BALIBRARY AT 100 ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025: Celebrating the past, present, and future of the Barrington Area Library

CONTENTS

  1. A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JASON PINSHOWER
  2. BALIBRARY STORIES: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
  3. BRONCO BASEBALL AND THE LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
  4. TWO GENERATIONS FIND COMMUNITY AT THE LIBRARY
  5. TOM TOKARSKI AND HABITERA FARMS: WHEN MULBERRIES MEET MAKERLAB
  6. BOOK DELIVERY AND OUTREACH VISITS DELIGHT THIS INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS COUPLE
  7. LIBRARY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING
  8. BALIBRARY BY THE NUMBERS
  9. SERVICES AND CARDHOLDERS:
  10. FOCUS ON THE NEW MAKERLAB
  11. CHECKOUTS BY ITEM TYPE:
  12. SEED LIBRARY:
  13. FLEXIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE ADD VALUE TO YOUR LIBRARY EXPERIENCE
  14. PROGRAM ATTENDANCE:
  15. 100th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:
  16. THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS

SLAM DUNK!

A MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JASON PINSHOWER

100 down, 100 more to go. This past June, we had the pleasure of celebrating our 100th anniversary with a wonderful birthday party. From the games and the music to the groundswell of support from all of you, I know I was dunking for joy!

The stories in this year’s annual report paint a vast picture of what our Library has to offer to you. We explore the archives of our Local History Room, community connection, a very Mulberry MakerLab, and a love of lifelong learning. While many of our services have transformed over the past century, one thing remains true: we are committed to offering award-winning service, as recognized by winning our first ever Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.    

As we look at the next 100 years, we wanted to be sure to leave a remnant of this time, so we teamed up with Bartlett Tree Experts to plant a swamp white oak on our back lawn. If you were at our birthday party and picked up a sapling and planted it, send or tag us in pictures of your tree over time and stay connected. Grow with us.   

BALIBRARY STORIES: PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

HISTORY, COMMUNITY, TECHNOLOGY, CONNECTION:

MAKING A REAL-WORLD DIFFERENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY

Library customers Kara Sponsler and her father Frederic Sponsler pose for a photo with Gigi Coleman, great niece of pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, at a Library presentation in February 2025. Photo courtesy of Kara Sponsler.

AUTHOR SCOTT STAHMER:

BRONCO BASEBALL AND THE LIBRARY'S LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION

If you want to hit a grand slam when it comes to Barrington area history, you won’t find a more perfect pitch than the Barrington Area Library’s Local History Collection. Discover how BHS graduate, journalist, sportswriter, and editor Scott Stahmer tapped into the Library’s collections to research his upcoming book Forever Champions, a thrilling celebration of the 1986 Barrington High School baseball team and their winning season.

Scott Stahmer:We moved to Barrington in 1967, when I was in third grade, and I lived there until graduating from BHS and heading off to Southern Illinois University. Both parents were teachers – Dad at BHS from 1966-1992, Mom mostly in the Wauconda school system. I received a top-notch education in the Barrington schools, with warm memories of my favorite teachers.

Journalist, sportswriter, editor, and BHS graduate Scott Stahmer: "Local favorites include Langendorf Park, I worked there over the summer, and it was the hub of recreational activity in town. And like many Barrington teens in the 1970s, I loved the Italian beef at Dee’s and the tavern-style pizza at Charlotte’s." Photo courtesy of Scott Stahmer.

I got to know the Barrington Area Library from its former location at the corner of Hough and Monument Streets. It was within walking distance of our home, and I would often go there on my own to check out a book I wanted or take advantage of the quiet study environment.

