Have you heard about TED, the nonprofit, global…
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Meet Dozens of Barrington Area Writers at Library’s Local Author Fair
Love being first to know about a great…
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An Evening with Jessica Lahey, Bestselling Author of “The Gift of Failure”
New York Times best selling author, Jessica Lahey…
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80. Meet and greet local authors at the Barrington Area Library’s first annual Local Author Fair
It’s no secret that Barrington is full of…
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32. Books & Beyond: Stephen King’s “11/22/63” the Focus of 5th Annual Barrington Reads Event, Underway Now!
It’s been way too long since I’ve written…
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224. Take a kid-friendly tour of the renovated library
When I knew the library was going to…
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223. The Best-Kept (Business) Secret in Barrington
When I am out and about in the…
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196. Books & Beyond: Get your #throwback on at the Barrington Area Library!
I’ll never forget the night before our new…
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165. Come Celebrate Your “Remixed” Barrington Area Library
We know there was a time when you thought the Barrington Area Library’s renovation project was never going to end. I even had residents spot me in restaurants to let me know they were betting we wouldn’t be finished on time! Well, with the exception of a few “punch list” items and the audiovisual equipment set up in the remodeled meeting rooms – we’ve reached the finish line.
It’s been a wild and crazy ride for 14 months, and we’ve been through just about every construction problem HGTV can throw at you on a Saturday afternoon, and we did not have the Property Brothers to help us out. Nevertheless, we’re delighted, reinvigorated, and so pleased to welcome you to the newly “remixed” Barrington Area Library.
365 Barrington already did an awesome write-up on our new Youth Services department when it opened in January. Even five months later, the excitement in the new kids’ area cannot be contained! Designed with active play and learning in mind, this area of the library is being talked about all over the country. We love the blend of old and new: kids can put on a puppet show, try out some costumes, experience a good old Light Bright (a giant Light Bright, mind you), and experiment with an amazing set of large blocks call the Imagination Playground, but, they can also play with iPads, Windows 8 computers, an interactive Digital Pond and Word Wall. Oh yes – they can also check out a book or movie from thousands of choices, enjoy a story time, and curl up in a comfy chair with something great to read. We’ve got it all covered. If you haven’t seen it yet, come over soon, while there’s time to sign up for Summer Library Club.
But we don’t want you to think the renovation is just about new services for children. Another incredible milestone in the renovation was the opening of the new Business & Technology Center on May 28. What will the community find in that new space?
* A computer lab, plus express Internet stations and laptops for checkout.
* A MakerLab and Studio 1, a digital studio similar to our former Media Lab
* A 10-person conference room that can be reserved by BALibrary cardholders
* media:scapes, collaborative spaces where small groups can plug their devices into shared monitors
* Business cubicles for an office-away-from-home space, study alcoves and booths
It may not have a slide, but we’re finding teens and adults are pretty charged up about their new space, too!
Rumors fly around during big public projects like this, and one that I heard several times was that the library was getting rid of its art gallery – not true! I’ve been busy working with two new Gallery in the Library committee members, library employees Sam Adams-Lanham and Ashley Brooke Sero, to bring in some artwork to showcase our new gallery walls. We’re calling this new show “Re-Mastered: the greatest hits of the Gallery in the Library.” It features work from three local artists whose shows were very popular here in the past: Kathleen Eaton, Bruno Vanoudenhove, and Lou Taylor, a local favorite who passed away in 2011. We also have two works apiece by our former Gallery co-curators, Kelly Stachura and Lisa Swarbrick. These talented ladies, both BHS grads, will truly be missed for all the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity they poured into the Gallery since 2006, but their respective art careers are taking them places – literally, all over the world! – and we wish them well in the future.
There are so many wonderful things I could tell you about the renovated library, and pictures I could post of beautiful new spaces, but what I’d really like is for you to come over and see for yourselves. We’re open 7 days a week, of course, and you’re always welcome to stop by and explore. But you’re especially welcome on Sunday, June 22, when the library presents The Remix, our grand reopening celebration! We wanted to throw a party to thank you for your continued support of the library, for your patience through the construction process when it wasn’t always so quiet and pleasant around here, and to give you the opportunity to learn about the improvements we’ve made to this important community asset. Want to know more of the facts and figures about the renovation? Find documentation on the library website.
