Barrington library increases Web visibility

Finding the Barrington Area Library online is about to get easier.

Thanks to a grant from the Illinois secretary of state, the library is starting a project called "Custom Content," designed to increase use of the library's online resources.

With the $20,000 grant, a specially designed "Search the Library" box is going to placed on Web pages of more than 300 community groups.

"Rather than having people try and search out the library Web page, we are trying to make all the library's resources more available," library Executive Director Barbara Sugden said.

Each box will contain a catalog search of relevant items, a list of newly added items, archived searches of relevant library databases and links to other library resources.

For example, Sugden said if someone is searching the Barrington Area Career Center's Web site, the library box will include information about what the library offers in the way of job-search tools.

"Every single (box) will have different information on them," Sugden said, depending on what Web site the person is viewing.

The project will start with the Web sites for the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, the career center, the Citizens For Conservation and the Legacy Alliance of the Barrington Area.

"Once we get those four done, we will have our methodology down and then we can expand it," she said, adding it will then be open to all community groups.

The Custom Content project is expected to be up and running by next summer, she said.

The grant was among about 240 grants totaling $3.9 million awarded to libraries across Illinois by the secretary of state's office.

"These grants are unique in the sense that they allow libraries to be creative," said Pat McGuckin, manager of communications for the Illinois State Library.

The library also received a $2,000 grant to boost the arts in the community after the closing of the Barrington Area Arts Council this summer.

The money will be used to implement the "Art for Everyone" project, which will run in conjunction with the library's 2008 summer reading program, "Mastering the Art of Reading."

The program, Sugden said, will provide residents with an opportunity to learn about and experiment with different artistic styles and media.

Sugden said the library went after the grant to try and make sure the arts are kept alive in the community.

"This certainly will not take their place, but we felt some obligation to try and pick up some of the pieces," she said.

Other area libraries receiving grants:

• The Des Plaines Public Library received $13,517 to develop a resource center of materials for autistic children and their parents.

• The learning center at Buffalo Grove's Ivy Hill School received $4,900 to address reading needs of fifth-graders.

• The learning center at Terrace School in Des Plaines received $4,800 to purchase low-level books for English language learners.

• Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling received $2,400 to train staff and secure materials needed to offer Red Cross certified babysitting courses.