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My Library Is... Blog

If you have an idea for a My Library Is... blog post, send it to the RAILS Communications Team at communications@railslibraries.info.

A small wooden door decorated with miniature trees, shells, and a birdbath. To the right, the soil in a planted pot is decorated with minature beach chairs and a sandcastle.

An Enchanted Engagement Tool: Library Fairy Doors

Posted on July 11, 2022

Libraries are magical places. In fact, the Vespasian Warner Public Library District in Clinton, Illinois is truly enchanted. In 2018, former maintenance supervisor, David Ward, noticed that a fairy door had appeared on the children’s floor. Two more doors were discovered shortly after on the library’s main floor and in the periodicals room.

photo of man at a desk with computer

An Interview with Ron Barshinger, Access Services Manager at the Founders Memorial Library, Northern Illinois University

Posted on June 27, 2022

The Founders’ Memorial Library at Northern Illinois University has been exceedingly fortunate to employ a highly competent and skilled support staff dedicated to serving its students and faculty. They play a major role in everyone’s success by supporting their studies, teaching, and research with their tireless work.

National University of Health Sciences Juneteenth Display.

My Library Is… Celebrating Juneteenth

Posted on June 17, 2022

2022 marks the first year that Juneteenth will be recognized as a federal holiday.

As an academic health science library, I wondered how we could provide an appropriate context for our diverse university community.

My Library Is.. Conversation with Kimberly Shotick.

My Library Is... Conversation with Kimberly Shotick

Posted on June 15, 2022

My Library Is... Advisory Team member Gwen Gregory interviews her colleague Kimberly Shotick about a new book that she co-authored, Practical Marketing for the Academic Library.

Band members with instrument standing in front of a table

My Library Is… A Community Hub to help each other while advocating for great causes

Posted on June 13, 2022

A story of how our library went from a list of resources and literature on our website, to host a 2-week humanitarian drive, a cultural program with 140 attendees, a display, and more. All for Ukraine. 

Books on a table.

My Library Is… Finding Hidden Gems for your Collection

Posted on June 2, 2022

Collection development is a craft, a skill that requires expertise, hard work, and insight about your collections and community. We seek out data about our community through information collected through the census, local government, schools, and community organizations.

Woman holding a sign that reads "We All Belong"

Traveling Exhibit for Local Libraries

Posted on May 23, 2022

Voices of Belonging is an interactive exhibit, created as a collaboration between several entities at Northern Illinois University: Northern Public Radio, the Divisions of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development and Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as various campus and community partners.

General Advocacy Brochure created by Vespasian Warner Public Library District

Libraries As Canva Power Users: Good Marketing Done In-House

Posted on May 13, 2022

The My Library Is… campaign is all about helping libraries do marketing and advocacy in new ways. And libraries aren't shy about discovering these new ways! Libraries are curious, creative places. Even though they might not have huge budgets to hire expensive graphic designers, videographers, etc., they constantly find a way to promote themselves and the programs and services they offer.

Hao Phan.

Interview with Hao Phan, Curator of the Southeast Asia Collection at Northern Illinois University Library

Posted on May 9, 2022

Northern Illinois University is a Carnegie 2 research institution tucked away in DeKalb. It has the distinction of being home to Illinois' only Center for Southeast Asia Studies.  The Founders Memorial Library holds a distinctive collection of materials to support the work of the Center.

Grover the Therapy Dog

My Library Is... Finals Week Activities in the Library: Helping Our Students De-Stress

Posted on May 2, 2022

Study Week and Finals Week can be a hectic time for everyone on college and university campuses. At Illinois Institute of Technology’s Paul V. Galvin Library we remain open 24 hours a day for 12 days straight during this period.