News & Announcements from RAILS

My school is bilingual. And my library was too . . . sort of. Thanks to the RAILS My Library Is… Grant money, I can now say with confidence that the library is a bilingual space that serves all of our students. Brentano Math and Science Academy is a bilingual school. We have many students who speak...

“I can’t find anything to read. Nothing interests me. These books are too hard. I do not know where the book is located.” Sound familiar? The My Library Is... Grant provided funding to update and enhance the library collection and reading experience. It also provided colorful new signage to improve...

RAILS proudly recognized the service of each of our outgoing board members at the Friday, June 21, 2024 board meeting: Rosie Camargo from the South Holland Public Library served in an at-large seat, April 2022 - June 2024. Alice Creason from the Richton Park Public Library served in a public library...

Please join RAILS in welcoming our new member library, Liberty CUSD #2 , a public school district located in Liberty, Illinois. The district has two schools. Liberty Elementary School serves grades PK-6 and Liberty High School serves students in grades 7–12. According to the Illinois State Board of...

In addition to using the library for academic purposes, students enjoy the opportunity to decompress and have downtime in the library. The library is open to students for their free time before school, during our four lunch periods, and after school. These are ideal times for students to read for...

The Illinois State Library (ISL) has been contacting libraries with news about the statewide e-resource package. The contract for this package has been finalized with EBSCO. This e-resource package will be available to all Illinois communities without any charge. We have attached a list of all...

For data collection purposes, the Illinois State Library issues control and branch numbers for each library. This information helps the Illinois State Library and the library systems identify library agencies and locations for membership, grants, and other purposes. To find your control and branch...

This school year, I was lucky enough to receive a My Library is… Grant from RAILS at Glenbard East High School. Glenbard East is a majority-minority, Title 1 high school in Lombard, IL. Of our 2253 students, forty three percent are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Fourteen percent of our students...

Dan and Monica announce our newly-elected board members, what libraries need to know to be in compliance with Title II, and how you might be interested in exploring our growing interlibrary loan platform, Find More Illinois. Relevant Links: 2024 RAILS Board candidate videos Digital Accessibility...

We are pleased to announce that RAILS is now an Illinois state-approved professional development provider authorized to issue professional development credit to Illinois licensed educators for license renewal purposes. This alignment with Illinois state standards for professional development ensures...

Congratulations to the 2024 candidates who have been elected to the RAILS Board: At-Large Seats Amanda Kowalcze, Frankfort Public Library District Emily Porter, Byron Public Library District Public Library Trustee Seats Jennifer Cutshall, Homewood Public Library District Anupam Goel, Clarendon Hills...

The administration of Saint Patrick High School in Chicago decided to renovate the James J. Barrett Learning Resource Center during the 2022-2023 school year. During the renovation, the carpeting and furniture were replaced. Before the renovation, the collection was extensively evaluated and weeded...

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is awarding $2 million in new grants to assist public libraries in underserved communities with needed technology enhancements, Secretary and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced today. According to the Secretary of State’s office, 113 public libraries...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island! Adjacent to the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island, Illinois, the Quad City Botanical Center is comprised of an indoor...

The Illinois State Library has notified RAILS that a vendor has been selected for the statewide e-resource package. The Illinois Office of the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Library have not officially announced this news. Therefore, RAILS cannot officially comment on this situation other...