News from RAILS & Libraries

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that RAILS Director of Technology Services Anne Slaughter has been appointed the new Broadband Advisory Council Chair. Slaughter has been engaged with the council since its inception in 2019. The Illinois Office of...

RAILS has signed an agreement to continue providing access to the Social Justice in Public Libraries program from Freedom Lifted for all member libraries. This popular resource allows library staff to learn more about equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in libraries. The course content...

The Casa Italia Library Traveling Exhibit Italians in Chicago The Italians in Chicago Traveling Exhibit, will be available for loan starting in Italian Heritage month in October. This will be the first time in decades that the Traveling Exhibit will be available for loan. Visitors at your location...

Visit RAILS at our exhibit booth (#401) at the ILA conference in Peoria, October 8-10. Exhibit hours are Wednesday, October 9, noon–5 p.m., and Thursday, October 10, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. RAILS is a Platinum Sponsor of the conference and is sponsoring the ILA Membership Meeting and President’s Program with...

Things are ramping up at RAILS this fall! Dan and Monica talk about the new Illinois Libraries: Agencies of Impact data study, the exciting premiere of our new podcast for school library workers, and more updates on the statewide e-resource package. Relevant links: Illinois Libraries: Agencies of...

Please join SLUI in-person for our annual meeting & program at the Tinley Park Public Library on Wednesday September 25th! -- REGISTER HERE SirsiDynix representatives will be on hand to showcase new SirsiDynix software and give a roadmap for upcoming product enhancements! We will also be hosting...

RAILS is thrilled to announce the premiere of its newest podcast, Can’t Shelve This . The series is co-hosted by RAILS Data Analyst Janette Derucki and Illinois Heartland Library System School Library Membership Coordinator Leah Gregory. The podcast aims to create a space for school library workers...

Tour of the Resource Center at The Old Town School of Folk Music Join the RAILS Music Librarianship Networking Group Meeting for a tour of The Resource Center at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Old Town School of Folk Music Lincoln Square Campus, West Building 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL...

Maggie Thomann has been selected as the new Library Resource Specialist in RAILS’s Resource Sharing department. This position was added in FY2024 to support the growing Deals & Discounts program. Thomann’s first day in the position was September 4, 2024. Thomann has over 20 years of experience in...

At RAILS, our mission statement “We Connect Libraries” reflects our belief in the transformative power of libraries. We go beyond brick-and-mortar walls, fostering collaboration and resource-sharing to empower libraries of all types and sizes. That's why we have published the Illinois Libraries...

The Illinois State Library (ISL) will host online training sessions to answer common questions about the statewide e-resource package . Attendees will learn how to get links, set up an EBSCO Connect account, access training videos, and more. ISL’s Library Program Specialist Suzanna Jones will also...

The Berwyn Public Library proudly announces the 2024 Local Authors’ Festival! Join in on a week of writing focused programs for all ages. Discuss your reading selections over coffee at Books & Brews, devote time to your own writing at a write-in, learn to storyboard manga-style, get tips on writing...

Inviting all to attend: https://nwill.org/program Hoping all who attend will gain some valuable insights in fast delivery of ILL articles. Thursday, September 19th P1: Speedy delivery: Enhancing your library users' experience with OCLC's Express program 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM UO EMU Gumwood (2nd floor)...

The Morris Area Public Library is excited to announce a special workshop, "The Book Doctor is IN!," led by Kimberly Young, a seasoned library professional with extensive experience in diverse library settings across the United States. This hands-on session will take place on Friday, October 4, 2024...

We invite all levels of staff from any type of RAILS library to join the online RAILS Member Update on Wednesday, September 4, at 3 p.m. Attached is a full agenda for this event. Topics include more information from the Illinois State Library about the statewide e-resources package, advocating for...