RAILS has received a grant of $125,000 for e-books through the Illinois Office of the Secretary of State. In early August, we were notified by the Illinois State Library that a portion of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) grant funds for Illinois libraries would go directly to library systems for the purchase of e-books.
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RAILS is reducing the quarantine requirement for materials moving through delivery to 24 hours effective Wednesday, February 24. The latest research shows that COVID-19 mainly spreads through respiratory droplets in the air. While some studies have shown that the virus stays alive on surfaces, they have not proved that people can catch the virus from touching those surfaces. See the Latest News/RAILS & RAILS Libraries section of the RAILS COVID-19 Pulse Page for more information on these studies.
All RAILS members must complete certification to continue to receive RAILS services and Illinois State Library (ISL) grants. The 2021 annual library online certification process runs from February 15 to May 15.
Certification will be done through L2, and libraries will no longer need a separate login to certify. You will need to complete the FY 2020 ILLINET ILL Statistical Survey before starting the certification form.
In this episode: looking back at 2020, how libraries have been resilient through the pandemic, and the important role libraries will play in 2021.
In this episode: RAILS reduces the required quarantine for delivery items to three days, the RAILS EDI initiative progresses, and serving the unserved!
With Find More Illinois (FMI), libraries in shared catalog consortia can instantly expand resource discovery and streamline interlibrary loan for patrons and staff. While consortium member libraries already enjoy the benefits of a shared catalog, Find More Illinois is the next step to deliver outstanding resource sharing services.
Benefits for participating libraries include:
In this episode: new L2 rollout, developments in the RAILS EDI initiative, and a partnership to celebrate women's suffrage.
On this 100th Anniversary of the official certification of the ratification of the 19th amendment - August 26 - please celebrate, investigate, and engage with this historic anniversary. Join Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, four Illinois libraries and the RAILS library system in a virtual suite of exhibits and programs.
