Perspectives from the Field: Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)

Monica Harris is the Associate Executive Director of RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System), which serves approximately 1,300 academic, public, school, and special library agencies in northern and west-central Illinois. We caught up with Monica to ask her about her experience during the pandemic.
How has the pandemic affected the way you see the future of library systems?
The pandemic has really changed the way libraries are conducting their work. Everything from how they are addressing remote work, developing engaging virtual programming, changes in purchasing habits, and the pressing needs to address community inequality are all very pressing...
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Free December Webinars for Library Staff

The holiday season is the perfect time to give yourself the gift of learning. Take time to reflect on the year and explore areas in your work for improvement or innovation. There are numerous facets to explore within this month's list of free webinar opportunities, and we wish you the best as you continue on your journey as a lifelong learner. Explore this month's list of over 60 webinars and five online conferences, covering 19 topic areas. Thank you to the Wyoming State Library for collecting this list of learning opportunities! It's updated monthly on the Free Training page, where... Read more
Eviction Resources for Libraries

Housing insecurity is widespread, in part due to unemployment and related financial issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The civil legal process of eviction is complex and can be confusing to renters and landlords alike. People experiencing eviction may have difficulty finding safe and decent housing options; become separated from families, jobs, and schools; and face poor health outcomes. Eviction can have far-reaching and long-lasting effects.
Libraries are well positioned to provide access to legal information that is particularly helpful during the early phases of the eviction process. By leveraging their reference skills and partnering with law libraries...
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Build on Strengths When Responding to a Crisis

As the REALM project (REopening Archives, Libraries, and Museums) continues to gather and adapt science-based information to inform local decision making by libraries, archives, and museums, it’s been essential to listen to the real-world experiences at these institutions. These perspectives ensure that the information is relevant to the operations and services of the field. In a collection of nine interviews, leaders of libraries, museums, and member associations describe how they leveraged their institutions’ core strengths and drew upon trusted partners to navigate the crisis, helping to protect the health and well-being of staff and community members. These interviews help identify... Read more
Public Health is Part of Library Outreach

Outreach efforts in the public library increasingly center around building, sustaining, and leveraging community partnerships, including with public health partners. That fact was evident at the 2021 Association of Bookmobile & Outreach Services’ (ABOS) Virtual Conference, held October 11-15. The conference featured at least six sessions focused on outreach librarians working with public health partners.
COVID-19 Resources
REopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM), research partnership
Libraries and Museums as Vaccination Sites
Library Storytimes during COVID-19, Part 1 and Part 2
Recent Social Library Editions, highlighting how libraries are responding to COVID-19
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Upcoming Webinars
12 January 2022
Libraries and Eviction: Further Questions and Answers
WebJunction is offering another special session to provide you with the opportunity to share questions and experiences about how your library is assisting patrons facing eviction.
20 January 2022
Promote Community Engagement and Challenge Prejudice with a Human Library
Learn from a public and an academic library using the innovative and impactful Human Library® model to create meaningful community dialogue.
27 January 2022
Library Signage: Effective Crisis Communications
This session will look at recommended types of library signs and address aspects of library signage within crisis communications.