News from RAILS & Libraries

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island! Adjacent to the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island, Illinois, the Quad City Botanical Center is comprised of an indoor...

The Illinois State Library has notified RAILS that a vendor has been selected for the statewide e-resource package. The Illinois Office of the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Library have not officially announced this news. Therefore, RAILS cannot officially comment on this situation other...

This is the final week to vote in the 2024 RAILS Board Election. As a representative of a RAILS member library, your vote matters! Each year, RAILS member libraries cast their ballots to help determine our governing board. Voting ends on Friday, May 24, 5 p.m. Central. Each RAILS member library...

Dan and Monica talk all things digital accessibility in this month's episode, including an overview of our new Pulse Page, a continuing education opportunity on June 12, and the rescheduled RAILS Member Update. Relevant Links: Digital Accessibility Pulse Page RAILS Member Update, June 6 The Modern...

RAILS is now offering copies of the 2024 Illinois Library Laws & Rules book. This essential compilation includes all current laws and rules affecting library service in Illinois. The purchase price of $25 includes the book and flash drive. Visit the Deals & Discounts web page of the RAILS 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 Thursday, June 6, from 10 to 11 a.m. on Zoom. This event was originally planned for Wednesday, May 8, but had to be postponed. Topics will include a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

RAILS recently conducted a short survey to find out how current participants are experiencing the new Social Justice in Public Libraries program from Freedom Lifted. The feedback was almost entirely positive. Here are a few quotes from people who have tried the program: “Social Justice for Public...

Jessica Silva has been selected as RAILS Member Engagement Specialist, effective April 3, 2024. Silva fills the space previously vacated by Dan Bostrom, who was promoted to RAILS Director of Marketing and Communications in October 2023. Silva has 12 years of experience in education and librarianship...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Des Plaines History Center in Des Plaines! The Des Plaines History Center collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Des Plaines and its people. Toward that end...