(via RAILS) Registration is open for the RAILS webinar “Paid Leave for All Workers Act”. It will take place on Thursday, October 5, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM CDT. The Paid Leave for All Workers Act will take effect on January 1, 2024. This law will require most Illinois employers to offer up to 40 hours…
Category: Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
Registration Open for Library UX Chicago Workshop on Ethnographic Research Methods in Libraries–Tues., Oct. 3, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CDT at DePaul University
Library UX Chicago is pleased to host Drs. Donna Lanclos and Andrew Asher for an in-person workshop on ethnographic research methods in libraries held at DePaul University’s John T. Richardson Library on the Lincoln Park campus. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 3, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CDT, and is open to all…
Call for Volunteers: RAILS Committees (RAILS Membership Required)–Deadline Fri., July 14
(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University) The RAILS Board is looking for volunteers from our member libraries who are interested in using their experience and expertise to help shape system services and have an impact on all Illinois residents. We are looking for volunteers from all sizes and types of libraries (academic, public, school, and…
Call for Participation: Service Inequities Survey for Staff Members at RAILS Institutions–Deadline Sun., May 14
(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University) RAILS needs your input! As outlined in the 2022-25 RAILS Strategic Plan, one of our objectives is to better understand our members’ perceptions of service inequity. To do that, we’re asking all staff at RAILS member libraries to participate in an online survey to share their knowledge and understanding of RAILS…
Registration Open for RAILS Member Meetup at NIU’s Founders Memorial Library (Thurs., May 11, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CDT)–Limited to 25 Participants
(via Dan Bostrom, RAILS) Join your colleagues from around the library system for a RAILS Member Meetup at the Founders Memorial Library at Northern Illinois University (NIU) on Thursday, May 11, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM CDT. This event will include a tour and an opportunity to connect/network with colleagues. Coffee and light refreshments will…
Call for Nominations: RAILS Board Terms for 2023-2025 and 2023-2026–Deadline Wed., April 12, at 5:00 PM CDT
(via Dan Bostrom, RAILS) Would you like to work with a dedicated team of colleagues representing all types and sizes of libraries to help shape the future of a member-driven, vibrant, and innovative library system? RAILS invites nominations to fill the following positions on our board: The term for the special library seat begins on…
Registration Open for Special RAILS Member Update Online Tues., Feb. 28 (3:00-4:00 PM CDT)
(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University) RAILS will hold a special member update next Tuesday, February 28, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM, via Zoom, to give members an opportunity to get to know our new Executive Director, Monica Harris. Monica will talk about some of her plans and goals for RAILS moving forward, and there…
Reminder: Applications for RAILS CE Event Grants Due Fri., Feb. 10
(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University) RAILS again invites networking groups, consortia, and libraries to apply for a RAILS Continuing Education Event Grant. This grant supports CE events for RAILS member libraries towards the development of library staff and trustees. To qualify, CE events must be made available to all RAILS member libraries. RAILS will prioritize events focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility…
Call for Submissions: Library Stories for RAILS to Share with Elected Officials
(via Gwen Gregory, Northern Illinois University) RAILS is looking for stories that demonstrate the value of all types and sizes of libraries that we can share with elected officials and other stakeholders to help demonstrate the need for continued/additional library funding. Contribute your stories by logging into the blog page of the My Library Is… website…
Registration Open for RAILS Library Chats on Book Selection and Materials Accessibility (Tues., Dec. 6, 10:00-11:00 AM CDT; and Wed., Dec. 14, 4:00-5:00 PM CDT)
(via Dan Bostrom, RAILS) RAILS is hosting two online discussion sessions to address the current environment regarding book selection and making materials broadly accessible for academic, public, school, and specialized libraries. Tasha Squires, School Librarian at O’Neill Middle School in Downers Grove, will lead the sessions. Tuesday, December 6, 10:00-11:00 AM CDT (register here; requires…