News & Announcements from Libraries

Our school has offered Sora by OverDrive as a digital reading option for several years. As the school librarian, I have encouraged its use and taught the basics. However, I felt it was underutilized both in classrooms and at home. In recent years, I have purchased audiobooks to support some students...

The Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library partnered with local video production company Motion Source to host a Film Camp for Teens this summer, culminating in the premiere of the film campers’ original short film, The Dark Library. This short film was written, directed, filmed, acted, and edited...

The Accessibility Networking Group connects public libraries with organizations supporting disabled communities in Lake and northern Cook counties. We believe that strong partnerships between libraries and accessibility organizations inform, strengthen, and expand opportunities for our shared...

Successful libraries seek opportunities to extend library services beyond the physical confines of the library building to engage their service community where patrons naturally and frequently interact outside of the library. This enhances awareness of library services and improves the library’s...

The Glenwood-Lynwood Public Library District sits on 14 acres, giving us a unique opportunity to think beyond the traditional “four walls of the library.” We believe a public library should be more than a building filled with books, computers, and meeting spaces. It can be a place where people learn...

In September of 2025, fourteen libraries* collaborated on an ad featured on the BNSF Metra line. Many of the libraries along the BNSF line are within walking distance of the train stations, and have a shared goal of reaching commuters, with an audience of 25–55-year-old patrons who may find it hard...

College can be a difficult time in a young person’s life. It may be the first time that a student has been away from home for a long period of time. College may be a place where a student does not know anyone and has to navigate building new relationships on their own. It is a time when the student...

At its August 10, 2026 meeting, the Lake Villa District Library Board of Trustees voted to end notary services, effective January 1, 2027. Changes to notary law, increased demand and staffing constraints cited as the main reasons behind the decision. “We saw a sharp increase in demand for notary...

At Illinois College’s Schewe Library, we strive to be a welcoming, inclusive space where students feel at home, finding both academic support and community. With the generous support of the RAILS 2025 My Library Is... Grant, we launched a project to enhance our library’s role as a space for...

How 257 New Diverse Books Helped Students See Themselves in the Library The RAILS My Library Is... Grant helped our junior high add 257 diverse books to our library, but our real goal was larger than just adding new books. We wanted students to walk into the library and find stories that actually...

The Joliet Public Library seeks qualified Executive Search Firms to submit proposals for professional executive recruitment services for the position of Executive Director. The Board of Trustees seeks experienced candidates to oversee the operations of a large public institution with a dedicated...

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...