WIM Fox Valley welcomes a conversation with Carol Medal, Executive Director of the Gail Borden Public Library

The October luncheon of WIM Fox Valley is sponsored by PmS Advertising.
The creative programming and community partnerships fostered by Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin has earned its executive director a statewide award. Carole Medal, who has worked in Elgin since 2004, was named Librarian of the Year by the Illinois Library Association in 2013. "She really just exemplifies having the library as a community hub and being connected to the community. They have done a lot of fascinating programs." 

The Elgin library has hosted several successful exhibits, including Giants: African Dinosaurs in 2005, Space: Dare to Dream in 2007, and SuperCroc last summer. The inclusion in the space exhibit of a live conversation between local students and an astronaut on the International Space Station was particularly impressive, Wilhelms said. "We thought that was pretty awesome," she said.  She also pointed to the library's summer reading programs and the environmentally friendly Rakow branch. "(Medal) has really been able to bring their library into the 21st century," she said.

Medal, of Arlington Heights, said her goal has always been to use the library "to the nth degree." She previously worked as division chief at Harold Washington Library Center in Chicago and executive director at Rolling Meadows Library. "I wanted to get people in here through programs, through partnerships, because it's a wonderful facility," Medal said. "I said, 'It's not just a place to house books, it will become a community center.' " For example, the library holds free monthly concerts of jazz and classical music, and a summer reading program for children and adults whose participation continues to grow each year, Medal said.

The luncheon will be held at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin with networking at 11:30 a.m., luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $22.00 and non members - $25.00. Area women business owners and managers are welcome to attend this month’s presentation. Reservations must be made for attendance online at EVENTBRITE​.  Please Register by 8am on Tuesday Oct 6th.