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Gail Borden Public Library Honored with Innovation Award

NEWS RELEASE
January 30, 2008

For further information contact:
Judy Hoffman, (847) 353-7137

jhoffman@nsls.info

In recognition of a daring program that was literally “out of this world,” the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin has been named the recipient of the 2008 Innovation Award from the North Suburban Library System.

The Innovation Award is presented to one library in recognition of a new program or service of a creative and forward-thing nature, having a positive impact on service for library patrons. The Gail Borden Public Library was chosen for the award through voting of the staff and trustees of libraries in the North Suburban Library System (NSLS). The award includes a monetary prize of $1,000, sponsored by H.W. Wilson Company.

The Gail Borden Public Library boldly went where no public library had gone before with the library’s SPACE: Dare to Dream program. Partnering with NASA and local space communication enthusiasts, on September 5, 2007 students made contact with the International Space Station as it flew 200 miles above earth. Other students videoconferenced with NASA, and both contacts were viewed around the world via live video streaming.

“The Gail Borden Public Library has demonstrated that the reach of the library really should be to the stars,” said Sarah Long, NSLS executive director. “Thousands were inspired to explore new frontiers in space, online, in books, and in their community library.”

The library will be honored at the 16th annual NSLS Membership Awards Banquet on March 14. NSLS (www.nsls.info) is an organization of 650 academic, public, school, and special libraries in portions of Cook, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties. It is one of nine multi-type Illinois library systems funded by yearly grants from the Illinois General Assembly.