Dad also coached basketball at BHS, and I became a big BHS sports fan and remain one to this day. My introduction to journalism came at age 14, when I began covering high school sports part-time for the Barrington Courier-Review. After college, I began working as a sportswriter, then switched from reporting/writing to copy editing. From 1999 forward, I spent the rest of my career primarily editing news or business. My career included stints as an editor at the Dallas Times Herald, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and The Villages (Fla.) Daily Sun. At the latter, I provided editing support for an investigative series published in 2023 that was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. I retired from full-time journalism in 2023, I have been married to Sandra since 1993, and we live in Central Florida with our two small dogs, Patrick and Lainy.

More than ten years ago, I read a book by a graduate of another Chicago-area high school who reminisced about playing on the school's first conference football championship team back in the 1950s. I immediately thought of the 1986 BHS baseball team, which won the school's first state championship in 1986 and included many players that reached the Little League World Series in 1981. I knew I could do justice to that team’s story. I knew many of the people involved and was familiar with the community. I had to put it off for long time, until I retired and had time to devote to the project.

That worked out well because 2026 is that team's 40th anniversary and the book – Forever Champions - will be a commemorative work. The team had many personalities who are worthy of their own books – Kirby Smith, the head coach (for 22 years) and one of the most important figures in the Barrington community's history; Dave Engle, the pitching coach who also is an accomplished artist; and Dan Wilson, who was a major league catcher for many years and now manages the Seattle Mariners (Wilson was named The Sporting News AL Manager of the Year for 2025).

THE COMMUNITY IS STILL INTERESTED IN THIS TEAM AND I HOPE TO KEEP THE MEMORIES ALIVE.

The photos on the left are from the 1987 Barrington High School Corral Yearbook and a special feature celebrating the baseball team's championship season. Did you know the Barrington Area Library's Local History Room has a collection of BHS yearbooks, covering a span from 1950 to the present day? Photo credit: Barrington High School Yearbook staff.

The Library's digital archives of the Barrington Courier-Review newspaper provide a fascinating anthology of local history.

I began the research process in mid-2024, conducting many phone interviews. Then I discovered the Library's digital archives of the Barrington Courier-Review. I made four visits to the Library to go through those archives in detail. The Library’s atmosphere is very pleasant – open, comfortable, well-lighted, and it seems like new – and the staff could not be more helpful. My computer skills are average at best, but the staff helped me to get online to access the digitized newspapers. The archives from 1986 were an immense help, enabling me to recreate the baseball season game-by-game, which would have been exceedingly difficult otherwise.

The writing process is underway and will continue for several months. When published, Forever Champions will be available for purchase online, and I also hope to sell it at retail outlets in the Barrington area such as Barnes and Noble in Deer Park."

We thank Scott Stahmer for telling us more about his book project and how the Library’s Local History Collection helped to make it a reality. Watch for Forever Champions in 2026!

KARA AND FREDERIC SPONSLER:

TWO GENERATIONS FIND COMMUNITY AT THE LIBRARY

Frederic Sponsler has been a resident of Barrington for more than 10 years. His daughter Kara moved here to assist with his care about two and a half years ago. Kara grew up in a community without library services, so now, no matter where she is living in the world, she makes sure to register for a card and take advantage of all the benefits that libraries offer. These two power users have tried just about everything available to adults at the Library - let's take a look!

Kara Sponsler: "I brought my father and his friend Joan to Fandom Fest - they absolutely loved it! (Kara's photo on the right shows Frederic and Joan posing with superhero Captain America.) My father is also a retired American Airlines pilot, and he really enjoyed the lecture about aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman that was presented by her great niece Gigi." The Sponslers enjoy BALibrary's long-running live music series, Second Fridays. Father and daughter also dabble in art and maker workshops, and Kara made a set of custom engraved glasses in the MakerLab as a gift for a friend's 50th birthday party.

Kara: "Through the Library's programs about elder care, I was connected to Bacoa, where I discovered so many additional resources to help me care for my father. For example, he was eligible for a free respite care program due to his service in the military. Many people simply don't know about these resources, so the Library's programs are really important in keeping the community informed. I tell all my friends about them!"

