My Library Is... Collaborative
Posted on December 12, 2022
It’s not unusual for college students to struggle with college life during the course of an academic year, but the stress experienced at the end of the semester is in a category of its own.
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.
Helping Start a New Business
Posted on December 8, 2022
Business Librarian at the Crystal Lake Public Library here. I had a patron come in for a one-on-one reference appointment shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown went into effect. She and her partner were looking to open a bookstore and needed help gathering information. I showed her our collection of business books, worked with her to find resources on writing a business plan, a
How a Lightning Strike Unveiled a Fox at the Dundee Library
Posted on December 5, 2022
In July, one of the large cottonwood trees that had stood proudly in front of the Dundee Library was struck by lightning during a summer storm. While it was not completely split, it was significantly weakened. Because the tree is so close to the building, we knew it had to come down.
My Library Is… Providing Accessible ESL & Literacy Services to Everyone
Posted on November 28, 2022
As we continue to welcome new residents and English as a Second Language Learners from all over the world, it is no surprise that 25% of Arlington Heights residents speak English as a second language and that the Arlington Heights Memorial Library has for over 30 years offered free ESL & Literacy services to our community members.
Coming Soon: My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries
Posted on November 28, 2022
In 2022, RAILS awarded $78,232.80 in My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries to 20 school libraries. These grants help recipients focus on projects that tell the library story and increase visibility and support for school libraries.
Blind Date with a Book: Love at First Bite
Posted on November 21, 2022
This past February, Booth Library on the campus of Eastern Illinois University held its first Blind Date with a Book. It was so popular that we decided to bring it back this fall and put a spooky twist on it. Blind Date with a Book: Love at First Bite ran throughout October.
Talking About Find More Illinois
Posted on November 7, 2022
Are you familiar with Find More Illinois (FMI)? It’s an interlibrary loan platform that provides access to a growing number of library holdings in one seamless interface. To help you learn more about it, RAILS put together some resources to help you make the case for this amazing resources.
Veterans History Project
Posted on October 24, 2022
Indian Prairie Public Library has participated in the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress since 2003. The project, which was authorized by Congress in 2000, collects first-hand accounts of veterans via oral histories. IPPL has interviewed over 120 veterans and counting.
My Library Is... A Place for Fresh Produce
Posted on October 10, 2022
Cool, autumn weather and… gardens? It may not seem like the two go hand-in-hand, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about library programming and services for next year. One great way to get started is with a Garden Table.
Bringing it all together in one place: How the Black Metropolis Research Consortium (BMRC) built a new searchable website.
Posted on September 19, 2022
The BMRC is a Chicago-based consortium that includes public and private libraries, academic archives and special collections, community archives, art centers, and more. Our mission is to connect all who are interested in learning more about Black history and culture to resources and collections in our member institutions.