News & Announcements from RAILS

This year Glenside Middle School rolled out WeVideo accounts to all of our students. This was the first time that students had access to a full-feature video editing program on their Chromebooks. It wasn’t a perfect journey, but over the year almost all students could access the basic editing...

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...

As a Librarian, nothing is more frustrating than having students look at our shelves filled with thousands of books and say there is nothing they want to read. I wanted to leverage the RAILS My Library Is Grant to make my shelves more accessible and encourage reading throughout the John T. Pirie...

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)...

The Lisle Library District (LLD) was aglow from sunflowers and the LiteZilla on Saturday, April 22. After a year-long two-phased renovation, the Lisle Library District celebrated with a Grand Opening that attracted about 800 attendees, who enjoyed soft pretzels from Gnarly Knots and sunflower...

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...

RAILS Member Engagement Manager Dan Bostrom talks with Jeanne' Aken from Beach Park School District in Beach Park, IL. Beach Park was the recipient of a 2022 My Library Is... Grant for School Libraries. For more information on the My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries, please visit: https:/...

In 2021, the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, proudly opened the doors of its new Makerplace building, ushering in a world of exciting possibilities for the community. Since then, residents of all ages have eagerly embraced the opportunity to acquire new skills, unleash their creativity, and...

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...

I think it is very important that our students are made to feel whole when they enter our East and Central Libraries at Evanston Township High School. My library is a place of welcome and acceptance for who they are.. The East Library is a place of refuge for many of our students. Yes, there are...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction, Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie! Since the opening, Illinois Holocaust Museum has focused on one clear mission: To use the history and lessons of the Holocaust to transform...

Through the power of virtual reality (VR), school librarians can transport their students to different times and places in order to get immersive, interactive 360-degree views like never before. In other words, VR allows us to become our own versions of Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus...

Getting to know the library I started as the school librarian at Grace Lutheran School in the fall of 2021. My first job as the school librarian was to unpack and move the library back into its space. (The library had been boxed up and put on temporary shelves in another space during Covid to...