A ribbon cutting sponsored by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce led off the festivities at The Remix, the library's grand reopening. Pictured: Suzanne Corr, President, Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce; Charlotte Neault, Chairman, BACC; John Haniotes, Barrington Bank and Trust; Barbara Pintozzi, Secretary, Barrington Area Library Board of Trustees; William Pizzi, Library Trustee; Karen Darch, Village President of Barrington; Carrie Carr, Library Trustee; Edmund Tobias, D.D.S., Vice-Chair and Treasurer, BACC; Don Minner, President, Library Board of Trustees; Richard Ryan, President Emeritus, Library Board of Trustees; Detlev Pansch, Library Executive Director; Carolyn Welch Clifford, Vice-President, Library Board of Trustees; Kathleen Leitner, Village President of Tower Lakes.
After a 14-month renovation project, 1,200 guests attended “The Remix,” the Barrington Area Library’s grand reopening on Sunday, June 22, 2014. Crowds formed early to watch a ribbon cutting at 1 p.m., hosted by the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce. Participants in the ribbon cutting included the Library’s Board of Trustees, Barrington Village President Karen Darch, Tower Lakes Village President Kathleen Leitner, Chamber President Suzanne Corr and Chamber Chairman Charlotte Neault. Applause rang through the library’s beautiful atrium as the ribbon was cut, and the festivities got underway.
Guests enjoyed live jazz from guitarist Jerry TIberi and the Jazz For You quintet, while sampling food from Barrington favorites, like Frantonio’s, Clarke’s Bakery and Deli, Cooper’s, Sergio’s, and Heinen’s/Hissho Sushi. Library Executive Director Detlev Pansch and department heads gave tours of the completely renovated library, pointing out highlights like the new MakerLab, digital creation studios, meeting rooms of all kinds, and the exciting, interactive new Youth Services department. Visitors received a warm, tail-wagging welcome from some four-legged friends, too, a group of Barrington area TDI certified therapy dogs, who also participate in the library's "Read To Rover" programs. A surprise visit from the Gelato D'Oro gelato truck capped off a fun afternoon. See an online photo gallery here.
Thank you, Barrington, for a wonderful turnout to our grand reopening, for your patience during the construction project, and your ongoing support for (almost) 100 years of library service in Barrington!
We were delighted by the following two videos which highlight some of the exciting new services and spaces here at the library, as well as capturing the fun of our Remix event. Thank you to 365 Barrington and Living 60010 for sending out these young, enthusiastic, and very talented reporters!
VIDEO: Inside the the New Barrington Area Library from Living60010 on Vimeo.