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An image of a library display of various students names written in Arabic.

My Library Is . . . Keeping It Real by Exploring Nonfiction Comics through the Lens of Diverse Women Creators

13 May 2024

Jessica Silva

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Thanks to the generosity of the RAILS My Library Is . . . Grant, students at Oak Lawn Community High School have an opportunity to learn about the unique experiences and perspectives of women content creators from diverse backgrounds while also appreciating the significance of non-fiction comics as a form of storytelling and expression.

We have much to be thankful for . . .

Our wildly popular graphic novel section got a much-needed rejuvenation. We obtained multiple copies of 15+ nonfiction titles, often used for literature circles in English classes, to add to our...

My Library Is...Reading Widely

6 May 2024

Jessica Silva

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We were lucky enough to be a recipient the 2023 My Library Is… Grant for School Libraries. This money was used to create a staff book club that focused on building empathy for and understanding of diverse communities. The books chosen included fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels. Their purpose was to communicate stories and experiences of individuals who are Latinx, African American, Asian, Indian, and more. These books will become windows, mirrors, or sliding glass doors for the participants, enabling them to reflect, discuss, and connect with others in a deep and...

An image of mental health books available for students.

My Library Is...Supporting Mental Health

29 April 2024

Jessica Silva

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Like many educators, the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on my mental health. By February of 2021, I had a decision to make: remain in education or leave. I was dismayed with the state of public education and seriously considered leaving it all behind. But it wasn’t just educators. Students were suffering too. And I love my students. I knew that I could still be effective, if only I could get to the heart of the challenges we were facing and change what I could. As a result, I actively began seeking ways to build library programming and resources that would change what I could see was a...

My Library Is… Extending STEM Learning Outside of the Library!

8 April 2024

Stacy Palmisano

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Imagine giving your students the power to dive into the world of STEM wherever they go. Well, thanks to the RAILS “My Library Is…” grant money, our school library has launched the coolest initiative we've ever done - Maker Backpacks! Maker Backpacks are STEM kits that students can check out and utilize at home. The Maker Backpacks were carefully curated to spark students’ imagination and ignite their passion for STEM. From robotics to 3D pens, engineering activities to problem-solving challenges, and even simple circuitry – these backpacks have got it all covered. It's like giving our...

My Library Is...Giving Away Books

27 November 2023

Nichole Novak

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Like many libraries, the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology receives more donated books than can possibly be added to the collection. Many of the donated titles are fiction and while we do have a leisure reading collection, only a small fraction of the books are of interest to the library. As a matter of policy books that are not selected for the library’s collections are sold to dealers, offered to other libraries, or donated to charities. Even with those options available, the backlog of donated materials continued to grow

After the library received...

parent and toddler in front of LiteZilla

My Library is... LiteZilla Lights Up Lisle Library District

16 October 2023

Stacy Palmisano

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In 2022, while undergoing a major two-phase renovation, the Lisle Library District (LLD) fundraised for a special feature in the Youth Services department: a LiteZilla. The wall installation is akin to a giant Lite Brite with larger pegs that are safe for all ages.

The library led the fundraising campaign with LLD Board support. The Library-wide collaboration was so successful that a 6’x5’ LiteZilla was installed, along with a tabletop LiteZilla mini. However, the true success is seeing the new feature being used.

The glowing, interactive, digital canvas is an opportunity for...

My Library is…Designed for Its Users

9 October 2023

Anonymous

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During the 2022-23 school year, library staff were informed that both of the D219 high school libraries (Niles North and Niles West) would be undergoing significant overhauls. We knew that remodels were on the horizon as we hadn’t been updated in a very long time, but the timeline was earlier than anticipated. Tasked with this exciting prospect, we set out to transform our spaces into homes that would meet the current and future needs of the patrons we serve. Our school librarians were asked to develop a vision and be involved in guiding the design process and this is how the process went...

My Library Is…A Place We Can See Ourselves, Each Other, and the World

17 August 2023

Stacy Palmisano

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Realizing that the biography collection had some big gaps in representation while working with students was an inspiration for this RAILS grant. I wanted students to be able to see themselves in the collection of life stories and also be able to see outside their daily lives in Libertyville. This section of the collection is heavily used for independent reading book projects, particularly by sixth and seventh graders. Using Rudine Sims Bishop’s work “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” (1990) as a thought guide, I set out to create a more inclusive collection of biographies,...

My Library is...GLaMorous

7 August 2023

Nichole Novak

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In 2022 Illinois Institute of Technology established the Galvin Library Media Studio (GLaMS) with funds received from the On the Road to Recovery: Transforming Library Spaces grant offered through the Illinois State Library. The new studio provides the space and tools necessary for patrons to explore their creativity and curiosity when creating podcasts, videos or music for academic purposes or just for fun.

An office located on the upper level of the library was converted into the media studio and equipped with basic tools for video production, sound recording and editing and...

Youth Art Wall Presented by Old National Bank

My Library Is...Showcasing Local Artwork

10 July 2023

Mallory Hewlett

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Joliet Public Library Unveils Youth Art Gallery Presented by Old National Bank

Joliet Public Library is pleased to announce the unveiling of the new Youth Art Gallery, presented by Old National Bank. The gallery space on the second floor of the Ottawa Street Branch will feature artwork from Joliet’s young artists from local area schools.

“One of our core values as an organization is to act as a child’s first pathway to discovering a larger world,” said Executive Director of the Joliet Public Library, Megan Millen. “We are excited about new partnerships...

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