New library branch named for Rakow family

Thanks to a substantial donation toward materials, the new branch of the Gail Borden Public Library on Elgin's west side has a name: the Rakow Branch.

Library officials said community leaders and supporters Tom and Sue Rakow, and their children and grandchildren, honored Melvin E. "Pete" and May T. Rakow and their daughter Barbara Rakow Rietz with a gift to the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation. The size of the donation was not disclosed.

"This was an extraordinary gift and we're very, very grateful," said Denise Raleigh, the library's marketing manager.

Libby Hoeft, Gail Borden Public Library Foundation president, and Rick McCarthy, library board president, could not immediately be reached for comment, but both expressed their gratitude in a prepared statement.

In the statement, Tom Rakow also said that he and his family made the donation because "we think the library is critical to the well-being of the whole community."

The 10,000-square-foot Rakow Branch is the library district's first branch in its 135-year history and will open in August or September.

It is at 2751 W. Bowes Road, just west of the intersection of Randall and Bowes roads, and will feature a collection of popular books and movies, a computer cafe, Zen gardens, and a small "family room" with a fireplace.

The branch has many "green" features, will utilize geothermal energy and will have a DVD dispenser that patrons may use at all hours of the day or night, 365 days of the year.