News & Announcements from RAILS

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...

Please join RAILS in welcoming two new member libraries: Ridgeland School District #122 is located in Oak Lawn, IL. The district serves around 2,220 students. There are five schools in the district, four elementary schools and one middle school. St. Mary Nativity School is located in Joliet, IL and...

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...

Joe and Monica break down the latest at RAILS: 🗳️ results from our board election ⚖️ federal bills that need your action 💻 the official launch of our statewide database 🎙️ your time to catch up on Can't Shelve This 👋 where to catch us at ALA Relevant links: 2026 RAILS Board election results ALA...

Congratulations to the 2026 candidates who have been elected to the RAILS Board of Directors: Academic Library Seat Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University At-Large Seat Jennifer Cottrill, Midlothian Public Library Public Library Trustee Seats Victoria Ferguson, Prairie Creek Library Victor...

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...

Last times, new beginnings, and everything in between. The season 2 finale of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Janette and Leah visit University High School for a behind-the-scenes look at a standout school library and the people who bring it to life...

Please join RAILS in welcoming a new member library: The Japanese American Service Committee (JASC) Legacy Center is a special library in Chicago, IL. They document the lives of Japanese and Japanese Americans in Chicago and have organizational records since 1946. These new members will now have...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Centennial Aquatic Center! Opened in 2014, the Centennial Aquatic Center is a summer destination operated by the Park Ridge Park District. Designed to serve residents...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park! Get ready to adventure to new heights at Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park in Western Springs, IL, located in the suburbs just a short...

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...