News from RAILS & Libraries

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Gillson Swimming Beach in Wilmette! Gillson Park offers 60 acres of beautiful lakefront property ideal for picnics, bicycling, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and many...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Glencoe Beach in Glencoe! Glencoe Beach is ideal for group and family outings, work picnics, or summer camp groups! Lifeguards are on duty daily during operational...

Dan and Monica recap all the latest updates on the IMLS funding situation, including important news from the Illinois State Library about the upcoming fiscal year. They also chat about the exciting new rebrand of Explore More Illinois, the current RAILS Board Election, and RAILS grant programs...

On Friday, May 16, Devon Braunstein, Director, Illinois Office of Broadband announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce terminated funding for the Digital Equity Capacity Grant. This funding, originally part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, provides funding for states to implement...

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to approved $850,000 for a project aimed at improving digital equity. This funding, which was awarded to RAILS by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, will go towards the design and implementation of a Digital Navigator...

Episode eight of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Instead of feeling sad, let's get mad. In "An Airing of Grievances," co-hosts Janette and Leah host a mid-year Festivus, addressing the current library landscape and reading listener-submitted rants...

You might not think that your local hospital, museum, church, synagogue, or law firm has a library, but many of them do. They’re called specialized libraries, and they’re RAILS members, too! RAILS is a multitype library system, which means that we serve all kinds of libraries: your local public...

We invite all levels of staff from any type of RAILS library to join the online RAILS Member Update on Wednesday, May 14, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Topics include an update from the Illinois State Library, a book award that honors a love of nature and action for planet Earth, the Explore More Illinois...

Voting is now open for the 2025 RAILS Board Election. Members may cast their ballot until Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. This year, there are four candidates running for two open at-large seats; 11 candidates running for three open public library trustee seats; and one candidate running for one...

Chicago Public Library (CPL), Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), and Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) are excited to announce the rebranding of the Explore More Illinois program. Explore More Illinois is a cultural and recreational pass program that allows Illinois public...

RAILS would like to share a few short updates on the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding situation: System Funding for FY 2026 Illinois State Library (ISL) has directed the regional library systems (including RAILS) to submit plans at level funding for the upcoming fiscal year...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Lincoln Log Cabin in Lerna! Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, part of the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, preserves the 19th-century home of Thomas Lincoln...

Libraries generally operate on tight budgets. This is why we offer several grant opportunities to help our libraries thrive and make sure that they also have room to grow. In 2024, we awarded: $10,185 in RAILS Continuing Education Event Grants to support learning and professional growth...

The Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) has selected 24 projects to receive My Library Is... Grants. The total amount funded for these projects is $98,957.35. The purpose of these grants is to provide an opportunity for libraries to focus on projects that help tell their institution’s...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum in Charleston! Visit this first-class facility located on the site of the 1858 Charleston, IL, Lincoln-Douglas debate. Take a self-guided...