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Dairies to Prairies
2026-05-27 18:30:00 2026-05-27 19:30:00 America/Chicago Dairies to Prairies Enjoy a shortened screening of Dairies to Prairies, exploring Elgin’s dairy legacy—from its Butter Board of Trade to prairie restoration—plus highlights from the newly digitized Elgin Dairy Report. Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC

Wednesday, May 27
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar 2026-05-27 18:30:00 2026-05-27 19:30:00 America/Chicago Dairies to Prairies Enjoy a shortened screening of Dairies to Prairies, exploring Elgin’s dairy legacy—from its Butter Board of Trade to prairie restoration—plus highlights from the newly digitized Elgin Dairy Report. Main Library - Meadows Community Rooms ABC

Main Library

Meadows Community Rooms ABC

Enjoy a shortened screening of Dairies to Prairies, exploring Elgin’s dairy legacy—from its Butter Board of Trade to prairie restoration—plus highlights from the newly digitized Elgin Dairy Report.

Dairies to Prairies tells the story of Elgin’s dairy heritage. With its own Butter Board of Trade, Elgin once set the price for butter nationally! Elgin's first wealth was the dairy industry with the Borden Condensing plant and easy rail access to the City of Chicago market. The project also explores how these former dairy farms have come under pressure from suburban development, modern day agriculture and efforts to restore natural prairies. Now the Gail Borden Public Library is working to digitize the Elgin Dairy Report publication for better understanding of Elgin's butter and dairy industry.

We will highlight the newly-digitized Elgin Dairy Report volumes thanks to the grant we received from the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Presented by Historian Jerry Turnquist and Genealogy & Local History Librarian James McAdams.

This program is in partnership with the Elgin History Museum.

Please Register

This program is held in conjunction with The Elgin Dairy Report 1892-1894 and 1900-1903 digitization project thanks to 2025 funding from the

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES AND ILLINOIS STATE HISTORICAL RECORDS ADVISORY BOARD.

AGE GROUP: | High School | Adults |

EVENT TYPE: | Older Adult Interest | History | Adult Programs |

TAGS: | America 250 |

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Phone: 847-742-2411
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Mon, May 11 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, May 12 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, May 13 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, May 14 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, May 15 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, May 16 9:00AM to 6:00PM
Sun, May 17 12:00PM to 5:00PM
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Upcoming Events

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Community Sewing Circle
Sat, May 16, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Main Library - Meadows Community Room C
Join a welcoming group to sew, stitch, & embroider together. Bring your own projects & supplies, get inspired, & enjoy a relaxed creative space with mini workshops. See full description for details.
Registration is now closed
Garden Painting with John French
Sat, May 16, 11:00am - 1:00pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Hoffer Meeting Room
Painters of all abilities are welcome to come learn from John French! Registration is required.
Registration is now closed
Happy Summer Healthy Fun Fair
Sat, May 16, 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - Outdoor Stage
Enjoy healthy fun, food, and games with family and friends! Free Sports physicals, haircuts, and vision tests will be offered. Co-presented by Advocate Sherman and Gail Borden Public Library.
Clases de computación en español - Correo electrónico
Sat, May 16, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Main Library - Computer Training Room
Esta clase es para principiantes, para aprender destrezas básicas. No hay costo ni hay que tener tarjeta de la biblioteca. En español.
Registration is now closed
Garden Painting with John French
Sat, May 16, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Hoffer Meeting Room
Painters of all abilities are welcome to come learn from John French! Registration is required.
Registration is now closed
Rescheduled
Teen Volunteer Orientation
Sun, May 17, 12:15pm - 12:45pm
New date Sunday, May 31, 12:15pm - 12:45pm
Main Library
This session is a teen volunteer orientation only. We'll go over the program as well as volunteer expectations.
Rescheduled
Teen Volunteer Hour
Sun, May 17, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
New date Sunday, May 31, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Main Library
Complete a hands-on volunteer project that benefits the library or one of our community outreach initiatives. Teen volunteers must attend a teen volunteer orientation before participating.
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 1:00pm - 1:15pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 1:15pm - 1:30pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 1:30pm - 1:45pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 1:45pm - 2:00pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 2:00pm - 2:15pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 2:15pm - 2:30pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 2:30pm - 2:45pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
Read to Rover for K - 8: South Elgin Branch - South Elgin Branch
Sun, May 17, 2:45pm - 3:00pm
South Elgin Branch - South Elgin - Corridor
Practice your reading skills by cuddling up with a good book and reading aloud to a fully trained and certified therapy dog. Registration required. For grades K through 8.
Registration is now closed
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