow By Mail;
- Automated pick-up lockers in five convenient locations;
- Main Library, choose between indoor pick-up during Library hours, or 24/7 outdoor pick-up.
Return Options:
We have twelve locations where you can return your materials. List of return and locker locations.
Google map of returns and locker locations.
BALibrary @ Home Delivery
Barrington Public Library District patrons who are temporarily homebound (30-day minimum), permanently disabled, or elderly and without transportation may request home delivery. Call 847-382-1300 ext. 3300 and ask for BALibrary @ Home for more details. The Library uses regular mail delivery for this service.
Can't Find It?
Looking for an item we don't have in our collections? Your Barrington Area Library card is accepted at public libraries across the state of Illinois.
In addition, items not owned by the Barrington Area Library may be requested through Interlibrary Loan.
This system is integrated with our online catalog, making it easy for you to request items and manage your requests. If BALibrary does not have what you need, change your search settings from "Search Barrington Area Library" to "Interlibrary Loan (WorldCat)." Begin your search.
More details:
- The service is offered to Barrington Area Library card holders.
- There is a limit of 10 items in process per card (this includes items that are in your possession).
- Items will be held at your specified delivery location for seven days. Please note that there is a $5 fee for interlibrary loan items not picked up during the hold period.
- Due dates are determined by the lending library. Renewals are at the discretion of the lending library.
- Allow 7-10 days for an ILL item to be received.
Still can't find it? If the item you are seeking isn't available via Interlibrary Loan or another local library, we invite you to submit an online material suggestion form.
Aún más libros para niños y adolescentes
E-books y audiobooks
Explore Hispanic American Stories, Latin American Artists, Mexican, Cuban, and South American Cinema, y aún más películas with Kanopy streaming video service
Welcome to our volunteer web page!
We’re happy that you’re considering volunteering to serve our community.
The Barrington Area Library provides a variety of service opportunities, available to teens and adults, with differing skill levels. We offer one-time volunteer programs, or ongoing volunteer opportunities, such as:
- supporting special events such as BALibrary Fandom Fest, Creator Fair, and Local Flavors Food Exposition;
- assisting with our summer reading program;
- digitizing our local history collection;
- sorting and packaging of seeds for the Seed Library;
- and more, depending on the Library’s needs!
Anyone interested in volunteering must complete a Volunteer Application. Volunteer applicants 18 years of age and older must consent to a criminal background check to be considered for volunteer participation.
While we accept volunteer applications from students who are 14-17 years of age, not all volunteer opportunities are available to those under 18 years of age. All applicants under 18 years of age must have a parent/guardian signature of approval on the application.
Once the application and background check (for those 18 years and older) are processed, individuals are eligible to volunteer and contact information is added to our volunteer database. While we try to place as many volunteers as possible, depending on the needs of the Library, we cannot guarantee volunteer opportunities.
Current Volunteer Opportunities:
Snow Ball: Friday, Jan 2
Volunteers are needed to help make our annual Snow Ball a delightful experience. Snow Ball is a family-friendly event when the Library transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Families enjoy story time, crafts, treats, face painting, live music, and a festive farewell balloon drop. There’s always great energy, lots of smiles, and something enjoyable for every age - it's the perfect way to kick off the new year!
We’re looking for volunteers to help with crafting, managing lines, serving at the hot cocoa bar, and lending a hand with various tasks throughout the night.
This event takes place at the Barrington Area Library on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 6 PM – 8 PM. Volunteers should arrive by 5:30 PM to get familiar with their assignment. Everyone is encouraged to dress in cozy, comfortable clothing.
Perfect for student volunteers: With school on break, this is a great opportunity to help out and be part of something special!
A limited number of volunteer slots are open for this event. If you’re interested, please complete and submit our volunteer application.
Fandom Fest: Saturday, Feb 28
Fandom Fest is our annual, epic "comic con" style gathering. This exciting event features an artist alley, lots of cosplayers, crafts, photo opportunities, swag, live music, and fun activities suitable for all ages! We are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to join us as greeters, photographers/videographers, line managers, and craft assistants to contribute to the success of this community event and make it an unforgettable day for our guests! Volunteers may come in costume if they wish!
