News from RAILS & Libraries

On Wednesday, May 13, 3-4 p.m., we will host a RAILS Member Update. This event will feature three short presentations. A full agenda is attached. Kyla Williams Tate, Cook County Director of Digital Equity, will present on digital equity and libraries. Nincy George, RAILS Cataloging Services Manager...

The La Grange Public Library is celebrating National Library Week by hosting another entry from the PBS Indie Lens Pop Up Series at an After Hours Event on Friday, April 24th at 6:00PM. A discussion panel with local advocates and experts will follow. The Librarians takes viewers from Texas to...

Date & Time Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT Location Zoom. Please register at https://rosalindfranklin.zoom.us/j/99199075114?pwd=7ERtXbXI0s6fdOR0DHm0… by June 16, 2026. Event Summary Through a structured presentation and a librarian-guided zine-making activity, this...

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued an Interim Final Rule, effective April 20, 2026, that extends the compliance deadlines for web accessibility by one year. Under the previous deadlines, a number of public libraries faced a primary compliance deadline of April 2026 (or April 2027 for smaller...

Book lovers of all ages are invited to celebrate storytelling, fellowship, and community at the Author and Book Fair on Wednesday, April 22 at Green Hills Public Library District, 10331 S. Interlochen Drive in Palos Hills from 5:30-7:30pm. The event will showcase a diverse group of 17 local authors...

Episode 2.9 of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Reading doesn't have to be solitary. It can be a team sport! Janette and Leah are joined by school librarian Lisa Marcum (Plainfield Central High School) to unpack what gamified reading looks like: what...

The RAILS World Language Cataloging Service (WLCS) has processed over 750 books in languages from all over the globe in this financial year alone. In particular, we’ve noticed an influx of non-English children’s books being sent to us in the past few months. As we get closer to the end of our...

The Accessibility Networking Group connects public libraries with organizations supporting disabled communities in Lake and northern Cook counties. We believe that strong partnerships between libraries and accessibility organizations inform, strengthen, and expand opportunities for our shared...

RAILS is excited to share last year’s highlights in the 2025 RAILS Annual Report! “This report combines data and storytelling to show how RAILS is making a difference for libraries across Illinois.” said RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris. “Last year's version was a hit with our members, and we...

RAILS is starting the process of creating a new strategic plan, and we would like your input. We're asking staff at RAILS member libraries to participate in an online survey to share your knowledge and understanding of RAILS, the work we do, and how it affects you and your libraries. Any level staff...

RAILS announces the launch of RAILS Academy, a new online learning platform designed to support the professional development of staff at RAILS member libraries. Powered by Niche Academy, RAILS Academy provides free, on-demand access to hundreds of tutorials on topics ranging from the ethics of...

Stephanie Crain AKA The Corporate Mystic Wednesday, April 29th at 11am Meeting People Where They Are: Human-Centered Service In Today's Libraries The session equips staff with practical approaches for meeting diverse patron needs, navigating uncertainty, and sustaining the people who serve as the...

Free Event | Open to the Public | J.R. Sullivan Theatre at Nordlof Center Thursday, April 16, 2026 Join us for a powerful screening of The Librarians, a documentary that captures the frontline struggle for the freedom to read. As book challenges escalate across the country, this film connects the...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Chicago Master Singers! Let Chicago Master Singers immerse you in extraordinary musical experiences that lift the human spirit! Concerts are held at Glenview...

Sarah Gutierrez, Library Associate at the Berwyn Public Library has gone from illustrator to author with her book “Peachy's Perfectly Purrfect Day”. With her husband Adrian, Sarah captured the vivid imagination of her cat Peach in this beautifully illustrated book. Her book will be a wonderful...