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Making a Makerspace: A Library-Win Fable

26 December 2022

Donna Forbis

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Once upon a time, there was a library nestled amid farm fields in Central Illinois. Now, this library was not big, but its patrons loved the library, and the library loved all the people that came to visit. The kind people who ran the library wanted to do everything they could to provide materials and services to their patrons that could not be found elsewhere.

One day, the library staff heard about makerspaces, places where patrons could come to be creative, making crafts, using tools they might not have at home, or gathering with other like-minded creative people. The library...

Teaching Essential Digital Literacy

19 December 2022

Susan Wolf

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In May of 2022, a patron came up to the Reference Desk at the Northbrook Public Library asking for help with her new cell phone. She said that she had previously used a flip phone, but was told by her phone provider that they no longer supported it and that she needed to get a smartphone. She said that she didn't know how to use a smartphone, even to make or receive a call and she was concerned she was going to miss an important call from her doctor. Even though we don't usually schedule same-day 1:1 technology instruction appointments, we made an exception so that she would not be without...

Library Exhibit in the Southeast Asia Collection

19 December 2022

Stacy Palmisano

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Northern Illinois University Libraries are home to a vital, growing Southeast Asia (SEA) Collection, probably the largest in Illinois. The university is home to a Center for Southeast Asian Studies (https://www.niu.edu/clas/cseas/index.shtml) and several Southeast Asian languages are taught on campus, including Thai, Burmese, and Indonesian. The library is a vital part of Southeast Asian studies on campus, with a collection of hundreds of thousands of items. Some of these fascinating items are displayed in periodic...

Meet Aseel! A Chicago Ridge Public Library Patron Story

16 December 2022

Stacy Palmisano

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"In Chicago Ridge, everyone is here for one another and is always ready to help whenever they see someone in need." Aseel Alhamidi

Aseel Alhamidi graduated high school in 2021 through the library partnership with Smart Horizon’s Career Online High School Program. Eleven Chicago Ridge residents have graduated from COHS since the library began offering it in 2016. If you are interested in completing your high school education and you live in Chicago Ridge, reach out to us to learn more about this unique online program.

Aseel has lived in Chicago Ridge for over 12 years. She was...

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Meet Stan! A Chicago Ridge Public Library Patron Story

15 December 2022

Stacy Palmisano

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Stan Pawlowski is a long-time Chicago Ridge resident, avid library user, and a member of our Board of Trustees. We asked Stan to share his library story.

“I began utilizing the library about four years ago on a consistent basis. I had just lost my job and was eager to get another position as soon as possible, so I began going up to the library to use the computers. After some time, I became quite acquainted with the staff in Adult Services. I asked them to look over my resume to see how I could tweak it.

Since I wasn't working, the staff also encouraged me to attend the book...

My Library is...Collaborative

12 December 2022

Nichole Novak

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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. The extra pressure associated with wrapping up a semester makes it a particularly high-stress time for many students: assignments and papers need to be completed, finals studied for and preparations made for heading home. Or, for some, it means facing the reality that they cannot travel home due to lack of time or funds.

Supporting our students during this critical time is a collective effort at...

Helping Start a New Business

8 December 2022

Nicole Zimmermann

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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, and demonstrated a couple of databases that would help her in her quest.

Today Abalabix Books is a thriving independent bookstore owned and operated by my patron and...

How a Lightning Strike Unveiled a Fox at the Dundee Library

5 December 2022

Stacy Palmisano

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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. We were disappointed, but we do our best to turn negatives into positives here at FRVPLD, so we decided to explore the idea of transforming the tree into a sculpture that would add some character and prominence to our front yard.

The tree was planted around 1976, soon after the Dundee Library was built...

MY LIBRARY IS… Providing Accessible ESL & Literacy Services to Everyone

28 November 2022

Stacy Palmisano

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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.

What it may surprise you to know, is that what started with 4 weekly Culture & Conversation sessions for cardholders only, and a once-a-month open to everyone, Tea & Talk program, today has grown into daily (Monday through Saturday),...

Coming Soon: My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries

28 November 2022

Dan Bostrom

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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.

It's time to start preparing your applications for the 2023 grant awards! On Thursday, December 15, 2022, RAILS will launch the application for these awards. For more information, please visit the My Library Is... Grant for School Libraries website.

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