News from RAILS & Libraries

Des Plaines Public Library has a key belief “that all library users are entitled to the highest level of service.” For us, the highest level of service would not be complete without offerings for users of all abilities. Advancing Accessibility Through the Library of Things While our Library of...

RAILS will be closed on Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth. Delivery services will not be provided. RAILS will reopen on Monday, June 22. View a list of RAILS observed holidays on the RAILS website by clicking on the About RAILS tab, then on Location & Hours.

Last times, new beginnings, and everything in between. The season 2 finale of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Janette and Leah visit University High School for a behind-the-scenes look at a standout school library and the people who bring it to life...

Please join RAILS in welcoming a new member library: The Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) Legacy Center is a special library in Chicago, IL. They document the lives of Japanese and Japanese Americans in Chicago and have organizational records since 1946. These new members will now have...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Centennial Aquatic Center! Opened in 2014, the Centennial Aquatic Center is a summer destination operated by the Park Ridge Park District. Designed to serve residents...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park! Get ready to adventure to new heights at Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park in Western Springs, IL, located in the suburbs just a short...

With a collection age of 2008, the South Park School nonfiction collection was out-of-date and not relevant to the interests of twenty-first century elementary students. Almost one third of the books in the collection had not circulated at all in the past five years, or had only circulated once. The...

The Putnam County Public Library District is pleased to announce the opening of Flag in the Map: Charting Rainbow Flag Stories, a powerful international photography exhibition now on display in the Community Room at the Granville Branch through August 31st during regular library hours. The...

The Evanston Public Library Board of Trustees is seeking search firms to submit proposals for a search for the new Executive Director of EPL. Find the RFP here: https://epl.org/board-of-trustees/.

“Hi!” A young woman, probably in her twenties, approached the Adult Services desk with an eager smile. “This might sound like a weird question, but could you help me find a newspaper from about fifteen years ago? There’s a photo of me sledding that ran in the Bartlett Examiner. I even have the exact...

The Oak Park Public Library has won an American Library Association award for the fall 2025 issue of its magazine, Storyline . The library's print magazine issue won a PR Xchange award in the External Communications category. More than 236 entries in print and electronic formats were submitted from...

Roselle Public Library announces that Roselle parents of children aged birth to five can now register for the Imagination Library, an early childhood literacy program that mails free, high-quality books to your home every month, up until the child's fifth birthday. There is no cost to residents to...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Intuit Art Museum! Intuit Art Museum (IAM) champions the diverse voices of self-taught art, welcoming both new and familiar audiences. Located in Chicago’s West Town...

Joe and Monica break down the latest at RAILS: ⚖️ The federal censorship bill threatening the freedom to read 🗳️ Your last chance to vote in this year's RAILS Board election 💡 What we learned from our first leadership program 👋 Your chance to interact with RAILS this week Relevant Links: ILA Bill...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Driehaus Museum! The Driehaus Museum engages and inspires the global community through exploration and ongoing conversations in art, architecture, and design of the...