The Barrington Area Library offers a variety of ways for you and your family to borrow and return materials. (Including e-books and other downloadable materials!) It all begins with your BALibrary card.
Pick-Up Options:
You're welcome to stop in and browse the stacks, but you can also 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;
- At the Main Library, you may choose between indoor pick-up during Library hours, or 24/7 outdoor pick-up.
Return Options:
We also have eleven locations where you can return your materials. Find the one closest to you.
We are a fines-free Library but different types of items have different loan periods. More information.
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.
Borrowing From Other Libraries:
Want something we don't currently have in our collections? Your Barrington Area Library card is valid at libraries across the state of Illinois.
In addition, items not owned by the Barrington Area Library may be requested through our Interlibrary Loan service.
This system is integrated with our online catalog, making it easier than ever for you to request items and manage your requests. Go to our online catalog. If our Library does not have what you need, change your search settings from "Search Barrington Area Library" to "Interlibrary Loan (WorldCat)."
Please keep in mind the following:
- The service is offered to all Barrington Area Library card holders.
- Most libraries will not loan new items (six months old or less).
- Digital items such as e-books may not be borrowed.
- Many libraries do not loan audiovisual materials.
- There is a limit of 10 items in process per card (this includes items that are in your possession).
- You will receive an email when the item arrives.
- 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.
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:
Volunteers needed for 10th annual Fandom Fest!
Fandom Fest is our annual, grand-scale, pop culture celebration! This exciting event typically features an artist alley, cosplayers, crafts, photo opportunities, swag, live music, and a variety of fun activities suitable for all ages!
We are currently seeking enthusiastic individuals to join us as greeters, photographers/videographers, line managers, and craft assistants and contribute to the success of this community event. Volunteers may come in costume if they wish!
The event takes place at the Barrington Area Library on Saturday, Feb 22, 2025, from 10 AM - 3:30 PM. We need help at any of the following shifts:
- All day, 6 hours from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM;
- Morning, 3 hours from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM;
- Afternoon, 3 hours from 12:30 - 3:30 PM.
Join the excitement and be part of making Fandom Fest an unforgettable experience! To apply: complete the volunteer application and email it to volunteer@balibrary.org. A Library staff member will follow up with you soon.
______________________________________
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.
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: Jan Miller
Treasurer: Jennifer Lucas
Secretary: Anne Ordway
Members:
Kristin Cunningham
Jackie McGrath
Lindsay Prigge
Use this contact form to send email to the entire Board or particular trustees.
Library District Funding | Frequently Asked Questions
Board Committee Assignments
Audit:
K. Cunningham, L. Prigge
Budget, Finance & Levy:
Chair, J. Lucas, Committee of the Whole
Building:
Chair, L. Prigge, Committee of the Whole
Long Range Planning:
Chair, A. Ordway, Committee of the Whole
Personnel:
Chair, J. Miller, Committee of the Whole
Policy:
Chair, J. McGrath, Committee of the Whole
Board & Committee Meeting Information
Budget, Finance and Levy Committee Meetings
October 14, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda
Building Committee
January 13, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda
Committee of the Whole Meetings
Long Range Planning Committee Meetings
Personnel Committee Meetings
Policy Committee Meetings
February 10, 2025 Meeting Notice, Agenda
September 9, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda
May 13, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda
February 12, 2024 Meeting Notice, Agenda
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 |
| Resolution 2025-1 Selection of Library Materials | |
Use this link to see Ordinances and Resolutions from past years.
Financial Statements, Audit, Salary and Benefits Information
Monthly Financial Statements Including Check Register, Working Budget, and Property Tax Income
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
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.
Job Title: Finance Manager
Department: Administration
SUMMARY OF ROLE:
Manage the fiscal operations and day-to-day finance operations by providing financial direction and accountability for the Library’s capital through compliance with current regulations, policies, procedures and generally accepted accounting practices of the Library’s $9 million budget.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Perform financial management for the Library including: accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, bank reconciliation, credit card accounts, investment accounts, and tax payments.
- Prepare monthly and year-end financial and payroll statements, including transactions, reconciliations, and reports.
- Verify, allocate, and post details of business transactions to appropriate funds and accounts; reconcile and balance funds and accounts.
- Manage all cash-related activities including cash intake, petty cash, bank reconciliations, cash receipts, and deposit transactions.
- Coordinate and prepare the annual working budget with the Executive Director.
- Assist in preparation, with advice from legal counsel, of budget and levy ordinances and other ordinances, resolutions, and legal notices as needed.
- Process bi-weekly payroll, maintain payroll system, and report wages to Illinois Municipal Retirement system.
- Perform data management of invoices, purchases, check preparation, and processing, using financial software.
- Generate financial statements for the Library’s Board of Trustees and attend monthly Board meetings and Finance Committee meetings.
- Monitor revenue and expenditures based on the Library’s annual operating budget.
- Oversee the function of accounting for fixed assets and prepare reports for the purposes of the annual audit.
- Monitors the insurance needs of the Library and coordinate renewal and corresponding coverage.
- Maintain financial records and files as required by Local Records Management Act and GASB standards.
- Collaborate with the Library’s leadership team on process improvements, internal controls, and financial procedures for the Library.
- Serve on planning committees, attend Library meetings and outreach activities as requested.
- Perform other responsibilities and duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree with a major in Accounting, Finance, or related field, or equivalent work experience.
- At least 5 years of experience preferred in the accounting/finance field with direct responsibility for budgets, payroll, cash management, and other related activities.
- Knowledge of governmental accounting, budgeting, and cost control procedures.
- Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and accounting and auditing practices.
- Working knowledge of automated financial software, Human Resources Information Systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Excellent judgment regarding financial matters, and the ability to perform mathematical functions with a high degree of accuracy.
- Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting all deadlines.
- Accuracy and attention to detail, especially for high volume of documents that must meet regulatory requirements.
- Proficiency in MS Office tools, especially Word and Excel, and electronic file management and publication.
Physical Requirements:
Standard office environment.
Onsite/Remote Work Location:
Some work may be done remotely with manager’s approval.
Travel Requirements:
Occasional travel in local community may be required.
Note:
Nothing in this job description restricts the rights of Barrington Area Library to supplement or otherwise modify the responsibilities and duties of this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities or other needs to perform the essential functions of the position.
For consideration, submit a descriptive cover letter, your resume, and the PDF application to resume@balibrary.org.