Kara also attended Volunteer Connection LIVE at BALibrary in April 2025, and joined Barrington Rotary shortly thereafter. (Barrington Rotarians tell us they have gained several new members over the last few years from our volunteer fairs!) She attends Thursday morning meetings and joins Rotary for volunteer activities - she particularly enjoys volunteering for Bacoa, giving back to an organization that has been helpful to her own family.

"I interact with the Library almost every day, because so many of its resources are digital. I frequently download e-books and audiobooks from Libby, and make use of the Library for my book club. I enjoy streaming services like Hoopla and Kanopy. Right now, I'm taking a free class on medical math through Gale Courses. Through the Library's participation in the McHenry County Library Lovers Expedition, I've discovered other wonderful libraries in the nearby area. like the Fox River Grove Memorial Library." Kara also joined us when the Library celebrated its 100th anniversary in June 2025 (pictured on the left)!

We're delighted to be a place where so many Barrington area residents, like Kara and Frederic, find community and connection, along with great books and wonderful experiences!

TOM TOKARSKI AND HABITERA FARMS: WHEN MULBERRIES MEET MAKERLAB

SOMETIMES INNOVATION BEGINS WITH A GOOD IDEA, A COMMUNITY SPACE, AND A 3D PRINTER.

In late 2024, Barrington maker and Library regular Tom Tokarski got a challenge he couldn’t resist. A relatively new mulberry farm was bringing in 100,000 customers a year despite a growing season of just ten weeks. Could Tom bring better tools, smarter design, and a problem-solving mindset to a “mom and pop” farm? We sat down with him to learn how the MakerLab played a key role in this unusual partnership. VeryMulberry.com is the website for Habitera Farms, a family-owned orchard growing pesticide-free Himalayan mulberries in Brentwood, CA. Founder Anil Godhwani missed the flavor of this rare fruit that he grew up with in India. He planted a few mulberry trees in his backyard and shared the bounty with family and friends. Their response was so enthusiastic, the backyard project grew into the largest commercial mulberry farm of its kind, with 10,000 trees across 100 acres. Mulberries grow in California from May through June, with a shelf life of three days, tops. Harvesting is labor-intensive, and even the farm's u-pick operation, which draws 4,000-5,000 visitors per day on weekends, needed better tools and processes for picking fruit quickly and easily.

This screenshot from the Habitera Farms website explains how to use a fruit picker.

As Habitera's orchard continues to grow, it becomes more challenging to harvest an optimal amount of fruit in just two months. The original picking tools were long telescoping poles with small plastic bowls attached to one end. The bowls were prone to breakage, and the connection between the two pieces failed over time. Eventually the supplier stopped making them altogether. At the same time, the farm began expanding into home delivery and farmers markets, increasing the need for reliable, large-scale harvesting tools.

Tom Tokarski's MakerLab prototype (top) in comparison to one of the older picking rods.

Here's where the Library’s MakerLab comes in. Replacement rods were easy to source from any hardware store. Beginning with a standard broom-style handle, Tom used the MakerLab's 3D printer to design and prototype a better bowl - testing different shapes, sizes, and thread fits until the best design emerged.

Let's get picking! The new bowl and rod combo, waiting to go to work at Habitera Farms.

Once the design was finalized and field-tested, Habitera sent it out to a manufacturer for large-scale production. The farm also sourced longer, commercial grade rods to help workers harvest efficiently from taller trees. The new rods are sturdier, washable, and built to last through the busy season.

Tom didn't stop there. He also used the MakerLab to create custom, 3D-printed adapters that allow the farm to attached 1- or 2-liter bottles to the rods. The bottles serve as larger collection containers, capable of harvesting 10-12 mulberries at once. This prototyping exercise paved the way for significantly improved commercial harvesting speed, without the need for expensive specialty equipment. Along with improved tools, Tom has helped Habitera Farms introduce useful technology to the orchard and farmers markets. Tickets are sold online, a convenience for guests which also allows Habitera to analyze data about customer preferences – what are the most popular times for picking berries? Electronic signage and digital payments streamline the checkout experience at farmers markets. The bottom line? Tom Tokarski says, “The Library’s MakerLab is an amazing resource. You’ve got the idea, and you no longer need to spend $1,500 on the machine you need to prototype and test it. Beyond the equipment, the MakerLab has wonderful people who can help you and and point you toward other resources to bring your project to life.”

