News & Announcements from Libraries

School libraries and media centers are not the same as when I grew up. They are now spaces that spark curiosity, foster innovation, and create meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond a traditional library. Thanks to the RAILS My Library Is... grant, our elementary school media center has...

It may seem that each day you turn on the news, or show up to work, there is a new change within education. Whether that be at the federal level, the state level, or even just your local elementary school, the changes can feel overwhelming. Each change requires additional work from everyone involved...

The Board of Trustees of the Huntley Area Public Library voted to hire Natalie Starosta as the Library’s Executive Director during a Special Meeting held July 7th, 2026 for that purpose. The decision comes after a four-month, nationwide search following the departure of the former director earlier...

Antioch Public Library District Vision Legacy The Antioch Public Library District (APLD) is excited to announce the release of its new Vision Legacy video, a timeless promotional piece, inspired by the Library’s vision statement: “Connect. Enrich. Belong.” Created in collaboration with APLD staff...

Geneva Public Library has received two national honors from the American Library Association (ALA), earning recognition for both its innovative fundraising campaign and its community-wide reading initiative. At the 2026 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, Geneva Public Library was named a recipient of...

Planting Seeds Of Leadership: How Great Books Are Growing Natural Leaders At Prairie Crossing Charter School (PCCS) in Grayslake, IL, we believe that children are our best hope to improve the world. But how do you transform that belief into a daily reality for 432 K-8 students? For us, the answer...

Join LACONI POP for a unique, discussion-based learning opportunity for all library programmers. We will kick off with a presentation followed by breakout sessions to discuss the many pitfalls and solutions that come with the territory of library programming and partnerships. A list of topics will...

LACONI Recharge presents How to Stay Cool Under Pressure: Stay Steady, no matter what the day brings. Designed for the realities of public service work, this session builds confidence, self-awareness, and resilience, helping staff respond with clarity and kindness even on the most demanding days...

Magnolia Library Closes After More Than 90 Years of Service After serving the Village of Magnolia and surrounding communities since 1932, the Magnolia Library has permanently closed its doors. For more than nine decades, the Magnolia Library provided residents with access to books, educational...

Our project “My Library Is...Connecting Communities and Cultures” was developed to meet the needs of our community by creating a World Languages Collection focusing on Spanish and Arabic titles. The creation of the World Languages Collection impacts students and community members, library work...

What if the books kids checked out at the public library today ended up on their school library shelves next year? That is the whole heart of Share the Shelf: School & Public Library Book Initiative, a project funded by a RAILS My Library Is... grant. The idea was simple: bring a curated collection...

In 2025, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives officially dedicated its newest space: The Raffety/Tran Community Room, a multi-purpose gathering place to help meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ communities it serves. The Community Room has been designed to accommodate meetings, classes, receptions and small...