It's #ILAMemberSpotlightMonday! This week's ILA member spotlight shines on Sara Murray. Sara is the Executive Director of the Algonquin Area Public Library District and a Co-chair of the ILA Advocacy Committee. Read about Sara on the ILA website: bit.ly/ILASpotlight.... #WeAreILA

It's the last day to register for ILA Library Legislative Meetups in Metro East, Southern, Central, and Northwest Illinois! Join ILA to advocate for libraries. Hear from ILA leadership and share with attending legislators why Illinois libraries are vital to communities. Register: ow.ly/gmiW50Xo3p4.

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias recently announced millions of dollars in permanent funding for libraries serving underserved and rural communities across Illinois. Cynthia Robinson, Executive Director of the ILA, was among those present for the announcement.

It's #ILAInstitutionalMemberSpotlightMonday! This week, we're featuring the Bourbonnais Public Library District. Visit the ILA website to read about the library: bit.ly/BourbonnaisLibrarySpotlight #WeAreILA

Congratulations to the Shorewood-Troy Public Library for submitting the ILA Member Photo of the Month for October! The children's department staff took their annual Halloween photo. Staff always dress in costumes, always highlight reading, and patrons always love their creativity. #WeAreILA

We thank the ILA member libraries for their submissions to the Member Photo of the Month contest! We are recognizing two honorable mentions. Forest Park Public Library: "Spooky Stories and Poetry at Forest Home Cemetery," and the Three Rivers Public Library District: "Spooky Staff." #WeAreILA

“Librarians have knowledge. They guide you to the right books. The right worlds. They find the best places. Like soul-enhanced search engines.”—Matt Haig #WednesdayWisdom #Librarians #Libraries #ILA

It's #ILAMemberSpotlightMonday! This week's ILA member spotlight shines on Alex Towers. Alex is the Library Assistant at The Joseph Sears School and a Children's Shelver at the Glencoe Public Library. Read about Alex on the ILA website: bit.ly/ILATowersSpo.... #WeAreILA

"Information is the lifeblood of any organization, and librarians are the knowledge managers who keep the information flowing." —Brian Solis #WednesdayWisdom #Librarians #Libraries #ILA

National Friends of Libraries Week is here (October 19-25), marking 20 years of celebrating Friends of Libraries groups! These groups, big and small, advocate, fundraise, and provide vital support to their local libraries. It's the perfect time to celebrate all they do for your library! #NFOLW25

ILA and the ILA Conference Program Committee thank everyone who contributed to the success of #ILAAC25! To the speakers, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees, thank you for your invaluable support!

Great start to #ILAAC25! The opening session, awards luncheon, and more sessions. Tomorrow promises even more with the opening of the Exhibit Hall, featuring a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Thank you to attendees for using the #ILAAC25 hashtag and sharing your photos!

It's #ILAInstitutionalMemberSpotlightMonday! This week, we're featuring the Towanda District Library. Visit the ILA website to read about the library. bit.ly/TowandaDistr... #WeAreILA

It's #BannedBooksWeek! "Censorship Is So 1984" is this year's theme that reminds us that the right to read belongs to all of us, that censorship has no place in society, and that we must defend our rights. Advocate for intellectual freedom, celebrate libraries, and #StandWithTheBanned!

Registration for #ILAAC25 is now closed, and the ILA team is busy preparing for the event!

Tomorrow, October 1, is the deadline to register for #ILAAC25! Don’t miss out on engaging sessions, inspiring speakers, and fun activities. Plus, Trustee Day and a community project supporting Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, a domestic violence organization. Register: bit.ly/ILAAC25

Congratulations to Anne Craig on being inducted as an Illinois Library Luminary! Craig is the senior director of the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI) and was the director of the Illinois State Library for 11 years before her current position. bit.ly/3KtJ84C

It's #ILAMemberSpotlightMonday! This week's ILA member spotlight shines on Daniela Martinez. Daniela is the director of the Maywood Public Library District, and she is a member of the ILA Reporter Advisory Committee and the Reaching Forward North Committee. bit.ly/ILAMemberSpo.... #WeAreILA

The Fox Lake District Library submitted the winning ILA Member Photo of the Month for September, featuring a photo of their mascot, Foxy, celebrating #LibraryCardSignUpMonth by receiving his first library card. #WeAreILA

Pioneering actor, author, and activist George Takei has been named honorary chair of #BannedBooksWeek, which will take place October 5 – 11, 2025. bit.ly/47WjDTp

The Green Hills Public Library recently celebrated the arrival of its new 24-Hour Library with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"Libraries give us wings and teach us to fly on thoughts."—Emily Dickinson #WednesdayWisdom #Libraries #ILA #LibraryCardSignUpMonth

Cynthia Robinson, ILA Executive Director, is a guest on the latest episode of the Can’t Shelve This podcast. She joins the conversation to discuss finding your people, advocating for your job, and more. bit.ly/47BqHVc

"Libraries set you on a magical path to unplugged adventures."—Rick Riordan #Libraries #ILA

Submit your photos for a chance to be ILA's Member Photo of the Month for September! Share how your library is celebrating #LibraryCardSignUpMonth. The winning photo will be posted on Sept. 26. Submit by Sept. 22 to [email protected]. #WeAreILA

It's #ILAInstitutionalMemberSpotlightMonday! This week, we're featuring the Chatham Area Public Library District. Visit the ILA website to read about the library. bit.ly/ChathamAreaP... #WeAreILA

Happy Labor Day! We hope you’re taking this time to relax and recharge. The ILA office is closed today.