This event takes place at the Barrington Area Library on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 10 AM - 3 PM.
We are looking for help during the following shifts:
- All day, 6 hours from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
- Morning, 3 hours from 10 AM – 1 PM
- Afternoon, 3 hours from NOON - 3 PM
Want to help us make this event a huge success? Please complete and submit our volunteer application. Volunteers should arrive 15 minutes before their shift for a brief overview of their tasks and assignments for the day.
Open Application:
If there are no current volunteer opportunities, you can still submit a Volunteer Application (PDF) to be considered for a future opportunity. Your completed application will be considered once volunteer opportunities become available.
Please email your completed application to volunteer@balibrary.org, or you can mail your completed application to:
Julie Ary, HR Manager
Barrington Area Library
505 N. Northwest Hwy.
Barrington, IL 60010
______________________________________
If you have any questions regarding the volunteer program, please contact Julie Ary, HR Manager, at jary@balibrary.org. Volunteers play a significant role in enriching the programming and services offered at the Library.
We appreciate your willingness to donate your time and talent to help us serve the community!
The Barrington Area Library is governed by an elected, unpaid, seven-member Board of Library Trustees.
Open business meetings are held at 7 PM on the second Monday of each month. Board meetings take place in the Library's Zimmerman Room, on the mezzanine level.
If you wish to address the Board at an upcoming meeting, please review the public comment guidelines.
Current Board Members
Board Committee Assignments
Board & Committee Meeting Information
Financial Statements, Audit, Salary, Benefits, and Vendor Information
Ordinances and Resolutions
Trustee Log-In
Current Board
President: Carrie Carr
Vice President: Jennifer Lucas
Treasurer: Lindsay Prigge
Secretary: Anne Ordway
Members:
Kristin Cunningham
Rachel Forsyth-Tuerck
Rick McCarthy
Use this contact form to send email to the entire Board or particular trustees.
Library District Funding | Frequently Asked Questions
Board Committee Assignments
Audit:
Chair, K. Cunningham, R. Forsyth-Tuerck
Budget, Finance & Levy:
Chair, L. Prigge, Committee of the Whole
Building:
Chair, R. McCarthy, Committee of the Whole
Long Range Planning:
Chair, A. Ordway, Committee of the Whole
Personnel:
Chair, J. Lucas, Committee of the Whole
Policy:
Chair, R. Forsyth-Tuerck, Committee of the Whole
Board & Committee Meeting Information
Budget, Finance and Levy Committee Meetings
October 13, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
April 14, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
October 14, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Building Committee
January 13, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Committee of the Whole Meetings
Long Range Planning Committee Meetings
April 28, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Personnel Committee Meetings
May 5, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Policy Committee Meetings
February 10, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
September 9, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Schedule of Regular Meetings, FY 2025-2026
July 14, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
August 11, 2025, 7 PM NO MEETING
September 8, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
October 13, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
November 10, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
December 8, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
January 12, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
February 9, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
March 9, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
April 13, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
May 11, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
June 8, 2026, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Schedule of Regular Meetings, FY 2024-2025
July 8, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
August 12, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
September 9, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
October 14, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
November 11, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
December 9, 2024, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
January 13, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
February 10, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
March 10, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
April 14, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
May 12, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
June 9, 2025, 7 PM Meeting Notice, Agenda, Minutes
Past Board Meeting Notices, Agendas, Minutes
Use this link to see meeting minutes from prior years.
Ordinances and Resolutions
| ORDINANCES 2025 | RESOLUTIONS 2025 |
| Ordinance 2025-1 Tentative Budget & Appropriations | Resolution 2025-1 Selection of Library Materials |
| Ordinance 2025-2 Meeting Schedule | Resolution 2025-2 - Special Reserve Fund Transfer |
| Ordinance 2025-3 Final Budget & Appropriations | Resolution 2025-3 Non-Resident Cards |
| Ordinance 2025-4 Levy |
Use this link to see Ordinances and Resolutions from past years.
