News & Announcements from RAILS

Dan and Monica discuss why you should vote in the upcoming RAILS Board election, where you can find us during the spring, and how we've expanded opportunities for the My Library Is... grants in 2024. Monica also gives a brief update on library-related legislations in Illinois that would affect...

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...

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...

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...

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...

We sat down with some of our current board members and asked them to reflect on their board experience. Watch the 2.5-minute video to learn why they ran, what they’ve gotten out of it, and who should apply to join. Please share the video with coworkers, trustees, and colleagues who would make a...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Historic Auto Attractions in Roscoe! Experience all the history and artifacts that Historic Auto Attractions has to offer. The museum is so much more than cars. With...

RAILS and Western Illinois University (WIU) are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Western Illinois Digital Access Mini-Grants and Chromebook Lending Grants. These grants were made possible by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Office of Broadband. The...

Would you like to work with a dedicated team of colleagues representing all types and sizes of libraries to help shape the future of a member-driven, vibrant, and innovative library system? RAILS is seeking nominees for five volunteer positions on its Board of Directors. Two at-large seats (to be...