Gail Borden's South Elgin library branch reopens Saturday after major 10-month renovation, expansion
Gail Borden Public Library District's South Elgin branch, closed since August 2024 for renovation and expansion, reopens Saturday in grand fashion, with live music, giveaways, a scavenger hunt and other activities planned.
With the work done, the usable space at the 127 S. McLean Blvd. building has grown from 4,300 square feet to about 12,000. There's an enlarged children's area and meeting room, more study rooms, a new baby garden, additional multipurpose rooms, increased reading materials and upgraded technology.
'The South Elgin Branch expansion is essential to the vibrant growth of the South Elgin community,' Carole Medal, CEO of the Gail Borden Public Library District, said in an announcement for the completion of the $4 million project. 'We've transformed this space into a dynamic hub specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of South Elgin's residents.'
The first 200 people to attend the grand opening celebration, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will receive limited-edition giveaways. A roving magician will be doing tricks from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spider-Man on hand from 1 to 2 p.m. to pose for photos and promote the library's 'Power Up – Read!' summer reading challenge, and a scavenger hunt and craft projects are planned.
Cellist Lilliana Wosko, blues and rock-inspired InFunctious Duo, violinist Daniela Folker and pianist Murna Hansemann will all be performing.
For those who bring along their appetites, free tacos will be available from Mobile Coco's Tacos between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., courtesy of the KCT Credit Union.
In addition to the renovated branch, the Saturday event also celebrates the reopening of the KCT branch adjacent to the library at 121 S. McLean Blvd.
Work on the library building was funded with money the district accrued in its reserve funds, naming rights and donations made to the project, officials said.
'We are so grateful for all of the sponsors who have helped fund the South Elgin Branch project,' district spokeswoman Denise Raleigh said in the release. 'We continue to offer naming opportunities at the South Elgin branch, including leaves on a new donor tree and many other features.'
The branch library opened in July 2016. The building in which it is located was purchased by the district for $687,000 and another $670,000 was spent on the construction needed to convert it into a library.
However, the limited amount of funding available at the time meant only about a third of the building could be opened for public use. The completed renovation opens up much of the unused space.
Regular library hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
'Thunderbolts' Filmmaker Confirmed as 'X-Men' director
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Variety has seemingly confirmed that "Thunderbolts*" director Jake Schreier will be helming Marvel's next stab at an "X-Men" film. In a story about Marvel's 2028 release dates, it was speculated that the "X-Men" reboot could be one of the features scheduled for the year. It was mentioned that Jake Schreier had been chosen as the director for the film, though this is the first time that's been confirmed. Read More: New Spider-Man Series Resolves Decades-Old Cliffhanger There were reports in May that Schreier was in early talks to possibly direct "X-Men", including speculation that the reason the director had been turning down work from other studios was to make room for the Marvel feature. But it had yet to be reported that the director/film match was a lock. Promotional material for "X2: X-Men United". Promotional material for "X2: X-Men United". 20th Century Studios The script for the film has been written by Michael Lesslie, with Kevin Feige producing. From one point of view, it's a surprising confirmation considering the "Thunderbolts*" theatrical run didn't end on a high note. In spite of high critical praise and a promising opening weekend, the Marvel film only amassed $380 million against a production budget of $180 million, officially flopping. Of course, the X-Men are a much different animal than the Thunderbolts. On the comic book stands and to movie audiences, the X-Men are a much better-known and proven property. Marvel fans have been waiting for years to see what Marvel Studios would do with beloved characters like Wolverine, Professor X, and Magneto. Few fans, on the other hand, were on the edge of their seat to see the next movie with Red Guardian. Now that we know who will be helming the first MCU "X-Men" film, we still need to wait to learn exactly who will be in the film. We know many of the stars from the Fox X-Men films will be appearing in "Avengers: Doomsday", including Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden. Add to that Channing Tatum, whose version of Gambit finally got its chance to shine in last year's "Deadpool & Wolverine," but has never been shown as part of an X-Men team on the big screen. There is also continuing speculation that Hugh Jackman will appear in either "Doomsday" and/or the follow-up "Avengers: Secret Wars". But will Schreier use X-Men we already know and love, or will he introduce us to a brand new batch of mutant heroes? More Comics: Captain Kirk Back From the Dead in New 'Star Trek' Series Robert Downey Jr. Surprises 'Ironheart' Stars with Interview Appearance