Register today to attend #ILAAC25! The ILA Conference Program Committee has curated an amazing lineup of sessions, speakers, networking opportunities, and activities and events. All of this and more happens Oct. 14-16 in Rosemont! The early bird discount ends Sept. 16th!

The ninth annual Directors University was held this month in Bloomington-Normal. ILA and the ILA Executive Board congratulate the Class of 2025 on their dedication to librarianship and thank everyone who contributed their expertise and time to keep this program successful. ow.ly/VTLp50WKn8J

The first message from ILA President Carolyn Ciesla is now available on the ILA website. ow.ly/Lt4950WFEMn

ILA is pleased to announce Lacey Mesarchik, Director of the Lebanon Public Library, and Amy Runkle, Director of the Winifred Knox Memorial Library-Franklin Grove Public Library, as the recipients of the 2025 ILA Small and Rural Libraries Forum (SARL) Annual Conference Grant. ow.ly/bjLE50WALoN

"If humanity were to lose its libraries, not only would it be deprived of certain treasures of art, certain spiritual riches, but, more important still, it would lose its recipes for living.” —Georges Duhamel #WednesdayWisdom #Libraries #ILA

Legislation drafted by Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias, designed to improve security at libraries and enhance safety for librarians, was recently signed into law.

ILA and @railslibraries.bsky.social are hosting the first Libraries Count: RAILS Data Conference on October 13 in Rosemont, IL. This one-day event offers workshops on data analysis, visualization, and storytelling for library workers of all levels. Learn more: bit.ly/LibrariesCount

It's #ILAMemberSpotlightMonday! This week's spotlight is on Maria Fonseca-Gonzalez. Maria is a librarian at NoveList, and a member of the 2025 ILA Conference Program Committee, the ILA Diversity Committee, and the ILA Marketing Forum. Read about Maria: bit.ly/MemberSpotli... #WeAreILA

Happy Friday! We hope everyone has a great weekend!

Support the ILA Silent Auction Fundraiser! Donate gift cards, services, or items with a literary, library, or the #ILAAC25 theme "#YouBelongHere." Proceeds fund ILA’s education programs, events, and grants. Auction: Oct. 14, 6:30–8:30 p.m., online. bit.ly/ILAAC25Aucti...

It's #ILAInstitutionalMemberSpotlightMonday! This week, we're featuring the Ela Area Public Library. Visit the ILA website to read about the library. bit.ly/ElaAreaPubli... #WeAreILA

ILA Institutional Members: Submit your photos for the chance to be the ILA Member Photo of the Month for August! Submit photos of staff and patrons at celebrations, parades, story times, or anything else noteworthy. Submit photos with a description by August 15 to [email protected]. #WeAreILA

The upcoming documentary “Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Librarians” highlights the often-overlooked contributions of Black librarians.

#LibraryCardSignUpMonth is coming in September! Get a head start by downloading graphics and resources from the American Library Association. This year’s theme, “One Card, Endless Possibilities,” is a great way to inspire your community to sign up for a library card. ow.ly/nAik50WtIRx

Congratulations to the Algonquin Area Public Library District (AAPLD) for submitting the ILA Member Photo of the Month for July! The photo captures the Floor is Lava program, where nearly 300 participants braved an obstacle course as part of the summer reading challenge. #WeAreILA

“What is the value of libraries? Through lifelong learning, libraries can and do change lives, a point that cannot be overstated.”—Michael E. Gorman #WednesdayWisdom #Libraries #ILA

Please join us in congratulating and celebrating all of the winners of the 2025 ILA Awards and Scholarships! You can find a complete list of award recipients on the ILA website. ow.ly/zaQ550WsWR2

With a charismatic host and charming book readings and reviews, the hit series “Reading Rainbow” stands as a beacon of children’s literature.

ILA 2025 Conference Program Committee Co-Chair Nanette Donohue is thrilled to share that #ILAAC25 registration opens tomorrow! She also invites you to check out the ILA conference store! Once you've got your gear, get ready to register for the conference! ow.ly/OkXB50WrWIM #YouBelongHere

ILA 2025 Conference Program Committee member Devin Scott is excited to share that #ILAAC25 registration opens in 2 days! #ILAAC25 will have great sessions, activities, and speakers, including Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, Wendy Xu, and more! Learn about the speakers: ow.ly/TgjO50WrPIl. #YouBelongHere

ILA 2025 Conference Program Committee member, Georgia Pichinos-Anderson, is excited to share that registration for #ILAAC25 opens in 3 days! She also wants to remind everyone to have fun, because there will be lots of events and activities. Details: bit.ly/3IwHrCF. #YouBelongHere

Four days until #ILAAC25 registration opens! Joe Marcantonio, a member of the 2025 ILA Conference Program Committee, can't wait to share what the committee has planned! View the schedule: ow.ly/TKN750WqUeI. Then, get ready to register on Monday! ow.ly/8qTu50WqUeH #YouBelongHere