News from RAILS & Libraries

RAILS is excited to announce the formation of the Leadership Training Design Team, a group of current and aspiring leaders tasked with creating a new leadership training initiative for staff at member libraries of all types. Tentatively scheduled to launch in Fall 2025, this program aims to provide...

Episode five of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "A Love Letter to Libraries," Janette and Leah sit down with the internet's favorite librarian, Mychal Threets! Together, they talk about how even the smallest moments of library joy help us persist...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago a cappella in Chicago! Chicago a cappella is a professional vocal ensemble that moves the heart and spirit with fun, innovative concerts. Their concert series...

Register here: https://lansing.librarycalendar.com/event/demcos-book-repair-workshop-h… Library Staff are invited to join us at Lansing Public Library as we host Demco's Kimberly Young, Book Doctor for a hands-on book repair workshop. Book Doctor Workshops provide book care...

The St. Charles Public Library is proud to announce the launch of STC Immersive, a state-of-the-art initiative designed to inspire, educate, and entertain the community in new and exciting ways. This one-of-a-kind offering combines technology, storytelling, and stunning visual effects to create an...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago Hounds in Bridgeview! The Chicago Hounds are a professional rugby team that joined the Major League Rugby competition in 2023. As the only professional Chicago...

Illinois Prairie District Public Library (IPDPL) in Woodford County, IL, launched a redesigned website at the end of January, offering a more user-friendly experience and improved access to library resources. Patrons can easily search the catalog, explore digital resources, and stay up-to-date on...

We invite all levels of staff from any type of RAILS library to join the online RAILS Member Update on Tuesday, February 11, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Topics include public library meeting rooms and the First Amendment, the Galena LitFest, and a new learning opportunity from the RAILS Continuing Education team...

RAILS is excited to welcome Carolyn Sennett to the RAILS Board of Directors. Carolyn is a current member of the Wilmette Public Library Board. She is filling a vacant public library trustee seat for RAILS. She was sworn in at the board’s January 24, 2024 meeting. The seat’s term ends on June 30...

From the My Library Is... Blog: We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the Right to Read Poster Project, an inspiring initiative celebrating intellectual freedom and libraries' vital role in our society. This project was made possible through generous funding from the My Library Is...

From the My Library Is... Blog: The My Library Is... Grant has allowed over seventy of our students to read books in their home language. Some of the languages spoken in our school are Ukrainian, Spanish, and Portuguese. Multilanguage learner instructors have utilized the foreign language texts...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Evanston History Center in Evanston! The mission of the Evanston History Center is to collect, preserve, and share Evanston's history to educate, inspire, and enrich...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Doug Cataldo, Communications and Outreach Coordinator Phone: 847-458-3144 Email: doug.cataldo@aapld.org Algonquin, IL – January 2025 We are thrilled to welcome you back to the Eastgate Branch of the Algonquin Area Public Library District! After months of transformation...

Episode four of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In “A Good Librarian’s Guide to Getting Along (with Administration),” Janette and Leah are joined by school librarian Beth Kovacic and principal Akemi Sessler (Dryden Elementary School). Together, they...

From the My Library Is... Blog: The Learning Commons (LC) Library at Sauk Valley Community College (SVCC) is pleased to announce some significant developments made possible through the My Library Is... Grant funds. These enhancements are aimed at improving branding, visibility, and overall awareness...