Barrington Area Library
505 N. Northwest Highway
Barrington, IL 60010
Library Interior Floor Plan (PDF)
Phone number: 847-382-1300
Library Hours:
Mon - Fri, 9 AM - 9 PM | Sat, 9 AM - 5 PM
Sun, 1 - 5 PM
Parking Lot Pick-Up Hours:
Mon - Fri, 9 AM - 7 PM | Sat, 9 AM - 5 PM
Sun, 1 - 5 PM
Learn about getting a BALibrary card and checking out materials
Do you live in the Barrington Area Library District? Check this interactive map
Find Us On Social Media:
Facebook, Instagram, Flickr (historical photos), YouTube
Make a Donation:
The Barrington Area Library District gratefully accepts monetary donations to fund our collections, programs, technology, and other initiatives. More details.
News
- Let's Celebrate National Library Card Sign-Up Month!
- We're Better Than Ever - Because Of You
- New 24/7 Outdoor Pick-Up Lockers Now Available!
Newsletters:
Explore our Program Guide (PDF). You can also read it online by clicking the preview image below. All BALibrary cardholders receive the email version. Use this form to request the Program Guide via postal mail (or via email, if you are not a BALibrary cardholder).
Annual Reports
Library Closings
The Library will be closed in observance of New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve Day. The Library is also closed once a year for a Staff In-Service Day, the date of which will be posted several months in advance.
Barrington Public Library District
The Barrington Public Library District strives to:
- stimulate imagination,
- develop information fluency,
- foster lifelong learning,
- create young readers,
all in comfortable physical and virtual settings.
The Barrington Public Library District serves 45,360 residents of all or part of Algonquin, Barrington, Barrington Hills, Deer Park, Fox River Grove, Hoffman Estates, Kildeer, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, North Barrington, Palatine, Port Barrington, South Barrington, Tower Lakes, and some unincorporated areas. It covers a 72 square mile area, making it one of the largest library districts in Illinois, geographically speaking.
Library History
While the military campaigns of World War I were being organized, an educational campaign was being launched in the small town of Barrington, Illinois. The campaign started when widow Caroline Ela passed away and left $1,000 in her will to help form a public library. A committee was formed to let the voters know about the benefits of a tax-supported public library.
Unfortunately, the first referendum held on September 16, 1914 did not pass, but the Barrington Woman's Club decided to establish a library with donated books and a volunteer staff. Space was provided at Cameron's Drug Store and this library opened in early 1915.
As the book collection grew, the library made several moves to larger quarters until 1924 when the Barrington Village Board offered space in Village Hall. During the next year, Barrington residents approved a library tax and a tax-supported library became a reality. The Barrington Woman's Club turned over the library to the village and the first library board was elected in 1926.
The library remained in Village Hall until 1957 when a new library was constructed at Monument and Hough Streets. In this colonial-style building designed by architect Ralph Stoetzel, the first full-time librarian was hired in 1963. In the coming years, interest grew in forming a library district, which could serve additional communities. In 1969 and 1970, referenda were passed which made the village library a district library serving portions of four counties in an area of 72 square miles.
With the expansion of the area and population served, the Library Board began negotiating for a new library site. The Jewel and Kendall Companies in Barrington donated seven acres of land on Northwest Highway for a library in 1972. A bond issue was approved for a new library building at this site in 1975.
Designed by the architectural firm of Coder Taylor Associates, the library opened its doors in 1978. In 1989, the architectural firm of Ross Barney & Jankowski was hired to design an addition to the library. By 1993, the building was expanded to its current 60,000 square foot size.
In 2013-2014, the library underwent a complete redesign and renovation, working with the firm of Engberg Anderson. The building was not expanded, but redesigned to make the most efficient use of the space for the public. Improvements and additions include: a completely redesigned Youth Services department with a focus on active play and learning; a Business and Technology Center, featuring a MakerLab, digital creation studio, computer lab, study rooms, media:scape collaboration spaces, 10 person Conference Room, and Business Cubicles; improved and refurnished Meeting Rooms and Zimmerman "Smart" Room; redesigned Customer Service area and Internet Cafe.