An Enchanted Engagement Tool: Library Fairy Doors

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.

Huntley Area Public Library District - Printable Media

Social media posts developed by Huntley Area Public Library District using Canva

#FundLibraries Challenge Update!

Thank you to all of the libraries that have already participated in the #FundLibraries Challenge! We've seen some incredible creations from libraries who want everyone to know how they make a difference in their community. Who knew you could make such wonderful things out of books?

It really demonstrates the energy and passion our libraries have for the work they do for their patrons. Below, we've linked you to the social media posts from our participating libraries:

Upcoming My Library Is... Online Roundtables

Are you interested in graphic design for your library? Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newbie to the topic, there are two events coming up that can help you unlock new possibilities! Both of these events are open to any library staff from any Illinois library.

My Library Is Online Roundtable: Canva for Libraries
Tuesday, July 20
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Presenter: Samantha Rusk, Business Manager, Vespasian Warner Public Library District

Are You Ready for the #FundLibraries Challenge?

RAILS is inviting all Illinois libraries to participate in a new social media challenge. Show your support for libraries and library advocacy by building something inspiring and posting it on social media. By acting collectively, we can bring more attention to the need for proper library funding in Illinois and beyond! Here’s how to participate:

1. Build something using books!

What Does It Mean to Be a Library Marketer?

If you hear the term “marketing,” does your mind jump to Madison Avenue types like Don Draper? Or do you start thinking about what’s on your grocery list? Maybe something in between? Here in Libraryland, the species known as "Ipsum bibliothecarii" (marketing librarian) has only recently evolved. We still don’t know a lot about them, and just when we think we have them figured out, they surprise us.

Creating Cohesiveness in Digital Channels to Reach Spanish-Speaking Audiences

As librarians working during COVID-19, our main challenge is to understand our community’s needs when social distancing is a must. In the past three months, the Northlake Public Library District has worked through four different re-opening phases that required constant adaptation and resilience. Although access to most of our services has now been reinstated, we know our most cherished one ﹣ programming﹣ will not be the same for a long time. The way libraries have readjusted their offerings varies, but we can all agree that the internet has become our most important tool.

Takeaways from the My Library Is… Facebook Challenge

We wanted to start the year on a good foot. So we thought, why not have a little fun and do some sharing!?

Earlier in January 2020, RAILS hosted a seven-day celebration of libraries promoting themselves. We called it the My Library Is… Facebook Challenge! Each day, we posted a prompt with a different challenge. For example, we asked to hear more about the plans and tools libraries use to tell their story. Thank you to everyone who participated! Here are some things that we learned:

Tell Your Library’s Story With Social Media

Social media is a great way to promote your library. So how do you keep things engaging, but also relatable to your library?

Know your audience

Knowing your core audience, or who you want to promote certain things to, is the first step. What do you want the post to convey?

Know the strengths of your platforms

At Lewis, we use the three main social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We like to play to their strengths: