school libraries

Getting to know the library

Pandemic-related delays are being felt throughout schools, but Heyworth’s Junior-Senior High School library was hit hard. Between closures, no in-person group visits, falling literacy levels, and a budget cut, the library was seeing a drastic loss of circulation as students struggled not only to get access to library materials, but to find materials that met their new needs.

My Library is…the heart of our school: a space for all students, staff and community members and filled with something for EVERYONE….readers, scientists, engineers, friends and so much more!

The application period for the My Library Is... Grants for School Libraries is open and runs through Thursday, March 2. In 2022, RAILS awarded $78,232.80 in My Library Is... Grants to 20 school libraries. These grants help recipients focus on projects that tell the library story and increase visibility and support for school libraries. For more information, please visit the My Library Is... Grant for School Libraries website.

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.

I recently met with my state senator to talk about support for libraries. It was an interesting conversation and at the very least, I hope I made her think differently about what is happening in libraries. My own journey to this meeting was a bit odd, but I wanted to share it with you in case you might want to go on your own advocacy journey.

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.

RAILS Member Engagement Manager Dan Bostrom talks with Andrea Perrin, Janine Asmus, Gail Meyer, & Robyn Whitlock about their letter published in the Chicago Tribune. These four Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) members discuss why school libraries are so important and what librarians can do to advocate for the profession.

The Kankakee School District and Kankakee Public Library love to collaborate with each other when the opportunity arises. The My Library Is…Grant gave us the opportunity to work together to support KSD students’ creativity. Kankakee School District has held a district-wide Young Authors contest for many years, but we recently started promoting it through the libraries. Each KSD school library promoted the contest during school hours and KPL provided support and promotion outside of school hours.