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RAILS is awarding $6,350 in CE Event Grants this round to help libraries, networking groups, and library consortia offer valuable training opportunities for library staff. All funded events will be open for registration to RAILS member staff in advance on L2.
Oak Lawn Public Library – Library Administrators Seminar 2026
The Oak Lawn Public Library was awarded $1,550 for speaker fees for the Library Administrators Seminar 2026, scheduled for November 6, 2026, at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois. The second annual seminar will provide continuing education opportunities for library directors, managers, and human resources professionals, focusing on challenging management topics. The event will also offer library leaders an opportunity to network, share experiences, and build professional connections with colleagues from other libraries.
ATLAS – Multi-Library Day
ATLAS was awarded $1,600 to support venue rental ($1,100) and speaker fees ($500) for its annual Multi-Library Day, scheduled for December 4, 2026, at Moraine Valley Community College. This professional development event brings together libraries throughout northern Illinois for an in-service training day featuring a presenter who will address a topic relevant to libraries and the communities they serve. The event provides library staff with an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and strengthen their ability to serve their communities effectively.
Arlington Heights Memorial Library – Libraries Beyond Their Walls: Building Equitable, Data-Informed Community Engagement
Arlington Heights Memorial Library was awarded $2,000 for speaker fees to support the professional development program Libraries Beyond Their Walls: Building Equitable, Data-Informed Community Engagement, scheduled for February 10, 2027, at Arlington Heights Memorial Library. The training will help library staff strengthen community engagement by identifying community needs, reaching diverse audiences, building trusted relationships and partnerships, and using community input to inform responsive library services. The program will also emphasize cross-departmental collaboration to help libraries remain relevant and increase their impact within the communities they serve.
West of 47 Networking Group – Illinois Small and Rural Library Conference
The West of 47 Networking Group was awarded $1,200 for conference materials to support the Illinois Small and Rural Library Conference, scheduled for March 12, 2027, at the Illinois State Library in Springfield, Illinois. This one-day professional development event will provide affordable, training for staff and leaders of small and rural libraries throughout the state. The conference will feature seven educational breakout sessions on topics such as strategic planning, programming, human resources, and community partnerships, along with seven facilitated networking discussions. The event aims to encourage collaboration, share best practices, and strengthen connections among Illinois’ small and rural library communities.
For more information on RAILS CE Event Grants, please contact the RAILS Continuing Education team.