News from RAILS & Libraries

Filter News from RAILS and Libraries
  • Member Update: Meet Monica Harris and Hear RAILS’ Plans for the Future

    Staff at all levels from all types of RAILS libraries (academic, public, school, and specialized) are welcome at the RAILS Member Update on Tuesday, February 28 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., via Zoom. Monica Harris, RAILS' new Executive Director, will talk about her plans for RAILS moving forward...

  • RAILS Minute - February 15, 2023

    In this episode of RAILS Minute, Dan Bostrom welcomes Monica Harris as the new Executive Director of RAILS. Dan and Monica discuss what's next for RAILS in this new chapter, including opportunities for member library workers to meet Monica and share ideas. Have a question or topic suggestion...

  • NILRC Professional Development Committee Webinar -- Vision Boards

    Our next NILRC Professional Development Webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 7 from 10-11 am. Our presenter is Heidi Lundquist, Library Technical Assistant at Morton College. Vision Boards! Vision boards (Also known as dream boards, dream walls, goal boards, focus boards, concept collages, among...

  • Explore More Illinois Spotlights Pritzker Military Museum & Library

    Explore More Illinois, RAILS' online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction, Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago! The mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is to increase the public's understanding of military history, military...

  • RAILS Welcomes Monica Harris as New Executive Director

    After a nationwide search, the RAILS Board appointed Monica Harris as RAILS Executive Director effective immediately. Monica has been serving as Interim Executive Director since November 2022. Monica first joined RAILS as Associate Executive Director in January 2020. In this role, she provided...

  • Chicago Botanic Garden's Library: Cozying up with rare books on plants

    Cozying up with five cool, rare books on plants Winter is a great season for bookworms—there's nothing like a good book to keep you company during the colder months. And as far as stories go, the Rare Book Collection at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Lenhardt Library is a true treat. The Lenhardt...

  • Lake Villa District Library To Launch Awareness Campaign

    Over the next few months, people who live in and around Lake Villa District Library will see some interesting newspaper ads and a large billboard and will receive a postcard at their home address. While this type of media plan is far from remarkable ----some might even consider it dated as Reels...

  • RAILS Welcomes General George S. Patton School District 133

    Please join RAILS in welcoming our newest member, General George S. Patton School District 133! This school district is located in Riverdale, Illinois. There is one school in the district, serving K-8 students. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the district has an enrollment of 210...

  • IACRL OER Campus Kickstart: Award for Growing Illinois OER Programs

    The Illinois Association of College & Research Libraries (IACRL) Awards Committee is excited to announce the opening of applications for the OER Campus Kickstart: Award for Growing Illinois OER Programs. If you have been looking for a way of getting financial incentive to your faculty to take on OER...

  • Oak Park's "From Paper to Practice: Becoming a Library for Everyone"

    The Oak Park Public Library has published an impact report that details progress made last year in its anti-racism strategic priorities. In her introduction, Executive Director Joslyn Bowling Dixon writes: "With Stephen Jackson, our Director of Equity and Anti-Racism, leading the charge, our library...

  • Year of the Rabbit Enters Into the Hearts of Winnetka-Northfield Families

    There were plenty of kisses seen between parents and their children at the Lunar New Year celebration, a Sunday afternoon memory maker on Jan. 22 at the Northfield branch of the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library. Amelia Kmiec, Northfield branch services librarian from Norwood Park, said the Lunar...

  • 2023 Illinois State Library Annual Certification

    In compliance with Illinois statutes and administrative rules [23 Ill. Adm. Code 3030.200], annual certification is required of ALL library system members in order to retain system membership and eligibility for grants administered by the Illinois State Library. Examples of Illinois State Library...