We’ll kick off the events with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 1 PM, featuring our Board of Trustees, our Executive Director and department heads, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, and local elected officials. Here are more of the fun activities we have planned for our grand reopening……
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128. Library Launches “Read To Feed” Campaign to Benefit Local Food Pantries
Summer reading clubs at public libraries are nothing new. Children, teens, and even adults register for the programs, log in the books they read, and earn rewards ranging from a free book or t-shirt to more extravagant prizes like gift cards and e-readers. This summer, the Barrington Area Library is adding a unique twist to its “Read To Feed” summer library club for adults and teens. Through a partnership with a variety of local businesses, participants can eat, shop, and read to feed hungry residents of Barrington and Cuba Townships.
“Read To Feed” will take place from Monday, June 2 through Friday, August 15. How will the business partnership work to help the hungry? First of all, adults and teens who register for “Read To Feed” are being challenged to top the number of books read in last summer’s club. A goal of 1,500-plus books has been set. Adults and teens who register will receive some thank you gifts: a free book, chocolate, and Ravinia lawn tickets, while supplies last. Registrants will also be entered in semi-monthly prize drawings.
While club members are busy reading (e-books and audiobooks also count), any area resident can eat and shop at participating businesses to start generating monetary donations to the Barrington and Cuba Township food pantries. A different business will be featured for one day each week. The businesses have selected a date, specific hours on that date, and the amount of the day’s proceeds they will donate to the food pantries if the library’s reading goal is met.
For example, the first featured business is Jimmy John’s, located at 168 S. Northwest Highway in Barrington. Jimmy John’s has agreed to donate 10% of proceeds from dine-in meals that take place on June 4, from 5 PM to close. Other participating businesses are……

57. Three Simple Truths about Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Author, Rachel Joyce
We’ll be chatting live via Skype with Rachel…
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45. Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: Chapters 1 – 10
I started re-reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold…
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40. Help Me Interview “Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” Author Rachel Joyce
When the Barrington Area Library asked me last…
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33. Barrington Author Inspires “Culture of Generosity” with New Book
Rem Stokes knows that talking about money makes most of us a little uncomfortable, but he argues the reward is well worth the exercise in his new book titled Cultivating Generosity: Giving What’s Right, Not What’s Left. Rem is an author, teacher, veteran fundraiser and a two-year resident of The Garlands of Barrington. He’s also a voracious reader, and a tireless advocate for conscious living and generous giving.
In Cultivating Generosity, Rem invites us to do some thoughtful introspection, with the hope that we’ll consider finding more resources to share. He challenges us to think about the influences that shape our attitudes toward money and he explores how donating money can bring more happiness and personal satisfaction.
On February 10, at 11:30 a.m., Rem will share his book’s message at a discussion and book signing at The Garlands of Barrington’s Performing Arts Center and all are welcome (more details below).
Rem, 83, is a true Renaissance man. A former engineering manager with Bell Telephone Laboratories and Motorola, he holds 22 patents. He holds degrees in both mechanical engineering and educational psychology.
His home at The Garlands is lined with books meticulously organized by subject–and he’s read them all. When he’s not spending time with his wife, Lee, you can find Rem writing in his light-filled office (which has a spectacular view, by the way), or teaching anything from neuroscience to history.
Rem has been thinking about our relationship with money for quite some time. In 1953, at age 23, he joined the Unitarian Universalist Church in Summit, New Jersey. When the church’s minister asked Rem to canvass for their capital campaign to raise funds for a new religious education building, Rem enthusiastically agreed. He thought people would give eagerly to the cause.
When he asked people to donate, though, he was shocked by their “enormous ambivalence.” People were hesitant to give, and even more reluctant to say why not. That was the beginning of Rem’s involvement with 77 churches’ capital campaigns, and his lifelong study of money attitudes.
In Cultivating Generosity, Rem writes “For many, money is a delicate subject. When I was a kid, it was considered to be in bad taste to discuss sex, politics, religion, or money…Well, times have changed. People talk openly about yesteryear’s most personal problems: mental illness, personal diseases, and every form of cancer…But not money! Money may be the last great taboo.”……

19. Author Paul Tough to Talk About How Children Succeed
Barrington’s annual community reading campaign, Barrington Reads, is…
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