Our Youth Services librarians have compiled a list of their favorite books, published in 2018, for young readers. We hope they become some of your new favorites, too!
news
Summer Reading 2019: Now - August 19
For Kids, Teens, and Adults
Our popular summer reading event is drawing to a close for 2019! Get your reading time and activities logged in now.
How it works:
1. Use your computer, tablet, or mobile device.
2. Create an account at balibrary.org/summer.
3. Sign up for 2019 Summer Reading.
4. Get busy: you'll earn points and real/digital badges by logging in your reading, reviewing, and other fun learning activities.
5. Win big: visit the Library to collect your badges and prizes.
Parents: download a description of badges/activities for grades K-8.
All readers can earn:
➠ One free paperback book (reader's choice, while supplies last)
➠ One Summer Reading Pass, good for a free activity at a participating location in the Library district
➠ One Library lanyard
Young adults can win Airpods, and adults can win a gift card toward a great local dining experience!
Grand Prize:
Readers of all ages that complete the reading goal will be entered to win a one-year, six-person membership to the Morton Arboretum. Three passes in all, one winner in each category: Birth - Preschool, Kindergarten - Grade 8, Adult.
Read It Forward:
Great news! Our community of readers reached a collective 1,000,000+ points, far exceeding our 2019 reading goal, so Barrington Bank and Trust will generously donate $1,000 to the Cuba Township and Barrington Township Food Pantries.
Thank you to all our Summer Reading sponsors:
Barrington Bank and Trust
Barrington Park District
Barrington's White House
Pinot's Palette South Barrington
Pinstripes South Barrington
Windy City Bulls
We invite you to read our 2017-2018 Annual Report, with a welcome message from new Executive Director Jesse Henning, an in-depth look at new and innovative programs like Spring Fling and StoryFest, and interesting statistics defining a successful and busy year. You can download it (PDF) with the icon at the top left, or use the controls in the bottom right to view it as a fullscreen publication or zoom in.
We are also pleased to announce that we have received a coveted three star rating in this year's Library Journal survey of American libraries. This puts the Barrington Area Library in the top 3% of libraries across the nation based on five major service measures – physical material circulation, electronic circulation, number of visits, program attendance, and public computer users - from the 2015-2016 fiscal year. For more details on this honor, visit this page.
The Barrington Public Library District was once again honored with a three star ranking in a national survey published by Library Journal.
See the full Library Journal article here. This year, a total of 7,361 libraries were surveyed, with 257 being named "star libraries." This puts the Barrington Area Library in the top 3% of libraries across the nation, based on five major service measures – physical material circulation, electronic circulation, number of visits, program attendance, and public computer users - from the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The top 30 libraries in each of Library Journal's nine expenditure categories receive three, four, or five star rankings.
As we did last year, the Barrington Area Library ranks higher in e-circulation (the lending of e-books, e-audiobooks, and other digital materials) per capita than most star libraries across the U.S. - in any budget range! In fact, our e-circulation per capita puts us in the top 20% of the star libraries in this service measure. In several other categories, our performance is higher than libraries within significantly larger budget ranges. 21 of the 2018 star libraries are located in Illinois.
We're proud to serve you here in the heart of this wonderful community. Watch for our annual report in a few weeks and learn more about our busy and innovative Library!
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, designed to energize and inspire. This year we were delighted to welcome a trio of inspiring and powerful Barrington area women at our fourth annual TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary, on Thursday, Oct 11, at 7 PM.
Couldn't make the event, or wish you could share these powerful presentations with family and friends? Follow this link to the online videos!
Our 2018 presenters:
• Sam Oliver, Recipient of Barrington Area Development Council (BADC) Lifetime Volunteer Award 2018
• Chrissie Mena, Founder/President of Living60010 and Community Volunteer
• Reverend Dr. Zina Jacque, Pastor of the Community Church of Barrington
- Explore local volunteer opportunities, donate used eyeglasses and travel-sized toiletries
- TEDxBarringtonAreaLibrary returns on Thursday, Oct 11, 7 PM
- Construction updates, September 28, 2018
- Rootsfest, Sunday, Sept 9, 2018: Nature, Art, Music, Community
- Thanks for making Summer Learning Challenge so awesome this year!