Gail Borden Library District Culture Statement
We 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.
This is our culture:
- We are committed to delivering extraordinary, proactive customer service whether inside our buildings or out in the community. We want everyone to be “wowed”.
- We manage public resources responsibly and use staff efficiently.
- We are proud of our buildings and work to maintain welcoming spaces for activities ranging from quiet to high-energy.
- We develop and nurture partnerships to build a better community.
- We value and respect the differences within our organization and the community.
- As we work with the public, we keep personal opinions to ourselves so that the library remains a neutral and respectful space for many differing views.
- Each one of us is a library ambassador. We are proud of the library’s role in our community and how each one of us contributes to it.
- We are committed to helping community members achieve their own success.
- We are always changing—take a deep breath and dive right in! We support mindful experimentation and collaboration. When things don’t turn out quite as expected, we learn from the experience.
- Every position is important to the work we do here for the community. We draw on each staff person’s individual strengths, thinking styles, passions, and experiences.
- We set high standards and expect the best from ourselves and each other.
- We are committed to continual learning and professional development.
- We are caring and compassionate towards each other and the community.
- We are ethical, honest, direct and open-minded. We treat each other respectfully, even when we have differences of opinion.
- We leave room to experience joy in our work and celebrate our achievements because together we form a vibrant, engaged and innovative organization.
I. A brief description of our public body is as follows:
A. The Gail Borden Public Library District serves the community by providing a wide variety of items to borrow and by offering services for residents of all ages. The library provides information, book recommendations and programs. The library’s web site offers 24-hour access to electronic information, services and the catalog. High quality, personalized service is the library’s hallmark.
B. An organizational chart is attached. C.
The total amount of our operating budget for FY 2023-2024 is: $19,700,000.00. Funding sources are property and personal property replacement taxes, state and federal grants, fines, charges, and donations. Tax levies are:
1. Corporate purposes (for general operating expenditures)
2. IMRF (provides for employee’s retirement and related expenses)
3. Social Security (provides for employee’s FICA costs and related expenses)
4. Audit (for annual audit and related expenses)
5. Maintenance (for maintaining the building)
6. Tort Liability (for insurance premiums, risk management, attorney’s fees and
related expenses, unemployment and worker’s compensation insurance)D. The office is located at this address: Gail Borden Public Library District, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. There are two branch locations: Rakow Branch, 2751 Bowes Road, Elgin, IL 60124 and South Elgin Branch, 127 S McLean Blvd, South Elgin, IL 60177
E.
We have approximately the following number of persons employed:
1. Full-time 92
2. Part-time 121F.
The Gail Borden Public Library District Board of Trustees exercises control over the library’s policies and procedures. The board meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the main library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, IL 60120, unless rescheduled and notice given in accordance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
G. The library is required to report and be answerable for our operations to: Illinois State Library, Springfield, Illinois. Its members are: State Librarian and Secretary of State, Alexi Giannoulias, Director of the Illinois State Library, Greg McCormick; and various other staff.
II. Freedom of Information Act Policy
A. Use the request form or submit a request via email, by written letter or fax. The request form is not required, but is preferred.
B. Your request should be directed to the following individual: FOIA Officer, Administration Office
Gail Borden Public Library District
270 N. Grove Ave.
Elgin, IL 60120
foia@gailborden.infoC. You must indicate whether you have a “commercial purpose” in your request.1
D. You must specify the records requested to be disclosed for inspection or to be copied. If you desire that any records be certified, you must specify which ones.2
E. To reimburse us our actual costs for reproducing and certifying (if requested) the records, you will be charged the following fees:
- There is a $1.00 charge for each certification of records.
- There is no charge for the first fifty (50) pages of black and white text either letter or legal size
- There is a $.15 per page charge for copied records in excess of fifty (50) pages
- The actual copying cost of color copies and other sized copies will be charged
F. If the records are kept in electronic format, you may request a specific format and if feasible, they will be so provided, but if not, they will be provided either in the electronic format in which they are kept (and you would be required to pay the actual cost of the medium only, i.e. disc, diskette, tape, etc.) or on paper as you select.
G. The office will respond to a written request within five (5) working days or sooner if possible. An extension of an additional five (5) working days may be necessary to properly respond.
