News from RAILS & Libraries

Furthering his commitment to the Right to Read, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is spearheading legislation that underscores the vital role of librarians in providing essential educational resources and ensures those individuals can go to work without fear and intimidation. HB 4567...

HB 4567 is scheduled for a committee hearing on Thursday, April 4, at 10:00 a.m. All Illinois library advocates are encouraged to support the bill before the hearing by submitting a witness slip. The bill amends the Criminal Code of 2012, to include in offense of threatening a public official or...

The Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) and the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Awards released a statement highlighting the importance, of its book awards in encouraging students to read widely. This statement has been co-signed by the Illinois Heartland Library System...

The Illinois Library Association (ILA) is seeking witness slip support for amending the acquisition of treasurer bonds for libraries. HB 4224 is scheduled for a committee hearing on Thursday, April 4, at 8:01 a.m. All Illinois library advocates are encouraged to support the bill prior to the hearing...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Western Illinois Museum in Macomb! The Western Illinois Museum is located in the heart of rural West Central Illinois and offers a welcoming, small-town experience...

We sat down with some of our current board members and asked them to reflect on their board experience. Watch the 2.5-minute video to learn why they ran, what they’ve gotten out of it, and who should apply to join. Please share the video with coworkers, trustees, and colleagues who would make a...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe! Experience all the history and artifacts that Historic Auto Attractions has to offer. The museum is so much more than cars. With...

RAILS and Western Illinois University (WIU) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Western Illinois Digital Access Mini-Grants and Chromebook Lending Grants. These grants were made possible by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband. The...

Would you like to work with a dedicated team of colleagues representing all types and sizes of libraries to help shape the future of a member-driven, vibrant, and innovative library system? RAILS is seeking nominees for five volunteer positions on its Board of Directors. Two at-large seats (to be...

This month, Dan and Monica highlight the successful launch of the School Library Advocacy through Education (SLATE) data dashboard and emphasize the value of the Freedom Lifted EDI course that is available to RAILS members. Plus, Monica breaks down all you need to know about library-related...

A six-minute, step-by-step video tutorial on how to create an L2 account is now available on the RAILS YouTube channel. All Illinois library employees and board members are encouraged to create an account on the Library Directory & Learning Calendar (L2) website . L2 has a statewide directory of...

On Friday, April 12, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., RAILS and Western Illinois University are excited to host a free, one-day event on broadband and libraries. This event will feature speakers, networking, and a chance to find out more about what broadband opportunities lie ahead for libraries. Western...

Please join RAILS in welcoming two new member libraries: Lindop SD 92 is a public school district located in Broadview, Illinois. There is one school in the district, an elementary school serving K-8. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the district has an enrollment of 342 students...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Young People’s Theatre in Chicago! In residence at Lincoln Park’s historic Greenhouse Theater Center, and led by experienced children’s theatre director, Randy White...

The Illinois Secretary of State has released a request for proposal for the e-resource package that will be available without charge to all Illinois communities. The RFP is available for viewing on the Illinois State Library E-Resource Program Pulse page from the RAILS website. The RAILS...