Saturday, August 14, 2010

Elgin Branch Library Celebrates Its 1st Anniversary


Link to August 14 Daily Herald article, "Elgin library branch celebrates a successful year".

Excerpt: Steven Wleklinski visits the 24-hour, external DVD dispenser at the Rakow Branch of the Gail Borden Public Library about once a month.

This week, it was to pick up a last-minute "Ben 10" DVD to help entertain his visiting nephew.

A year ago, this little trip might have required the 10-year South Elgin resident to drive further or even make a jaunt to the local video store.

"It's very convenient," Wleklinski said of the Rakow Branch. "It's a nice setting. It suits my needs."

From September 2009 through July 2010, 45,738 DVDs and games were checked out from the dispenser, which library officials say is the only one of its kind in the United States,

Wondering what the 45,738 number means? It's about six items checked out from the library every hour of every day, around the clock.

The DVD dispenser is just one successful aspect of the west side branch, which library officials designed to accent the services offered at the main Gail Borden building in downtown Elgin.

The $4.2 million, 10,000-square-foot branch will celebrate its anniversary Sunday with an open house from 1 to 3 p.m., as well as the unveiling their gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and an announcement that branch will be open on Thursdays this fall
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