H. Records may be inspected or copied. If inspected, an employee must be present throughout the inspection.
I. The place and times where the records will be available are as follows: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Gail Borden Public Library District, Administrative Offices
III. The following items are available on the library website or through a FOIA request form:
A. Monthly Financial Statements B. Annual Receipts and Disbursements Reports C. Budget and Appropriation Ordinances D. Levy Ordinances E. Operating Budgets F. Annual Audits G. Minutes of the Board of Library Trustees H. Library Policies, including Resource Selection I. Adopted Ordinances and Resolutions of the Board J. Annual Reports to the Illinois State Library Please note that certain types of information maintained by the library are exempt from inspection and copying.
If you want more information you can find it on the Illinois Freedom of Information Act webpage.
1“Commercial purpose” is defined in the Act as “the use of any part of a public record or records, or information derived from public records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services.” However, there are exceptions for news media, non-profits, scientific and academic organizations for disseminate news, articles or opinions of public interest, or research or education.
2In the event a “commercial interest” is involved, additional questions can be asked of the requestor by the public body FOIA officer in order to determine the classification, then the public body has up to 21 days to respond and either deny the request based on exemptions or undue burden; or estimate the time and cost of the copying for prepayment; or provide the documents requested.
Rakow Branch
The Rakow Branch, located at 2751 W. Bowes Road in Elgin, Illinois, opened on August 15, 2009.
The branch features a popular collection, gardens, an external 24/7 DVD dispenser and is an environmentally friendly LEED registered building.
Address
2751 West Bowes Road
Elgin, IL 60124
Phone Number
847-531-7271
Hours
Monday-Thursday 9 am - 9 pm
Friday-Saturday 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday Noon - 5 pm
Drive-Up Window
Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 9 pm
Friday-Saturday 8:30 am - 6 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 5 pm
Take a Virtual Tour
GailMail is a service that delivers library announcements via email. This service is provided in addition to email reserve and overdue notices and is open to all.
Fill out the form below to subscribe to GailMail.
Read our latest eNewsletters:
The Gail Borden Public Library is thankful for donations. The library accepts donations of new and used books, and audiovisual materials at the Main building at 270 N. Grove Ave. Library Foundation Volunteers sort through the items which may be used to enhance the library collection or provide inventory for the Library Foundation's on-going book sales which include the "Gail's Sales" room, an annual sale and more.
Donations gladly accepted
- Hardcover fiction and non-fiction
- Paperbacks
- Recorded Book on CD
- DVDs
- Music CDs
- Video Games
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept the following items
- Encyclopedias or Directories
- Text Books
- Magazines
- VHS
- Cassette tapes
- Art Prints or Framed Photos
- Vinyl LPs
WHERE
- When making book donations, please utilize the Book Donation Drop Box that is conveniently located on the North side of the Main Library building adjacent to the loading dock. Please place all donations inside or directly next to the Book Donation Drop Box.
- Gifts to the library are tax deductible. The library is not in a position to make appraisals. A Donation of Materials form is available for your use and you may pick one up when you drop off materials either inside or at the outdoor donation drop box at the Main Library.
- Please be aware that all donations become the property of the library to be used or disposed of in the best interest of the library. Due to the volume of donations and sorting procedures, it is not possible to reclaim materials once they have reached the library. If the items are used for the Foundation Book Sale, all proceeds are used for the benefit of the library.
Memorial Donations
- Monetary gifts can be made in the name of a person or to commemorate a special occasion. The Library acknowledges memorial gifts by sending a letter to the person or organization designated by the donor. A customized memorial bookplate can be placed in the donated item upon request. For further information, call 847-742-2411 or make inquiries in any department of the library.
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Main Library |
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Building Hours: Drive-Up Window Hours: |
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Rakow Branch |
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Building Hours: Drive-Up Window Hours: |
8:30 am - 9 pm |
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South Elgin Branch |
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Temporary closure for Expansion Construction. See details. |
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Gail Borden Library recognizes the following holidays and will be closed:
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Please check the front page of the website for additional information about closings.