FLORENCE AND FRANK COMPTON:

BOOK DELIVERY AND OUTREACH VISITS DELIGHT THIS INTELLECTUALLY CURIOUS COUPLE

In the 1980s. two school teachers found themselves at a series of art workshops put on by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. She was a native Chicagoan, he was a Yale graduate from Connecticut. After a conversation made her late for lunch, Florence found herself at the "smokers' table" with Frank. A few weeks later, they were lunching together at La Margarita restaurant on Rush Street, after Frank decided to ask for a date. In 1988, the happy couple was married at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Barrington, where Frank had been a member for many years, singing in the choir and building a strong network of friendships.

Thirty seven years later, they are still happily married, and these two lifelong learners are settling into life at The Garlands of Barrington. We had a lovely conversation with the Comptons and discovered how the Library helps them to keep reading and exploring their many interests.

Florence Compton believes the local Library is the heart of the community. She has always been a voracious reader, and enjoys "anything that is well-written. When I'm reading, I want to get involved in the lives of the subjects." She cites Australian-American writer Geraldine Brooks as a favorite, and Christopher Whitaker's epic tome, All The Colors of the Dark, was a recent, serendipitous find she is really savoring. "I like long books, and I read the description on the cover and thought it sounded exactly right for me." Frank is a fan of author Daniel Silva and his protagonist Gabriel Allon. Allon is both art restorer and spy, and "super intelligent," so the stories are fascinating to Frank, who has fond memories of his student job in the university art gallery. Florence: "Books have always brought me friendship, and I've been a member of several book groups over the years. They are a nice way to meet people." Before moving to Barrington, Florence belonged to a book group at the Rolling Meadows Public Library for multiple decades, and recently joined a club at The Garlands. June 2026 will be her month to lead the discussion, and she's working with the Library to find a readily available, thoughtful title that will generate good conversation.

The Comptons appreciate having the Library right next door, even though they no longer drive. Florence: "Twice a month, on Tuesday afternoons, Whitney and Barb from the Library come over to the Garlands. They bring such a big variety of books, there really is something for everyone. And they're both very nice, too." Whitney and Barb often bring over titles they think will be a good fit for the Comptons and other Garlands residents, based on their prior reading history, as well as popular titles that appeal to a large audience, and large type books to make reading more comfortable. Our Outreach team also makes regular visits to Deer Park Village Senior Living and Lake Barrington Woods Senior Living, many Barrington area schools, and special events all over the Library district. The Comptons also make use of our BALibrary@Home service, which provides delivery of Library materials via US mail to Library cardholders who are temporarily homebound (30-day minimum), permanently disabled, or elderly and without transportation. Our Librarians are happy to suggest appropriate books and movies, or customers may request specific titles from the Library's collections. Call 847-382-1300 ext. 3300 and ask for BALibrary @ Home for more details.

We couldn't ask for better next-door neighbors than Florence and Frank Compton, and we're grateful to have the opportunity to provide them with Library services that enrich their lives and spark their curiosity!

LIBRARY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING

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 on the left 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. Read this award-winning document on our Library Board of Trustees web page: Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Audit

Plaque presented to the Library by the Government Finance Officers Association, recognizing the Library's excellent in financial reporting.

GOOGLE REVIEWS

Thank you, Laurel! Our Second Fridays music series has been going strong for more than 30 years, and our Youth Services department is frequently adding new interactive play experiences for our youngest visitors! Come back and see us soon.

