News from RAILS & Libraries

Dan and Monica break down the latest in this month’s RAILS Minute: 🗳️ Results from the 2025 RAILS Board election 💰 Key updates on IMLS funding 🌐 A new digital equity opportunity for suburban Cook County libraries 📊 A spotlight on the impactful work from the RAILS data team Relevant Links: RAILS...

From the My Library Is... Blog: “Your Free Pass to…” was a partnership with Moline Public Library and Rock Island Public Library to create a cost-effective marketing campaign to increase awareness and library use in neighboring communities that are underserved, racially diverse, and may face...

All RAILS service centers will be closed on Friday, July 4, for Independence Day.

From the My Library Is... Blog: On March 14, 2025, Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). RAILS is spotlighting libraries and institutions in Illinois that have received IMLS...

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library celebrated the art of making with the grand opening of its newest exhibit, Community & Craftivism, showcasing how art can become an opportunity to build community and advocate for change, one stitch at a time. Partners, community members and more stopped by the...

When it comes to advocacy, numbers often speak louder than words. Whether it’s the public library board, school superintendent, or a taxpaying resident, they need numbers to understand the value of libraries and provide support. Our members rely on RAILS’s data team to research, analyze, and present...

JJC LTA.205 Information and Internet Literacy (3 Credits) Begins June 30 and goes to August 7. Meets online with Adjunct Instructor, Kate Bradley. No commuting costs and in-district tuition for those who have no program locally. This course, 1 of the 9 classes needed to earn your LTA certificate at...

From the My Library Is... Blog: Does your academic library have an archive collection? Is it located in a storage closet? Or basement? If you asked your college community about the archive, what would they say? Our library team took an alternative approach to engagement and created multidimensional...

Waukegan Public Library is thrilled and thankful to have a new mural, created by artist Burke Morrill, to share with the community. A Waukegan Native, Burke is a mixed-media artist who traveled from his home in Arizona to contribute to the City of Waukegan’s public art initiative, made possible...

The Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) has selected five libraries to receive RAILS Cataloging Membership Grants. Congratulations to this year's recipients: Camp Point Public Library (RSA) - $9,413.87 Chadwick Public Library (RRLC) - $23,239.00 Hamilton Public Library (RSA) - $12,910.00...

From the My Library Is... Blog: On March 14, 2025, Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). RAILS is spotlighting libraries and institutions in Illinois that have received IMLS...

The Friends of St. Charles Public Library commissioned two local artists to create a mural on the outside walls of the Library's terrace garden. Local artists Danielle Casali and Sam DeCarlo designed a mural that follows the theme of the terrace garden. Native plants and pollinators commonly seen in...

A Glimpse Into Thai Royal Correspondence As part of our ongoing efforts in the RAILS World Language Cataloging Service, we are excited to feature a fascinating item recently cataloged for Northern Illinois University (NIU) library collection: พระราชหัตถเลขาในพระบาทสมเด็จพระปรเมนทรมหามงกุฏ...

The season finale of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs," Leah and Janette go straight to the source for school library wisdom: Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School librarian Heather McCarthy and two of her eighth graders, Emily and...

From the My Library Is... Blog: I am honored that Gower Middle School received one of the My Library Is... Grants for the 2024-2025 school year! Read the full post on the My Library Is... website.