Map
Addresses
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Main Library: below for driving directions: Phone: 847-742-2411 |
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Rakow Branch: below for driving directions: Phone: 847-531-7271 |
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South Elgin Branch: below for driving directions: Phone: 847-931-2090 |
Address
270 North Grove Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
Phone Number
847-742-2411
Hours
Monday-Thursday 9 am - 9 pm
Friday-Saturday 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday Noon - 5 pm
Drive-Up Window
Monday-Thursday 8:30 am - 9 pm
Friday-Saturday 8:30 am - 6 pm
Sunday 11:30 am - 5 pm
About the Building
Located directly north of Kimball Street on the Fox River, the new Gail Borden Public Library stands as an impressive building to view, day or night, from its location at one of the major gateways to a revitalized downtown Elgin. Designed to blend with both the old and the new architecture of the area, the Prairie School-inspired exterior of the new Gail Borden Public Library creates a striking image from all directions.
The two-story structure, clad in warm buff and terra cotta-colored stone, fits well in its Midwestern surroundings. Ample windows allow maximum use of natural light and provide seasonal vistas of the Fox River. The site surrounding the library is landscaped with a variety of native trees and plants that frames the library and integrates it with the river's-edge setting.
The building, located in the center of the library district, is designed for expansion to accommodate our growing population, which will increase from 110,000 in 2003 to 165,000 over the next 20 years.
Take a Virtual Tour
Board Members | Board Meetings Financial Information | Finance Reports | Annual Reports
Board Members
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Jean Bednar, President jbednar@gailborden.info Term expires: 4/2027 |
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Amanda Garcia, Vice President |
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Tiffany Henderson, Secretary thenderson@gailborden.info Term expires: 4/2027 |
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Amy Prochot, Treasurer aprochot@gailborden.info Term expires: 4/2025 |
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Joy Symonds, Trustee jsymonds@gailborden.info Term expires: 4/2025 |
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Laura Bedolla, Trustee lbedolla@gailborden.info Term expires: 4/2027 |
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Elisa Lara, Trustee |
Board Meetings
Click Here for Meeting Agendas, Minutes & Public Agenda/Board Packets
(includes Bills Paid)
For prior years, please email your request to foia@gailborden.info.
-- Open to the Public at the Library --
(The second Tuesday of the month at 7pm at 270 N. Grove Ave, Elgin, IL 60120)
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Board Meeting Dates for 2024-2025 |
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| July 9, 2024 |
| August 13, 2024 |
| September 10, 2024 |
| October 8, 2024 |
| November 12, 2024 |
| December 10, 2024 |
| January 14, 2025 |
| February 11, 2025 |
| March 11, 2025 |
| April 8, 2025 |
| May 13, 2025 |
| June 10, 2025 |
Video recordings of past Library Board Meetings can be viewed here.
Library Financial Information
2024-2025 Public Meetings Ordinance
2024-2025 Budget and Appropriation Ordinance
2024-2025 Levy and Assessment of Taxes Ordinance
Women/Minority/Veteran Owned Vendor List
Annual Finance Reports
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
Annual Reports
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
2010-2011
2009-2010
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Volunteer at GBPL Looking for ways to enrich your life and the lives of others? Volunteer at Gail Borden Public Library. Volunteers assist with many important roles at the Main Library, the Rakow Branch and the South Elgin Branch. Opportunities range from assisting with technology, Veteran's programs, Life Enrichment programs, and so much more. |
Apply Apply online or pick up an application at the Main Library Information Desk or at the Rakow Branch.
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Questions??? If you have any questions about our volunteer program, please contact gbpl_volunteers@gailborden.info. Volunteer Quotes "The opportunity to serve as a volunteer greeter at GBPL has given me a very real sense of the important role that the library plays in the life of the city of Elgin as well as allowing me to meet a long list of wonderful library patrons."- John Muchmore "I love being a volunteer! I like having the opportunity to interact with others and serve my community as well. Thank you Gail Borden Public Library for giving me this opportunity." -Luz Maria Ayala "Volunteering puts me in the world of two of my favorite things, books and people." -Jean Lamantia |
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Volunteer Opportunities |
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Library Service Areas Interactive MapUser's Guide Provided by the Illinois State Library
Communities View | Streets View
| Not all residents of the area shaded in red are within the Gail Borden Public Library District boundaries. Please contact the Customer Relations department for more information at 847-429-4597. |
| Not all residents of the area shaded in red are within the Gail Borden Public Library District boundaries. Please contact the Customer Relations department for more information at 847-429-4597. |