Chicago Tribune
9 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Gail Borden's South Elgin library branch reopens Saturday after major 10-month renovation, expansion
Gail Borden Public Library District's South Elgin branch, closed since August 2024 for renovation and expansion, reopens Saturday in grand fashion, with live music, giveaways, a scavenger hunt and other activities planned. With the work done, the usable space at the 127 S. McLean Blvd. building has grown from 4,300 square feet to about 12,000. There's an enlarged children's area and meeting room, more study rooms, a new baby garden, additional multipurpose rooms, increased reading materials and upgraded technology. 'The South Elgin Branch expansion is essential to the vibrant growth of the South Elgin community,' Carole Medal, CEO of the Gail Borden Public Library District, said in an announcement for the completion of the $4 million project. 'We've transformed this space into a dynamic hub specifically designed to meet the evolving needs of South Elgin's residents.' The first 200 people to attend the grand opening celebration, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will receive limited-edition giveaways. A roving magician will be doing tricks from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spider-Man on hand from 1 to 2 p.m. to pose for photos and promote the library's 'Power Up – Read!' summer reading challenge, and a scavenger hunt and craft projects are planned. Cellist Lilliana Wosko, blues and rock-inspired InFunctious Duo, violinist Daniela Folker and pianist Murna Hansemann will all be performing. For those who bring along their appetites, free tacos will be available from Mobile Coco's Tacos between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., courtesy of the KCT Credit Union. In addition to the renovated branch, the Saturday event also celebrates the reopening of the KCT branch adjacent to the library at 121 S. McLean Blvd. Work on the library building was funded with money the district accrued in its reserve funds, naming rights and donations made to the project, officials said. 'We are so grateful for all of the sponsors who have helped fund the South Elgin Branch project,' district spokeswoman Denise Raleigh said in the release. 'We continue to offer naming opportunities at the South Elgin branch, including leaves on a new donor tree and many other features.' The branch library opened in July 2016. The building in which it is located was purchased by the district for $687,000 and another $670,000 was spent on the construction needed to convert it into a library. However, the limited amount of funding available at the time meant only about a third of the building could be opened for public use. The completed renovation opens up much of the unused space. Regular library hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Tom's Guide
10 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
PlayStation's epic new sale has some of my favorite PS5 games from $5 — here's 11 deals I'm adding to my cart
PlayStation Store just launched its annual Mid-Year sale, and this year's crop of discounts across PS5 and PS4 games is pretty excellent. While there's a disappointing lack of deals on PlayStation Studio titles like God of War and Spider-Man, there are big savings on plenty of must-play PS5 games right now. Some of my personal favorite deals include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition for $9, which is a frankly ridiculous price for a high-quality RPG that will easily last you more than 100 hours. There's also the excellent Dragon's Dogma 2 for $29 and the seriously tough, but very satisfying, Black Myth: Wukong for $47, which is its lowest price to date. Bargain chasers won't want to miss Metro Exodus for just $5. I'm rounding up the PS5 game deals that have caught my eye in this new PlayStation Store sale down below. But for those gamers who prefer a physical disc over a digital download, I've also scoured retailers like Amazon and Best Buy for their best PS5 deals as well. After more than a decade of waiting, EA has returned to the world of NCAA football in the appropriately titled College Football 25. And this simulation of college football was worth the weight. Offering a slightly more arcade-style pace than its Madden sibling, and letting you play as the biggest schools in the country, it lived up to all those years of anticipation. Return to a galaxy far, far away