The RAILS Board Delivery Committee met last Friday, January 4, 2013. The meeting was held in-person at Burr Ridge and via conference call at all other RAILS service centers. One of the topics discussed was a suggestion from the Illinois State Library to investigate a possible pilot study to outsource delivery at a single RAILS location. The goal of the study would be to ensure that RAILS delivery service is as efficient and cost-effective as possible. The committee asked RAILS staff to do further research and to present a recommendation for moving forward later this month. Unfortunately, there were audio difficulties with the recording of the meeting and the recording is unavailable for member viewing as a result. RAILS will keep members informed about the latest developments with the investigation of the possible pilot study.

The RAILS Board Delivery Committee will meet in-person at Burr Ridge on January 4, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. The meeting will also be available via conference call at all RAILS service centers. One of the topics discussed at the meeting will be a suggestion from the Illinois State Library to investigate a possible pilot study to outsource delivery at a single RAILS location. The goal of the study would be to ensure that RAILS delivery service is as efficient and cost-effective as possible. For more details about the meeting and to view the agenda, visit http://www.railslibraries.info/board/meeting/2013-01-04-0.

RAILS is pleased to announce that Deirdre (Dee) Brennan has been selected as RAILS Executive Director and will begin at RAILS on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Dee is currently Executive Director of the Oak Park Public Library. She also served as Director of the Boston Regional Library System where she directed regional and statewide services for 103 libraries of different types. These services included delivery and interlibrary loan, the MetroBoston Library Network (MBLN) shared bibliographic consortium, continuing education, consulting, and a statewide electronic resources purchasing program.

Dee has been active in many system and statewide library issues in Illinois. She served as the Chair of the Illinois Library Association’s Public Policy Committee and Co-chair of the Future of Illinois Library Cooperation (FILC) planning initiative that assessed the future needs of Illinois libraries and residents. She is currently a member of the RAILS Member Advisory Group and SWAN Board. Please join us in welcoming Dee to the RAILS team!