News & Announcements from RAILS

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...

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...

RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris will continue to travel through the RAILS area in the next month to meet with staff from our member libraries in person. Monica will talk about some of her goals for RAILS moving forward and there will be plenty of time for member questions and feedback. There...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal! The Children’s Discovery Museum inspires the love of learning. We offer 3 floors of hands-on exhibits that actively engage...

On April 30, discussion email lists that are managed by RAILS were moved from our old platform to the new RAILS ListServ environment. Subscribers on each list that was migrated over the weekend should have received a message sent to the list's new address, with details about the move. The most...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass for Illinois libraries, spotlights Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford! Anderson Japanese Gardens is proud of its longstanding reputation as one of the highest-quality Japanese gardens in North America. Their passion, however, is...

Dan Bostrom chats with RAILS Executive Director Monica Harris about the upcoming RAILS Board election, what she's learned on her meet and greet tour, and important legislative issues that our member libraries should know about. Relevant links: RAILS Board nomination form Coal Valley Meet & Greet -...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago! For over 165 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has served...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Bix Beiderbecke Museum & Archives in Davenport, IA! The Bix Beiderbecke Museum & World Archives is a 501(c)3 nonprofit located in Davenport, Iowa, the hometown of jazz...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum in Chicago! Beginning at river level and spiraling five stories up, the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum...