Dear Community,

The Gail Borden Public Library District Board of Trustees and Staff are honored to serve this community as we recognize 150 years of service. 

We are asking all of you to help us celebrate this monumental milestone in 2024.

This community holds the distinct honor of being the first in the state to establish a public library by vote on April 2, 1872, after the State of Illinois passed the “Free Library Act” in March 1872. Much of the impetus for this act followed the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the gift of books from England with bookplates that were inscribed with “Her Majesty the Queen Victoria.”

While this community was first to vote on establishing a public library in Illinois, the doors of our first library opened in 1874 on the third floor of the Home Bank block that once stood where the Tower Building now stands.

Please plan to celebrate throughout 2024 with us at many 150th-themed programs, presentations, exhibits, and more.

From all the Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers, Foundation Directors and many more from this library district both past and present, we thank you for your many years of support.  It means the world to us.

Jean Bednar                                                 Carole Medal      

President Board of Trustees                       Chief Executive Officer

Please visit our small memento store with coffee mugs, book bags, growing dinosaurs, sports bottles and more near Customer Relations in the Main Library. Check back often, as merchandise will change throughout the year.

Events

150th Anniversary Party 3-19-2024

Click to see photos from our 150th Birthday Party

Gail Borden Library Celebrates 150 Years

Check out the videos below to see more.

News

Shown here Courtesy of the Daily Herald

Daily Herald

Gail Borden Library celebrates 150th birthday
Photo of John Steffen dressed as Gail Borden with Denise Raleigh

By: Rick West   Published: March 19, 2024 at 7:06 pm

Hundreds of people crowded the atrium of the Gail Borden Library in Elgin Tuesday to celebrate the local institution’s 150th birthday.

“We have the greatest library probably in the state of Illinois and maybe in the country,” Elgin Mayor David Kaptain said before declaring 2024 as Gail Borden Library Year in the city. “This is so important for this community.”

Read More...

Shown here Courtesy of the Elgin Courier News

Photo of Courier News Article

ELGIN COURIER-NEWS

Gail Borden Library, named for a man who never lived in Elgin, ready to kick off its 150th anniversary

By: Mike Danahey   Published: Dec 1, 2023 at 5:30 pm

Local historian Jerry Turnquist has been readying the presentation he’ll be giving Friday night to commemorate the 150th year of the Elgin library — a library that bears the name of a man who never lived in the city.

It opened March 19, 1874, and was operated by Elgin Township, he said.

“It was on the third floor of the Home Bank Building, a site now occupied by the Tower Building,” Turnquist said.

Read More...

$1.50 Deals for our 150th Anniversary!

Library officials are pleased that partners will be offering $1.50 specials in honor of the Library’s 150th Anniversary this year. 

Bear Family McDonalds

March 2024 - Library McDouble

Bear Family McDonald’s is offering a $1.50 McDouble* throughout March at any of their seven local locations. *You must mention the $1.50 Library McDouble upon ordering to receive discount. Max of 5 per order. 
Not available through the Mobile App or McDelivery.

  • Elgin Locations: 401 Summit St., 1165 N. McLean Blvd., 1480 Larkin Ave., 255 S. Randall Rd., 816 St Charles St.
  • South Elgin Locations: 100 N. McLean Blvd., 453 Redington Dr.
Kane County Teachers Credit Union

April 2024 - Library Piggy Bank

KCT Credit Union is offering its iconic piggy bank for $1.50. People may purchase these banks at any of the KCT Branches.

Longtime Library supporter, KCT helps people live better lives financially. KCT believes in the principle of serving their member-owners with financial literacy and education.

    We appreciate our partners for supporting the Library and library initiatives throughout the years, and even more this year for our momentous occasion. Check back see more local deals!

    Please join us in celebrating the Gail Borden Public Library District's 150th birthday

     
    After the Illinois State legislature passed the "Free Library Act," this community was the first in the state to vote yes to create a public library. The library doors opened in 1874 in a building located where the Tower Building now stands.
     
    Please visit this page often, as we create a timeline detailing how the Church brothers' donation of the Scofield mansion to be used as a library was predicated on it being named "Gail Borden" after their beloved stepfather,  the move to new buildings as library usage and the local population grew and how service to this community has changed from users not being able to enter the stacks to select their books to now, where users can download books from wherever they are in the world.
     
    The library has always carried books in different languages starting with German.  As the population grew more diverse, so did the books, with the library now carrying books in 10 languages, including Spanish.
     
    In the last twenty years, the services and presentations include branches, a bookmobile, world-class exhibits and so much more.
     
    Throughout the years, we have been honored to serve this community.  Please check here often as we collect memories and so much more.