About the Library

Fast Facts

Awards

• Recipient of the 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 144,597 residents in Elgin, South Elgin and portions
   of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood and Bartlett

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

• 99,637 (68.9%) of residents are cardholders 

• Largest library district in the State of Illinois for population served

• 1,003,210 visitors

• Over 2,302,410 items loaned

• 334,084 books + 197, 806 = 531, 893 items in collections
   (includes e-items)

• Over 1600 library programs attended by 66,000 people

5 year comparison