Illinois Library Association

ILA Institutional Members: Submit your photos for the ILA Member Photo of the Month!

Submit photos from your summer reading kickoffs, or photos from your anniversary celebrations, renovation projects, special visitors, bookmobiles, or any noteworthy events.

Submit a photo with a description to [email protected] by June 15.

Register today for the ILA Noon Network webinar, "Library Citizens’ Academy," on June 15, at noon. To educate the community and gain support, staff at the Rock Island Public Library launched a Citizens’ Academy.

Join us to learn about the academy, including its successes and challenges, to help you create your own program. Visit the ILA website for more information and to register. https://ow.ly/B27S50Z8NTs

"In a world telling young people what to think, a librarian who hands a kid the right book at the right moment is a radical act."

What It Means to Be the Librarian I Never Had as a Kid In a world telling young people what to think, a librarian who hands a kid the right book at the right moment is a radical act.

Here's a first look at the Obama Presidential Center!

Here’s a photo tour inside the Obama Presidential Center The $850 million presidential center — the most expensive built, so far — opens to the public on June 19.

More than 1,100 people celebrated the Addison Public Library's newly renovated space and the debut of Sam's Lab, a brand new makerspace. The event also marked the official launch of the library's summer reading program.

📸: Addison Public Library

ILA Institutional Members: Submit your photos for the ILA Member Photo of the Month! Submit photos from your summer reading kickoffs, or photos from your anniversary celebrations, renovation projects, special visitors, bookmobiles, or any noteworthy events. Submit a photo with a description to [email protected] by June 15.

Dr. Nicole A. Cooke has been named the 2025 recipient of the Downs Intellectual Freedom Award for her advocacy, groundbreaking research, and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of library and information science.

The award is given annually by the School of Information Sciences at Illinois to honor Dean Emeritus Robert B. Downs, a champion of intellectual freedom, on the occasion of his twenty-fifth anniversary as director of the School.

2025 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award given to Nicole A. Cooke Nicole A. Cooke has been named the 2025 recipient of the Downs Intellectual Freedom Award for her advocacy, groundbreaking research, and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of library and information science. Cooke is the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and professor in the C...

It's time for another Illinois Library Luminary Spotlight! This week's spotlight celebrates Jill Donovan.

Jill Donovan is recognized for her extraordinary contributions to the iREAD Program over more than two decades. Since officially joining the program in 2002, Jill has served as Creative Director and has been instrumental in shaping every aspect of iREAD’s visual identity.

Her leadership in recruiting artists, developing all print and digital materials, and ensuring inclusive, representative artwork has defined the program’s success.

Donovan’s dedication has helped iREAD grow from a statewide initiative to a resource used by libraries across the United States and around the world. She retired in October 2023, and we continue to honor her lasting impact and the legacy she leaves behind.

Know someone who deserves recognition as a luminary? Visit the ILA website to find out how you can help them achieve this honor! https://bit.ly/IllinoisLibraryLuminaries

The Directors University (DU) Committee is seeking experienced Illinois public library directors to serve as committee members at large and mentors for DU attendees.

Directors from all areas of the state and from libraries of all sizes are encouraged to apply to serve as a committee member or mentor.

More information is available on the ILA website. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 12, 2026. https://bit.ly/DUVolunteers26