RAILS Executive Director Dee Brennan Wins Distinguished Library Association Award

Deirdre (Dee) Brennan, executive director of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS), is the 2016 recipient of the Illinois Library Association’s (ILA’s) Atkinson Memorial/Demco Award.

The award recognizes an individual, group, program, or institution for sustained activity and contributions having a lasting impact on librarianship.

The award is named for the late Hugh Atkinson, a huge proponent of all different types and sizes of libraries sharing materials. Atkinson brought groundbreaking technology to Illinois libraries during the 1970s and 1980s, by connecting catalogs from multiple libraries via a highly developed computerized network for its time. His work resulted in greater statewide sharing of library records and library resources.

Following in Hugh’s footsteps, Dee has been an enthusiastic and tireless advocate for resource sharing and multitype library cooperation throughout her career, and for removing barriers and bringing as many participants to the table as possible, regardless of library type, size, or financial capability. Her underlying philosophy is that we are all “stronger together.”

Since coming to RAILS in January 2013, Dee has led the development of additional services for RAILS’ 1,300+ member libraries, resulting in benefits and significant cost savings to libraries and library users throughout the RAILS 27,000 mile service area. She has also successfully led development of a variety of statewide initiatives, including the very popular eRead Illinois e-book project.

The Atkinson Award will be presented in October at the 2016 Illinois Library Association Conference in Rosemont, Illinois.

RAILS provides delivery, shared online catalogs, e-book services, talking book services, continuing education programs, communication services, and other support to all types of libraries in northern and western Illinois. The system serves private, public, school, university, and non-profit library members in a 27,000 square mile area. More information about RAILS is available at: www.railslibraries.info.

Submitted by RAILS.