in the biggest Lego Star Wars game to date. Experience the entirety of The Skywalker Saga in plastic-brick form and collect more than 300 playable characters as you smash everything in sight. From The Phantom Menace through The Rise of Skywalker, this is the ultimate retelling of the greatest sci-fi sagas ever told. Step back into the space boots of Isaac Clarke in this remake of the legendary sci-fi survival horror, Dead Space. The USG Ishimura has been overrun with nightmarish enemies, and it's your job to discover the source of the outbreak while trying to keep your sanity in check. You'll need to conserve your resources by strategically dismembering enemies. Dead Island 2 offers players a sun-soaked playground crawling with the undead. Using just about any weapon you can get your hands on, it's your job to slay your throughway Hell-A from the mansions of Beverly Hills to the boardwalk of Venice Beach. Fully playable in co-op, Dead Island 2 is a rip-roaring open-world game full of zombies to slaughter, survivors to assist and loot to collect. Atlus's Persona series has a strong pedigree, and this full-fledged remake brings the Persona 3 story to the current console generation so franchise veterans and newcomers can experience it. Part social sim and part JRPG, Persona 3 Reload updates the visuals and incorporates many quality-of-life improvements and new elements, bringing the original tale up to date and making this another must-play RPG. Enjoy the acclaimed Metal Gear Solid franchise from the very start in this first installment in the Master Collection series. This package offers strong value, containing Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, along with the original two Metal Gear games and a host of supplemental content, including digital art collections and novels. It is the perfect package for veteran MGS fans or newcomers to the storied franchise. The sequel to one of the most acclaimed PlayStation games of all time, God of War Ragnarök sees father and son duo Kratos and Atreus embark on another epic journey as they travel across all Nine Realms of Norse mythology. Enjoy visceral combat against a multitude of foes, as well as rewarding exploration and a highly cinematic story that culminates in a stunning finale that you won't soon forget. The Last of Us Part 1 is a stunning remake of the PS3 original, completely rebuilt from the ground up to take full advantage of the PS5 console. It includes the full original game as well as its DLC chapter, Left Behind. This is the ideal pick for fans of the HBO show ahead of season 2 or returning players looking to experience Joel and Ellie's first gripping cross-country adventure all over again. Star Wars Outlaws represents a new frontier for a Galaxy far, far away as it's the first-ever open-world game set in the iconic sci-fi universe. You play a Han Solo-type named Kay Vess, as you explore various planets and navigate criminal syndicates and the sinister Galactic Empire. One of 2023's most pleasant surprises, Avatar Frontiers of Pandora doesn't switch up the Ubisoft open-world formula seen in games like Assassin's Creed and Far Cry. But the alien setting of Pandora makes everything feel brand new, and it's one of the most visually impressive games on PS5. Even if you're not enamored with the Avatar movies, you might be surprised by this one. Sonic X Shadow Generations combines a remaster of 2011's Sonic Generations, a love letter to the Blue Blur that remains a fan-favorite to this day, with a new Shadow-focused campaign. It's a strong package, and it was perfectly timed to coincide with the latest Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. Metaphor ReFantazio, an original fantasy adventure that combines social sim elements with stylish turn-based combat, comes from the creator of the acclaimed Persona series. Yes, it's basically Persona in a fantasy setting, but that's a recipe for success, and Metaphor easily gets its hooks into you. It's also meaty, with even a rushed playthrough taking several dozen hours. Following this year's dramatic Masters tournament, now is the time to step out onto the links and prove yourself a golfing whiz, at least in the virtual world. PGA Tour 2K25 is the latest entry in the annual sports sim series, and boasts the level of authenticity you'd expect from a 2K game. Civilization VII makes some of the biggest changes yet to the established formula, and while not all of these additions are necessarily for the best, it remains one of the deepest strategy games on the market. This is a game you can play for literally thousands of hours. The best way of playing the GOTY-nominated expansion is to pick up this bundle, which includes both the downloadable content pack 'Shadow of the Erdtree' and the base game of Elden Ring. Don't be fooled, in terms of content, this is essentially two games in one. Be prepared for difficult boss fights and in-depth exploration of a beautifully realized world.