Board Bylaws
Board Policies
Financial Statements, Audit, Salary and Benefits Information
Monthly Financial Statements Including Check Register, Working Budget, and Property Tax Income
Fiscal Year 2025-2026
July 2025
August 2025
September 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
Fiscal Year 2024-2025
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
December 2024
January 2025
February 2025
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
Use this link to view Financial Statements from prior years.
Annual Audit
Fiscal Year 2024-2025
See audits from previous years
Salary and Benefit Information
Public Act 97-0609 / Amendment to Open Meetings Act
Transparency in Coverage Information
Vendor Information
In accordance with Public Act 102-0265, the Barrington Public Library District has made a good faith effort to collect and electronically publish data from all vendors and subcontractors doing business with the Library regarding minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses.
June 15 - 19: enjoy a week-long celebration of all things pop culture: from cosplay to Quidditch, K-Pop to cartooning, crafts, and more!
Registered participants will be emailed a link to join these virtual programs. Programs can be accessed from computer, tablet, or mobile phone. You may need to download and run free software to participate, so we recommend joining the programs a few minutes early.
What's in store:
Monday 6/15:
K-Pop Dance Tutorial With Katie Moffitt: BlackPink, 1 PM | Register | Watch Now
Live Panel: Learn About Cosplay from The Age of the Geeks, 4:30 - 6 PM | Register | Watch Now
Tuesday 6/16:
3-D Printed Superhero Keychains Using TinkerCad, 3:30 - 4:30 | Register | Watch Now
Airbrush Tattoo Artist Demonstration With Christopher Messer, 7 - 8 PM | Register | Watch Now
Wednesday 6/17:
Quick Draw! With Artist Sarah E. Michaels, 11 AM | Register | Watch Now
Live Panel: Boom, Pow, Smash! Cartooning Class With Mark Anderson, 7 - 8 PM | Register
Thursday 6/18:
DIY Pixel Art Project, 2:30 - 3:30 PM | Register | Watch Now
Live Panel: Quidditch for Beginners, 7 - 8 PM | Register | Watch Now
Friday 6/19:
Superhero Story Time, 3 - 3:30 PM | Register
K-Pop Dance Tutorial With Katie Moffitt: BTS, 7 - 8 PM | Register | Watch Now
Want More? From custom coloring sheets to K-Pop downloads, explore awesome digital content from BALibrary!
Download our very own custom coloring sheets!
Coloring Sheet 1
Coloring Sheet 2
http://www.hellokids.com/r_484/coloring-pages/super-heroes-coloring-pages
http://www.momjunction.com/articles/superhero-coloring-pages_00326896/#gref
Quidditch for Beginners:
Photos and More Photos
Video
Get Involved: Play the Game!
Kanopy Streaming Video - free with your BALibrary card:
Superheroes Never Ending Battle Collection: https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/superheroes-never-ending-battle-collection
Otaku-no (PG): https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/otaku-no-video
Comix Beyond Comic Book Pages: https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/comix-beyond-comic-book-pages
Pioneers of Television Season 3 Superheroes: https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/pioneers-television-season-3-superheroes
Millennium Actress (PG): https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/millennium-actress
A Letter to Momo: https://barrington.kanopy.com/video/letter-momo-0
Kanopy Kids - Streaming Video - free with your BALibrary card:
Superheroes: https://barrington.kanopy.com/s?query=super%20heroes
Hoopla Streaming Video and More - free with your BALibrary card:
YuGiOh: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11863999
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11999544
Digimon Tri: https://www.hoopladigital.com/series/digimon-adventure-tri/2499391122/titles
Napping Princess: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12024840
In This Corner of the World: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11975819
RWBY (Adult/Young Adult): https://www.hoopladigital.com/series/rwby/2358411486/titles
Patema Inverted: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11232168
Okko's Inn: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12399481
Perfect Blue (Adult): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12319819
Millennium Actress (PG): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12585076
Liz and the Bluebird (Adult/Young Adult): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12314494
https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11078861
Comic Book: the Movie (PG-13): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12243165
Comic Book Independents: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11683450
Comic Con Episode IV (PG-13): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11677654
Steven Universe (PG): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12357485
