Advocacy Blog

The HSA McKinley School library received the My Library Is… Grant to purchase books to increase our graphic novel section. As I am sure is true of most schools, our graphic novel section tended to have the highest rates of circulation and interest for our students in grades 3-8 especially. After...

With celebrations for the 175th anniversary of our university slated for 2025, librarians at Illinois Wesleyan University envisioned a digital humanities project that would share the story of libraries on campus from the institution's founding in 1850 forward. That vision resulted in our application...

The Gwendolyn Brooks Library at Chicago State University has created a sensory space to promote health and wellness. The library sensory space offers a calming environment for students to decompress, de-stress, and regulate their emotions. This student-centered initiative, which was soft-launched in...

At Aurora University Library, we are always looking for meaningful ways to enhance the services we provide to our students, staff, and the wider campus community. When the opportunity arose to apply for a library grant, we knew exactly what we wanted to do: invest in tools and resources that would...

Libraries today are about so much more than just borrowing books. In our library, you can find plenty of books, but also DVDs, audiobooks, CDs, and a variety of items through our Library of Things. The Library of Things includes items to help the vision impaired (courtesy of donations from Dwight’s...

Tucked away behind a single door in the basement of the Old Town School of Folk Music (OTSFM) in Lincoln Square you’ll find the Resource Center (RC). The RC is a library and archive that has long served the OTSFM community. It’s a rich, but under-recognized, hub for music literature, sound...

Logos may act as the first opportunity for patrons to connect with the library. Found on bookmarks, signage, websites, and other outreach materials, a well-designed logo is a tool to aid the public perception of the library. So, what does an effective library logo look like? What considerations do...

Incorporating Spanish language books into your school library collection isn’t just about providing enjoyable reading material; it’s about creating an environment that values diversity, promotes language development, and prepares students for a global world. Whether you're supporting native Spanish...

On March 14, 2025, Executive Order 14238, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). RAILS is spotlighting libraries and institutions in Illinois that have received IMLS grant money and sharing how they...

At Rockford University we know that student research and expression can take many forms – sometimes written, sometimes visual, and increasingly, spoken or recorded. That’s why we’re excited to announce a brand-new creative space opening in Fall 2025: The Audio Lab @ Howard Colman Library. This space...

Logos may act as the first opportunity for patrons to connect with the library. Found on bookmarks, signage, websites, and other outreach materials, a well-designed logo is a tool to aid the public perception of the library. So, what does an effective library logo look like? What considerations do...

The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library applied for the My Library Is... Grant to furnish our new branch with a curated selection of Spanish titles and resources for the community. Our library district serves the villages of Manhattan, Elwood, and Jackson Township in the south suburbs. In 2023-24, we...

Reaching Forward North is a professional development conference for library support staff in central and northern Illinois put on by the Illinois Library Association. This took place on May 1, 2025. The staff at RAILS operated a booth at the conference and hosted a giveaway. Participants of the...

John L. Hensey Elementary School was very excited when we were awarded this wonderful grant opportunity to help update our History and Social Studies book collections throughout the school. Our school collection had less diversity (only 3% of the collection) when I started a few years ago. I was...

Background Basics Hibbard Elementary School is in the diverse Albany Park Community of Chicago. Our poverty level is 88% and most of our students are English Learners. Nine years ago, our school librarian left for another district based on cuts to many Chicago Public School libraries. Our then...