News from RAILS & Libraries

Tour of the Resource Center at The Old Town School of Folk Music Join the RAILS Music Librarianship Networking Group Meeting for a tour of The Resource Center at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Old Town School of Folk Music Lincoln Square Campus, West Building 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL...

Maggie Thomann has been selected as the new Library Resource Specialist in RAILS’s Resource Sharing department. This position was added in FY2024 to support the growing Deals & Discounts program. Thomann’s first day in the position was September 4, 2024. Thomann has over 20 years of experience in...

At RAILS, our mission statement “We Connect Libraries” reflects our belief in the transformative power of libraries. We go beyond brick-and-mortar walls, fostering collaboration and resource-sharing to empower libraries of all types and sizes. That's why we have published the Illinois Libraries...

The Illinois State Library (ISL) will host online training sessions to answer common questions about the statewide e-resource package . Attendees will learn how to get links, set up an EBSCO Connect account, access training videos, and more. ISL’s Library Program Specialist Suzanna Jones will also...

The Berwyn Public Library proudly announces the 2024 Local Authors’ Festival! Join in on a week of writing focused programs for all ages. Discuss your reading selections over coffee at Books & Brews, devote time to your own writing at a write-in, learn to storyboard manga-style, get tips on writing...

Inviting all to attend: https://nwill.org/program Hoping all who attend will gain some valuable insights in fast delivery of ILL articles. Thursday, September 19th P1: Speedy delivery: Enhancing your library users' experience with OCLC's Express program 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM UO EMU Gumwood (2nd floor)...

The Morris Area Public Library is excited to announce a special workshop, "The Book Doctor is IN!," led by Kimberly Young, a seasoned library professional with extensive experience in diverse library settings across the United States. This hands-on session will take place on Friday, October 4, 2024...

We invite all levels of staff from any type of RAILS library to join the online RAILS Member Update on Wednesday, September 4, at 3 p.m. Attached is a full agenda for this event. Topics include more information from the Illinois State Library about the statewide e-resources package, advocating for...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: My Library... Talks! Read the full post on the My Library Is ... website.

The Orland Park Public Library is proud to announce a special exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of Smith Crossing and the 20th anniversary of the library building on Ravinia Avenue. The exhibit, titled "20/20: One Hundred Years in Focus—Smith Communities in a Changing World," will be open...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes back for their 2024/2025 season, McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn! Since opening our doors in 1986, the McAninch Arts Center has been focused on enriching our community...

Explore More Illinois Welcomes Doudna Fine Arts Center Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Doudna Fine Arts Center in Charleston, IL! Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center is a cultural...

The Secretary of State's Office and the Illinois State Library are excited to share more information about how school libraries can access the statewide e-resource package. The following is information that can be used to start accessing this resource. We encourage school library representatives to...

It's all about learning and collaboration in this month's episode of RAILS Minute. Dan and Monica discuss upcoming networking opportunities for school library workers, promote the new round of RAILS Continuing Education Grants, and preview the next RAILS Member Update. Relevant Links: 9/5 Back to...

Please join us on September 18th at 10:30 AM to learn about IMET, the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund, and its investment solutions for libraries in Illinois. Created over 25 years ago, by Illinois public fund managers for Illinois public funds, IMET provides a unique value-add proposition for...