News from RAILS & Libraries

From the My Library Is ... Blog: My Library... Talks! Read the full post on the My Library Is ... website.

The Orland Park Public Library is proud to announce a special exhibition celebrating the 20th anniversary of Smith Crossing and the 20th anniversary of the library building on Ravinia Avenue. The exhibit, titled "20/20: One Hundred Years in Focus—Smith Communities in a Changing World," will be open...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes back for their 2024/2025 season, McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn! Since opening our doors in 1986, the McAninch Arts Center has been focused on enriching our community...

Explore More Illinois Welcomes Doudna Fine Arts Center Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Doudna Fine Arts Center in Charleston, IL! Eastern Illinois University’s Doudna Fine Arts Center is a cultural...

The Secretary of State's Office and the Illinois State Library are excited to share more information about how school libraries can access the statewide e-resource package. The following is information that can be used to start accessing this resource. We encourage school library representatives to...

It's all about learning and collaboration in this month's episode of RAILS Minute. Dan and Monica discuss upcoming networking opportunities for school library workers, promote the new round of RAILS Continuing Education Grants, and preview the next RAILS Member Update. Relevant Links: 9/5 Back to...

Please join us on September 18th at 10:30 AM to learn about IMET, the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund, and its investment solutions for libraries in Illinois. Created over 25 years ago, by Illinois public fund managers for Illinois public funds, IMET provides a unique value-add proposition for...

OverDrive’s Library Vehicle (LV), previously known as the Digital Bookmobile, will be making a stop at the Morris Area Public Library on Saturday, September 7, 2024, from 10 AM to 2 PM. This event is part of the "Check Out Your Library" multiyear experiential initiative, aimed at re-establishing...

Kathleen Alberts, an employee of the Technical Services department of Alsip-Merrionette Park Public Library District, has written and published a Science Fiction/Fantasy novel titled: "Love in a Time of Monsters" 9798326573902 The story follows Frankenstein's monster as he traverses a cataclysmic...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Cantigny in Wheaton! Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois, is the 500-acre former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, who lived there from the 1920s until he died in...

The director of the Berwyn Public Library, Tammy Sheedy, has written and published a new children's book titled: Stanley, No! Tails of a Brave Kitten 9798218415952 It's a true story of rescuing an adorable stray kitten that was abandoned. The illustrator, Sarah Gutierrez, is also a staff member...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, The Forge: Lemont Quarries in Lemont! Experience a wide range of outdoor activities and events in a 300-acre park in Lemont, just 22 miles southwest of Chicago. Find an...

The American Library Association (ALA) has sent an alert to library workers to tell their representatives to fund libraries. The House Appropriations Committee has approved its budget, which includes a 15% cut to the only federal library funding agency. This devastating budget will soon be presented...

Distinguished professor of English & Italian American Studies Professor Fred Gardaphe will read from his memoir-in-progress, A Generation Removed, at the Italian Cultural Center on Saturday, August 3 at 10 a.m. A Generation Removed is a series of interconnected stories of his grandfather's travels...

Calling all innovators in library education! RAILS is thrilled to launch our next grant initiative to empower RAILS member libraries through Continuing Education (CE) events. You can shape future professional development opportunities by applying for up to $2,000 in funding per grant to support...