News from RAILS & Libraries

The RAILS Board is looking for volunteers from our member libraries who are interested in using their experience and expertise to help shape system services and have an impact on all Illinois residents. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee members will help identify barriers in the...

Blue Island Public Library is celebrating the award of two grants for the 2023 year. Adult Services Manager Micah Rademacher won the Will Eisner Graphic Novel grant for “Nos Vemos en los Cómics”, funding graphic novel based collections and programming in Spanish. Through this funding, the library...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago! The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago showcases 3,000 years of creativity from both sides of the Mexican border...

The Glencoe Public Library has several staff and former staff who have recently published articles in professional journals. Children's Shelver Alex Towers' piece, " My Turn: Neurodivergence in Libraries" was published in the June issue of ILA Reporter. Children's Librarians Jessie Bond (formerly at...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Our library was created in 2020, after returning from COVID-19, as a newly formed, K-2, dual language center. Previously, we were K-6 English, mono-lingual. With much gratitude towards the support of RAILS and the My Library Is Grant, we are creating and living a new...

After 20 years of service to the Fremont Public Library District, Library Director Scott Davis has retired at the end of the fiscal year on June 30. The Library Board of Trustees have promoted Assistant Director Becky Ingram to serve as Interim Director and hired Deiters & Todd Library Consulting...

The Lincolnwood Public Library is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Dove Lempke as its new Executive Director. With a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to promoting literacy and community engagement, Lempke is poised to lead the library into a new era of growth and innovation...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago in Chicago! Founded in 1967, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago champions the new and unexpected in contemporary art...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture in Chicago! The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is devoted to the promotion, integration, and...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: We at the Gail Borden Public Library District are honored to be hosting Violins of Hope, ten lovingly restored violins played before or during the Holocaust. Read the full post on the My Library Is ... website.

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Joliet Public Library is excited to announce a new traveling exhibit will open on June 16. – The Questioneers: Read. Question. Think. PLAY! Based on the best-selling series of books by author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts, the imaginative world of...

Join bestselling author TJ Klune this Pride Month to discuss publishing, writing, queer identity, book-banning, and being neurodiverse. TJ will be in conversation with Douglas Mahan. Register for this event here: http://tjklune.eventbrite.com All are welcome to join in on this virtual program! TJ...

From the My Library Is ... Blog: Fox River Grove Memorial Library is proud to offer a Sensory Storytime on the second Monday of every month at 10:30 a.m. The next Sensory Storytime takes place on Monday, June 12, 2023. This program differs from the Library’s regular storytimes in that enrollment is...

Explore More Illinois, RAILS’ online cultural and recreational pass program for Illinois libraries, welcomes its newest attraction, Normal Theater in Normal, IL! The historic Normal Theater gives residents and visitors to Bloomington-Normal the classic cinema-going experience. Through a diverse line...

Batavia Public Library District is excited to announce the new Executive Director, Josephine Tucci, who joined the library on June 12, 2023. Ms. Tucci holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from University of Illinois, a Master of Teaching Museum Education degree from George...