RAILS Libraries Fill Vital Community Needs During the Pandemic

Libraries around the country have been in the news for distributing at-home COVID-19 tests, but we haven’t heard of too many libraries actually offering COVID-19 testing, until now! Some RAILS libraries have started offering this service, including Three Rivers Public Library District. The director, Lauren Offerman, came up with the idea after she was having difficulty finding a place to get tested. The library partnered with a local testing lab and, at their first event, was able to test over 100 people in less than 48 hours.

The My Library Is… Survey Results Are In!

Thanks to all who filled out the recent My Library Is... survey!

In November 2021, RAILS conducted four separate surveys targeted at our four library types (academic, public, school, and specialized) to measure awareness of the My Library Is... campaign and to determine what changes to the website/campaign could help libraries more effectively demonstrate their value to different stakeholders, justify the need for continued or increased library funding, and more.

Small Towns. Big Conversations.

The Exhibitions

The Vespasian Warner Public Library District in Clinton has been looking forward to this month (January of 2022) for almost two years. The library was selected by Illinois Humanities to be one of six host sites for Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, a travelling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibition is on display now through February 5, 2022 and admission is free and open to the public.

Pandemic Programming - Baby Goats, Churros, and Pumpkins

Pandemic Programming – Baby Goats, Churros, and Pumpkins

Connect with a Community Conversation

Are you looking for a new way to gather input and spark ideas in your community? Try a community conversation.

The Vespasian Warner Public Library District in Clinton held a community conversation in August thanks to grant funding from Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL).

Help Us Help You Get More Support for Your Library

Do you need help demonstrating the value of your library to different stakeholders? Want to know what to say to justify the need for continued/increased library funding or staffing? Would you like to attract new library users? Want advice on how to promote the library’s role in identifying fake news or why libraries are needed more than ever in the internet age?

Borrow, Grow, Return: Blossom with a Seed Library

The fall season may seem like an odd time to think about gardening, but it is the perfect time of year to start a Seed Library.

Advance Planning and Flexibility Makes Outreach a Success

Back in June, it was with cautious optimism that I emailed our staff to say “we’re getting the band back together!” It was time to dust off the prize wheel, order tchotchkes, air out the tent, and get back out into the community for some personal interaction with residents. We received a number of invitations to fests and gatherings, and I said yes to as many as I thought we could handle. We had great fun, meaningful conversations, and new experiences. Here are some bullet points to consider as your outreach schedule comes back to life:

DC Public Library - Video

Library Reimagined: A Tour In Dance. In celebration of the newly-modernized Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, DC native Alexandra Hutchinson and her ballet partner Derek Brockington, both of the esteemed Dance Theatre of Harlem, choreographed a story of what a magical place a library can be.

All the Crafts!

…watercolor bookmark, clay pot gnome, beeswax wrap, cactus rock, painted tea towel, clay pot leprechaun hat, framed burlap chick, sock bunny, decoupage trinket tray, bird mason jar, braided bracelet, swirly paper flowers, lip balm tin, tiny herb pot, tulip string art…

My Library Is ...

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