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You are invited to embark on a journey and discover the libraries that serve McHenry County!
From Feb 1 - March 31, 2026, your mission is to visit and explore the 15 participating public libraries in the McHenry Co area. It's free, no library card is required, and it's fun for all ages!
Register at any of the participating libraries (including BALibrary - complete list below). You'll receive a guidebook, map, and prize brochure, plus a collectible brag tag. Earn brag tags at every library you visit - each library has a unique design!
Visit the libraries in any order that works for you (do check their operating hours before making the trip). Follow the fun and learn more about the participating libraries on the MCLLE Facebook page, too!
Check out books and materials and enjoy fun activities at the libraries (you may have to to register your hometown library card to do so. Check each library’s circulation policies).
To finish: visit at least 12 of the 15 libraries, and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of 15 gift baskets, each valued at $50, filled with gift cards from area businesses. Gift baskets will be on display at many of the libraries, so check 'em out!
Grand Prize: Visit all 15 libraries, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win the grand prize basket valued at $150! Winners will be drawn and notified via phone or email after April 8.
NEW in 2026: can you solve the Case of the Missing Manuscript? If you can't resist a good mystery, get the details in the Library Lovers guidebook for 2026, and get on the trail! All correct entries will be submitted into a drawing for a surprise gift basket!
This Year's Participating Libraries:
Algonquin Area Public Library District
Barrington Area Library
Cary Area Public Library
Crystal Lake Public Library
Fox Lake District Library
Fox River Grove Memorial Library
Harvard Diggins Library
Huntley Area Public Library
Johnsburg Public Library
Marengo-Union Library District
McHenry Public Library District
Nippersink Public Library District
River East Public Library
Wauconda Area Public Library
Woodstock Public Library
An important change is coming to the reservation system for the Library's Meeting Rooms on Monday, December 1, 2025.
The Library makes a variety of rooms available to BALibrary cardholders for study, individual/collaborative work, meetings, and other types of events. Rooms are classified as Meeting Rooms or Study Rooms, depending on size. Rooms are free of charge (some additional services may require a fee) and available during regular Library hours. Requests must be made through the online reservation system.
Meeting Rooms are larger rooms that can accommodate 10-192 attendees, depending on the room and configuration. Beginning Dec 1, 2025, at 9 AM, BALibrary cardholders may reserve these rooms a minimum of twenty-four hours and up to THREE months in advance, rather than two months. The current month and the following two months will be available for Meeting Room bookings.
How this change will roll out over the next few months:
- Monday, Dec 1 at midnight: The month of January opens for booking.
- Monday, Dec 1 at 9 AM: The month of February opens for booking, as per the procedural change outlined above.
- Thursday, Jan 1 at midnight: The month of March opens for booking, following the new three month schedule.
Questions about reserving a room? Please ask at the Customer Service desk or by calling 847-382-1300. Learn more about our Meeting and Study Rooms by visiting our booking website.
IMPORTANT UPDATE:
As of Friday, Oct 31, 2025, 3:30 PM, Route 14 is now reopened, in a temporary configuration. Thank you for your patience and understanding during the six-week road closure.
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Good news: this phase of the Route 14 project is nearing completion, and soon the road will be open again. The Library entrance driveway is now back to two lanes, and fully paved.
In order for work to be completed, Route 14 will be fully closed between Valencia Ave and Berry Rd from Wednesday, October 29, through Friday, October 31. The Library will remain open during this time, but visitors must enter and exit by crossing over Route 14 using Berry Road. Berry Road is the cross street that goes directly into the Library’s parking lot. Detour signs will mark the route from 14 to Washington, to North, then Berry (see the map below or click this link for a full sized PDF version).
These are residential streets, so please drive slowly and carefully to keep our neighborhood safe.
Questions? Need help finding us? We’re here to help!
Call us at 847-382-1300, or use one of our other contact options.
This page has been created as way to share information regarding access to the Barrington Area Library in Barrington, IL, during the extensive Route 14 roadwork and railway underpass project. In addition to using e-mail newsletters and social media, the Library will use this page to keep Library visitors updated on current conditions at the Library's entrance on Route 14.
Route 14 will be temporarily closed between Valencia Avenue and Hough Street, in both directions, for several week. Here are more details about how you and your family may access the Library during this next phase of the Route 14 project.
NEW: Beginning the week of Sept 29, work will begin on the Library driveway. This means there will be only one lane into and out of the Library parking lot. The traffic light at the Library is now a full red/green configuration. Please STOP when the light is red, and only enter/exit when you have the green light. If a flagger is present, please follow their guidance. This will become critical once the driveway work is underway. Complying with the displayed traffic signal will prevent you from blocking oncoming traffic or causing an accident. Please slow down and use caution, for the safety of our customers, our staff, and the construction crew.
1) Beginning on Monday, Sept 15, "local traffic" access will allow vehicles to get to/from the Library by using Route 14 via Lake-Cook/Main Street. There is no access to the Library via Berry Rd. There is no access to Route 14 from Valencia Ave.
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