Reaching Across Illinois Library System

Reaching Across Illinois Library System
Established 2011
Location Burr Ridge, Illinois
Access and use
Population served Northern Illinois
Other information
Director Deirdre Brennan [1]
Website www.railslibraries.info

The Reaching Across Illinois Library System is a regional library system consisting of 1,300 public, academic, special, and school library members, representing more than 3,500 library facilities in Northern Illinois.[2] The regional library system was created in 2011 when the Alliance Library System, DuPage Library System, Metropolitan Library System, North Suburban Library System, and Prairie Area Library System merged.[3]

In Illinois, regional library systems were established by state law.[4] Member libraries must certify that they meet membership requirements annually.[5] The systems are funded by annual system area and per capita grants from the Illinois State Library.[6]

Activities

The library system through the eRead Illinois program has been actively working with Baker & Taylor to make e-books accessible to its members.[7][8]

The library system has worked with the Illinois Library Association and received support from the American Library Association Digital Content Working Group, the Public Library Association (PLA), and the Illinois Heartland Library System on the annual Soon to be Famous Illinois Author project, which recognizes a self-published author of adult fiction.[9] This initiative received the John Cotton Dana Public Relations Award from the American Library Association in 2015.[10][11]

Other services the library system provides include shared catalogs, continuing education opportunities, consulting, group purchases, and delivery of interlibrary loan materials.[12]

The library system maintains a YouTube channel.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "About RAILS". railslibraries.info.
  2. ↑ "Members". railslibraries.info.
  3. ↑ "Merger 2011". systemsmerger.info.
  4. ↑ "75 ILCS 10/ Illinois Library System Act.".
  5. ↑ https://www.railslibraries.info/sites/default/files/attach/28152/certification_faq_update_jan_2015.pdf
  6. ↑ "Illinois Library Systems".
  7. ↑ Baker & Taylor, Inc. (24 July 2014). "Baker & Taylor Adds Site Scoping Functionality to Axis 360 Digital Service". prnewswire.com.
  8. ↑ "Jesse White promotes eRead Illinois Program". Bureau County Republican.
  9. ↑ Christine Cigler. "Self-published authors can enter Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author contest". Daily Herald.
  10. ↑ John Cotton Dana Ceremony 2015. YouTube. 30 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Announcing the 2015 winners of the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Awards". ala.org.
  12. ↑ "RAILS Services to Member Libraries". railslibraries.info.
  13. ↑ Reaching Across Illinois Library System. YouTube.
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