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Direct from Dee

Resource sharing enhancements in FY 2015 by Dee Brennan
State of the System Report - by Dee Brennan

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The value of consortial membership by Dee Brennan

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Special Notice

Congratulations to Joanne Zienty on being named the "Soon to be Famous Author." Zienty, of Wheaton, is the library media specialist at the Forest School Library in Des Plaines. She was awarded the honor for her book The Things We Save. The award was presented at RAILS by author David Vinjamuri. Pictured (l to r): David Vinjamuri, Executive Director Dee Brennan, and Joanne Zienty.

Member Spotlight

Abe Lincoln visited the Oak Park Public Library recently & helped the library gather signatures for the Declaration for the Right to Libraries campaign.

Abe is played by actor Max Daniels. Pictured with Abe: Digital Librarians Gretchen Rings (left) and Tara Wood (right). Photo courtesy of Oak Park Public Library.

Staff Spotlight

Associate Executive Director Jane Plass talks about the RAILS Community forums with Christie Chandler-Stahl from the Gail Borden Public Library District at the recent PLA conference.

Did You Know?

RAILS has an online form that members can use to post library closings due to weather, in-service days, power outages, etc. For more information, see: http://www.railslibraries.info/news/20140117/new-rails-online-form-library-closings.

Member Spotlight

Jim Deiters, Director of the Oak Lawn Public Library, stops by the RAILS booth at the PLA Conference and chats with RAILS' Brian Smith.

Member Spotlight

The Wauconda Area Library celebrates 75 years. More information is available in the library's latest newsletter.

Photo courtesy of Wauconda Area Library. The van was purchased with funds from the library's Friends group.

Member Spotlight

The Vernon Area Public Library District (Lincolnshire) has a new look after renovations in 2012 and 2013.

Photo courtesy of Vernon Area Public Library District.

Member Spotlight

The Somonauk Public Library District's new library will celebrate five years this fall. Clocks showing different time zones decorate the computer wall in the library's children's department.

Photo courtesy of Somonauk Public Library District.

Member Spotlight

Children are engaged and entertained in the youth department at Highland Park Public Library. The area features computers with Internet access for children, an interactive early literacy center, and plenty of space for reading.

Photo courtesy of Highland Park Public Library

Staff Spotlight

Anne Slaughter, RAILS Director of Technology Services, co-presents on "Better Websites Make Happier People: Web Management Essentials Beyond Visual Design," at the PLA 2014 conference. Co-presenters were Richard Kong and Brodie Austin from Skokie Public Library.

Member Spotlight

Westmont Public Library has new early literacy computers in the youth services department. The computers are loaded with fun games and activities for kids!

Photo courtesy of Westmont Public Library.

Member Spotlight

The Schaumburg Township District Library received a $2,000 science grant for the library's kidsZone. Read all about it in RAILS Library News.

Pictured: John Zulaski, Science Kits for Public Libraries project director, presents a grant check to Schaumburg Township District Library Executive Director Stephanie Sarnoff and Youth Services Director Melissa Jones.