BALIBRARY BY THE NUMBERS

FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025

OVERALL LIBRARY VISITS:

273,352 BALibrary visits took place in the past year, a slight increase of 1.7% from the previous year.

Children decorate festive birthday crowns to wear at our 100th Anniversary Celebration on June 21, 2025

SERVICES AND CARDHOLDERS:

BALibrary prides itself on excellent service, and our soaring numbers reflect that mindset. Demand for reference help and one-on-one appointments continues to show incredible growth. Interlibrary Loan also grew this year, particularly in the numbers of items we lent to other libraries. Wi-fi use had a small drop, but in-house computer use grew by almost the same amount.

20,540 reference questions answered (+31.5%) 1,092 one-on-one training sessions (+20.5%) 739 Meeting Room Reservations (+2%) 11,596 Study Room, Studio, and Game Room Reservations (+4.5%) 2,472 items loaned out through Interlibrary Loan (+12%) 4,317 items borrowed through Interlibrary Loan (+4%) 9,968 public computer sessions (+3.6%) 41,361 wi-fi sessions (-3.5%)

20,525: total number of registered cardholders. This number is down very slightly (less than 1%) from the previous year.

FOCUS ON THE NEW MAKERLAB

Customers, with the help of Digital Services Assistant Jim Figiel, work on a variety of projects in the new MakerLab.

Our brand new MakerLab launched last year, and the space continues to overflow with creativity and collaboration. Take a class to get an introduction or to dive deep into a particular technology. Have a specific project in mind? Make a personal appointment for friendly, expert help. 1,021 of this year's 1,092 one-on-one sessions were for the MakerLab and/or Digital Services staff. Digital Services appointments showed a 20.4% increase this year. Photo (right): Meet the Digital Services Team - Manager Mike Campagna, along with Kat Stemple, Evie Daniels, and Jim Figiel Number of 3D Print Jobs: 839 (+5.67%) Number of 3D Print Parts: 2,067 (+9.25%) Number of Laser-Cut Jobs: 2,677 (+16.64%) Number of Laser-Cut Parts: 8,697 (+33.92%) (A complete project is a job, which can be made of few or many parts.)

GOOGLE REVIEWS:

Thank you, Michael! We take our commitment to local businesspersons, organizations, and students very seriously, and we do our best to provide comfortable, state-of-the-art facilities where they can get the job done.

CHECKOUTS BY ITEM TYPE:

Circulation of materials grew by slightly more than 4% this year. BALibrary customers continue to check out fewer legacy formats like DVDs and CDs, and far more digital downloads like e-books and e-audiobooks.

Digital music had a very strong year with a 21% increase. Equipment and kits also had a surge of 15% - these items include everything from phone chargers and iPads (in-house use) to an LCD projector and our new sewing machine! Watch for exciting news about our "Library of Things," coming soon!

  • BOOKS: 393,906 (-2.75%)
  • DVDs: 107,465 (-16.5%)
  • CDs: 12,202 (-13%)
  • PRINT MAGAZINES: 4,693 (-9%)
  • EQUIPMENT AND KITS: 3,090 (+15%)
  • E-BOOKS: 125,822 (+1.7%)
  • E-AUDIOBOOKS: 88,332 (+18%)
  • *E-MAGAZINES and E-NEWSPAPERS: 134,489 (+120%)
  • STREAMING VIDEO: 11,562 (+3%)
  • DIGITAL MUSIC: 23,241 (+21%)
  • *OTHER ELECTRONIC CONTENT RETRIEVAL: 109,283 (-15%)
  • TOTAL= 1,014,085, overall increase of 4.2%

*These numbers look different this year but not much has actually changed. E-Magazines and E-Newspapers were formerly included with Other Electronic Content Retrieval, but are now in a separate category.

SEED LIBRARY:

Adult Services department staff members get ready to welcome BALibrary cardholders to the Seed Library Launch, January 29, 2025

We think organic, non-GMO seeds are another pretty great form of "technology," and Barrington area residents do, too: this year, we distributed over 62,650 free seed packets, including more than 80 varieties.

