Under the twin categories of “now there’s something you don’t see every day” and just plain “wow,” Gail Borden Library in Elgin is presenting a Robot Zoo that has amazed, entertained and educated people from around the world.

In the exhibit, at the library through Dec. 11, 2016, eight giant robot creatures and 15 interactive stations reveal the biomechanics of animals. It truly is something to see and worth the trip to the Main Branch library, 270 N. Grove in Elgin.

At one station, visitors are controlling the head of a 9-foot-long rhinoceros, while nearby they can manipulate hinges, pumps, springs and shock absorbers at the Robot Body Shop. While enjoying the swaying 9-foot-long platypus, visitors may build their own whimsical creature by adding different animal parts to a model of a platypus’ body.

What makes this exhibit compelling for a public library is that it is based on the popular book “Robot Zoo” by John Kelly. Like the book, the robots reveal cutaways that reporter Todd Chance describes as, “… 18-foot tentacles, a housefly with a 10-foot wingspan, and a giraffe whose head and neck alone stretch 9-feet tall. Muscles become pistons, intestines become filtering pipes and brains become computers. Other animals include a bat, grasshopper and more.”

Gail Borden officials feel fortunate to be able to host this exhibit. It was recently at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, and it will head to the Horniman Public Museum in London, England, in December.

Evergreen Exhibitions has worked with Gail Borden previously during the 2007 Dare to Dream exhibit. Evergreen representatives contacted the library to discuss a win-win scenario — instead of storing the exhibit in Texas between locations, they offered Robot Zoo at a significantly reduced price to Gail Borden.

“We are very excited to offer Robot Zoo to our community,” said Carole Medal, executive director of the Gail Borden Public Library.  “It amazes, entertains and educates, all at the same time. “

Robot Zoo has amazed people worldwide at venues that include Parc du Futuroscope in France, The Swedish Museum of Natural History in Sweden and The Budapest Science Center. In the United States, the robots have visited the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and a multitude of other first-class museums across the country.

School groups that would like to take a self-guided tour are asked to schedule their visit by contacting Candy Grzadziel at (847) 289-5818 or emailing cgrzadziel@gailborden.info. For more information, please visit www.gailborden.info/robotzoo.

This exhibit is funded by the Gail Borden Public Library Foundation and is available to all at no charge when the library is open. For folks who are coming from out of town, there is plenty of easy, on-site parking. Click here for a map, directions and hours.

SOURCE: Gail Borden Library news release