News from RAILS & Libraries

Find More Illinois is an interlibrary loan platform with over 80 participating libraries. The platform currently provides participating libraries with access to over seven million items in one seamless interface. Libraries of all types and sizes are able to join the platform at any time during the...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: On October 2, 2024, Green Hills Public Library District launched its latest initiative – a podcast! Entitled Checked Out, this monthly podcast dives into discussions about film, television, music, video games, and of course – books. Read the full post on the My...

Episode two of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "Advocacy 101: Help Me Help You," Janette and Leah chat with school librarians Gail Meyer (Thornton Fractional High School) and Deb Will (Zion-Benton Township High School) about the simplest and most...

The ILA Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for the 2025 Executive Board Election. In April 2025, members will vote for the ILA Vice-President/President-elect, who should be a public librarian, and for three Executive Board positions, who can be public, school, academic, special, or library...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, in Chicago! Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world...

Free Event---- But you must register at https://casaitaliachicago.org/historian-dominic-pacyga-italians-in-chic…

Register at: https://casaitaliachicago.org/genealogy-family-history.../ Writing your family history might be the single most important thing you can do to pass on your Italian American identity to future generations. Many have found that collecting family history documents gives you the very same...

We are thrilled to announce the soft launch of our brand-new Seed Library at Waukegan Public Library! This innovative initiative is designed to empower our community to cultivate their own gardens, regardless of experience level. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started, we invite...

The RAILS Board of Directors voted on Friday, September 27 to endorse the CARLI Statement of the Importance of Librarians in Academic Libraries. The statement is attached.

Check out The Arcade Age Exhibit at the Schaumburg Library! From now through January 5th, 12 retro arcade games are on display at the library and free to play. The exhibit also showcases the story of video arcade games; from the pioneers in the early ‘40s and ’50s to the golden age in the late ‘70s...

The Waukegan Public Library has officially opened our new Telehealth Booth! Thanks to a partnership with Abbott and Abbott Fund, this private, ADA-accessible booth will provide patrons with direct access to virtual healthcare services. Equipped with a WiFi-enabled laptop, webcam, and vital signs...

From preparing food in a cooking class to engraving a cutting board, repairing household appliances to creating artwork to display in your home, the opportunities to create and learn are endless at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library Makerplace. Now celebrating its third year, the Makerplace is...

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that RAILS Director of Technology Services Anne Slaughter has been appointed the new Broadband Advisory Council Chair. Slaughter has been engaged with the council since its inception in 2019. The Illinois Office of...

RAILS has signed an agreement to continue providing access to the Social Justice in Public Libraries program from Freedom Lifted for all member libraries. This popular resource allows library staff to learn more about equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in libraries. The course content...

The Casa Italia Library Traveling Exhibit Italians in Chicago The Italians in Chicago Traveling Exhibit, will be available for loan starting in Italian Heritage month in October. This will be the first time in decades that the Traveling Exhibit will be available for loan. Visitors at your location...