News from RAILS & Libraries

It is not too late to register for LTA 206 - Children's Library Services which begins Monday, May 20. You can do a normal 16 week semester course in our 6 week online summer session. Join instructor Jennifer Bromann-Bender to explore programming, services, publicity, and projects aimed at the...

Explore More Illinois Welcomes Back Normal CornBelters Baseball Team for Their 2024 Season Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Normal CornBelters in Normal! The Normal CornBelters are a collegiate, wood...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Thanks to the generosity of the RAILS My Library Is . . . Grant, students at Oak Lawn Community High School have an opportunity to learn about the unique experiences and perspectives of women content creators from diverse backgrounds while also appreciating the...

Palatine Library District is happy to announce the promotion of Susan Conner to Assistant Director after the position was vacated by Melissa Gardner, who was promoted to Executive Director starting in July 2024. Conner has been the Technology Manager at Palatine Library for the past eight years and...

Voting is open for the 2024 RAILS Board Election until Friday, May 24, 2024 at 5 p.m. There are 10 candidates running for two open at-large seats and seven candidates running for three open public library trustee seats. Each RAILS member library agency may cast only one ballot. A library agency is...

Are you looking to make your classroom library or storytimes more inclusive and diverse? This workshop is for educators and librarians who work with preschoolers – 8th grade and will focus on diversity in youth literature, book lists with culturally relevant texts, and resources for locating diverse...

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

We welcome staff at all levels from all types of RAILS libraries (academic, public, school, and specialized) to join the RAILS Member Update on Wednesday, May 8, from 3 to 4 p.m. on Zoom. Topics will include a presentation on digital accessibility for libraries. There will also be presentations from...

Registration is now open for the hybrid BHL Day 2024 on May 16, 2024, at the Field Museum in Chicago. Themed " Year of the Cicada: Buzzing with 17 Years of Biodiversity Achievements ", the program will include a keynote by Dr. Gene Kritsky on the dual emergence of Broods XIII and XIX of the...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Like many educators, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on my mental health. By February of 2021, I had a decision to make: remain in education or leave. I was dismayed with the state of public education and seriously considered leaving it all behind. But it wasn’t...

Find out why the Midwest is home to some of the most innovative thinking in information services and specialized libraries! The 2024 SLA Midwest Symposium will take place on Friday, June 7, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Central. This event for anyone with an interest in specialized libraries. The entire program...

Dan and Monica discuss why you should vote in the upcoming RAILS Board election, where you can find us during the spring, and how we've expanded opportunities for the My Library Is... grants in 2024. Monica also gives a brief update on library-related legislations in Illinois that would affect...

The eighth annual Directors University will be held July 30 – August 1, 2024, at the Marriott in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. This professional development is intended for first-time directors and directors new to Illinois from public libraries of all shapes and sizes. The training will prepare...

The Reaching Across Illinois Libraries System (RAILS) has selected 28 projects to receive My library Is… Grants. The total amount funded for these projects is $104,204.15. The purpose of these grants is to provide an opportunity for libraries to focus on projects that help tell the library story and...

Lake Bluff Public Library is excited to announce a new service that demonstrates its commitment to access and the health and well-being of the community. The Library is now offering free high quality sustainable period products through a partnership with Aunt Flow. This initiative recognizes that...