RAILS provides delivery service to support Illinois'​ vast interlibrary loan program and technology support for more than 600 libraries'​ shared online catalogs. Our services include continuing education and consulting resources to library employees and trustees, as well as e-book services, group purchases, and vendor discounts.

We serve approximately 1300 private, public, school, and university library members, which have a total of more than 4200 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.

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Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) is a government agency that provides delivery, shared catalogs, resource sharing, CE, and communication services to all types of libraries in northern and west-central Illinois.

Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)

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