news
Summer Learning Challenge has ended for 2018 - what an amazing and record-breaking summer it has been! We're proud to say that our friends at Barrington Bank & Trust will generously donate $1,000 to the Cuba Township and Barrington Township food pantries, because the readers of the Barrington area not only met our community goal of 400,000 minutes read, they smashed it by topping 1 million minutes! Thank you - it is a joy to share our love of books and learning with this wonderful community.
Sponsored by:
Active podcasters, bloggers, YouTube content creators, online shop owners, and e-book authors: be part of our first Media Fair and share your work with our community! The BAL Media Fair will take place on Sunday, September 23, 2018, from 1:30 - 4:30 PM. Please note: space is limited and preference will be given to applicants who reside in the Barrington Public Library District.
Ready to apply? Just follow this link: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BALMediaFair. Have questions? Contact Business Liaison Librarian Annette Bochenek via email.
Interested in new media? Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 23, and explore our showcase of online media success stories! Watch our newsletter for details.

Celebrate the many ways stories are shared in this library-wide event. Enjoy interactive performances and hands-on story activities for all ages, including a special presentation and book signing from picture book author Aaron Reynolds. Books will be available for purchase.
Story Fest is made possible thanks to an endowment from former Barrington teacher Marge Luther, and was created to encourage and instill a love of reading in children.
Schedule:
Visit all the performances throughout the day, or choose a few favorites. Most performances will be offered twice, so you'll be able to enjoy as many as you'd like. Between shows, check out other activities throughout the first floor of the library.
Tickets for Author Aaron Reynolds will be available at the Youth Desk starting at 9 AM on a first come, first served basis. Scroll down to learn more about each performer/performing group.
Meeting Room
Youth Services Program Room
Youth Services Program Room
Meeting Room
Zimmerman Room
Youth Services Program Room
Youth Services Program Room
Zimmerman Room
Meeting Room
*Tickets required. Free tickets for this event will be available at the Youth Services desk starting at 9 AM on a first come, first served basis.
Meeting Room
Books will be available for purchase thanks to Read Between the Lynes, a bookstore located in Woodstock, IL.
Performers:



Kawika Acevedo and ʻAle Gabino are the owners of Hōkūle‘a Academy of Polynesian Arts, Chicago’s very own Polynesian entertainment company and dance academy. This husband and wife duo founded the island-inspired institution to stay true and respectful to the people and cultures of Polynesia. Since 2000 they have put all of their artistic energy towards learning the various dances, languages, and lifestyles of not only Hawai‘i but also Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand and other neighboring island nations. With authentic dancers, vibrant costumes, and fire dancers, Hōkūleʻa’s full Polynesian revue performs at schools, park districts, street festivals, and private parties year round.

Founded in 2009, the Sea Beast Puppet Company is known as being a leader in puppetry excellence in the Chicagoland area. The Sea Beast Puppet Company will perform their show, “Shadow Puppet Conspiracy” which is an exciting adventure into the world of improvised shadow puppet performance. A storyteller, using audience suggestions, weaves an original tale as a group of bold and daring shadow puppeteers work together to create and perform the story right before the audience’s eyes. Always original, this show is high energy and hilarious. The Shadow Puppet Conspiracy is a great show for audiences of all ages!

From superheroes to undersea adventures, princesses to dinosaurs, Storytown takes you on an interactive, fully improvised adventure. The actors use audience suggestions and ideas to create a different story every time. Kids design the setting and help shape the story. The actors, artists, and musicians bring it to life. When the possibilities are endless, no two stories are ever the same.
At a Special Meeting held at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 23, the Barrington Public Library District’s Board of Trustees voted to cease negotiations with the Village of Barrington on a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement, relating to the re-routing of Lake Zurich Road to intersect with U.S. Route 14 (Northwest Highway) at the existing traffic signal at Berry Road. The proposed Intergovernmental Agreement included the permanent sale of a parcel of Library District land of more than 2.5 acres from the Library to the Village for highway purposes, as well as a request for additional Library District land of more than 2.5 acres to be used as a temporary construction easement for the length of time of construction. The final vote on the motion to cease negotiations with the Village was 4-2, with one abstention.
In their discussion prior to the vote, Library Trustees cited a wide-ranging list of concerns including: the safety of both the realigned Lake Zurich Road and the redesigned Library parking lots; increased difficulty in entering and exiting the Library campus, which sees an average of 1,000 daily visitors; impaired use of the remaining land, particularly in terms of future library expansion; lack of control over design and execution of the end result; and destruction of the Library’s park-like setting. Also noted was the significant difference between the appraisals of Library District property that had been obtained by the Library Board and the Village of Barrington. The appraisal obtained by the Library District put the total value of the land being requested for permanent sale, and the land being requested as a temporary construction easement, at $3,975,000, with the Village’s appraisal placing the value around $1.4 million. Several members of the Library Board expressed a desire to see other options considered for controlling traffic and improving safety at the intersection of Lake Zurich Road and U.S. Route 14.
Approximately 120 community members attended the meeting. Board President Don Minner opened the meeting by introducing the Library’s new Executive Director, Jesse Henning. Minner also thanked the Village of Barrington for their patience throughout the review process, noting that the Village “diligently answered our questions, and kept the dialogue open with us.” Minner also thanked those in attendance, as well as community residents who had shared their opinions and input concerning the proposed Lake Zurich Road realignment with the Board over the past few years.
Minner then opened the meeting up for public comments. Community members, including Mayor Karen Darch, various representatives from the Village of Barrington, and other government officials, addressed the Board for over an hour. After all public comments were noted, the Library Board began its discussion of the proposed Lake Zurich Road realignment project and Intergovernmental Agreement.
Library Board Vice President Carolyn Clifford began her remarks by noting both the difficulty of the decision at hand, and her respect for the leadership of the Village of Barrington. Clifford then made an extensive presentation relating to the Board’s legal and fiduciary responsibilities, as well as her concerns over the safety and viability of the proposed project, and its long-term impact on library operations and possible future expansion.
After Clifford’s presentation, the remaining six Library Trustees spoke about their own questions and concerns, before taking the vote to end negotiations. Voting to end negotiations were Clifford, Board Treasurer Carrie Carr, Board Secretary Barbara Pintozzi, and Trustee Denise Tenyer. Those voting to continue negotiations were Minner and Trustee Denise Peters, with Trustee Bill Pizzi abstaining from the vote.
For more information on the Library Board's review process on the Lake Zurich Road proposal, we encourage you to view these important documents (appraisal, plats of survey, impact studies) and this list (PDF) of frequently asked questions and responses.
Update: At a Special Meeting on April 23, 2018, the Library District's Board of Trustees voted to cease negotiations with the Village of Barrington relating to the proposed realignment of Lake Zurich Road and related Intergovernmental Agreement. Details on that meeting.
The Barrington Public Library District Board of Trustees continues to research and discuss a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Barrington, relating to the re-routing of Lake Zurich Road to intersect with U.S. Route 14 (Northwest Highway) at the existing traffic signal at Berry Road. This proposed Intergovernmental Agreement includes the permanent sale of a parcel of Library District land of more than 2.5 acres from the Library to the village for highway purposes, as well as a request for additional Library District land of more than 2.5 acres to be used as a temporary construction easement for the length of time of construction.
Residents of the Library District may have questions about the Board’s process as it prepares to vote on the Intergovernmental Agreement. This website contains answers to FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and important documents (impact studies, expert opinions, plats of survey, and more) that explain the Board’s research and review process thus far, and clarify the Board’s next steps before voting on the Intergovernmental Agreement.