Photo (right): We had a great time in the 2024 Fourth of July Parade in the Village of Barrington - this may have been our biggest group of walkers ever!

FLEXIBILITY AND CONVENIENCE ADD VALUE TO YOUR LIBRARY EXPERIENCE

April 2025: we added another remote book return location, in the Arboretum of South Barrington. (Seen here with Outreach Associate Daniel Shine and Material Services Manager Mike Cristo.) Our van drivers picked up 53,730 items from our remote book returns over the last fiscal year!

We're proud to be an innovative library that goes the extra mile for our cardholders and adapts to our community's changing needs. For example, we recognized the need to expand hours for hold pick-ups at our busiest location: the main Library campus. After adding a new set of automated lockers in our parking lot, customers are able to access their holds 24/7, and pick-ups increased by more than 12% as a result. Customers still enjoy our Parking Lot Pick-Up and Borrow By Mail services as well, although these numbers showed a slight decline this year. We were thrilled to see a 10% increase in our BALibrary @ Home Delivery service, which is offered to cardholders who are homebound temporarily (30-day minimum), permanently disabled, or elderly and without transportation.

Spoiler alert: we think next year's Borrow By Mail numbers will be up again, as many customers discovered the convenience of this service when Route 14 was closed for six weeks in 2025.

GOOGLE REVIEWS:

Thank you, Kelly! We're glad you enjoyed your visit and shared such a thoughtful review. We love being a Library where children and adults can find a warm welcome, helpful services, and of course, great books, movies, and more.

PROGRAM ATTENDANCE:

77,031 people enjoyed BALibrary programs in the past fiscal year. Highlights include:

Making crafts at Harvest Fest out on the BALibrary Lawn

HARVEST FEST, Sept 21, 2024: 1,194 attendees

Getting a magical hug from Elsa at Snow Ball

SNOW BALL, Jan 3, 2025: 513 attendees

Ferocious and fun-loving: two local dragons slaying at Fandom Fest

FANDOM FEST 10TH ANNIVERSARY, Feb 22, 2025: 1,467 attendees

"Nothing runs like a dear" - this tiny Touch A Truck guest looks right at home driving some big wheels!

TOUCH A TRUCK, with the Village of Barrington Public Works Department, May 13, 2025: 933 attendees

Two young library lovers had fun with our photo props during the McHenry County Library Lovers Expedition in 2025

MCHENRY COUNTY LIBRARY LOVERS EXPEDITION, February-March 2025: 1,261 visitors to BALibrary

Nothing beats a dance party on a beautiful summer day

SUMMER KICK-OFF, May 31, 2025: 1,199 attendees

100th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:

JUNE 21, 2025: 1,678 ATTENDEES

The Library celebrated its 100th anniversary with a birthday party featuring delicious treats, live music and entertainment, a dunk tank, crafts, games, a photo booth, face painting, and lots of other surprises. It was an unforgettable day full of smiles, laughter, community, and DELIGHT - one of BALibrary's five key values. Thank you to all our guests, volunteers, and performers, who made the day so special! Cheers to one hundred MORE years!

Scroll through a slideshow of images from the celebration, including the performance by the Barrington Children's Choir, children enjoying cupcakes and posing for photos in our photo booth, families laughing during a performance by juggler Andy Head, the Dixieland Jazz Cats performing a song outside on the plaza, Head of Youth Services Aly Prchal getting ready to make a splash into the dunk tank, dancers jitterbugging to the Dixieland band, a young girl showing off her decorative face paint, and another young girl who celebrated her birthday at our anniversary event, posing in the photo booth with some of her siblings.

