About the Nonprofit
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Mission Statement: We Connect Libraries
Who We Are: RAILS is a regional library system, a government agency that provides services to libraries in the northern and west-central areas of the state of Illinois.
We serve approximately 1250 private, public, school, and university library members, which have a total of more than 4000 library facilities in a 27,000 square mile area.
Although the city of Chicago is within our boundaries, and a number of our member libraries are located in Chicago, the Chicago Public Library constitutes a separate library system. Members have several opportunities to network with each other through email lists, networking groups, member updates, and at networking events.
We are governed by a Board of Directors, elected by member libraries.
Library systems are established by state law (75 ILCS 10/, the Illinois Library System Act). Funding for Illinois Library Systems is provided through the Illinois State Library and the Secretary of State, with funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly.
RAILS was formed in 2011, from a merger of the Alliance, DuPage, Metropolitan, North Suburban, and Prairie Area library systems.
Explore More Illinois (A service or RAILS): Explore More Illinois allows cardholders from participating RAILS and IHLS public libraries to reserve free and discounted admission, parking, and gift store purchases from cultural and recreational attractions in Illinois, including museums, cultural centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, historical societies, park districts, and more.