Do you ever wonder how RAILS is funded and can afford to provide resources to its members?
Most of our funding is provided from the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Secretary of State. However, the Illinois State Library receives roughly 10% of their total budget from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal funding for U.S. libraries and museums.
The RAILS Board of Directors has prudently maintained a healthy financial reserve at RAILS, and we have strong partnerships with library organizations across the state. This allows us to continue supporting and connecting our libraries, even as federal changes are made.