News from RAILS & Libraries

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago! The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is devoted to the promotion, integration, and...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: We at the Gail Borden Public Library District are honored to be hosting Violins of Hope, ten lovingly restored violins played before or during the Holocaust. Read the full post on the My Library Is ... website.

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Joliet Public Library is excited to announce a new traveling exhibit will open on June 16. – The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY! Based on the best-selling series of books by author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts, the imaginative world of...

Join bestselling author TJ Klune this Pride Month to discuss publishing, writing, queer identity, book-banning, and being neurodiverse. TJ will be in conversation with Douglas Mahan. Register for this event here: http://tjklune.eventbrite.com All are welcome to join in on this virtual program! TJ...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Fox River Grove Memorial Library is proud to offer a Sensory Storytime on the second Monday of every month at 10:30 a.m. The next Sensory Storytime takes place on Monday, June 12, 2023. This program differs from the Library’s regular storytimes in that enrollment is...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Normal Theater in Normal, IL! The historic Normal Theater gives residents and visitors to Bloomington-Normal the classic cinema-going experience. Through a diverse line...

Batavia Public Library District is excited to announce the new Executive Director, Josephine Tucci, who joined the library on June 12, 2023. Ms. Tucci holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from University of Illinois, a Master of Teaching Museum Education degree from George...

Arlington Heights Memorial Library Youth Services staff recently accepted an award recognizing the Hub and the Arlington Heights Memorial Library (AHML) as a Safe Space for Youth. Awarded by Kenneth Young Center and Communities for Positive Youth Development's Youth Advocates for Change (YAC) group...

We are excited to see so many of our member libraries presenting for a national audience at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27. Below is a list of RAILS members who are presenting at ALA. We’ll update it as we receive more program information. If you or someone at your library is...

The Illinois School Library Workers Symposium will be held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. This event is designed for individuals who are working in school libraries with no formal library education, certified or non-certified, paraprofessionals, and those considering getting a school library...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: This year Glenside Middle School rolled out WeVideo accounts to all of our students. This was the first time that students had access to a full-feature video editing program on their Chromebooks. It wasn’t a perfect journey, but over the year almost all students...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction Galesburg Parks and Recreation in Galesburg, IL! Galesburg Parks and Recreation are back this year offering a discount on their beach and their waterpark. Lake Storey Beach is...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: As a Librarian, nothing is more frustrating than having students look at our shelves filled with thousands of books and say there is nothing they want to read. I wanted to leverage the RAILS My Library Is Grant to make my shelves more accessible and encourage reading...

RAILS is happy to announce that Chicago Public Library joined Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program, on June 5, 2023. This will transform Explore More Illinois into a true statewide cultural and recreational pass program, as the program will be available to all...

Congratulations to the 2023 candidates who have been elected to serve on the RAILS Board: Academic Library Seat Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University Public Library Trustee Seats Jean M. Carroll, Thomas Ford Memorial Library Jennifer Hovanec, Villa Park Public Library Alex Vancina (re-elected)...