Images of the Main Library, Rakow Branch and South Elgin Branch

Mission Statement - The library where imagination & transformation flourish, fueled by the power of community.

Culture StatementWe are the library where imagination and transformation flourish, fueled by the power of community. Our values include striving to deliver extraordinary customer service with a friendly, dedicated, innovative and professional staff in a welcoming environment that celebrates our public spaces as well as our engagement with the community. We are guided by the library’s vision to work together to ensure all district residents are proud members of the Gail Borden Public Library. More

 

Fast Facts

Awardsnational medal

• Recipient of the nation's highest recognition for American libraries -  2009 National Medal
   for Museum and Library Services

• Recipient of the 2010 Elgin Hispanic Network
   Organization of the Year

• 20 awards received (international, national, state, and local)


Buildings

Main Library opened in October 2003 - 153,826 sq ft

• Take a Virtual Tour of the Main Library
• Third largest public library building in Illinois,
   after Chicago and Schaumburg

Rakow Branch opened in August 2009 - 10,598 sq ft.

• Take a Virtual Tour of the Rakow Branch
• Rakow achieved LEED Gold status

South Elgin Branch opened in July 2016 - 4,275 sq ft.


District Statistics 

• Serve 149,907 residents in Elgin, South Elgin and portions
   of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood and Bartlett

• Serve the 5th largest library population
   after the cities of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford and Joliet

• 90,693 (60.5%) of residents are cardholders 

• Second largest library district in the State of Illinois for population served.  

• 1,003,210 visitors (pre-pandemic)

• Over 2,302,410 items loaned (pre-pandemic)

•Approximately 330,000 physical items and access to 3.4 million eBook and eAudio titles

• Over 1600 library programs attended by 66,000 people (pre-pandemic)

 

 


5 year comparison

  2007-2008 2012-2013 Percentage
Circulation 1,505,798 2,302,410 52.9%
Programs 1163 1941 66.9%
Attendance 54,971 65,324 18.8%
Visitors 793,226 1,003,210 26.5%

Service
Population

123,507 144,597 17%