News & Announcements from RAILS

Dan and Monica discuss staff changes at RAILS, including the selection of a new associate executive director and retirement of Marketing and Communications Director, Mary Witt. They also discuss highlights from ALA Annual and the Secretary of State's new website, banbookbans.com. RAILS Minute is a...

RAILS Director of Marketing and Communications Mary Witt retired on July 14, after over 42 years in Illinois libraries. Mary graduated with a Master of Library Science from the University of Iowa and began her library career at Fountaindale Public Library District (Romeoville branch). Later, Mary...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago! Lincoln Park Zoo is a 49-acre zoo and arboretum in Lincoln Park, Chicago, Illinois. The zoo offers free admission and welcomes more than 3...

The RAILS Board is looking for volunteers from our member libraries who are interested in using their experience and expertise to help shape system services and have an impact on all Illinois residents. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee members will help identify barriers in the...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago! The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago showcases 3,000 years of creativity from both sides of the Mexican border...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in Chicago! Founded in 1967, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago champions the new and unexpected in contemporary art...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago! The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is devoted to the promotion, integration, and...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Normal Theater in Normal, IL! The historic Normal Theater gives residents and visitors to Bloomington-Normal the classic cinema-going experience. Through a diverse line...

We are excited to see so many of our member libraries presenting for a national audience at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27. Below is a list of RAILS members who are presenting at ALA. We’ll update it as we receive more program information. If you or someone at your library is...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction Galesburg Parks and Recreation in Galesburg, IL! Galesburg Parks and Recreation are back this year offering a discount on their beach and their waterpark. Lake Storey Beach is...

RAILS is happy to announce that Chicago Public Library joined Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program, on June 5, 2023. This will transform Explore More Illinois into a true statewide cultural and recreational pass program, as the program will be available to all...

Congratulations to the 2023 candidates who have been elected to serve on the RAILS Board: Academic Library Seat Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University Public Library Trustee Seats Jean M. Carroll, Thomas Ford Memorial Library Jennifer Hovanec, Villa Park Public Library Alex Vancina (re-elected)...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Normal CornBelters in Normal! The Normal CornBelters are a collegiate, wood bat summer baseball team based in Normal, Illinois. Normal CornBelters is offering Two...

Dan Bostrom sits down with RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris to talk about the next steps in the RAILS Board election, highlights from her now-completed meet and greet tour, and EDI training that will soon be available to RAILS members and their trustees. Monica also provides updates on...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes back for the season, Chicago Red Stars in Bridgeview! Established in 2007, the Red Stars were a founding member of the former Women’s Professional Soccer and would later become one of the...