News from RAILS & Libraries

Visit RAILS at exhibit booth #401 at the ILA conference in Springfield, October 24–26. Exhibit hours are Wednesday, October 25, noon–5 p.m., and Thursday, October 26, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. RAILS is a Leadership Partner sponsor of the conference and is sponsoring the Exhibits Lunch on Wednesday. RAILS staff...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes back attraction, DuPage Symphony Orchestra in Naperville! The DuPage Symphony Orchestra is an award-winning local orchestra located in DuPage County and the 2021 Community Orchestra of the...

With Banned Books Week quickly approaching, Monica talks about the Book Challenges on the Rise program she'll be participating in with Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Dan and Monica also share highlights from the recent joint meeting between RAILS and IHLS at the Illinois State Library. Both...

Dan and Monica talk about the qualities RAILS is looking for in their next Director of Consulting and Continuing Education, highlights from Directors University, and the new Unite Against Book Bans in Illinois initiative. Links: Director of Consulting and Continuing Education job posting Directors...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Haitian American Museum of Chicago in Chicago! The mission of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago is “ To promote and preserve Haitian art, culture, history and...

Are you passionate about intellectual freedom and defending the freedom to read? With censorship efforts surging at unprecedented levels across the country, a coalition of library support organizations including ILA, AISLE, IHLS, and RAILS are seeking to create a network of regional response teams...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Community Players Theatre in Bloomington! Community Players is a charitable, nonprofit theatrical organization dedicated to the idea that live theater enhances the...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Bronzeville Children’s Museum in Chicago! The first and only African American children's museum in the country serving all children ages 4-9 years old. Focus on history...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, The Insect Asylum in Chicago! The Insect Asylum is a safe and welcoming space for people from all walks of life to explore natural history in all of its splendor...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe! The Chicago Botanic Garden opened 50 years ago as a beautiful place to visit, and it has matured into one of the world’s great living...

RAILS promotes Joseph (Joe) Filapek to Associate Executive Director, effective July 25. Filapek fills the space recently vacated by Monica Harris, who was promoted to Executive Director in February 2023. Filapek first joined RAILS in 2013 as the Consulting and Continuing Education Manager...

Dan and Monica discuss staff changes at RAILS, including the selection of a new associate executive director and retirement of Marketing and Communications Director, Mary Witt. They also discuss highlights from ALA Annual and the Secretary of State's new website, banbookbans.com. RAILS Minute is a...

RAILS Director of Marketing and Communications Mary Witt retired on July 14, after over 42 years in Illinois libraries. Mary graduated with a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa and began her library career at Fountaindale Public Library District (Romeoville branch). Later, Mary...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago! Lincoln Park Zoo is a 49-acre zoo and arboretum in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. The zoo offers free admission and welcomes more than 3...

The RAILS Board is looking for volunteers from our member libraries who are interested in using their experience and expertise to help shape system services and have an impact on all Illinois residents. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee members will help identify barriers in the...