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My Library Is... Blog

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Meet Stan! A Chicago Ridge Public Library Patron Story

Posted on December 15, 2022

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.

Puzzle table in Galvin Library

My Library Is... Collaborative

Posted on December 12, 2022

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.

street view photo of Abalabix Books

Helping Start a New Business

Posted on December 8, 2022

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, a

Library employees with fox statue outside library.

How a Lightning Strike Unveiled a Fox at the Dundee Library

Posted on December 5, 2022

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.

ESL services room.

My Library Is… Providing Accessible ESL & Literacy Services to Everyone

Posted on November 28, 2022

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. 

We have grants!

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

Posted on November 28, 2022

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.

Book display table

Blind Date with a Book: Love at First Bite

Posted on November 21, 2022

This past February, Booth Library on the campus of Eastern Illinois University held its first Blind Date with a Book. It was so popular that we decided to bring it back this fall and put a spooky twist on it. Blind Date with a Book: Love at First Bite ran throughout October.

Find More Illinois.

Talking About Find More Illinois

Posted on November 7, 2022

Are you familiar with Find More Illinois (FMI)? It’s an interlibrary loan platform that provides access to a growing number of library holdings in one seamless interface. To help you learn more about it, RAILS put together some resources to help you make the case for this amazing resources.

Man sitting and talking to a woman

Veterans History Project

Posted on October 24, 2022

Indian Prairie Public Library has participated in the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress since 2003. The project, which was authorized by Congress in 2000, collects first-hand accounts of veterans via oral histories. IPPL has interviewed over 120 veterans and counting.

A variety of zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, and a small vase of orange flowers sits on a yellow tablecloth with Garden Table instructions.

My Library Is... A Place for Fresh Produce

Posted on October 10, 2022

Cool, autumn weather and… gardens? It may not seem like the two go hand-in-hand, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about library programming and services for next year. One great way to get started is with a Garden Table.