News from RAILS & Libraries

“Read anything good lately?” That’s the question Green Hills Public Library District (GHPLD) staff members Sara Shahein, Tessa Werden and Klaudia Gorgon set out to answer last September when they launched their first episode of the Checked Out podcast. One year and 12 episodes later, listeners now...

On the evening of Thursday, October 2, the RAILS data center, located at the RAILS Burr Ridge Service Center, will be undertaking a migration of internet providers. We expect this migration to be quick, but it could take up to 24 hours to complete. In that event, several RAILS services may be...

RAILS is excited to announce an opportunity for suburban Cook County public libraries to collaborate with the Cook County Office of the President in establishing a Digital Navigator Network. We are currently seeking participation in a Cook County Library Digital Navigator Network Guiding Team to...

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 11 AM to 3 PM, the Elk Grove Village Public Library will host its third Comic-Con event! The con will feature a collective of talented artists/creatives, a "Star Car" show in the library's parking lot, food trucks, and several programs/crafts for all ages. What is...

From the My Library Is... Blog: 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...

The Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program (iCAMP) 2025–26 is looking for additional mentors to support incoming mentees. We don’t always have enough mentors, so your participation is essential to ensure every new cataloger has guidance and support. If you’ve already submitted a mentor application...

Dan and Monica break down the latest in this month’s RAILS Minute: 💰 Your chance to win a $100 Visa gift card 📚 How two million items were added to Find More Illinois 📍 What you can find with our new resource sharing map 📣 How you can support your library system Relevant Links: L2 Signup Month...

The 2025 ILA Annual Conference is October 14–16, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. There are multiple ways you can connect with RAILS staff during the conference, and we look forward to seeing you. Conference attendees can stop by the RAILS booth (#711) to chat with RAILS...

WEST SUBURBS — Fourteen libraries along Metra’s BSNF Railway Line are collaborating to get digital resources to the region’s rising number of commuters. Ads now greeting riders on each BNSF Line train car highlight the ways a library card can help commuters save money and enjoy their time onboard...

From the My Library Is... Blog: 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...

Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS), Illinois Library Association (ILA), and Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) are excited to announce the release of a series of Directors University (DU) videos called DU On Demand. Directors University is a joint project of IHLS, ILA, and RAILS...

We are thrilled to announce the continuation of the Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program (iCAMP), a nine-month initiative designed to foster both professional and personal development among participants. Program Overview: iCAMP operates on a comprehensive nine-month framework, structured to...

We are happy to report several changes made to our submission form. In order to streamline the submission process for large batches of items, the following fields will now be auto populated from the last form submission: Method of Sending Item Phone Return to Library Building Delivery Code Mailing...

Season two, episode two of Can't Shelve This is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. In "The One Where They Get Connected," Janette and Leah are joined by Cyndi Robinson (Executive Director of the Illinois Library Association) and K.C. Boyd (District of Columbia Public...

RAILS’ new leadership development program announces members of the inaugural RAILS Catalyst cohort. Due to strong interest, we increased the number of available spots from 40 to 48. All applicants demonstrated a passion for advancing their careers and building leadership skills. Final selections for...