BETTER TOGETHER:

THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL PARTNERS

The Library is proud to offer support, outreach, resources, research, meeting space, promotion, and other services to more than 140 worthwhile community organizations and businesses, who also provide us with outstanding programming opportunities, subject area expertise, event participation, prize sponsorship, and so much more. AARP Academy of Stars, Lake Barrington Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington Algonquin Area Public Library District Alzheimer's Association Anthropologie, Deer Park The Arboretum of South Barrington Art In Nature Ascension Illinois Behavioral Health Associates in Pediatrics Atonement Christian Day School A Baby Place Bacoa (Barrington Area Council on Aging) Barrington 220 Educational Foundation Barrington 220 School District, Schools, and School Board Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce Barrington Area Community Foundation Barrington Area Conservation Trust Barrington Area Council of Governments (BACOG) Barrington Area Development Council Barrington Area Volunteer Connection Barrington Bank & Trust Company The Barrington Center Barrington Children's Choir Barrington Council for the Gifted and Talented Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District Barrington Cultural Commission Barrington Farmers Market Barrington Giving Day Barrington Junior Women’s Club Barrington Lions Club Barrington Newcomers and Neighbors Barrington Park District Barrington Rotary Barrington Scoop Barrington Township & Food Pantry Barrington United Methodist Church Barrington Youth & Family Services Barrington's White House Be SMART Bear Family McDonald's Boy Scouts (several local troops) Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township Bright Horizons, Deer Park Bright Start Broncos For Books BStrong Together The Build Team Burpee Museum Cary Area Public Library CASA Lake County Citizens For Conservation Community Meal Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters Cook County Forest Preserve District Crabtree Nature Center Creative Learning Montessori Cuba Township Food Pantry DaVinci Waldorf School Daughters of the American Revolution - Signal Hill Chapter Elderwerks Elgin Symphony Orchestra Empatia Palliative Care & Gentiva Hospice Epic Burger Extreme Wheels Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watershed Fur Keeps Animal Rescue The Garlands of Barrington Gigi's Playhouse Girl Scouts (several local troops) GiveNKind Go Green Barrington Goldfish Swim School Good Shepherd Baby Bistro/Birthing Center Harper College Home of the Sparrow Hooved Animal Humane Society Hop Along Yogi Kids Yoga House of Hope Resale Illinois Libraries Present Illinois State Toll Highway Authority International Crane Foundation Journeycare Juno Leadership Coaching Kaleidoscope School of Fine Art Kane County Cougars Knupper's Flower & Garden Lake County Forest Preserve District Lake County Haven Lake County Health Department League of Women Voters of the Palatine Area Let It Be Us Let's Talk Pediatric Therapy Lightways Hospice McHenry County Library Lovers Expedition Partner Libraries Montessori Academy of North Barrington Montessori Academy of North Hoffman Estates Montessori Children's House of North Barrington NAMI Barrington Area NIU (Northern Illinois University) Center for Governmental Studies North Cook County Master Gardeners Northwest Neurology Nothing Bundt Cakes, Kildeer Oak Leaf Preschool Oberweis Dairy Options and Advocacy for McHenry County Opus Montessori, Tower Lakes Orchard Evangelical Free Church Organic Rootz Parker Players Pathways Learning Academy Postpartum Support International Presbyterian Church of Barrington Purrfect Cat Rescue Quintessential Barrington Rahab's Daughters RAILS Reaching Across Illinois Library Systems Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Safety Town Saint Anne School Saint Hubert Job and Networking Ministry Saint Mark's Day School Saint Matthew Lutheran Church Salem Methodist Preschool Shelter Inc. Sign With Katy Smart Farm SOUL Harbour Ranch South Barrington Park District Stillman Nature Center Sweet Piece Solutions Synergy Home Care of Barrington TEDx United Way of Metro Chicago University Center of Lake County Village of Barrington Village of Barrington Police Department Village of Barrington – Public Works department Village of Barrington Hills Village of Deer Park Walk On Farm Wauconda Public Library Weiss Financial Ratings Willow Center, Hoffman Estates WINGS Wintrust

Credits:

A publication of the Barrington Area Library, 505 N Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL 60010 | balibrary.org