Dexters Lab: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12364330
Over the Garden Wall (PG): https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/12364779
Superheroes: A Neverending Battle: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11152865
https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11405192
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe: https://www.hoopladigital.com/title/11722061
Hoopla Kids - Streaming Video and More - free with your BALibrary card:
Anime and Animated Movies: https://www.hoopladigital.com/search?kindId=7&page=1&q=anime&scope=everything&type=direct
Anime and Animated TV : https://www.hoopladigital.com/search?kindId=9&page=1&q=anime&scope=everything&type=direct
Freegal - download free songs with your BALibrary card:
BTS: https://balibrary.freegalmusic.com/search-page/bts/artists/QlRT
Kpop Genre: https://balibrary.freegalmusic.com/browse/genres/additional/K-Pop
Creativebug - videos on drawing manga and sewing costumes free with your BALibrary card:
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/manga-drawing-how-to-draw-figures
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/manga-drawing-how-to-draw-clothing
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/manga-drawing-how-to-draw-manga-faces
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/live-manga-demo-1-19-17
https://www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/simplicity-sewing-cosplay-costumes
You've heard of TED, the non-profit, global phenomenon devoted to ideas Worth Spreading. Its goal? To make great ideas accessible and spark conversation. A TEDx event is a local version of TED - talks by our own community members, and designed to energize and inspire. We are excited to invite you to the fifth annual TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary on Thursday, Oct 17, at 7 PM. A few seats have opened up: sign up now!
Come and hear:
Star* Cunningham, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of 4D Healthware
Leslie Ferris Yerger, Breast Cancer Thriver and Women's Advocate for the next generation of breast cancer screening.
Andy Milne, 2017 SHAPE America National Health Teacher of the Year and Health Advocate
Women's Supply Collection: please join us, State Representative Mary Edly-Allen's office, and Lake County Haven in collecting personal care items for local women in need. Bring new, unused shampoo and conditioner, facial wash, body wash, facial lotion, loofahs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, travel kits, and other hygiene items. Bring them along to TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary, or drop them off that evening, and help support this worthy cause!
UPDATE: In addition to being closed all day on Wednesday, Jan 30, the Barrington Area Library will open late, at 1 PM, on Thursday, January 31. Please check our website or social media to be certain we have reopened before making the trip, in case plans change.
All online library services should be available, so you can enjoy an e-book, audiobook, e-magazine, or streaming video, and use our research databases, from the safety and comfort of home. If you have library items due on Wednesday, Jan 30, no fines will be charged for the additional day.
Please be safe, stay warm, and check on those who might need extra assistance. Need a warming center? Use the Barrington Public Safety Building (24 hrs.)- 400 North Northwest Highway - (847) 304-3300, or the Barrington Train Station (24 hrs.) - 201 S. Spring Street. Other warming centers available here.
Thinking about adopting a new furry family member this year? We're delighted to welcome Ruth Blank, DVM, for an informative, three-part series, all about choosing the right dog for you and your household, and providing good care and grooming. Attend one workshop or all!
Pick Your Pooch | Register
Wednesday, Jan 9, 7 PM
Getting your dog: so exciting, but stressful and uncertain, too. Explore informational resources and the decisions you’ll need to make: which breeds are best for a family? energetic or laid-back? rescue group or a breeder? Once you decide, how do you assess the temperament of the dog you want to bring home? Meeting Room.
Dog Care 101 | Register
Wednesday, Jan 16, 7 PM
Whether you’ve picked a puppy or an adult dog, there are basics you need to know: housebreaking, socializing, maintenance, and diet, as well as general wellness throughout the life of your dog. Meeting Room.
Preventative Care and Grooming | Register
Wednesday, Jan 23, 7 PM
Keep your dog healthy throughout his life. Learn about vet care - both emergency and preventative- and which foods and situations to avoid. Watch a demonstration of basic grooming techniques. Meeting Room.
Update, July 25, 2018: Great news! Our parking lot construction project is now complete. Both lots are fully available. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we made these needed improvements to our campus.