News from RAILS & Libraries

Dan and Monica break down the latest in this month’s RAILS Minute: 💰 Your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card 📚 How two million items were added to Find More Illinois 📍 What you can find with our new resource sharing map 📣 How you can support your library system Relevant Links: L2 Signup Month...

The 2025 ILA Annual Conference is October 14–16, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. There are multiple ways you can connect with RAILS staff during the conference, and we look forward to seeing you. Conference attendees can stop by the RAILS booth (#711) to chat with RAILS...

WEST SUBURBS — Fourteen libraries along Metra’s BSNF Railway Line are collaborating to get digital resources to the region’s rising number of commuters. Ads now greeting riders on each BNSF Line train car highlight the ways a library card can help commuters save money and enjoy their time onboard...

From the My Library Is... Blog: The Gwendolyn Brooks Library at Chicago State University has created a sensory space to promote health and wellness. The library sensory space offers a calming environment for students to decompress, de-stress, and regulate their emotions. This student-centered...

Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), Illinois Library Association (ILA), and Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) are excited to announce the release of a series of Directors University (DU) videos called DU On Demand. Directors University is a joint project of IHLS, ILA, and RAILS...

We are thrilled to announce the continuation of the Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program (iCAMP), a nine-month initiative designed to foster both professional and personal development among participants. Program Overview: iCAMP operates on a comprehensive nine-month framework, structured to...

We are happy to report several changes made to our submission form. In order to streamline the submission process for large batches of items, the following fields will now be auto populated from the last form submission: Method of Sending Item Phone Return to Library Building Delivery Code Mailing...

Season two, episode two of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "The One Where They Get Connected," Janette and Leah are joined by Cyndi Robinson (Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association) and K.C. Boyd (District of Columbia Public...

RAILS’ new leadership development program announces members of the inaugural RAILS Catalyst cohort. Due to strong interest, we increased the number of available spots from 40 to 48. All applicants demonstrated a passion for advancing their careers and building leadership skills. Final selections for...

From the My Library Is... Blog: At Aurora University Library, we are always looking for meaningful ways to enhance the services we provide to our students, staff, and the wider campus community. When the opportunity arose to apply for a library grant, we knew exactly what we wanted to do: invest in...

Caitlin Stewart, Illinois State University, and Heather Jagman, DePaul University, are excited to announce the launch of the Education Library Workers of Illinois (EduLibs) — a new email list for library workers across Illinois to connect, collaborate, and stay informed! Whether you support a...

Are you looking for fresh program ideas and resources for kids in Spanish? Innovative solutions, and a supportive network of peers who understand the challenges of our field? Join SPARK ( Spanish Programming And Resource for Kids)! A dynamic networking group where library professionals come together...

As part of a year-long effort to encourage staff and trustees from member libraries to sign up for a Library Learning (L2) account, RAILS declares September “L2 Signup Month.” To celebrate, we’re hosting a contest! Throughout September 2025, anyone who creates a new L2 account will be automatically...

RAILS is excited to announce that the Founders Library at Northern Illinois University (NIU) is bringing over two million items to the Find More Illinois platform. By joining as a lender-only, Northern Illinois University will bring unique collections not previously available to Find More Illinois...

RAILS is excited to announce the launch of its new Resource Sharing Map, a powerful tool designed to help libraries explore, analyze, and advocate for libraries across Illinois. Built on the advanced ArcGIS software platform, this updated map is now publicly available and offers more features and...