News & Announcements from RAILS

The Jerseyville Public Library has been presenting Preschool Storytime for as long back as most staff members can remember. It is a program presented once a month where children ages 2-6 can gather at the library and have a story read to them, sing and dance along to some fun tunes and use their...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS' online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction, American Writers Museum in Chicago! The American Writers Museum is an interactive playground for literature lovers who want to learn more about their favorite writers and...

When the new RAILS website rolls out next month, all listings on the RAILS Jobs Board will need to include the position's pay rate or range in U.S. dollars. There are several reasons to put wage information in posted jobs: It promotes equity in recruiting and hiring. It creates more realistic pay...

We are pleased to announce that the $40 exhibit guest passes are now available through RAILS' exhibitor portal for ALA Annual! RAILS member libraries can purchase exhibit-only passes for library staff members to visit the exhibit hall at the ALA Annual Conference, June 22–27, in Chicago. There is no...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS' online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction, Chicago Maritime Museum in Chicago! Chicago's history and development stem from its axis at the foot of the Great Lakes. This strategic location gave the city access to the St...

The application period for the My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries is open and runs through Thursday, March 2. In 2022, RAILS awarded $78,232.80 in My Library Is... Grants to 20 school libraries. These grants help recipients focus on projects that tell the library story and increase...

Staff at all levels from all types of RAILS libraries (academic, public, school, and specialized) are welcome at the RAILS Member Update on Tuesday, February 28 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., via Zoom. Monica Harris, RAILS' new Executive Director, will talk about her plans for RAILS moving forward...

In this episode of RAILS Minute, Dan Bostrom welcomes Monica Harris as the new Executive Director of RAILS. Dan and Monica discuss what's next for RAILS in this new chapter, including opportunities for member library workers to meet Monica and share ideas. Have a question or topic suggestion...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS' online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, spotlights attraction, Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago! The mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library is to increase the public's understanding of military history, military...

After a nationwide search, the RAILS Board appointed Monica Harris as RAILS Executive Director effective immediately. Monica has been serving as Interim Executive Director since November 2022. Monica first joined RAILS as Associate Executive Director in January 2020. In this role, she provided...

RAILS Member Engagement Manager Dan Bostrom talks with Dawn Scuderi from Summit Hill Junior High School in Frankfort, Illinois. Summit Hill was the recipient of a 2022 My Library Is... Grant for School Libraries. Applications are now open for the 2023 version of the My Library Is... Grant for School...

Please join RAILS in welcoming our newest member, General George S. Patton School District 133! This school district is located in Riverdale, Illinois. There is one school in the district, serving K-8 students. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the district has an enrollment of 210...

Makerspaces in libraries are great. While makerspaces allow people to get creative and discover new ideas for projects, using the new equipment can be daunting for those who are unfamiliar with it. That’s why The Workshop Lab at Palatine Library District created an easy and accessible way to...

When Illinois State University conducted a Textbook Affordability survey in the spring of 2019, it was clear there was a problem—one felt by institutions across the United States. The survey found that 73% of students did not acquire a textbook due to cost, 89% delayed purchasing a textbook or other...

3D printing was launched at Illinois State University’s Milner Library as part of our Make It Space initiative in the fall of 2018. Initial interest was strong, but our staff was flooded with requests after we moved the printer to a highly visible, publicly accessible space. Since then, we’ve had...