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Vicki Rakowski, new Executive Director of the Barrington Area Library
“We are very pleased to name Ms. Rakowski as our new Executive Director,” said Library Board of Trustees President Don Minner. “With her knowledge and experience, we expect that she will step into the role seamlessly while providing the leadership to ensure that our talented and dedicated staff continue to meet the varied needs of our patrons and community.”
Rakowski has been in the library profession for 13 years, receiving a Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University in 2010. She began her career in Youth Services, then moved into a series of management positions, joining the Barrington Area Library team in January 2017. As Head of Operations in Barrington, she has overseen the Customer Service, Material Services, and Building Services departments, and served as Interim Director from October 2017 – April 2018. She also has an MFA in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University.
“I am truly honored to be the next director of the Barrington Area Library. I look forward to leading our staff through the difficult times we face at present, as well as the challenges and opportunities in our future. The four years I have spent in this organization have shown me time and again that this is a special library in a special community. I am proud to continue my work here in this new role.”
Rakowski is an avid reader and gardener. She is a lifelong resident of the Chicago area, and currently resides with her husband in Oak Park.
The Library and its Board of Trustees extend their sincere gratitude to Henning for his leadership and service, which included significant achievements such as the elimination of overdue fines, the completion of critical maintenance projects for the building and campus, and the introduction of updated library policies to expand access to more area residents.
Board President Minner stated, “While saddened that Director Henning is leaving us, we extend our best wishes for success in his next endeavor and thank him for his many accomplishments, guidance to our staff, and efforts for our district.”
"It has been an honor serving this community,” said Henning. “From my first day on the job, I have been awed and amazed by the level of civic and social engagement among Barrington area residents and how this library plays an important role in supporting that community spirit. I am proud to have worked with a staff so fiercely dedicated to providing efficient, effective, and transformative library service. The Barrington Area Library is truly a special place and I am glad to have played a part in writing its story."
The Barrington Area Library is pleased to release its Annual Report for the fiscal year 2019-2020.
Read the report online to learn how the Library makes space - physically and virtually - to connect district residents with learning opportunities, fun and enriching community events, myriad local non-profit and volunteer organizations, and perhaps most importantly, with each other.
The Youth Services staff have picked their favorite books published in 2020 for ages 0-13. We hope you and your family find some new favorites here, too!
Janet Anderson (left) and Melissa Buckley.
If you weren't able to join us for our sixth annual TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary on Thursday, November 12, we're pleased to announce that the videos are now available for online viewing!
Janet Anderson, Barrington High School Teacher Librarian: It All Started With A Booktalk
Melissa Buckley, JourneyCare Foundation Trustee, former BStrong Together founding president & long-time community volunteer: Recruiting Volunteers From A Kitchen Table
If you aren't familiar with TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary, it is a locally organized version of TED, the series of inspiring talks meant to inspire and engage. Read the biographies of this year's speakers here. We encourage you to watch, listen, share, and discuss this year's videos with other community members!
Long-time Barrington Public Library Trustee and Board Vice President Carolyn Welch Clifford recently submitted her resignation due to an out-of-state move.
At its regular meeting on Monday, October 12, 2020, the Board voted not to pursue a short-term appointment to fill the four-year vacancy left by Clifford. Rather, the Board will leave the seat vacant until the April 6, 2021 Consolidated Election. In addition to the four-year unexpired term created by her departure, there are two full-term, six-year seats on the Library Board up for election in April as well.
"Carolyn served as a passionate advocate for the Library, its programs, services, and staff. She volunteered countless hours of her time on behalf of the Library District's patrons,” stated Don Minner, President of the Library Board. “We will greatly miss her wise counsel and service."
Minner framed the Board’s decision to not appoint Clifford’s successor as an opportunity for community engagement. "With the spring elections just a few months away, we believe it's in the best interest of Library District residents to determine who they want to serve on the Library Board. Realistically, a new appointee would have only a few months on the Board before having to run for election. That's a lot to ask an appointed candidate. Therefore, we believe the voters should decide who will represent them."
District residents interested in running for election to the Library Board will find more information, including a courtesy candidate information packet, on the Barrington Area Library website: balibrary.org/library-board. Candidate information packets may also be requested at the Library’s Customer Service desk during all regular business hours. REMINDER: the filing period is Dec 14-18 and Dec 21.
The seven-member Board of Trustees serves as liaison between the general public and the library. It establishes library policy and mission, adopts the annual library budget, authorizes library services, and ensures that the library operates in accordance with state law and its own policies. Trustees attend meetings, participate in discussion and decision making at the meetings, serve on committees, and stay continually informed on library issues and state of Illinois laws that govern public libraries. Regular Board meetings occur at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, with additional committee and special meetings taking place throughout the year. At this time, board meetings take place via conference call, in keeping with local health guidelines regarding COVID-19 and the number of attendees at public gatherings.