News from RAILS & Libraries

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...

Lake Bluff Public Library is excited to announce a new service that demonstrates its commitment to access and the health and well-being of the community. The Library is now offering free high quality sustainable period products through a partnership with Aunt Flow. This initiative recognizes that...

In 2022, we, at Danvers Township Library, saw “Youth Art Month” on our March calendar and thought, we have a craft room full of miscellaneous art supplies. Why couldn’t we offer a weekly craft for the youth in our community? And so we did, and the youth in our community showed up week after week to...

Bestselling author Vanessa Riley and award winner Alina Rubin, will discuss writing historical fiction, giving women a voice in history, doing and using research, traditional versus independent publishing, and building empathy through history. This is a virtual program via Zoom. To register visit...

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...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Imagine giving your students the power to dive into the world of STEM wherever they go. Well, thanks to the RAILS “My Library Is…” grant money, our school library has launched the coolest initiative we've ever done - Maker Backpacks! Maker Backpacks are STEM kits...

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...

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...

For the past several months the Galena Public Library has been working with the City of Galena, the Galena School District, and the Galena Center for the Arts to find Galena's first Poet Laureate. Two representatives from each organization made up a Poet Laureate Selection Committee. Galena will be...

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...