Advocacy Blog

School libraries and media centers are not the same as when I grew up. They are now spaces that spark curiosity, foster innovation, and create meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond a traditional library. Thanks to the RAILS My Library Is... grant, our elementary school media center has...

It may seem that each day you turn on the news, or show up to work, there is a new change within education. Whether that be at the federal level, the state level, or even just your local elementary school, the changes can feel overwhelming. Each change requires additional work from everyone involved...

Planting Seeds Of Leadership: How Great Books Are Growing Natural Leaders At Prairie Crossing Charter School (PCCS) in Grayslake, IL, we believe that children are our best hope to improve the world. But how do you transform that belief into a daily reality for 432 K-8 students? For us, the answer...

Our project “My Library Is...Connecting Communities and Cultures” was developed to meet the needs of our community by creating a World Languages Collection focusing on Spanish and Arabic titles. The creation of the World Languages Collection impacts students and community members, library work...

What if the books kids checked out at the public library today ended up on their school library shelves next year? That is the whole heart of Share the Shelf: School & Public Library Book Initiative, a project funded by a RAILS My Library Is... grant. The idea was simple: bring a curated collection...

In 2025, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives officially dedicated its newest space: The Raffety/Tran Community Room, a multi-purpose gathering place to help meet the needs of the LGBTQ+ communities it serves. The Community Room has been designed to accommodate meetings, classes, receptions and small...

Des Plaines Public Library has a key belief “that all library users are entitled to the highest level of service.” For us, the highest level of service would not be complete without offerings for users of all abilities. Advancing Accessibility Through the Library of Things While our Library of...

With a collection age of 2008, the South Park School nonfiction collection was out-of-date and not relevant to the interests of twenty-first century elementary students. Almost one third of the books in the collection had not circulated at all in the past five years, or had only circulated once. The...

“Hi!” A young woman, probably in her twenties, approached the Adult Services desk with an eager smile. “This might sound like a weird question, but could you help me find a newspaper from about fifteen years ago? There’s a photo of me sledding that ran in the Bartlett Examiner. I even have the exact...

The RAILS Cataloging Membership Grant is available to member libraries to support the operations and growth of shared catalog consortia, or Local Library System Automation Programs (LLSAPs). The Catalog Membership Grant aims to increase membership in RAILS LLSAPs by funding startup costs, such as...

Logos may act as the first opportunity for patrons to connect with the library. Found on bookmarks, signage, websites, and other outreach materials, a well-designed logo is a tool to aid the public perception of the library. So, what does an effective library logo look like? What considerations do...

When a major construction project kicked off behind the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, our staff saw more than just traffic cones and heavy machinery. We recognized an opportunity to live out one of our core values: "All Are Welcome Here." Crews were expected to be in our neighborhood...

As a multiuse element of branding, logos may act as the first opportunity for patrons to connect with the library. Found on bookmarks, signage, websites, and other outreach materials, a well-designed logo is a tool to aid the public perception of the library. Recognizability and accessibility are...

RAILS delivery is arguably one of the most crucial services provided to member libraries and one of the most recognizable parts of RAILS' services. According to our RAILS: Numbers that Count data, “In 2024, our 46-delivery staff produced a 2813% return on investment by delivering 7.9 million items...

As a multiuse element of branding, logos may act as the first opportunity for patrons to connect with the library. Found on bookmarks, signage, websites, and other outreach materials, a well-designed logo is a tool to aid the public perception of the library. Recognizability and accessibility are...