News & Announcements from RAILS

RAILS is excited to announce the formation of the Leadership Training Design Team, a group of current and aspiring leaders tasked with creating a new leadership training initiative for staff at member libraries of all types. Tentatively scheduled to launch in Fall 2025, this program aims to provide...

Episode five of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "A Love Letter to Libraries," Janette and Leah sit down with the internet's favorite librarian, Mychal Threets! Together, they talk about how even the smallest moments of library joy help us persist...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago a cappella in Chicago! Chicago a cappella is a professional vocal ensemble that moves the heart and spirit with fun, innovative concerts. Their concert series...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Chicago Hounds in Bridgeview! The Chicago Hounds are a professional rugby team that joined the Major League Rugby competition in 2023. As the only professional Chicago...

We invite all levels of staff from any type of RAILS library to join the online RAILS Member Update on Tuesday, February 11, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Topics include public library meeting rooms and the First Amendment, the Galena LitFest, and a new learning opportunity from the RAILS Continuing Education team...

RAILS is excited to welcome Carolyn Sennett to the RAILS Board of Directors. Carolyn is a current member of the Wilmette Public Library Board. She is filling a vacant public library trustee seat for RAILS. She was sworn in at the board’s January 24, 2024 meeting. The seat’s term ends on June 30...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Evanston History Center in Evanston! The mission of the Evanston History Center is to collect, preserve, and share Evanston's history to educate, inspire, and enrich...

Episode four of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In “A Good Librarian’s Guide to Getting Along (with Administration),” Janette and Leah are joined by school librarian Beth Kovacic and principal Akemi Sessler (Dryden Elementary School). Together, they...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, First Floor Theater in Chicago! Founded in 2012, First Floor Theater has garnered a reputation for pairing some of the most cutting-edge scripts in Chicago and the...

In compliance with Illinois statutes and administrative rules [23 Ill. Adm. Code 3030.200], annual certification is required of ALL library system members to retain system membership and eligibility for grants administered by the Illinois State Library. Examples of Illinois State Library grants...

RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris looks back at all the great work we’ve done together this year. We wish you all the best as we say goodbye to 2024 and we’re looking forward to the important work we will do together in 2025. Happy Holidays!

The FY 2025 application and expenditure report that documents the disbursement of the FY 2023 award are due on Thursday, January 30, 2025. To be eligible, a public library must meet all statutory requirements, including providing library services that meet or make progress toward meeting Illinois...

RAILS published Illinois Libraries: Agencies of Impact, a Data Study in September 2024 to help member libraries of all types and sizes demonstrate their value to various stakeholders. We have now added a media kit to the study’s web page. In this media kit, libraries will find all the infographics...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Forest Park Nature Center in Peoria Heights! Forest Park Nature Center offers seven miles of trails for hiking and nature enjoyment and is home to a gift shop that...

Dan and Monica recap what they learned at last week's AISLE Conference in Tinley Park. They also discuss RAILS news, including a public library trustee vacancy on the RAILS Board and the launch of our online store. Lastly, they promote an exciting deep discount for Udemy, available exclusively to...