Gail Borden Library kicks off summer reading program with old-fashioned fair

The Gail Borden Library will kick off its summer reading program on Saturday with an old-fashioned fair befitting the ongoing celebration of the library's 150th anniversary.

The Elgin library’s Old Towne Faire summer reading kickoff will happen from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the main branch, 270 N. Grove Ave.

The fair will feature a full-size carousel and petting zoo, as well as a juggler/stilt walker, strolling magician, fortunetellers and old-fashioned games with prizes, including a duck pond, Bozo buckets, skeeball, and a milk jug toss.

Denise Raleigh, division chief of public relations and development for the library, said the focus for the library is getting kids signed up for their 2024 summer reading challenge.

“We’ve never had anything like this. We’re going all out,” Raleigh said. “We just want to make this the biggest, best summer reading kickoff ever to honor our 150 years of service to the community.”

The library has held a summer reading program for over 50 years. This year’s program is titled “I think I can, I know I can … 150 Years of Reading!”

A total of 5,321 people finished the summer reading program in 2023. Prizes for the challenge include a Wing Park pool pass, coupons, free books and more.

Entry to the event on Saturday will start in the main lobby and spread across the backyard and into the parking lot.

In addition to trying to attract kids to the library, staff and the library’s partners are reaching out to the community this summer with various initiatives to get kids reading.

The Bookmobile will visit 42 community locations every two weeks, promoting the summer reading challenge. The Book Bike will visit the Downtown Elgin Market and Elgin Public Museum weekly in addition to other special events.

Over 3,000 kids are expected to participate in the challenge through Gold Star Partners throughout the community, including the Centre of Elgin summer camp and sports camp, Elgin Math and Science Academy, Two Rivers, Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Illinois & South Elgin, Bethlehem Lutheran Child Development Center and Channing and Hillcrest Elementary Schools.

The library also will hold story times at Lords Park Zoo and partner with the Elgin Partnership for Early Learning’s Summer Learning on the Go program.

“We’re doing everything we can to connect kids to reading,” Raleigh said. “There’s huge, huge lifetime benefits in being a reader.”